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Despise treachery

2026-07-29T16:27:51Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Grudges */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"Perhaps if we tried a mixture of mazzarine and bladeroot to..."

"No." The Jotun physick stared at Ricola, his face was inscrutable, but his tone brooked no arguments. "We have done that already. Everything that could be done... has been done."

The grimnir bit his lip and ran his hand through his long braid. The Jotun had allowed him to examine the prisoner's wounds but they had point blank refused to allow him to attempt any treatment. She might be an enemy of the Empire, but she was also a dying woman. Not being able to save her was driving him to distraction. Deep down he knew the Jotun were right, there was nothing that could be done. They'd already done everything that could be done, but still it was eating away at him. "Perhaps an infusion of marrowort to treat the pain and..."

"No!" The physick turned to face Ricola, and locking eyes with him, he placed a firm hand on the young man's shoulder. "This is not what we wanted. This is not what you want. This is not what she wanted. But a falling star will not carry you over the Abyss. Everything that could be done, has been done. She has accepted her fate. You and I must honour our ancestors by accepting ours. If you open up this wound to try to treat it, you will ''only'' make it worse. You will not save her, you will murder her. She will die and your honour will die with her."

The Jotun fell silent, but he didn't break eye contact or release his grip. Finally Ricola could bear the orc's gaze no longer and his head slumped until his chin hit his chest. His reluctant acceptance seemed to move the older orc and he adopted a kinder tone as he spoke again.

"All our training is to heal what is harmed. To set what is broken. To treat the wounds of battle. But when the limb is gone, no herb will bring it back. Some wounds cannot be healed. Some bones will not mend. Some lives cannot be saved. That is the nature of war. When the axe falls it rends the flesh and what is done cannot be undone. The honour in your heart tells you this is true." He stopped for a moment, and his eyes closed briefly before he resumed speaking, as if remembering a lesson taught long ago.

"That is what it means to live in this world. The tide swells and ebbs. The sun rises and sets. These things do not change ''and thus they change nothing''. Those with the power to change the world can only do so because what is done cannot always be undone. If it were otherwise, we would be as the sun and the tide. Powerful and mighty... and entirely without purpose or meaning."

Ricola stared at the old orc, but he could find no words to deny their wisdom.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Bushel Sykes.jpg|width=300|caption=The poacher Bushel Sykes; to some an arsehole poacher, to others a symbol of unrest and Imperial oppression.|align=left}}</div> {{audio|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63zoFIxN168}}
==Overview==
Bregasland is still recovering from the [[False_kings#Fisher's_Voice|reign of Mathilda Fisher]] as Steward of the Bregas. There is bad blood between those who supported her and those who denied her Stewardship. There is no chance of getting past the bad blood unless it is dealt with, and no obvious way of doing so that wouldn't ''"store up trouble for years to come"''. [[When_Spring_comes#Draw_A_Line|Drawing a line]] and allowing the suspected collaborators to continue without investigation would have made those who risked everything to support the Empire furious. [[When_Spring_comes#Let_It_Run_Its_Course|Allowing the fenlanders to resolve it themselves]] would have seen the marsh waters stained with blood.

The Imperial Senate chose to prevent harm to those who had stood against the Fishers and elected to [[When_Spring_comes#Send_In_the_Magistrates|send the magistrates]] to root out any traitors who collaborated with the Jotun and let Imperial law take its toll. That approach was guaranteed to dig a deep well of resentment but at least this way nobody will be in a position to cause trouble, "because everyone who might have openly opposed Imperial rule in Bregasland will be dead."

Shortly after the equinox it became clear that [[Things_that_burn#Rushes|Cold Sun was attacking]] Bregasland, but with the arrival of four Imperial armies the magistrates were able to continue with the task that had been set before them. Their investigations were focussed on the three significant households that stood accused of collaboration with Mathilda Fisher: House Brawness of the North Fens, the Droverbill Clan of Grey Fens, and the Clakes of Beandown.

And while all ''that'' is going on, there remains the small matter of Bushel Sykes' legacy. And perhaps most importantly of all, what to do about the imminent arrival of the self-styled Steward of the Bregas, [[A_tale_told#Falling_.28Battle_Opportunity.29|taken prisoner]] by Imperial heroes following a battle in Jotun lands far to the north.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Lizzie Stamp of Bildewold, Senator for Bregasland, Autumn Equinox 385YE">To invite the magistrates under Chief Magistrate Karkovitch to go in force to investigate recent events surrounding the households of Bregasland during the recent conflict in Bregasland.</quote></div>

==Imperial Judgement==
* '''The magistrates have enacted justice on the traitors of Bregasland
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE the Imperial Senate voted to pass the motion raised by '''Lizzie Stamp of Bildewold''', Senator for [[Bregasland]], to [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Instruct_Magistrates_to_investigate_Bregasland|send the magistrates]] into the territory in order to root out [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_of_Position|traitors]]. The fact the call came from the Bregas senator inclined most Bregas to cooperate with the investigation, but many people are ''unhappy'' about it. Most of the anger, however, is directed toward the Senate rather than the magistrates. Despite their best efforts, the investigation has caused [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_interlude#Send_In_the_Magistrates|disruption across the territory]] as magistrates perform top-to-bottom searches of every household property, every farmstead, every barn as they follow up leads and eliminate suspects from their inquiries.
{{SOP|statement=The Marcher assembly supports the decision of Lizzie Boholt-Stamp, Senator of Bregasland, to send the inquisitors in to Bregasland to find, and bring to justice, those who supported the Mathilda Fisher rebellion. The Marcher assembly calls upon Bregas priests to support justice and provide clemency pleas for the virtuous.|by=Friar Rosemary Stamp, Marches National Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 258-16|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}
===House Brawness of the North Fens===
* '''House Brawness are undoubtedly guilty of treason. All involved have been executed'''
The investigation of House Brawness was the most straightforward. The evidence clearly showed the household had willingly supported the Fishers and the [[Jotun]] during their conquest of Bregasland. While initially neutral, the household quickly threw their lot in with the Fishers once it looked like they might have a chance. They were the first to accept a seat on Mathilda's "Council of Bregas", and encouraged other houses to join them, arguing that it would give the Households a say in the running of Bregasland. Half a dozen of their beaters took part in schemes to steal food and equipment that had been purchased for the [[Strong Reeds]] and evidence soon came to light that proved they were responsible for the attempted [[Laid_low#Through_the_moonlight_.28Conjunction.29|attack against]] the holdings of House Greywater.

At first there is an initial show of cooperation from the house, but that ended once it became clear that the investigation was going against them. In the end ''Steward Aldith Brawness'' and her supporters resisted the magistrates' attempt to arrest them, resulting in a pitched battle. The Brawness had no chance of standing against the forces of law, who called in support from neighbouring households and were also supported by soldiers from the [[Bounders]]. With unequivocal evidence that the house sided with the Fishers, all those responsible have been executed for treason. There are clemency pleas from a few, but Aldith goes to her death utterly unrepentant.

House Brawness has been absolutely devastated, reduced to fewer than a dozen members clinging to a single farm in the North Fens. It's no secret that their friends and allies are quietly seething at the way the household has been dealt with, but everyone is keeping their heads down, eager to avoid meeting the same fate. There was never much love for the Empire in the North Fens - it's not a coincidence that's where [[Bregasland#Fisher’s_Rock|Fisher's Rock]] stands - but now there is none. The region has gained the ''rebellious'' quality, reflecting the suppressed anger that many here feel. It's quiet for now and could remain that way indefinitely, but as things stand all it would take is an appropriately worded mandate from the Marcher Synod or some equivalent incitement, and the North Fens could rise in armed rebellion.
<div style="float: right; max-width:400px; margin-left:10px;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">Fair words won't bury grudges.</quote></div>

===The Droverbill Clan of Grey Fens===
* '''The Droverbill Clan are undoubtedly guilty of theft and handling of stolen goods. All involved have been fined'''

The Droverbill Clan prove much more challenging to deal with. When questioned by the magistrates, ''Steward Tress Droverbill'' boldly admits that she took money from Mathilda Fisher and the Jotun in return for a promise to stop the Feni causing trouble, but she is ''adamant'' that the family kept the money and never passed on Mathilda's requests to the Feni. The few successful attempts to speak with the Feni on the matter seem to confirm the steward's account of events. The Feni did keep a low profile during the invasion, but that was because they feared the Jotun, not because the Droverbill Steward asked them to.

A tawdry list of similar incidents soon comes to light. It's clear that the Droverbills are guilty of profiteering, earning good money selling goods to both sides, but as often as not Tress finds evidence to demonstrate that she cheated Mathilda Fisher, selling them rotten hemp, holed coracles, and grain laced with weevils. She isn't able to clear their name completely - more than half a dozen of her yeofolk are found guilty of handling goods stolen from other farms - but there is no evidence that their actions had directly supported the Jotun. They refused the call to aid the Greywaters and the Strong Reeds against the invaders - but ultimately there is no law against refusing to support a fellow Imperial citizen. The result is a series of heavy fines, all of which the steward pays with an iron expression on her face

The rigid and just application of Imperial law has likely saved the Droverbills from much worse punishment at the hands of their neighbours. If they'd been tried by the mob, then no amount of evidence that they took the Jotun's money but didn't provide anything worthwhile in return would have saved them. After all, the Feni might swear on their gods that nobody told them to steer clear of the Jotun, but they're thick as thieves with the Droverbills so they would say that wouldn't they? A string of heavy fines for handling stolen goods has hurt the clan, but the cynical believe they've still come out ahead.

The fact that the Droverbills seem to have prospered from Fisher's reign has left many families that stayed loyal to the Empire angry that they have got off so lightly. The Grey Fens has always had a dark reputation, now the region has gained the ''sullen'' quality, reflecting the distrust that permeates the area. Nobody is going to do anything stupid, but the next time something like this happens, then folks in these parts will be sure to put their own household first.
<div style="float: right; max-width:400px; margin-left:10px;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">Even damp wood burns in a hot fire.</quote></div>

===The Clakes of Beandown===
* '''Half the Clakes are found guilty of treason and executed but the head of the household, Sammy Clake, manages to flee'''

The [[When Spring comes#The Clakes of Beandown|Clakes]] live in the [[Bregasland#The_Rushes|Rushes]] near [[Bregasland#Sallow|Sallow]]. Widely disliked, they are not pleasant to deal with. They know what is and [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#What_isn’t_a_criminal_offence?|isn't a crime]] and are willing to stop just short of breaking Imperial law all whilst smiling right at you. They are known to have actively collaborated with the Jotun, informing on their neighbours, and using a position on the "Bregas Council" to rob their fellow citizens. It's patently clear that the lands and livestock gifted to the household were taken from Imperial citizens - only once the Fishers were run out of the territory did Sammy Clake make token efforts to buy folk off by returning livestock to original owners.

The magistrate are ruthless with their punishments and three dozen Clakes end up paying the ultimate price for their treachery. Sadly the ringleader, the head of the household, Sammy Clake, somehow manages to engineer an escape, fleeing the scene after his family ambushed the militia escorting him to trial. By all accounts he has gone to ground in Sallow, but the settlement is notoriously uncooperative and it proves impossible to find him, despite turning the place upside down. With a five throne reward for his capture, he'll turn up eventually; folk like Sammy Clake always do. For now, though, he's an outlaw at large.

For the Clakes guilty of lesser crimes there are stiff fines that leave them and their kin throughout the region deep in debt, impoverished and desperate. The region has gained the ''resentful'' quality, reflecting the deep sense of injustice that permeates the Clakes and their close kin throughout the Rushes. With Sammy Clake gone to ground, it won't mean much for now, but Marchers hoard grudges the way a magpie hoards shiny beads. Folk here would jump at a chance for payback from those they judge have wronged them, if the opportunity presents itself.
<div style="float: right; max-width:400px; margin-left:10px;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">Plant a grudge in the soil, it will last a lifetime. Set it in stone and it will last forever.</quote></div>

===The Other Bregas===
* '''The investigations of the magistrates have rooted out dozens of traitors from across Bregrasland'''

While the Brawness, Droverbill, and Clakes are the biggest families investigated, the magistrates visited ''every'' farm and settlement in Bregasland. After a painstaking investigation that left no stone unturned, more than a score of traitors were tried, convicted, and executed. Dozens more were fined for more petty acts of collaboration that broke Imperial law for one reason or another. Every accusation was weighed carefully, and those that seemed based on fact rather than long-standing grudge or suspicion were brought to trial. Everyone knows someone who faced the magistrates, even if they were not called to account themselves. Everyone knows someone who is not happy about the magistrates' intervention, even if they were not under suspicion themselves.

<div style="float: right; max-width:400px; margin-left:10px;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">Sow, tend and reap; fight, toil and weep.</quote></div>
===House Greywater===
* '''House Greywater remain in the North Fens'''
* '''They are bitter about the lack of recompense for their efforts to defeat Matilda Fisher'''
[[The_Marches_groups#House_Greywater|House Greywater]] took inordinate risks to support '''Amberlain P. Black''' and the [[Strong Reeds]] against the Fishers and the Jotun. They did so because of an ancient grudge between their family and the Fishers rather than any great love for the Empire, but even so, it was clear they expected to be rewarded for their efforts. After Matilda was forced to flee, they asked the Senate to concede the Bregasland granaries of the Marcher Breadbasket to them in recognition of their services. The Marcher Synod attempted to see them recompensed with land in return for their service, just as those who serve two years in the army get, but the household already has farmland - much of it secured by service in the Marcher armies. They have as much land as they can farm already, more won't help them one iota. If they'd have settled for more land they'd have asked for it - what they asked for, the Breadbasket, was something that would have made them ''rich''.

As winter settles in the realisation that they'll get nothing for the risks they took has left them angry, bitter, and resentful. The household are mostly staying to their lands, refusing to talk to outsiders or welcome visitors. They weren't that popular before the Jotun invaded and their expectation of a reward has done little to improve their standing. Some of their detractors - those who openly called them poachers to their faces - are suggesting the fact that the Empire hasn't rewarded them only proves their bad character. Did their efforts really amount to that much after all or were they were just in it for themselves? They are the butt of more than a few jokes with revellers in the backrooms of taverns - "What do you call a poacher who steals a Jotun chicken? A Greywater!".

The Greywaters make no bones of the fact that they risked everything to back the Empire and they've ended up worse off than those that stayed out of the fighting- though admittedly better off than the Doverbills, the Brawness, and the other households that threw in with the Fishers. The [[Bregasland#North Fens|North Fens]], the region where the Greywaters live, has gained the ''embittered'' quality, reflecting the sense of betrayal that the Greywaters and their allies feel at the way the Empire has treated them. There will be no help from this quarter in the future, no matter what the threat, and any attempt by the [[Synod]] to rally Bregaslanders to support the Empire will founder in the face of the open resentment of House Greywater.

==Grudges==
* '''The decision to send in the magistrates has dealt with all the immediate problems but stored up trouble for years to come'''
* '''Some of the NPCs who live in parts of Bregasland are variously ''resentful'', ''sullen'', ''embittered'', and ''rebellious'''''
Mathilda Fisher's dream of ruling an independent Bregasland has been firmly crushed. After so many generations away, returning at the head of a Jotun army ensured that few if any Marchers who regularly attend [[Anvil]] had any desire to openly support her. But there were more than a few, led by folk like ''Bushel Sykes'', who disliked the Empire as much as they did the Jotun and more and more of those ''did'' support her cause as time went on. And of course, there are always folks like the Clakes or the Droverbills whose only Loyalty is to themselves and their own Prosperity.

Sending in the magistrates has rooted out the traitors and the collaborators, those who broke the law have been brought to justice. Great pains were taken to remain as scrupulous as possible, the investigations were thorough, the trials were fair, and the magistrates made a deliberate point of welcoming priests to present clemency pleas. All the immediate problems of Bregasland have been dealt with by this decisive action, there is nothing here that requires further attention. The situation in the territory is completely stable.

But it is impossible to conduct a sweeping investigation of this kind, rooting out traitors and punishing everyone who sided with the Jotun, without reaping a bitter harvest of resentment and anger. For every Bregas happy to see justice come to those who sided with the Jotun there is another who has lost a family member or close kin to what they see as a purge. It's a questionable distinction between siding with the Jotun and standing for an independent Bregasland but it's an important one in the minds of those Bregas who supported Mathilda Fisher. In their eyes, the investigation is little more than a brutal reprisal for daring to defy the Empire... it's everything that Bushel Sykes warned them it would be. The actions of the magistrates have stored up trouble for years to come. One day that bill will come due.

There are plenty of Marchers in Bregasland, particularly in [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Gravenmarch]], who remain loyal to the Empire. There are plenty more who have no love for the Empire but are Marchers through and through and thought Mathilda Fisher was a fool, an upstart, and a Jotun puppet. But in parts of Bregasland there are some who mutter darkly to themselves when someone mentions the idea of going to Anvil. People for whom [[A Crown in Winter|news of the new Empress]] produces only scowls or curses. For now these malcontents are ostracised and weakened by recent actions leaving them powerless to act. These sentiments won't dissipate, these are Marchers, they would carry their grudges through the Labyrinth if they could. But they won't have a dramatic impact unless the situation takes a turn for the worse.

The current situation is stable, and it ''could'' remain like this indefinitely. It won't deteriorate randomly or without warning; the eyes of the civil service are on Bregasland, so it won't happen without the Empire having a chance to influence events. But it could happen at any time. One of the Empire's enemies might try to take advantage of the situation or it could be the Empire itself. The future is unpredictable; the Empire might be faced with some opportunity that offers benefits too powerful to refuse but which comes at the price of worsening the situation in Bregasland, after all.

At present there is nothing the Empire can do to heal these wounds. There is no [[statement of principle|statement]] that the Marcher Synod can pass that will help. An [[appraisal]] would produce some ideas but it will not provide any way to remove these qualities. Time won't heal these scars either, but within a generation an opportunity will come along that offers a chance to address one or more of these grievances.

'''Sullen''' - folks are sullen that the Droverbills and their kin got off so lightly. They could remain that way indefinitely and it won't be a problem, but if that anger spreads across Bregasland it will be a serious problem. When Imperial armies march through an Imperial territory, they are usually welcomed by cheering supporters. The citizens of the Empire take [[Pride]] in the [[Courage]] and [[Loyalty]] of those who pledge their lives to keep them safe. That warm welcome brings benefits which are all the more noticeable by their absence in Bregasland. A sullen population are less willing to sell their food to the Empire; if they do, they want a premium for it. It costs a lot to feed an army - on campaign in enemy lands you can reduce those costs a little by plundering what supplies you can from the enemy, but you can't do that at home. If the sullen mood of the Droverbills spreads then all Imperial armies spending the season in Bregasland will require 50% more upkeep from the [[Imperial treasury]].

'''Resentful''' - the Clakes and their associates are resentful of the Empire and would seize any opportunity to strike back. There aren't enough of them to pose a risk at at the moment, but it would be a problem if that resentment spreads to the rest of the territory. Fighting in any territory where the population is resentful is always more difficult. There is the ever present risk that they will inform on your movements to the enemy. Scouts are delayed or betrayed, vital supplies go missing, everything is more dangerous when any civilian could be spying for the enemy. If the resentful mood of the Clakes spreads across the territory then all Imperial armies campaigning in the territory against a human or [[orc]] enemy will suffer a 30% penalty to fighting strength for the purpose of calculating victory.

'''Embittered''' - the Greywaters and their cousins are bitter at what they see as the Empire's failure to reward them for their sacrifice in fighting Mathilda Fisher. For now they're keeping themselves to themselves, but it would become a challenge if that bitterness spreads throughout the marshes. The words of the Imperial Synod fall on deaf ears when faced with people who are embittered and angry with the Empire. Liao may be powerful but no aura can change the outlook of someone who refuses to listen. If the rest of the Bregasland becomes as bitter about the Empire as the Greywaters, then any statements of principle that call on people to support any part of the Empire would fail and no [[mandate]] passed by the Imperial Synod would affect the territory.

'''Rebellious''' - the Empire has punished House Brawness and their allies for their involvement in the Council of Bregas. Their power is broken, but that has done nothing to crush the dream of an independent Bregasland. Provided the outlook doesn't change, they won't be fool enough to try again any time soon, but it would be catastrophic if the mood spread. That would tip Bregasland into open rebellion: the Empire would immediately lose control of any rebellious regions and Imperial armies would be needed to put down the rebellion and prevent it from spreading.

Is there anything that could make the situation deteriorate? Two things spring to mind...
{{SOP|statement=Bushel Sykes betrayed his oath as an Imperial citizen, and yet his soul bore a spontaneous true aura of Loyalty. He knew what commanded his heart's devotion above all else, and he willingly paid the price for that. We recognise Bushel Sykes' Loyalty and his Virtue.|by=Father Edmund, Marches National Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 282-26|when=Autumn Equinox 385YE}}

==Not By Words Or Deeds Alone==
* '''Bushel Sykes was a notorious poacher and curmudgeon who was instrumental in persuading Mathilda Fisher to form the Council of Bregas'''
* '''If the Assembly of Loyalty recognises his Virtue in opposing the Empire, it will spread the rebellious sentiment to Ottermire'''
* '''If the Assembly does not recognise his Virtue they will permanently lose the ability to use the Eyes of Loyalty to support other mandates'''

In life, Bushel Sykes was not well-liked. He was a notorious poacher who knew the fens better than anyone, and by all accounts he was a bad-tempered arsehole even by the standards of Ottermire. Say what you like about Bushel Sykes - and people often did - his one redeeming quality that no-one denied was his unswerving loyalty to Bregasland. When Mathilda Fisher invaded Bregasland at the head of a Jotun army and declared herself Queen of the Fens, it was Bushel Sykes who understood what the invasion could mean for Bregasland. The old poacher who had spent half his life moaning about the Empire realised that here at last was a chance for Bregas to be done with the Empire and rule themselves. It was Bushel Sykes who persuaded Mathilda Fisher to form the Council of Bregas and it was Sykes that did the legwork of persuading some of the households to join. Not for the Jotun, not for Mathilda Fisher, but for Bregasland.

Sykes had never left Bregasland his whole life, so perhaps it's no surprise that he didn't go with Mathilda Fisher when she fled after her Jotun allies were defeated. According to the rumours, it was the old poacher himself that smuggled her out past the Imperial lines, but he turned back and waited for the Empire to catch up with him in his favourite watering hole, the Wet Dog tavern in [[Bregasland#Ottery|Ottery]]. He died there, struck down by Imperial citizens after he refused to let them cart him back to trial in Anvil. He refused point blank to face trial by magistrates he passionately believed had no authority over him.

They say "the Virtuous build up their fellows; they do not tear them down" and Sykes strove tirelessly to warn people what was going to happen, to make them see that the only good Bregasland was a free Bregasland, to make them dream that such a thing might be possible. He may have been an arsehole, but he never hid what he was, and he never betrayed the Bregas. But he was an implacable opponent of the Empire, who utterly refused to compromise, and so few were surprised when he came to a grisly end. It's what followed his death that has raised eyebrows.

During the Autumn Equinox 385YE the National Assembly of the Marches upheld a statement of principle raised by '''Father Edmund''' with a greater majority that recognised the [[Loyalty]] and Virtue of the old poacher. The [[Loyalty#Guidance_on_the_Path|tenets of virtue]] say "Know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else." They agree that "the truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune" and that "Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but by the unity of both". It's impossible to argue that Sykes wasn't all of that and more. He definitely had that anti-authoritarian streak that runs through the Marcher character and makes them so fiercely independent, proud, and stubborn. He really believed that the Empire didn't give two shits about Bregasland or its people... and now he's been recognised by the Marcher Assembly who says that his virtue gave him a [[Signs_of_the_paragon_and_exemplar#Miracles|miracle]].

Nobody in Bregasland, or the Marches as a whole, is sure of where all this goes. Will the [[Loyalty]] Assembly raise a judgement of [[recognition]] for someone who was ultimately a self-confessed collaborator? Does the Assembly ''really'' believe that the Loyal should "''know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else''?" Or does the fact that Sykes wasn't Loyal to the ''Empire'' invalidate any [[Signs_of_the_paragon_and_exemplar#Inspiration|inspiration]] he might provide?

The [[judgement]] of the Marcher Assembly poses a grave challenge for the Assembly of Loyalty. In recent years the Assembly has taken a firm stance that no power may compel your Loyalty, following the preaching of '''Anastasiya Volkov''' and [[Highguard|Highborn]] '''Able''' who urged pilgrims everywhere to know their own hearts, and what commanded their devotion above all else. This seemingly innocuous statement contains a deeply subversive message. What do you do when your personal Loyalty demands that you oppose your nation and your Empire? Taken at face value, Bushel Sykes, the traitor of Bregasland, seems to exemplify exactly what Anastasiya and Able said about the Virtue of Loyalty. If there was any doubt then surely this miraculous aura on his soul is the only evidence needed?

At this stage, nobody is suggesting that Sykes was an actual exemplar. Miracle or no miracle, the man was still a massive prick. And a poacher to boot. But the Assembly could use a judgement to recognise Bushel Sykes as Loyal. That would be completely consistent with everything they have said on the matter in recent years...

But it would be a ''disaster'' in Bregasland. Fisher invaded Bregasland with a Jotun army looking to reclaim "her family lands" - it was Sykes who tried to turn that invasion into a rebellion against the Empire. If the Assembly recognise his Virtue, then it makes Sykes into some kind of hero for trying to get Bregas to fight against the Empire. The tavern keep at the Wet Dog has already said he plans to change the name of the tavern to ''Sykes End'' if that happens, so that visitors can openly toast his memory. With the tacit encouragement of the Assembly of Loyalty, the rebellious sentiment in the North Fens will spread to Ottermire. It ''won't'' start a rebellion - but it does mean that if a rebellion ever did start it would be twice as bad, with both the North Fens and Ottermire turning on the Empire. Rumour has it that something like this is ''exactly'' what Sykes wanted to happen.

But if the Assembly ''doesn't'' pass a favourable judgement that recognises Sykes' Loyalty, if they find some way to cavil about his virtue, or even if they simply ignore it, it would be just as disastrous. In recent years, the Assembly has built a dedicated following of Loyal followers who have used the [[Auras_of_Loyalty#The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]] aura [[Like_a_hurricane#The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|to support the mandates of fellow priests]]. They've done a lot of good, but all of that has been predicated on the principle that ''nobody'' may command your Loyalty. Not the Synod, not the Assembly of Loyalty, not even the Throne. Refusing to acknowledge Sykes' virtue after the Marcher Assembly chose to call it out would shake the faith of the virtuous preventing further use of the Eyes of Loyalty.

If the Loyalty Assembly pass any judgement that effectively recognises the virtue of Bushel Sykes during the Winter Solstice, the rebellious mood that exists in the North Fens will spread to Ottermire. If the Loyalty assembly don't do that, then the [[Cardinal of Loyalty]] will permanently lose the ability to use the Eyes of Loyalty power.
<div style="float: right; max-width:400px; margin-left:10px;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">A tree with only one leaf casts little shade.</quote></div>
==Homecoming Queen==
* '''Mathilda Fisher has been brought to the edge of Anvil, if she survives long enough she will be brought into the Wintermark camp at 22:00 on Friday'''
* '''She has requested to be buried at Fisher's Rock in Bregasland'''
* '''Doing so would spread House Greywater's bitterness causing all of Bregasland to become embittered'''
* '''Refusing the dying wishes of the Jotun jarl will clearly offend the other jarls'''
* '''It is not clear who should make this decision'''
As if that wasn't bad enough, there is a second problem looming. After Mathilda Fisher fled Bregasland, the Empire [[A tale told|invaded Tromsa]]. Chasing after the pretender, she was mortally wounded at the [[A_tale_told#Rikskog_and_the_Battle_of_Viheltavathorn|Battle of Viheltavathorn]] but the Jotun spirited her away to the safehold of [[A_tale_told#Tromsdalen_and_the_Battle_of_Oksenesfestsal|Oksenesfestsal]], the home of Fisher's ally the Jarl of Tromsa before the Empire could capture her. With Mathilda Fisher too weak from her injuries to take the battlefield when the Empire threatened to take the keep, the jarl offered a battle of champions to save Mathilda from the dishonour of not taking the field. If the Empire could capture the Fisher Queen's banner on the battlefield, then Mathilda would acknowledge her defeat and surrender to Imperial forces. If the Empire failed then the jarls would not allow her to surrender and would "spirit her away to Fjorknae, far beyond the Empire's reach."

With the Empire victorious in the ensuing battle, the Jotun are true to their word. A day later, an entourage of Jotun warriors issues forth from Oksenesfestsal bearing a flag of truce and a simple wooden litter, little more than a bier, on which they carry Mathilda Fisher towards the Imperial encampment. They pointedly march into the Wintermark camp, but rather than hand the Fisher Queen over, they insist that they will accompany her until she passes into the Abyss. It is clear that she is too weak to walk and it seems they are absolutely determined to convey her all the way to Anvil. They ask '''Iron Osric''' to provide them with an honour guard of [[Wintermark]] warriors to ensure that nothing untoward befalls the jarl. They know they are carrying her to her death, but they are determined to ensure that she does not suffer a dishonourable end on the road before she faces her enemies for the final time.
<div style="float: right; max-width:400px; margin-left:10px;"><quote by="Marcher Proverb">As easy to escape as a Landskeeper's Oath.</quote></div>
Arrangements are quickly agreed to allow the Jotun honour guard to bear the captured traitor to Anvil with Wintermark warriors ensuring the party reaches the destination without incident. This proves remarkably difficult, not because of treachery, but the state of Mathilda Fisher's wounds. A Marcher bill has shattered five of her ribs and completely destroyed her right lung. She is far beyond the reach of any medicine or magic to save, but the Jotun have done everything that can be done to keep her alive. Even so, she can barely breathe, let alone stand and is constantly coughing up blood. Only the carefully ministered herbs of the accompanying Jotun physick are keeping her soul in her body. Without that she wouldn't survive an hour... there are more than a few occasions on the road where it seems even that will not be enough.

After an excruciating journey in every sense of the word, the party finally reach the outskirts of Anvil. By this time the Winter Solstice is imminent and it makes sense to wait a few more days so that Mathilda Fisher can face all her accusers when they gather for the forthcoming summit. The Jotun agree to bear Mathilda Fisher to the Wintermark camp at 10pm on the Friday night; from there the Empire may dispense whatever justice they have decided upon. The Jotun expect the Marchers to come to the Wintermark camp to claim Mathilda Fisher, but they have no power here now to determine what happens.

Nobody is under any illusion that Mathilda will be executed, though quite how that will happen remains unclear. Jarl Igya made a request of General Osric, to allow her father's ally to die with honour, but it is unclear if that request will be granted. What is clear is that the Jotun have not come all this way just to honour the jarl's final moments. They are here to witness the manner of her death and to carry word of how the Empire treats their defeated enemies back to her fellow Jotun jarls.

The Empire must now decide how she will meet her fate. Any idea of her fighting to the death is quickly dismissed as completely impossible - her wounds are beyond the help of any Imperial magic to allow that. Perhaps more important than how she meets her end is what will happen to her body afterwards. She has made it clear that she hopes that her body will be conveyed to Bregasland and buried on her lands with seeds in the grave as is traditional.

It's a simple request, but given the febrile mood in Bregasland it would be a ''disaster''. House Greywater loathe the Fishers, and many Bregasland yeofolk gave their lives to drive them from Bregasland. If Mathilda Fisher is allowed to return to the territory, if she is buried there as she has requested, with all the trappings of a traditional Marcher funeral, they and their allies will be incandescent. It is one thing for the Empire to ignore House Greywater's demands to be rewarded for their support of the Empire, it is another thing entirely for the enemy they fought against to be buried with all the honour the Empire can give her. If that happens, then everyone in Bregasland who tried to fight Mathilda Fisher will be incandescent. House Greywater's anger will spread to every citizen in the territory who opposed the Jotun, causing the whole of Bregasland to become ''embittered''.

If that isn't tolerable, then what is to happen with the body after she has been executed? There is no legal precedent for this. Someone will ''have'' to make a decision, but who? The Imperial Synod, or the Marcher Assembly perhaps? The Imperial Senate? The [[Imperial Consul]] perhaps? The [[General]] of an army present in the territory? Or the [[Senator]] for Bregasland? If nobody does ''anything'', the Jotun will carry the body to Bregasland and bury it themselves with all the problems that will bring. The Jotun could be asked to bear her back to Tromsa to be buried there, but whatever decision is made, the Jotun are determined to witness it. It seems to matter a great deal to the Jotun. They refer to Mathilda Fisher as a jarl, they treat her as such - they seem to consider it incredibly important to know if the Empire are prepared to honour the jarl's burial wish.

The Fisher Queen may be on her deathbed, but it seems she is not quite finished causing problems for the Empire.

==Participation: Bregasland==
Any [[the Marches|Marcher]] [[beater]] or Marcher member of the Anvil militia could have been involved in helping the magistrates track down their suspects and deal with resistance and such. They might also have been involved in one of the fights this downtime - with the Droverbills or the Clakes. You might use this as an excuse to speak to the magistrates, using your service in Bregasland as a reason for offering further services in Anvil for example.

One group that has not specifically been involved in Bregasland are the Anvil militia; while Karkovitch has overseen the investigation in the west he has used local recruits and deputies rather than exacerbating the bad feeling by bringing in large numbers of outsiders associated with the heart of Imperial politics.

If your personal resource is in Bregasland you're welcome to roleplay that members of your family have been executed, fined, or exonerated as you see fit. Bear in mind though that the magistrates have been both scrupulous and rigorous in their investigations. Nobody who was innocent of active collaboration has been punished.

When it comes to the sympathies and resentment of Bregasland, there's no requirement for a Bregas visiting Anvil to agree with their fellows. Characters who attend Anvil are often supporters of the Imperial dream, and believers in its political processes. On the other hand, if you do want to play a sullen, bitter, or resentful Marcher who either believes in Free Bregasland, thinks that the magistrates' intervention did not go far enough, or holds that House Greywater has been poorly treated, then this is the perfect excuse to take on a politically risky stance going forward.

==Further Reading==
* [[Bregasland]]
* [[The_Marches_groups#House_Greywater|House Greywater]]
* [[When Spring comes]] - 385YE Autumn Equinox Wind of Fortune

So our path is laid

2026-07-29T16:27:31Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Paths and Errands */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:387YE Autumn]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=if you dare.jpg|caption="Cross us if you dare..."|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Paths and Errands==
{{audio|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECmje2WJsz4}}
The [[Jotun]] have conquered [[Bregasland]]. They hold the marshes and fens, and they have made the people who remain their thralls. A number of Bregas have fled east to [[Mitwold]], but many more have stayed behind. They will not abandon their land, not to the orcs of the west. While some bow their heads to the Jotun yoke, there is no Mathilda Fisher here and no question of collaboration with the invaders. Others actively resist them, taking inspiration from the [[Strong Reeds]] and the Graywaters. Even those who seem to have surrendered remain as uncooperative as they can be without bringing the wrath of the Jotun on their heads.

During the Summer Solstice, Imperial heroes used the [[Sentinel Gate]] in a [[Shovels_and_spades#Breaking_Burhfæst_(Battle_Opportunity)|risky attack]] against forces attempting to maintain the mighty enchanted fortification anchored to [[Bregasland#Graven_Rock|Graven Rock]]. Had those heroes not been victorious - defeating the powerful [[inhabitants of the realms#Guardian|guardian]] from the court of the [[Adamant|King under the Mountain]] that would have anchored the magical citadel for another year - the Jotun hold over Bregasland would have been further secured. As it is, the Burhfæst was dismissed and the Ice Fishers' bastion in Gravenmarch has returned to the [[Realms#Summer|Summer realm]] from whence it came. If they wish to carve out a fortress for themselves, they will now have to do it the old fashioned way. Which sources in Graven suggest they might very well be preparing to do.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Amberlain P. Black, General of the Strong Reeds">Strong Reeds. Those Jotun hounds sniff at our heels and dig at our hiding places. But as they close in we will not bend, we will not break and we will not flee, for our loyalty is not so easily shaken. We Lay Low for one more season, to allow our friends to Resupply and build their strength. And then how we will rise up. The Jotun Queen calls for my head and I say let her come herself! I stand with you. I stand with Bregasland and if those Jotun dogs wish to find us... Make them work for it. Bregasland Stands!</quote>

<quote by="Gjeirfund Haggarsdóttir, General of the Fist of Ulven">Under the gaze of the king we once more guard the dour fens, the lands of our ancestors. While the Queen of the North seeks out the thorn in our heel, we will bind these lands with steel and stone, a girdle of strength to make Ulven herself proud of her children.</quote>

<quote by="Derun Stonetower, General of the Tower of the North">We stand ready to let our hammers sing, to ring out a toll on Marcher steel. If they do not come, we will mark the boundaries, and do whatever is needful to make these grim marshes ours.</quote>

<quote by="Iduna Yrsasdóttir, General of the Lion of the North">The Strong Reeds hide among the bulrushes, gathering their strength. Do not underestimate the threat they pose, nor the power of their oaths. Like the hawk they bide their time, and when they strike it will be with the full force of the wind. Yet no-one can hide forever. The cunning eyes of Raðljóst will reveal them to us, and we shall bring them at last to battle amid the dripping fens. So says the Queen, and none shall gainsay her.</quote>

<quote by="Johnathan Piper “The Cockscroft Lad”, Statement of Principle, Marcher Assembly, Upheld with a Greater Majority (206-0), Summer Solstice 387YE">Hew and cry, hew and cry! Marchers of Bregasland I call to you now. Our Strong Reeds lie low to protect our land, but our enemies have learned of ways to find them. We the Marcher Assembly urge the Virtuous Marchers of Bregasland to help our heroes hide. Offer them your barns. Set fires. Dam rivers. Intrigue and distract. Anything to thwart our invaders. Look out for your neighbours. Look after yourselves, and show the Jotun that Marchers one and all, will not let our land be taken!</quote></div>
The majority of the Jotun, though, seem more concerned with rooting out the Strong Reeds and their sympathisers than actively oppressing the Bregas. The Marcher army is wily, and avoids obvious traps with ease. Yet for all their fixation on honour, glory, heroism, and a good death the Jotun are not fools. The ‘‘Lion of the North’’ - Queen Jansdóttir’s personal army - is on a quest to drive the Reeds from their holdfasts and hiding places and force them to engage in open battle. The Queen herself is not present in Bregasland; her eldest child ''Idun Yrsasdóttir'' serves as general this season for some reason. On the orders of her mother, she has [[Army qualities#Mercenary|called to her banner]] seasoned hunters from [[Tromsa]] and veteran [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Raðljóst|Raðljóst]] from [[Skallahn]]. As the season wears on their [[Army qualities#Scouting|expertise]] proves invaluable, and the Strong Reeds are again and again forced to abandon their positions and fall back deeper into the marshes.

==Pride of the Marches==
While the Lion of the North focuses on finding the Marcher army, two other generals keep control of the Dour Fens. The stoic Tower of the North, under the banners of the granite-faced Derun Stonetower, work alongside the Fist of Ulven to strengthen the borders here. It is Gjeirfund Haggarsdóttir who leads the Fist, rather than King Gudmundr Arasonn, Jarl-of-Jarls, ruler over the southern territories of the Jotun. It is just as rare for King Gudmundr not to be at the forefront of his army as it is for Queen Yrsa not to lead her own. What could have drawn the attention of the Jarls-of-Jarls elsewhere?

One of the challenges facing Gjeirfund Haggarsdóttir comes from an unexpected source; keeping the yegarra champion Stephen of Sarcombe on a short leash. The traitor of the Mourn has always been angry, but it seems that since the death of Jarl Haakon and the loss of the ‘Wold his temper has worsened. His dressing down by King Gudmundr cannot help but rankle, and accordingly his cruelty towards the Marchers has become more and more acute. Whispers are beginning to do the rounds that other Jotun champions will not fight alongside him, or with the yegarra under his banner, for fear that they will bring dishonour on themselves. For his part, Stephen takes a vicious pleasure in striking against anyone shown to be part of the network of resistance fighters that spans the fens; he seems to be staying just on one side of the line but it is surely only a matter of time before he crosses it.

There are other champions in Bregasland, other warbands. The Ice Fishers of Ldansk have been here for the last year, and they show no signs of departing. They are joined by ''Helma Skutasdóttir'' and her raven-banner, turning her clever gaze on the matter of the Strong Reeds while her warband explores the marshes seeking to root out its secrets. ''Eisa Winterborn'' and her walrus banner are here also, as are the howling bears under the standard of ''Yanya Uranduln'' but their eyes lie to the east. They launch several raids across the border into Mitwold, into [[Mitwold#Oddmire|Oddmire]] and southern [[Mitwold#Meade March|Meade March]]. While they never approach the city of [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] itself, they keep the [[Valiant Pegasus]], the [[Autumn Hammers]], the [[Drakes]], the [[Bloodcloaks]] and the garrison of [[Mitwold#Forte_Fidelis|Forte Fidelis]] busy. Indeed, were it not for the presence of the armies, it's not impossible that the two warbands together might have seriously threatened the people of Odd's End. It stands as a sobering reminder just how close the Jotun are to the heart of the Marches.

==Flip of a Coin==
Back in Bregasland, the Strong Reeds may be on the back foot, but they continue to foment resistance and gather support. Some twenty Imperial captains have brought their warbands west to support the Marcher army, to do what it takes to try and keep them hidden. Most are Marchers but there are a significant number of soldiers from [[the League]] alongside them. Several of the latter are from [[Holberg]], and are no strangers to fighting in marshes. Together they ambush Jotun patrols, move supplies, rescue Marchers who might otherwise fall into the hands of Stephen of Sarcombe, and lay the groundwork for the eventual uprising against the Jotun. The unconditional support of the Marcher assembly has gone some way to ensuring that the people of Bregasland, whatever they may think about the Empire as a whole, are eager to support ''their'' army regardless of the risks.

Yet there’s only so much that can be done. The Lion of the North have experience dealing with Imperial spies and scouts - they tore apart the old [[spy network]] in [[Hordalant]] for example - and the veterans they have brought in to spearhead their campaign are near a match for even the most quick witted of the Strong Reeds captains. It comes clear only a little too late that part of the reason for the raid into Mitwold is to identify the smuggling routes used to keep the Strong Reeds supplied. In the end, though, it is partly simple bad luck, a roll of the dice, that sees things start to become unstuck. A conversation overheard, an over-zealous would-be champion hoping to impress Eisa Winterborn, an early Autumn raid against a tavern along the shores of the Westmere, and three Ottery smugglers fall into the hands of the Jotun. They keep their mouths closed as long as they can but in the end, faced with watching their sibling and father die, one of them talks. That is all it takes to start the dominos falling.

After that initial raid, the Lion of the North have the first thread they need to pick at to start unravelling the resistance, and they attack it with gusto. While the ravens of Helma Skutasdóttir seek out the safe houses in the west, Eisa and her yegarra begin to systematically arrest and question travellers across the east. The Strong Reeds are spread out across the territory. The bravest Bregas among them as often as not hide in plain sight, but many more must hide in a more conventional way. In part it is the close, fierce ties of family that prove to be the undoing of the Bregas - when family and friends are threatened it is only those with a heart of stone who can keep their silence, keep their nerve. The hidden pattern begins to be exposed; supply drops identified and raided, holdfasts attacked, sympathisers isolated or carefully watched, messengers intercepted.

The situation is grim, but all is not lost. The Jotun have not "found" the Strong Reeds as such. They cannot force an army that has disappeared into the reeds and marshes to fight them. But they can make it increasingly untenable to remain hidden, to continue to fight piecemeal against the invaders, by cutting away all the ways that the people of the Marches can support them. Yet there's many a slip between cup and lip, as the old proverb goes. The Jotun would be wise not to celebrate their "victory" prematurely. The Marchers have a long history of surprising their enemies, after all.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofBregasland.png|caption=Bregasland is currently under occupation by the Jotun.|align=right|width=500}}

==Game Information==
* '''The Strong Reeds are vulnerable to the Jotun
* '''Escaping the territory will be costly; remaining may also prove costly
The Jotun remain in control of Bregasland. The magical fortification anchored to Graven Rock has not been renewed, although there are signs the Ice Fishers of Ldansk may be preparing to build a more mundane [[fortification]] in "the only bit of dry land in Bregasland". The presence of four armies supporting the fortification in Mitwold has meant that raids by Jotun champions have been unsuccessful in causing any significant damage or seizing any wealth from the territory.

The Lion of the North, thanks to the [[Army_qualities#Scouting|scouting expertise]] of those champions who have come from Skallahn and Tromsa, have exposed vulnerabilities in the Strong Reeds. At the moment, they are still mostly hidden, but the Jotun have begun to exploit their weaknesses, and the situation could become dire - the orders the General issues after the Autumn Equinox will be crucial.

If the General orders the army to leave the territory, then they will struggle to do so without alerting the Jotun as to what is happening. The western barbarians will not be able to prevent them leaving, but in the process the Strong Reeds will suffer 1,000 casualties at the hands of the Jotun, provided at least one barbarian army is still in the territory. This represents not only pitched fighting along the eastern regions of Bregasland, but also the risk of small groups being lost or trapped in the territory, unable to get out. These casualties cannot be mitigated by [[Rivers of Life]], nor by army orders. However, [[Night magic]] such as the ''Host of Shadows'' (a non-Imperial ritual) may prove effective in helping the army avoid these casualties. If a ritual of that nature is cast on the army, it will suffer only 500 casualties as it leaves Bregasland.

Should the General issue an attacking order, then the usual rules for the military campaign apply.

Finally. The General could choose to order the Strong Reeds to continue to Lay Low in Bregasland. This would follow the rules for that order with one exception. Rather than suffering no casualties, as long as any Jotun armies remain in the territory, the army will suffer 500 casualties each downtime. Again, magical effects such as ''Rivers of Life'' won't change this - many of the casualties are ''captured'' rather than killed in battle for example. But again, there may be ways to ameliorate these losses. Likewise, without additional effort, no more seasons of Lay Low will count for the Rise Up order (unless the heroes of Anvil intervene one way or another).

This situation will persist until something significant changes in Bregasland, and as long as the Jotun remain in control of the territory.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">[[File:StrongReeds Colour.png|link=387YE_Summer_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Strong Reeds]]</div>

==Participation==
* '''Characters whose military unit supported the Strong Reeds may partake of a form of spiritual inspiration
* '''Accessing this inspiration requires an anointing of either Loyalty or Pride
* '''The inspiration is stronger for Marcher characters but people from other nations still receive a benefit
Military units who supported the Strong Reeds as they upheld their oath toward the people of the Dour Fens may receive a special benefit. The Empire has taken steps on several battles to bolster the [[Pride]] and [[Loyalty]] of the Marcher armies, and the Bregas people. The inspiration these acts provide should not be underestimated.

Any Marcher character whose [[military unit]] supported the Strong Reeds this season may experience that inspiration if it suits their characterisation. If they receive an [[anointing]] of [[Auras_of_Loyalty#Anointing|Loyalty]] or [[Auras_of_Pride#Anointing|Pride]], from a fellow Marcher, they receive a bonus [[heroic skills#Hero|hero point]] during the Autumn Equinox. This bonus increases their maximum number of hero points for the duration of the summit.

Any character who is not a Marcher may also receive a benefit, ''provided'' it is a [[the Marches|Marcher]] priest who leads the ceremony, but it is less intense. Instead of an increase to their maximum hero points for the summit, they receive a single temporary hero point which is lost once it is used - provided they have an appropriate anointing.

In the event that a character loses or changes their anointing of Pride or Loyalty, the bonus hero point is lost and can't be regained again.

==Battle Opportunity : How Will They Rise Up?==
The Strong Reeds are in a perilous situation. Through the actions of the Lion of the North, the Queen of Kalsea's personal army, and with assistance from skilled trackers, elite Ulfur kirkja, and fadir-guided shaman, the army of Bregasland is increasingly vulnerable to the Jotun. The orcs know that they are not a single fighting force, but a dedicated force of partisans and guerrilla fighters spread though the territory that will be able to sow havoc among the barbarian warbands. The current methods employed by the Strong Reeds are diametrically opposed to how the Jotun practice warcraft and view combat as a clash of champions. It cuts at the very heart of the western barbarian's culture, and their annoyance is easy to see.

Aware that a sizeable Imperial force is operating beneath their very noses, the Jotun have laid plans to locate and eliminate the Marchers hiding in their midst. The elite scouts of the Lions of the North have been going house to house, searching for any sign of the partisans. Every conceivable hiding place is being ransacked, every barn and store searched to deny the enemy any possible hiding place. Finally the search has paid off.

There is a muster at ''Leakey Moss'' in the Grey Fens during the equinox. A force of Jotun warriors, meeting with several notable jarls and packs of elite kirkja Ulfur hunters, all preparing to strike against the Strong Reeds soon. From the intelligence gathered by the Lions' scouts, the general has distributed three sets of orders sending forces to strike against disparate pockets of the Marcher army. While some will get away, death will surely follow and as many as six hundred soldiers will be die without further action.

The orders also put the barbarians across the territory on high alert for any potential strike, halving the benefits should the army rise from the reeds this season and go on the offensive.

The Sentinel Gate can be used to undertake an opportunity to strike against the Jotun forces mustering at ''Leaky Moss'' on either day of the equinox. Just taking the battle will help to keep the element of surprise, but if the Empire can be victorious they can wipe out the Jotun's gains this season.

===Objective: Recover the scouting orders===
* '''Three Jotun leaders have orders directing them to suspected hideouts of the Strong Reeds'''
* '''With access to the orders Marcher soldiers can evade the Jotun this season'''
* '''Taking the battle means that the benefits of Rise from the Reeds are cut by 30% not 50%'''
* '''Each set of orders recovered will ensure 150 soldiers escape the Jotun'''
* '''Each set of orders that are captured will cut the penalty by a further 10%, down to zero if all three are regained'''

Key to the Jotun's counter actions against the Strong Reeds are the three sets of orders issued by ''Idun Yrsasdóttir'' - daughter of the Queen of Kalsea. These are not army orders for the coming season, they are tactical directives to tackle specific targets in the coming weeks. They will guide the Jotun to key hideouts of the Reeds. Capturing the orders is essential to safeguard vital hideouts and allow the forces to remain hidden and preserve the element of surprise if they rise from the reeds in the coming season.

As things stand currently the army stands to lose 500 soldiers and see the benefits of taking rise from the reeds halved. Simply taking the battle will preserve some of that advantage - the penalty will be reduced to 30%. Each set of orders captured and passed to the Herald of the Military Council will reduce the penalty by a further 10% and will also save the lives of a hundred and fifty soldiers this season as it enables them to evade the advancing Jotun and slip away to new hiding places.

If all three orders can be recovered, then the Jotun will be hamstrung in their efforts to keep watch for the Strong Reeds, enabling the army to spring from their hideaways and rise from the reeds to full effect this season.

The leaders carrying the orders are:
* '''''Ghodi Melker''''' - a shaman of Raðljóst well practiced in the casting of the runes of prescience
* '''''Seeker Alma''''' - a skilled tracker from the plains of Reinos who leads a band of fleet-footed raiders
* '''''Eisa Winterborn''''' - a prominent yegarra warband leader from Skallahn and her personal oathsworn retinue

===Alternative objective: Stand at the stones===
* '''The Jotun are moving to cut off routes out of Bregasland'''
* '''Imperial forces would need to defend the stones for 75 minutes until the Jotun withdraw '''
* '''Holding at the stones will prevent any casualties to the Strong Reeds if they quit Bregasland'''

According to legends, there have been three standing stones at ''Leakey Moss'' since the first [[Yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] marched here from [[Dawn]]. One local fable claims that the stones will rise up to defend the area from invasion, while another story says the stones will sink into the mire should Bregasland ever truly fall. Neither outcome has happened yet, but the three stones are still an important landmark in the centre of the otherwise unremarkable Grey Fens.

With the massing of Jotun forces in the area, the field surrounding the stones offers a chance to bring the Jotun to battle and stand fast against all that they can throw against the Empire. A prolonged conflict during the equinox, lasting a full 75 minutes, would draw in sufficient barbarian warriors and force jarls to commit their warbands to overcoming those who stand against them. This would disrupt existing plans for rooting out the Strong Reeds and interdicting the army's escape from the territory. By bringing the Jotun to battle in a protracted engagement, the Empire could force the barbarian's hands and disrupt their plans in the region. A lengthy battle here would create a distraction and give the 'Reeds the cover they need to slip away past Jotun patrols and blockades. If successful, this would allow the army to slip out of Bregasland without notable losses of life.

===Battlefield opportunity: Defeat Eisa Winterborn===
* '''Eisa's Shields have come to root out the Strong Reeds in the area'''
* '''There is a chance to confront Eisa and kill her oathsworn warriors in battle'''
* '''If killed, Eisa's warband will withdraw for four seasons'''
Eisa Winterborn has engaged the Empire at pivotal moments over the last four years: during the campaign in Sermersuaq, during the Fisher uprising, and in raids against the League and Freeborn alongside Stephen of Sarcombe. She has now brought her great warband of northern yegarra to Bregasland at the request of the Jotun queen. Whereas the other jarls and heroes among the western barbarians are adept hunters, trackers, and scouts, Eisa leads solid and stoic warriors, capable of grinding advances that will crush any resistance offered by the scattered soldiers of the Strong Reeds. The engagement at ''Leakey Moss'' offers an opportunity to defeat Eisa Winterborn and end her story as a human champion of Kalsea. If killed, her death will be a significant event that would see the warband formerly under her command withdraw from active campaigning for four seasons. The yegarra that fought under her walrus banner would return to their homeland and await a new champion to step forward and lead them into battle once more.
{{CaptionedImage|file=wolves.jpg|width=250|align=right}}
===Battlefield threat: Ulfur packs===
* '''Several bands of Ulfur warriors stalk the area'''
* '''They are hunting the Strong Reeds but will execute any Imperials they defeat'''
The followers of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Ulfur|Ulfur]] - the faðir known as the patient hunter - are the least encountered group of kirkja warriors on the Empire's battlefields. They are commonly deployed as scouts and hunters. They are gathering here to hunt the Strong Reeds and have orders to kill any Imperial soldiers they defeat. Most Jotun won't execute a downed foe; they fight for the thrill of battle, not butchery, but the Ulfur have no such scruples.

==Further Reading==
* [[Bregasland]]

* [[Shovels and spades]] - Summer 387YE Wind of War about the fighting in Bregasland
* [[If one be gone we carry on]] - Spring 387YE Wind of War about the fighting in Bregasland
* [[Over western hills]] - Winter 386YE Wind of fortune about fighting in the western Marches

384YE Autumn Equinox winds of war

2026-07-29T16:27:11Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Where the Sun Sets */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:384YE Autumn]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 700px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Thorns of War.jpg|caption=The strength of the armies lie in the arms of the soldiers.|align=left|width=700}}</div>
==Overview==
Over the last three months, Imperial forces are engaged in military campaigns against barbarian forces. Sometimes those engagements have been wide ranging and dramatic, other times they have been more sedate. Building on what we did [[384YE Summer Solstice winds of war|in summer]] and [[384YE Spring Equinox winds of war|in spring]] this year, we're presenting a summary of the campaign on this page. Where there's more dramatic action, or where there are [[opportunity|opportunities]], we've given a wind of war its own page. We're also continuing to provide information about the battle opportunities, listed in the theatres that they concern.

As always, how much or how little of this information you choose to know in character is up to you. Part of the purpose of Winds of War and the [[384YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_fortune|Winds of Fortune]] is to maintain the illusion of the Empire as a living, breathing place where things happen - and to make players aware of things their characters 'should' know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months.

Also, it should go without saying that we ask everyone to abide by the rules about [[Online_roleplaying|online roleplaying]] with regard to the military campaign. It's important that the key in-character activity of the Empire world takes place at events. The game is busier and better if everything that can happen in the field, does happen in the field. Military planning and political discussions should happen at events. For this reason we generally discourage too much downtime roleplaying between events and put strict limits on what can be done online particularly using our forums and Facebook groups.

With that in mind, we now present a summary of the key military activity in the Empire - both with links to the expanded Wind of War pages and notes about other important things that have happened that didn't need a full battle campaign.
==Where the Sun Sets==
In the west, the Jotun have invaded three territories: [[Kahraman]], [[Bregasland]], and [[Sermersuaq]]. As [[Thunderous Deluge|magical storms]] begin to sweep across the Empire, Imperial and barbarian armies clash and blood mingles with the rain and the mud. Nowhere is there as much mud as Bregasland. Conquered before the height of Summer, the marshes labour under the furnace of the [[Every_time_it_rains#The_Great_Drought_of_384YE|great drought]], no rains to grant any relief from the crushing heat. Mathilda Fisher, self-styled Steward of Bregas, "leads" her orc allies to total domination of the marshes, seizing [[Bregasland#The Rushes|the Rushes]] and [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Gravenmarch]]. Yet while she may appear unopposed, there are brave Marches in Bregasland who will not accept her rule and will do whatever it takes to bring her down. You can read about the situation in Bregasland in the '''[[Summer tree]]''' Wind of War.

South of the Marches lie the warm lands of [[the Brass Coast]]. The Lasambrian Jotun - former bandits and thieves now inspired by the virtues with the zealous fervour of the convert - seek to bring the Cinnabar Hills of Kahraman under their sway. For six months they have been opposed only by the increasingly exhausted garrison of [[Kahraman#Fort Braydon|Fort Braydon]] but now the armies of the Empire come to drive them back into their arid hills. The Lasambrian invaders are forced to retreat, falling back in the face of the bloodthirsty armies of [[Navarr]]. You can read about the campaign in Kahraman in the '''[[Of earth and sky]]''' Wind of War.

Finally - in the west at least - let our eyes fall on Sermersuaq. The Jotun conquered the territory years ago, and for a time their rule was barely contested. Now an alliance of Empire and [[Otkodov]] has broken their hold, and driven their armies inexorably westward. As thunder rolls through the [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], and lightning splits the louring skies, the alliance faces their greatest challenge yet - the grim castles of Olgafsdottirshal and the Fortress of Kalant. By the time Summer turns to Autumn, and the supernatural storms have spent their fury, the alliance will be victorious - but at what cost? You can read about the final liberation of Sermersuaq in the '''[[A wandering fire]]''' Wind of War.

==Far from Here==
The sun has set - lost behind the mountains of the west. Let us pause for a moment to look elsewhere. While armies clash and bleed, Imperial champions fight elsewhere far from crushing sun or raging tempest. To struggle outside the borders of the Empire - although in the case of one at least those borders are technical rather than real. Deep beneath the earth, in the bowels of [[Delver_of_the_Depths#Lorenzo.27s_Deep_Pockets|Lorenzo's Deep Pockets]], heroes delve into darkness. Escorting the ''koboldi'' of [[Adamant]] who carry the [[One_side_stone,_one_side_fire|red iron door]] that will seal away the teeming hordes of the ''trogoni'', adventurous heroes explore flooding tunnels and ancient dungeons. So great has been the response to the [[Master of the Koboldi|Master of the Koboldi's]] call for aid that the expedition reaches the very nadir of the delvings hidden beneath the sinkhole, closing and warding the great shaft up which the trogoni poured to infest the lower levels. You can learn all about the ''expedition to the depths'' special action in the '''[[Brightness long ago]]''' Wind of War.

From the sinkhole, let us fly north and west. While the armies of human and orc clash beneath the stormclouds of Sermersuaq, and the withering gaze of the Bregasland sun, boats cross the Gullet from Westerhal and Odd's End carrying raiders to the shores of Jotun [[Skallahn]]. While warbands ravage the heartlands of the Jarl of Kierheim, destroying and pillaging and breaking the Jotun capacity to make war on the Empire, the captains of the ships and boats reave the southern shores of Kalsea at will. You can learn about the triumph that is the second ''Skallahn raid'' in the '''[[Under heaven]]''' Wind of War.

Finally, far away from drought and storm, there is the raid on [[There_is_thunder#Chalonsio|Chalonsio]]. Led by the [[Sumaah Republic]], the forces of the Liberty Pact - Empire, Republic, and [[Commonwealth]] - put into operation a daring scheme to ''break the slave trade'' in the west. A great armada of Imperial vessels, carrying thousands of warriors, join their allies and attack the slavers' city. The markets are broken, the priesthood of the God of Chains decapitated, and the fortified palace of the Ceruleo family put to the torch. A powerful message is sent, and the column of smoke that rises from the city of corruption can be seen across the entire [[Asavean Archipelago]]. You can read about the sack of Chalonsio in the '''[[Mosaic]]''' Wind of War.

==Where the Sun Rises==
But let us look back to the Empire, for the sun is rising at last. Over the marshes and forests of [[the Mallum]] it rises. A staring eye that witnesses every horror of the [[Druj]] and cannot look away. It sees the Druj in [[Ossium]], fading back into the [[The Mallum#The Forest of Ulnak|Forest of Ulnak]], leaving ruins behind. The Druj have gone from the Varushkan territory, but for how long? You can read about the situation in Ossium in the '''[[Beyond this dark house]]''' Wind of War.

South of Ossium, [[the Barrens]]. Last season Imperial armies carved a Steel Causeway through the heart of the territory but this season everything is eerily quiet. The Causeway remains - the Druj have not attacked it - yet at the same time the heroes of the Empire are busy elsewhere. There is a terrible anticipation in the air, and the storm that rages elsewhere has yet to break above the Barrens.

Needed elsewhere... in this case in [[Zenith]], where the forces of the Empire at last score a decisive victory over the invading Druj. A hammer and an anvil, the Empire splits its strength into two and catches the Druj unaware. As the sun rises over Zenith, it is once again in Imperial hands. The armies of the Mallum are trapped in the south, cut off from any avenue of escape that will not see them suffer withering casualties. The Druj are cornered and desperate, and the future of the campaign in Zenith rests on a knife's edge. You can read about the campaign to liberate Zenith in the '''[[The darkest road]]''' Wind of War.

==Battle Opportunities==
Imperial prognosticators have identified three possible major conjunctions of the [[Sentinel Gate]] at the coming summit. The Friday night [[muster]] will see the [[general|generals]] debate these options and select two of them to be taken up by Imperial heroes eager to influence the direction of the Empire's military campaigns. All battle opportunities are [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Combat Highly Likely]] environments.
<table><tr><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Location</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Opportunity</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Opposition</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Day</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">Learn More</td>
<tr><td>[[Kahraman]]</td><td>Prevent the Jotun Lasambrians recovering a large number of casualties</td><td>Jotun Yegarra</td><td>Saturday</td><td>[[Of_earth_and_sky#Last_light_of_the_sun_.28Battle.29|link]]</td>
<tr><td>[[Sermersuaq]]</td><td>Stymie an attempt by Jotun champions to unleash vengeance against the Thule</td><td>Jotun Yegarra</td><td>Saturday</td><td>[[A_wandering_fire#Lions_and_Song_.28Battle.29|link]]</td>
<tr><td>[[Zenith]]</td><td>Deal with the gathering of Druj generals in Occursion</td><td>Druj</td><td>Sunday</td><td>[[The_darkest_road#Last_Light_of_the_Sun_.28Battle.29|link]]</td>
</table>
There will also be skirmishes throughout the weekend that allow Imperial heroes to engage the barbarian enemies of the Empire; some will be detailed in the Winds of War, others in the Winds of Fortune.
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:300px; float: right; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Nation !! Force Weight
|-
| Brass Coast || 15
|-
| Dawn || 40
|-
| Highguard || 18
|-
| Imperial Orcs|| 7
|-
| League || 18
|-
| Marches || 23
|-
| Navarr || 40
|-
| Urizen || 13
|-
| Varushka || 11
|-
| Wintermark || 51
|}
The sides for the battles will be chosen by the generals in the [[Muster]] of the [[Military Council]] on Friday night. Each of the two battles must have at least 113 and at most 123 force weight sent on it.

===Request for Volunteers===
* '''We are seeking a group of volunteers for the Saturday battle'''
* '''Volunteers should not normally participate in playing and monstering battles'''
* '''This is a battle environment and not suitable for those [[combat_safety#Non-contact|who must avoid combat]]'''
The Battle Team are seeking to enlist a small group of volunteers to join either of the Saturday battles as a dedicated group of NPCs. Depending on the battle chosen by the Military Council you will either be portraying injured yegarra humans or Thule warlocks. You will need to wear some basic kit of your own, but will be provided with anything else the role needs. You must be able to wear an orc mask if portraying a Thule warlock.

These roles are not available to players who would normally monster as low-combat healers, mages, artisans or other support forces. If you do this already, please continue to do so!

These roles will need you to be comfortable with being present in the battle. This opportunity is for people who would like to play a role on the battlefield but don't normally attend. None of these characters will initiate combat but we can't guarantee that you will not be struck so this role is not suitable if it is important for your safety to be able to use the “non-contact” gesture successfully.

===Yegarra Battles===
* '''The Saturday battle opportunities will involve large numbers of Jotun Yegarra as the main opponents'''
Whichever opportunity the Military Council decides on for Saturday, we will ask the majority of player volunteers to take on the roles of human warriors fighting for the Jotun. If you have your own [[orc]] mask however, we ask that you bring it along as we're keen to ensure we can field enough Jotun orcs to support the narrative of the battles.

In the ''Kahraman'' battle, the Empire will be facing human warriors formerly of Mournwold in the Marches. You can help make this battle even better by bringing along any Marcher or Wintermark-style kit or armour you have, as well as any iconic Marcher weaponry particularly a bill, spear or other pole-arm; along with any appropriate shield or buckler. This will help us create a dramatic battle opportunity where the Empire must face down a predominantly human opponent. You can find out more about iconic Marcher look [[Marches_look_and_feel|here]].

In the ''Sermersuaq'' battle, you can help by bringing along any Jotun-style kit or armour you have, as well as any iconic Jotun weaponry particularly axes, maces, and circular shields. Javelins are ideal if you have them. You can find out more about the iconic Jotun look [[Jotun_look_and_feel|here]] but the key element for portraying these northern Yegarra is plenty of leather and fur, over mail as their iconic look.

We understand the difficulty of getting to an event with additional kit at the best of times, especially as it will not be possible to tell before Friday night whether the military council will elect to take this battle, but if you are able to bring such kit along it will improve the experience as well as that of the players you are fighting against,

If you are already part of an [[Monstering_a_battle#Elite_Monster_Units|elite monster unit]] that monsters as a Jotun warband, then please come to battle prep as you normally would for these battles. If you are part of such a unit but do not have your own orc mask then we hope that we will be able to supply an orc mask for you, but cannot guarantee one. If we do run out of orc masks for EMU on the Sunday battle then the Battle Team will make alternative arrangements at the time.

'''IMPORTANT''' - we will '''NOT''' be issuing any orc masks to players for these battle opportunities. Our orc masks will only be used once this event and then washed ready for the next event. We are continuing the provision of battle opportunities with non-orc enemies as part of our plan to reduce coronavirus risks until such a time as we have sufficient masks to run two fully orc masked battles.
<div style="float:right; width: 700px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Let's Go!.jpg|caption=In addition to battles, there are also opportunities for Imperial heroes to venture through the [[Sentinel Gate]] and engage in skirmishes and quests across the Empire and occasionally beyond.|align=right|width=700}}</div>

==Conjunctions==
The [[Sentinel Gate]] also allows smaller groups of Imperial citizens to reach locations all over the Empire where their intervention might change the course of events. Many of these ''[[Sentinel Gate#Conjunction|conjunctions]]'' involve fighting, but there are also a variety of other opportunities presented by the magic of the Gate.

For most conjunctions we've suggested Imperial titles that might be most fitting to take overall responsibility for ensuring that an opportunity is organised. Whilst the named individual has been deemed the most appropriate by the Civil Service, there is no legal requirement for them to coordinate a response or travel on the conjunction. They may delegate oversight to another individual of their choosing. As always, Imperial war scouts will be on hand at the muster point by the Sentinel Gate to provide further information to any citizens wanting to know more. Further information relating to the nature of the large conjunctions might be available from the war scouts on duty at the Sentinel Gate. They can provide updates on barbarian movements, guidance on how to engage enemy troops or advice on how to avoid casualties and return back to Anvil in safety.

Sometimes it is necessary to make small adjustments to the timing or size of skirmishes, owing to delays or availability of crew that arise between the time of publication and when an encounter runs at the event. Details will be finalised on Friday afternoon of the event before time-in. Please do check the details of a conjunction you are interested in before using the gate to ensure that you have the full and up-to-date information. You can check a conjunction by casting [[Detect_magic#Discover_Conjunction|Detect Magic (Discover Conjunction)]] on the Sentinel Gate in the presence of a ref.

It's very important to pay attention to the [[Accessibility]] note for each conjunction, which covers the likelihood of combat. Further details about the accessibility of a conjunction are [[Accessibility#Who_and_how_to_ask.3F|available both before and during the event]]. You can learn more about this on the [[accessibility]] page.
===Friday===
{|table class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Time !! People !! Duration !! [[Accessibility#Combat|Combat]] !! Location !! Responsibility !! Overview/Link
|-
| 18:30 || 60 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Kahraman, Gambit, Talaeiros || [[Dhomiro of the Cinnabar Hills]] || [[Of_earth_and_sky#Wish_On_a_Tide_.28Conjunction.29|Rescue the Damatian Cliffs forewoman]]
|-
| 19:00 || 60 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] ||Sermersuaq, Stark, Avointaivas || [[Crown_of_Three_Tears#As_the_Crown_of_Wintermark|Champion of Wintermark]] || [[A_wandering_fire#To_Find_Again_.28Conjunction.29|Recover the relic Tuuli's Eye]]
|-
| 20:00 || 60 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] ||Zenith, Occursion, Tower of the Fall || [[Medical_Officer_of_the_Pegasus_Respite| Medical Officer of the Pegasus Respite]] || [[The_darkest_road#The_Tower_of_the_Fall_.28Conjunction.29|Intercept Druj supplies, exorcise tortured souls]]
|-
| 20:30 || 6 || 50 minutes || [[Accessibility#Combat_Unlikely_or_Contained|Unlikely]] || Karsk, Lestazny, Pyotr's Square || [[Burgher of Ketsov]] || [[The_long_bench#Who_Goes_There.3F_.28Conjunction.29|Investigate why the Ketsov of the Mir Mozga are acting a little strange]]
|-
| 20:30 || 50 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] ||Zenith, Iteri, Pallasian Steps || Captain of the [[The League groups#The_Sea_Wolves|Sea Wolves]] || [[The_darkest_road#The_Pallasian_Steps_.28Conjunction.29|Destroy miasma pillars, exorcise tortured souls]]
|-
| 21:00 || 50 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] ||Zenith, Lustri, Rift in the Veil || [[Knight-protector| Knight Protector of Winter]]|| [[The_darkest_road#Rift_in_the_Veil_.28Conjunction.29|Slay the Endless Stalker, exorcise tortured souls]]
|-
| 23:00 || 50 || 30 minutes || [[Accessibility#Combat_Unlikely_or_Contained|Unlikely]] || Madruga, Calvos Sound, Calvos || [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] [[Sutannir]]|| [[The_long_bench#Confusion_in_Calvos_.28Conjunction.29|Lift spirits and investigate]]
|-
|}

===Saturday===
{|table class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Time !! People !! Duration !! [[Accessibility#Combat|Combat]] !! Location !! Responsibility !! Overview/Link
|-
| 11:00 || - || 90 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Kahraman, Gambit, Rojota Vantage || [[Military Council]]|| [[Of_earth_and_sky#Last_light_of_the_sun_.28Battle.29|Stop the Lasambrians recovering their casualties]]
|-
| 11:00 || - || 90 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Sermersuaq, Tanikipari, Jaelwif's Mound || [[Military Council]]|| [[A_wandering_fire#Lions_and_Song_.28Battle.29|Stop the Jotun taking revenge on the Thule]]
|-
| 15:00 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Ossium, Drownbark Forest, Petka's Path || [[General]] of the [[Northern Eagle]] || [[Beyond_this_dark_house#This_Fragmented_Total_.28Conjunction.29|Protect vital roads and bridges in Ossium]]
|-
| 15:30 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || The Barrens, Dawnguard, Aurelius Estates || Member of House Aurelius || [[Throw_back_the_echoes#Aurelius_Victorious_.28Conjunction.29|Summon Sorin's hungry wolves to the Barrens]]
|-
| 16:30 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Zenith, Lustri, Spire of Twisting Shadow || Raewyn Eternal || [[The_darkest_road#Spire_of_Twisting_Shadow_.28Conjunction.29|Destroy miasma pillars]]
|-
| 17:00 || 80 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Zenith, Proceris, Plantation of Tall Ferns || Aurum of Nightingale Temple || [[The_darkest_road#Plantation_of_Tall_Ferns_.28Conjunction.29|Destroy miasma pillars, intercept marshlings]]
|-
| 17:30 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Sarangrave, Whisperwood, Karliss || [[Dredgemaster of Feverwater]] || [[The_bones_of_what_you_believe#Take_in_the_Forest_Stirring_.28Conjunction.29|Rescue Navarri vates from Sarangrave]]
|-
| 17:45 || 30 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Spiral, Screed, Kephalos' Delve || [[Archmage of Night]] || [[A_yellow_star_hung#Ash_and_Dust_.28Conjunction.29|Ash and Dust]]
|-
| 18:00 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Zenith, Ocursion, Field of Celestial Mist || [[Warmage]] || [[The_darkest_road#Field_of_Celestial_Mist_.28Conjunction.29|Destroy miasma pillar, stop weapons reaching the battle]]
|-
| 20:00 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Bregasland, Grey Fens, Jayne's Top Copse || [[General]] of the [[Strong Reeds]] || [[Summer_tree#See_My_Face_Here_.28Conjunction.29|Eliminate a Jotun outpost in Bregasland]]
|-
| 20:30 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Sermersuaq, Stark, Flat Hills || [[Senator]] for [[Sermersuaq]] || [[A_wandering_fire#Borderline_.28Conjunction.29|Rescue Yanti the Storm Runner]]
|-
| 20:45|| 20 || 40 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Volodmartz, Brez, Urodli's Fall || Vladimir Sasha Volkov || [[A_yellow_star_hung#All_is_Fair.2C_All_is_Permitted_.28Conjunction.29|All is Fair, All is Permitted]]
|-
| 21:00 || 70 || 20 mins || [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|Highly Likely]] || Sermersuaq, Tanikipari, Kilpailuala Bay || [[General]] of the [[Bloodcloaks]] || [[A_wandering_fire#Sore_Point_for_a_Sick_Man_.28Conjunction.29|Send Jarl Snekmar to the Howling Abyss]]
|-
|}

==Military Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when discussing military strategies during the Autumn Equinox.
* '''Adamant Gate:''' The Adamant Gate in [[Semmerholm]] cannot be reduced below 1,000 military strength. [[Semmerholm#The_Adamant_Gate|Link]]
* '''Barrens:''' Any Imperial army fighting in the Barrens except those from Varushka and Urizen suffers a one-fifth penalty to territory conquered until the start of the Summer Solstice 385Y. [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_62|Link]]
* '''Billeting:''' Any Imperial army can take the '''''Billet''''' order in [[Upwold]] or [[Mitwold]]. [[Army_orders#Billet|Link]]
* '''Dawn:''' Dawnish armies cannot take the '''''[[Army_orders#Cautious Advance|Cautious Advance]]''''' order or the '''''[[Army_orders#Give_Ground|Give Ground]]''''' order. [[Put_on_your_war_paint#Glorious_in_Victory.2C_Proud_in_Defeat|Link]]
* '''Highguard:''' Highborn armies can issue the '''''Crusading Storm''''' order. [[Three_soldiers#Three_soldiers#Crusade|Link]]
* '''The Marches:''' Marcher armies cannot take the '''''[[Army_orders#Give_Ground|Give Ground]]''''' order. [[The_Marches_military_concerns#Army_Orders|Link]]
* '''Urizen:''' The [[Citadel Guard]] will begin to deteriorate again after the Summer Solstice. [[Pebbles_drawn_from_a_heap#Safety_from_the_Storm|Link]]
* '''Varushka:''' Varushkan armies involved in the same campaign as an army from the Brass Coast or Wintermark generate 10% fewer victory points. If armies from both nations are present, the reduction is increased to 20%. [[Our_choice#Prepare_for_Difficult_Choices|Link]].
* '''Wintermark:''' Wintermark armies can take the '''''Fight with Honour''''' order. [[Fight_with_monsters#A_Hero.27s_Tale|Link]]
* '''Wintermark:''' Wintermark armies fighting against the Jotun will gain 10% more victory points but inflict 20% less casualties. [[Fight_with_monsters#A_Hero.27s_Tale|Link]]
*'''Zenith:''' Any Highborn or Urizen army attacking into Zenith from Morrow gains a 20% bonus to any territory captured and suffers a 10% reduction in casualties inflicted. [[Three_soldiers#The_High_Pass|Link]]
*'''Morrow:''' Any Highborn or Urizen army that defends in Morrow against an army attacking from Zenith gains a 20% bonus to defend territory and suffers a 10% reduction in casualties inflicted. [[Three_soldiers#The_High_Pass|Link]]

Old blue banners dancing

2026-07-29T16:25:29Z

GuiltyConscience: /* The Forest Endures */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:388YE Spring]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 40%; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Blue Banners Dancing.jpg|caption=The beaters draw their bows; their arrows see no difference between bandit scoundrel and barbarian warrior.|align=left|width=6000}}</div>
==Dreams Come==
{{audio|link=https://youtu.be/MPFY9RvFDo0?si=Ly8F24AoqI7Emv16}}
Bregasland is a peculiar place, even those who live there rarely deny it. As the seasons turn, and the new year begins, there is a sense of disquiet uncoiling in the muddy waters. Bregas folk and Imperial soldiers alike speak of haunted sleep, of visions of something massive rising over the swamps. Sometimes it is a sky-scraping grey stone tower, topped with crenulations and pitted with arrow-slits, that leaves sleepers with a sense of being watched. Sometimes it is an actual mountain, mighty and snow topped, that looms over their dreams and brings with it a sense of insufferable ''weight'' that leaves sleepers exhausted when they wake. Sometimes it is a titanic tree, its branches stretching from horizon to horizon, great and green and immovable which leaves behind a lingering sense of strength and vitality in those who dream of it.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right;"><quote by="Ashborn Vana, General of the Autumn Hammers">Hammers, we are needed far from here in the Marches. We return to Bregasland to defend them and push the Jotun out. Our wagons may not have the speed needed to reach Graven March alone but we will NOT be alone, we call upon the contracts with the City of Gold and Lead, to speed our way in a forced march. Let the marches hear us coming, sing our warchants, bolster their hearts with our loyalty we are returning to them.</quote>
<quote by="Aracelis I Erigo, General of the Burning Falcon">Where the Burning Falcons blaze the passion of the Empire follows. We meet the fire of the Marches, Amberlain in her oath sworn territory. We hit the Jotun with banners raised bold and Prideful. The waters of Bregasland could not stain our Freeborn colour last time and they never will as we stand with the Empire.</quote>
<quote by="Velasco i Guerra, General of the Fire of the South">Xenia was a flame of the Coast and in their light we shall burn bright. We will turn our tempest south. In Loyalty to the March. Prepare well and be fleet of foot. War is calling. Forward the Fire. For the souls of the lost. Summer comes with us.</quote>
<quote by="Fitzwilliam Thorn, General of the Bounders">Jacks of the Bounders. We have work to do this season. First I must recognise and thank Mary Birchsmith who not only steered the bounders through hard times but was also and still is my friend. This season we steady conquest into Gravenmarch, rushes and the Ottermire. We will take back what they took from us and make them realise the error in going into our land once again.</quote>
<quote by="Amberlain P. Black, General of the Strong Reeds">Reeds. Last season we rose from the Reeds and bloodied the noses of those Jotun dogs, and though many of us bled that day, they bled harder. No time to stop now though, friends, for our gardens are still full of pests. We will commit to a Grinding Advance forward with our allies to chase the pests from our land.</quote>
<quote by="Determination of Ice Kaisa, General of the Narwhal’s Spear">My Precious Soldiers, it is time for us to be both an example to the armies beside us, and in front. We agreed to a code of war, of honour and Heroism, one we will show how to fight with Virtue. The Strong Reeds stayed loyal to Bregasland and due to their cunning tactics, the Jotun grew restless. The Jotun then came with Stephen of Sarcombe, letting slaughter follow in their wake. Let the Ambitious and Courageous heroes we create here be the foundation of the talks due in the newly built meeting place.</quote></div>
Some are more disturbed by these dreams than others, anxious for what they might portend. Many who rise from their blankets beneath the sullen sky of Bregasland never experience them at all. At first the dreams seem scattered, but as the season progresses they become more common and more pronounced. From chance engagements it seems that it is not just Bregas and Imperial soldiers who are experiencing then, but their foes as well.

But at the end of the day, dreams are only dreams and cannot truly hurt you. Whatever happens in dreams is between your right eye and your left, as some Marchers put it. There is war in Bregasland, and weighed against that threat, what purchase can strange dreams find?

==The Ebb and Flow==
The Empire continues to fight in Gravenmarch, building on their successes last season. They press the advantage, but the Jotun will not give ground. They stand as immovable as stone against Imperial assault, matching blade with shield, and arrow with armour. The two sides, it seems, are evenly matched.
There is a burst of concern early on when Imperial scouts bring news of fifty thousand Jotun streaming back over Odd’s Way from Mitwold, but the new arrivals are here to replace, not reinforce. The Howling Night, the Iron Host, the Shield of the Mountain, and the Southern Bear remain behind to defend Bregasland; all the other Jotun depart the Fenlands as if pursued by the hellish hounds of the Winter realm.

The four armies out of Mitwold are joined by a fifth a week or so later - the Bear Who Swims comes out of the west in the wake of the departing armies and adds its strength to those already in place. The Bounders and the Strong Reeds push to take advantage of this chaos, but the Jotun leave few cracks in their defences for the Marcher soldiers to exploit. By the time reinforcements arrive, the Jotun are once again arrayed to face Imperial efforts to reclaim Bregasland.
==Things Change==
As the Jotun reorganise their strength, so too do the Empire. The Strong Reeds remain in Gravenmarch, of course, rallying the Bregas folk to resist the Jotun. The Bounders stay with them, adding bow and soft-footed beater to the ‘Reeds strength. The [[Bloodcloaks]] fall back to Hahnmark, while the [[Drakes]] answer the call of their people in Mitwold, swift to face the unexpected invasion of the home they are sworn to defend. Alone, the two remaining Marcher armies would likely be crushed by the Jotun - but they are not without reinforcements of their own.

As the Jotun armies race north, so the armies that until recently had been attacking in [[Skallahn]] move south. The Narwhal’s Spear are at the forefront, [[Army_qualities#Quick-Witted|seeking their foe]] in the marshes of the south, With them are the [[orc|orcs]] of the [[Autumn Hammers]], the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]] drawing on their magical [[Army_qualities#Contracted|contracts]] with the [[Lictors]] to smooth their journey and let them keep pace with the fast-moving hunters of the ‘Spear. Only a short distance behind them, two [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] armies [[Army qualities#Fast|forced march]] half the length of the western Empire to battle. The [[Fire of the South]] burns brightly, but it cannot match the excitement of the [[Burning Falcon]], whose passionate intensity is all the greater for having been denied a ''true'' battle in Skallahn last season. Their fire is matched and reflected back by the [[Knights of Glory]] that march with them - ''Lady Moriamis'', golden-eyed warrior-poet, leads her cohort of warsingers, voices raised and drums pounding to inspire their allies to even greater acts of courage and audacity.

Six Imperial armies in Bregasland then, matched against five Jotun. Battling for Gravenmarch, beneath the silent gaze of the Graven rock.
==In the Shadow of the Grey Rock==
The two sides are well matched, at least at first. There are knights of the [[Realms#Summer|Summer realm]] fighting with the Southern Bear, whose fiery mien matches the intensity of the battle-musicians of Lady Moriamis. The raven-banner of ''Helma Skutasdóttir'' still flies in Ottery, her warband returning to their task of rooting out rebels among the Bregas. The standards of the Howling Bears are raised alongside the austere flags of Yantan Tethrason of Reinos - the former Lasambrian goatherd and their followers have acquitted themselves well during the invasion of Mitwold it seems. The three warbands have stayed in the south, while the rest accompany the Jotun forces racing west to [[Hordalant]].

The battle lines do not shift much, at least at first. The Empire pushes, but the Jotun hold. They clearly trust the Lasambrian forces in Mitwold to secure the eastern border of the Dour Fen, allowing them to bring most of their force to bear in the south. Not all of it though - they must maintain their presence in the rest of the marsh, must stand ready to deal with rebellious Bregas inspired by the presence of the Strong Reeds. It is not easy to fight back against the strength of the western orcs, with their boot on the necks of the yeofolk, but the Bregas endure.

A step back, a step forward. The Jotun aren’t pressing the Empire, content this season as the last to hold what they have taken, to keep them contained in Gravenmarch. The Shield of the Mountain take the lead here, ensuring that even if the Empire manage to gain any new ground they will [[Army_qualities#Hard_Bitten|pay for it]] in blood. Yet the Empire came to this battle knowing there would be a butcher’s bill to meet if they wanted to unseat the Jotun. The Strong Reeds lead the Imperial advance, grinding forward, crushing the barbarians who try to stand against them.

The fighting rages, in the shadow of Graven Rock and step by step the Jotun are forced to cede ground. But the cost! Thousands of Imperial soldiers fall to the Jotun; thousands of barbarians fall to the Empire. The Marchers maintain that Gravenmarch is the only dry land in the marshes, but this season the soil here is sodden with blood. Thirsty soil is good soil, say the Marchers. But soil ''this'' thirsty?
<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=Amberlain7869.jpg||caption='''Amberlain P. Black''', General of the Strong Reeds|align=left|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Aracelis4339.jpg|caption='''Aracelis i Erigo''', General of the Burning Falcon|align=left|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=General Xenia.png|caption='''Xenia i Erigo''', former General of the Fire of the South|align=left|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=General Determination.png|caption='''Determination of Ice Kaisa''', General of the Narwhal's Spear|align=left|width=200}}
</fourpicture>

==The Mountain Rings==
The Jotun must know they are losing in Gravenmarch. A month before the Spring Equinox they have been pushed back to the edge of the Rushes. The western orcs do not relish fighting in the marshes, but they do not let their distaste weaken their resolve. With Graven Rock behind them, the Strong Reeds at the fore, the Bounders to their left and the Narwhal’s Spear at their right hand, the Imperial armies press one more time into the Rushes.

As they come, a roar goes up from the Jotun. ''"Ulvenwar!"'' they cry, and ''"Majastind!"'' and ''"Treefeller!"'' Some of the orcs, Autumn Hammers and Marcher orcs alike falter, as if a great weight has fallen on them, then rise filled with some inner strength. The coarse fur of the bear pelt at their shoulder, the tight bone helm of a beast’s head at their temples. Then the roar becomes louder and it is clear that it is not just coming from the Jotun. It is coming from all around, the thunder of stone on stone, coupled with the impossible drumbeat of the living earth itself.

Graven Rock is singing.

The noise goes on and on, rising in volume as the two armies clash. For some it is deafening, bringing with it a sense that the enemy cannot be defeated, that this challenge cannot be met. For others it is empowering, full of the assurance that the only way to lose is to give in to the fear of what lies ahead. The roar of Graven Rock echoes back and forth across the battlefield, ringing, ringing like a massive bell of stone. Sometimes, when one catches a glimpse of the rock out of the corner of an eye, it has become an immensity, a pinnacle of grey stone reaching so much higher than the usual fifty or so metres. Other times it resembles that odd dreamt-of tower.
The roar fades as suddenly as it arose, but the sensations it evoked linger as the battle rages on. The campaign so far has been bloody, but it is nothing to the battle here on the margins of the marsh, on the edge of the great fens of Bregas. Two implacable forces matched against each other, in the end it is the Empire that overcomes the obstacle presented to them by their foes. It is Imperial soldiers that push the Jotun back, force them to cede the field, force them to retreat north toward Sallow.

They do not retreat far; but does it matter? Gravenmarch is Imperial. The Rushes are next, with the Empire ready to press on after the retreating orcs to show them the folly of trying to claim Bregasland from its people, from the Strong Reeds.

The battle, though, has raged for the entire day and night is falling. Horns and drums sound, warbands and cohorts regrouping, the situation being assessed. Soldiers turning to each other and asking what that noise was, what it portended. And that’s when the other unlooked for miracle - if miracle it is - occurs.
==The Forest Endures==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Fitzwilliam Thorn.jpg|caption='''Fitzwilliam Thorn''', General of the Bounders|align=right|width=300}}
That final battle on the boundary of the Rushes has been the bloodiest of the entire campaign. Easily as many soldiers on both sides fell, as have fallen in the whole time since the Winter equinox. Perhaps three thousand in total, human and orc alike, lying on the thirsty earth or in bloody pools, pressed into the earth as if in a final embrace. It is dark, and there are more pressing issues than recovering the dead – there will be time tomorrow to count the cost and begin the mourning, even as others prepare to pursue the defeated yet unbowed Jotun.

As the sun falls beneath the mountains, the sky is clear above. The stars stare down, silently, on the butchers field. And as the stars come out there is a noise like… how to describe it. Like a cobweb being plucked? Like the hand of the wind caressing the reeds? Like the earth wakening from its slumber and sighing in delight at the touch of the sun? And beneath it a thrumming sound, the beat of a drum, quieter and more measured than the roar of Graven Rock. The sound of plants, growing. Trees, rising from the ground, undergoing years of growth in the space of an hour.

At first it is only a handful, but as [[the Oak]] rises in the sky, more and more trees push out of the soil. Oak and yew, ash and willow, along the border where the battle has raged. It soon becomes clear that these trees are not growing at random. Each grows from the place where a warrior has fallen - both barbarian and Imperial. Those bodies that have not been collected - the great majority of them at that - are lost to the earth as the trees grow. Pulled or pushed down into the soil as the roots dig down and the branches spread wide.

By midnight, a silent woodland covers the battlefield, here in the shadow of Graven Rock. By sunrise, the trees have spread further, new growth leaping from the graves of the fallen and out along the border between Gravenmarch and the Rushes. As the first rays of the morning sun touch the first tree, the supernatural growth ends. A small forest now lies in western Gravenmarch, the oldest trees looking for all the world as if they have stood there for decades.
Some welcome this strange miracle, but the landskeepers who are present are less sanguine. They cast dark eyes towards the heavens, muttering about the Mountain and the Oak, about the sheer unnaturalness of these events and what they may hold for the future. Some cast an equally baleful eye to the south-east, toward [[Casinea]] and [[Anvil]], as they mutter among themselves.

But for most, this is a strange thing indeed, but not unprecedented in a world of magic, where the stars can touch the earth. There will be time to wonder at the trees when no Bregas labours under the Jotun yoke. And for the Marchers at least, the trees are fitting tribute to the dead - even if their allies from other Imperial nations might not agree…
<gallery heights=200 mode="packed">
File:AutumnHammers colour.png|link=387YE_Winter_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Autumn Hammers
File:Bounders_Colour.png|link=387YE_Winter_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Bounders
File:BurningFalcon_Colour.png|link=387YE_Winter_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Burning Falcon
File:TheFireoftheSouth_Colour.png|link=387YE_Winter_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Fire of the South
File:Narwhal's Spear.webp|link=387YE_Winter_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Narwhal's Spear
File:StrongReeds_Colour.png|link=387YE_Winter_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Strong Reeds
</gallery>

<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofBregasland.png|align=right|width=300}}</div>

==Game Information==
* '''The Empire has liberated Gravenmarch and made some headway into the Rushes'''
* '''Unexpected magic has touched the battlefield on the edge of the Rushes'''
The Empire has liberated Gravenmarch, giving them a beachhead in the territory at last. The price has been high - almost three thousand soldiers have died to drive the Jotun out. The barbarians for their part have paid a lower price, given their strong defensive strategy, but they have lost at least two thousand of their own people.

There is now a woodland on the edge of the Rushes, raised in a single night by unexpected magic that does not seem to have been the result of a ritual enchantment. At the same time, there are strange resonances running through Graven Rock which the landskeepers suspect may be connected to the sudden forest. They’re confident that [[Eye of the High Places]] will discover more information, and are concerned about what these changes might portend.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=EleonarisArt.jpg|caption=Regal, noble, and terrible in anger; Eleonaris is the Lion of Summer and her soldiers bear many of her traits.|align=right|width=300}}</div>

==Participation : Fire of the South==
* '''The Fire of the South cannot take the cautious advance or give ground orders for the next year'''
* '''Any character whose military unit fought alongside the Fire of the South may be inspired by the Knights of Glory'''
The Fire of the South last fought alongside the Knights of Glory in [[Sarangrave]] during the Summer. As [[Even_darkness_must_pass#Sarangrave|mentioned then]], the use of Knights of Glory is having an unexpected effect on the armies relying on it. The Fire of the South cannot take the [[Army orders#Cautious Advance|Cautious Advance]] or [[Army orders#Give Ground|Give Ground]] orders until a year has passed - and with their use of the [[enchantment]] this season that clock has been reset.

On the other hand, ''Lady Moriamis'' and her warsingers take every opportunity to inspire the passionate soldiers of the Fire of the South, especially the [[kohan]]. A character whose military unit supported this army may choose to have been impacted by the experience of battling in close proximity to the glorious heralds of [[Eleonaris]].
* If you possess the [[heroic skills#hero|hero]] skill, you receive a bonus hero point during the Spring Equinox. This bonus increases their maximum number of hero points for the duration of the summit.
* If you do not have the hero skill, you receive a single temporary hero point which is lost once it is used. It will have faded entirely by the end of the Spring Equinox regardless.

Anyone who chooses to gain this benefit also experiences a roleplaying effect that lasts until the end of the Spring Equinox: ''You feel a strong urge to attempt great deeds that invite attention You take particular pleasure in approval and adulation, being overlooked or dismissed may cause you to lose your temper. If you enter battle you feel driven to prove your worth and show everyone your strength.''

==Battle Opportunity: A Broken Rock==
Campaigning in [[Bregasland]] has been focused in the east of the territory this season. After heavy fighting the Imperial armies have liberated Graven March and pushed the [[Jotun]] back, but the fate of the territory still hangs in the balance. The Empire have yet to reach the vast fenland expanses of the Grey Fens where the orcs patrol the dispersed settlements, ensuring those who labour are kept in line, and keeping a watch out for signs of infiltration by the [[Strong Reeds]].

On the edge of Drayham Mere is the found the Ullsmere Rock. A huge dolmen, it has stood unmarked and unremarked for as long as anyone can remember. According to local legend it was erected centuries ago by visiting friars to ward the settlement from restless spirits. It clearly works well because there have never been any ghosts in the area that anyone can ever recall. As a result, sensible folk just leave the Rock be.

To date the Jotun had paid the Rock no more attention than the Bregas ever did, but that seems to have suddenly changed. Sunne Astar, a [[Elite_Jotun_characters#Ghodi|ghodi]] with a quixotic reputation, has gathered warriors from the Howling Night army and ordered them to drag the enormous stone all the way back to [[Hordalant#Vallorberg|Vallorberg]] in [[Hordalant|Hordalant]]. The ghodi claims the stone is a relic of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Ulvenwar|Ulven]], and that the orc hero ''hurled'' it at a troll to kill the monster without being close enough to touch it.

Astar intends to take the stone back to Hordalant and place it in the Howling Night Kirkja sacred to Ulven in the belief that its power will inspire the army to new heights. It doesn't matter how unlikely any of Aster's story is, if the Jotun believe it, then there is good reason to think it might work. As if that weren't bad enough, it seems at least one legend about the Ullsmere Rock is true. Moving it, has broken the warding and restless shades, dubbed Grey Walkers by terrified locals, are already rising from the murky waters.

The civil service prognosticators have identified a conjunction of the Sentinel Gate that offers an opportunity to travel to ''Drayham Mere'' in the Grey Fens and put a stop to this.

===Objective: Recover the Ullsmere Rock===
<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; max-width: 500px;"><quote by="Sunne Astar, The Ears of Ulven">There in the deathly waters will we find it. The Rock of Ulvenwar, the great pillar of stone which mighty Ulven threw at the Doomed One to strike them down. Fear nor the waters of the marsh, nor the grey spirits that lie beneath them for she is with us. She commands us to claim the Ulven Rock and bear it to the kirkja that we might receive her blessings.</quote></div>

* '''Ghodi Aster has sent the Howling Night warriors to steal the Ullsmere Rock'''
* '''With the warding broken, shades are rising from the marshes'''
* '''Killing ghodi Aster will prevent the Howling Night army improving their quality'''
* '''Restoring the stone to its rightful location will curtail the haunting'''
* '''Grey Fens will gain the [[Region_qualities#Haunted|haunted]] quality if the stone is not restored'''

Sunne Astar, a ghodi who hears the voice of Ulven, has led a host of warriors to this remote village in the Grey Fens in search of the Ullsmere Rock. Astar believes the Rock was once a weapon, a relic of Ulven. They plan to drag it all the way back to Vallorborg in Hordalant. If the ghodi places the Rock in the kirkja to Ulven in Vallorborg then he will be able to improve the fighting spirit of the Howling Night army.

The Jotun have succeeded in pulling the stone out of the ground and have begun to drag it away from the area on a rudimentary sled. The Ullsmere Rock, is a massive block of hewn rock that is not possible to be moved without concerted effort. If the ghodi Sunne Aster is slain then it will put an end to the plan to upgrade the quality of the Howling Night army. If the Jotun are killed, or driven off, then citizens can return it to where it was originally placed. The sled is essential to shift the weighty cargo, and even then it will take six unarmed individuals to move it slowly back into position. Should one of those labouring on the sled be struck down or unable to contribute, then the party will have to wait until a full six are able to work together on the task.

Dragging the Rock back where it belong is half the battle. Once there, Marchers can use rough music to drive off the shades and restore the hearth magics that allow the Rock to ward the marshes. If the ''Ullsmere Rock'' is restored then the Grey Walkers will sink back into the waters of the Fens - if the stone is not returned then the dead will spread out across the bleak landscape and the Grey Fens will become [[Region_qualities#haunted|haunted]].

===Battle opportunity: Open relations with House Brawness===
* '''Friar Bloughton came here to try to tackle the shades but has been captured by the Jotun'''
* '''Rescuing the friar offers a chance to extend an olive branch to House Brawness'''
* '''If that happens, the nation could invite the household to come to Anvil to see if they can bury the hatchet'''

Friar Bloughton tends to the spiritual needs of House Brawness. He came to Drayham Mere to do what he could to exorcise the shades but was quickly captured by the Jotun. House Brawness were among Mathilda Fisher's closest supporters nearly five years ago and suffered at the hands of the magistrates as a result. Since then they have kept to their farm, avoiding trouble but there is still considerable resentment and the stench of rebellion still [[Bregasland#Rebellious|pools in the dank air of the North Fens]].

Rebellious or not, he's still a Marcher and he was still here helping when the Jotun took him. If the Friar can be rescued, it might be possible to convince him to get the rest of his household to talk to the nation. It won't be easy - his family have felt the heavy hand of [[Imperial law]] - but if he is brought back to Anvil and reasoned with, then he might amenable to opening discussions with the remains of his house. If that happens House Brawness will send representatives to Anvil at the Summer Solstice creating an opening to resolve the Rebellious spirit once and for all. Of course that assumes that the Marchers in Anvil are even remotely minded to treat with the Friar and his household, given their whole-hearted support for Mathilda Fisher.

One element that might help is the House Brawness banner depicting a Roaring Bear. This item was one of a number of items that were confiscated by the magistrates from the Brawness Household when they were tried. The Roaring Bear was an old barbarian banner that proudly hung in the house's hall for generations. It had a questionable aura at the time of the rebellion, but that has long since faded. Simple, of no expert design, and unlikely to ever have held an enchantment, it depicts a great bear roaring at the morning star. The trophy is thought to have been captured around the founding of the Empire as the unified Marcher nation drove back the Jotun from Bregasland, and new lands were claimed for the plough. Not a mighty war banner, but a memento of a house's arrival in a new land and symbol of what the household had won for themselves, Brawness would undoubtedly like it back.

===Objective: Dismiss the Grey Walkers===
* '''Shades are slowly escaping the binding of the Ullsmere Rock'''
* '''Priests can exorcise the shades to prevent them cursing those trespassing on their fields'''

With the toppling of the Rock, the fields and fenland surrounding Drayham are being beset by restless spirits. The shadowy figures, dubbed ''Grey Walkers'' by the locals, have not been seen in centuries. They are clearly Marchers, wearing garb common in the fens hundreds of year ago, and draped in the tatters of funeral bindings. The move slowly and without sound across the fields to seek out any who trespass on what was once their land and drive them forth. Whilst easily dispatched they simply dissipate into thin air, only to coalesce again several minutes and a short distance away. It is within the power of a skilled priest to ascertain the strength of a shade using the [[Insight| insight]] ceremony and to then [[Exorcism|exorcise the apparition]].

Several of the shades are clad for battle and retaining more faculties of their previous existence. These individuals can deliver a potent curse to those nearby that will slowly manifest over time. It is certain that these notable ''Grey Walkers'' will be more difficult to dismiss via exorcism, and may require priests to collaborate, draw on ritual powers, imbibed potions or use magical items to overcome the shades strength of will. The civil service prognosticators have prepared a separate briefing for the High Exorcist, currently Belial De Courtenay-Wyldrose, with more details on the shades, how best to combat them, and how exorcists can remove any curse inflicted by the Grey Walkers on citizens during the battle.

Whatever the grey walkers are, they don't appear to respond the way a ghost might. They don't talk, even when [[Voice for the Dead]] is cast on them. Exorcism appears to be the only way to drive them from this world.

===Battlefield threat: Curse of the Dead Meres===
* '''Several of the Grey Walkers will inflict potent curses on those they approach in battle'''
* '''They will denote this with a call of "[[Calls#CURSE|CURSE]]"'''
* '''If you are struck by a "CURSE" call then seek out a referee ''as you exit the battlefield'''''
* '''The curse will not manifest until you have seen a referee'''

The Grey Walkers surrounding the village of Drayham can inflict a powerful curse on those they strike or draw near to. The curse does not manifest immediately, often taking up to an hour before the effect becomes apparent. Anyone struck by a Grey Walker (using the call CURSE) should speak with a referee ''as they leave the battlefield'' and before exiting the Sentinel Gate. A referee will be stationed at the battlefield exit ready to brief any players that have been struck by the CURSE call.

===Battle participation: The Grey Walkers===
<box>
* '''There is an opportunity to monster as a Grey Walker'''
* '''The Battle Team are asking for up to 20 volunteers to assist in this role'''
* '''The role requires simple Marcher kit and a single one-handed weapon or rod'''
Up to 20 player volunteers can take on the role of a Grey Walker during the battle. You will need to arrive at Monster between 09:30 and 10:00, anyone arriving later will be asked to monster as normal. The role requires the volunteer to have simple Marcher kit, a gambeson or simple shirt is ideal, and to carry a one-handed weapon or rod; armour can be worn, but is not needed at all.
</box>

==Crack in the Stone (Conjunction) ==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Determination of Ice.webp|caption='''Determination of Ice Kaisa''', General of the Narwhal's Spear|align=left|width=300}}</div>
* '''A warband of yegarra are the vanguard for supplies going to the Southern Bear'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''General of the Narwhal's Spear'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for killing the yegarra'''
{{AgainstBarbarians}}
The cunning icewalkers and shrewd mediators of the [[Narwhal's Spear]] have had their work cut out for them this season in [[Bregasland]]. The Jotun have maintained a solid wall of steel against the Imperial attack, so getting information has been difficult. One lead that has borne fruit, is a warband of yegarra with some Jotun, serving as the vanguard for supplies going to the Southern Bear.

If the yegarra can be killed, then the party of Winterfolk will be able to catch the wagons and divert the supplies to the Narwhal's Spear, restoring 250 strength before the campaign this season. If they can't be stopped, and at least half the party survives, then the supplies will make it to the Southern Bear, restoring 250 strength to ''that'' army before the campaign this season.

Summer tree

2026-07-29T16:25:06Z

GuiltyConscience:

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:384YE Autumn]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 700px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Summer tree.jpg|caption=[[Bregasland]] "belongs" to the Fisher Steward... but the Bregas themselves never will.|align=left|width=700}}</div>
{{Audio|link=https://youtu.be/avWThcWEedo}}
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Amberlain P. Black, General of the Strong Reeds">Strong Reeds, we've been down, up and now down again. The Jotun think that they are safe, the Jotun think they are secure, we will make them regret that. Return to the shadows, lay low and deny them respite! Our allies in house Greywater will bolster us and we will give them no rest. Be their worst fucking nightmare!</quote></div>
==Cracked Mud==
The marshes parch under the relentless heat of the [[Every_time_it_rains#The_Great_Drought_of_384YE|great drought]], the trees wither beneath its unrelenting gaze, and the Jotun wash across Bregasland like the tide roaring in. [[Bregasland#The Rushes|The Rushes]] and [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Gravenmarch]] fall in short order to a force of more than thirty thousand orcs and their human allies. Mathilda Fisher plants a battle standard bearing the likeness of a leaping fish in the town square at Graven, and that seems to be that. The marshes are now completely under control of the Fishers, aided by the great armies of the western orcs.

Or rather, not ''entirely'' under her control. The Bregas are Marchers, and they have heeded the words of their friars and monks. Those who have not fled to Mitwold or the Mourn - and there are many who have not fled - remain in their homes but offer the absolute minimum of cooperation to the conquerors. If their fellow Marchers, their neighbours to the east, thought the Bregas were surly and uncommunicative with ''them'', it is nothing to the way they treat the invaders. For the most part they are careful never to step over the line into active resistance. They keep their [[farm|farms]] only by dint of having sworn to be ''thralls'', with all that entails after all. Yet wherever they can they make life difficult for the Fishers and their Jotun masters.

The household of [[Deep_when_the_river%27s_high#A_Little_Time_.28Conjunction.29|Greywater]] - for all their bad reputation - are an exception. Thanks to the actions of Imperial heroes during the Summer Solstice, they now live as renegades in the [[Bregasland#East Marshes|East Marshes]]. Those Bregas who are able to do so offer them what aid they can - and in turn they offer aid and support to the [[Strong Reeds]]. The army has not quit the [[territory]] - it continues to [[Army_qualities#Secretive|lie low]] among the dank pools and the bulrushes. Indeed, in conjunction with the Greywaters and the other rebels, they are able to do a lot more than merely lie low. Jotun supply lines are threatened, and their stores of food regularly raided. There is no peace for the invaders. At the same time, the Fishers and the orcs cannot find the Strong Reeds - they fade back into the marshes before their enemy even knows they are there. They remain a constant thorn in the side of the new masters of Bregasland.

Mathilda Fisher has firmly established her "court" at [[Bregasland#Fisher.E2.80.99s_Rock|Fisher's Rock]], in the [[Bregasland#North Fens|North Fens]]. According to scouts from the Strong Reeds, they are building a town around the rock itself, primarily out of wood. The structures are not traditional Marcher dwellings - they are more like [[Kallavesi]] stilt-houses built on posts raised from the marshes themselves. This seems to be the only significant construction taking place in the marshes. When the Jotun conquer land, they almost always begin building fortifications there. Bregasland appears to be the exception - most likely because the only place to easily fortify is Gravenmarch. The western orcs will struggle to transport the [[white granite]] needed through the marshes in the face of a rebel force itching to sink their flat-bottomed boats or attack their stone caravans.

For now, though, the violence in the marshes has broadly subsided. There are raids by the Greywaters and the Strong Reeds, but they rarely impact the Marchers of Bregasland directly. The Jotun appear loathe to take too strong a hand against the thralls of Bregasland, and the new steward seems unable to stop the attacks herself. Perhaps things would have been different if her [[Deep_when_the_river%27s_high#Heart_of_Oaths_.28Conjunction.29|fanatical cousin Dillion]] were still alive but the Imperial orcs and their allies took care of that problem. Things in the territory are still unsettled, but for many life continues almost the same as it did under the Empire. Indeed, Mathilda Fisher seems very keen indeed to propagate that illusion.

As far as the conquerors of Bregasland are concerned, it seems they believe that the [[Military Council]] has withdrawn their forces from Bregasland. [[What%27s_good_for_me#Nation_of_Bregas|As she promised prior to the Summer Solstice]], Mathilda Fisher intends to send a diplomatic delegation to Anvil during the Autumn Equinox to negotiate a treaty with the Imperial Consul. They will arrive at some point during the Autumn Equinox - details are not yet forthcoming - and the main topic for discussion will be the continued neutrality of Bregasland, as a free state between the Jotun and the Marches. Given previous negotiations were heated to put it mildly, the magistrates are at great pains to remind everyone that [[Create_law_of_delegation_protection|law of delegation protection]] guarantees the safety of representatives of barbarian nations coming to Anvil. The law protects them until they have returned to their own lands.

==Game Information==
With House Greywater having established hidden camps deep in the western marshes, there is a network of support for the Strong Reeds in Bregasland. Whenever they take the [[Army_qualities#Secretive|Lay Low]] order in the territory while the Greywaters remain free to help them, they will prevent any enemy army from being able to [[Casualties|resupply]], but ''will'' be able to benefit from both natural and emergency resupply themselves even if there are hostile forces present. Furthermore as long as the Greywaters continue to harass the Jotun, Grey Fens has the ''allied insurgents'' quality - similar to the [[Ossium#Under_threat|under threat]] quality but benefitting the Empire - which means the Grey Fens will count as being a beach head even though the entire territory is in Jotun hands. There is an additional unexpected benefit that arises because the Strong Reeds were in the territory when it fell. Even though the territory is now entirely in Jotun hands, the army is ''not'' forced out. The general of the Strong Reeds can continue to give the ''lay low'' order - they are not forced out of the territory. This benefit will remain until they move out of the territory, give a different order, or lose the support of House Greywater.

With Gravenmarch in Jotun hands, the [[Keeper of the Dour Fens]] has lost access to their [[sinecure]]; by all accounts, a cousin of Mathilda Fisher named Bron now styles themselves as ''Keeper'' and claims the bounty of crystal mana that comes from [[Keeper_of_the_Dour_Fens#Beneath_Graven_Rock|beneath Graven Rock]]. They still keep the [[Imperial title|title]], however. Should the sinecure be recovered, they will once again gain access to the mana as long as they have not stepped down in the meantime.

The Imperial Breadbasket is being used to supply the Jotun armies - they have claimed its bounty for themselves and their trusted thralls. As such, the [[great work]] now provides no benefits to player character farms in Bregasland, and will not do so until the territory is once again Imperial.

==See My Face Here (Conjunction)==
* '''There is a conjunction to Jayne's Top Copse in the Grey Fens, a chance to slay the Jotun and aid the resistance in Bregasland'''
* '''There is an opportunity to inflict 250 casualties on the Mandowla's Roar in the coming season, if the Empire ensure no-one escapes to tell the tale'''
* '''The ''General of the Strong Reeds'' has been asked to arrange a group of heroes to attack the Jotun'''

The Strong Reeds have gone to ground in Bregasland as the Jotun and the forces of Mathilda Fisher have ground eastwards. They have made the reedbeds, haylofts, and remote birchlands across the fens their hiding places, and the scattered settlements and raised drove tracks their killing grounds. Working hand-in-glove with the Grey Waters they are stubbornly they are prepared to make the Jotun regret their invasion and to keep resentment to the Fishers on the minds of those oppressed Marchers who remain.

The Grey Waters have identified an ideal target for a strike. Jotun soldiers from the Mandowla's Roar have constructed a small stockade in the Grey Fens, likely to help secure the area and to provide a base of operations for their patrols. Whilst it is little more than a hastily erected fence, it has emboldened the Jotun warriors in the area and hampered efforts of the Strong Reeds to undermine their operations. Fortunately a conjunction of the Sentinel Gate offers an opportunity to launch a surprise attack against the orcs at ''Jayne's Top Copse'', eliminating the outpost in the area. Aware of the superstitions the Jotun have regarding the brackish waters of Bregasland, a cunning plan is put forward to the General of the Strong Reeds...

The Grey Water's plan relies on Imperial heroes mounting a clandestine attack on the Jotun, by moving in small groups, operating in the shadows, and stealthily killing any orcs they encounter on the way to the outpost. Once there they will be able to lay in wait for a patrol that is returning for the night and kill them too. If the Empire manages to kill all the orcs and leave no survivors, then there will be no-one to report how the attack happened. In that case, the already overconfident general of Mandowla's Roar will send a larger force into the marshes in search of revenge on whoever carried out the attack. The Strong Reeds and the Grey Waters will be perfectly positioned to pick these Jotun off one by one, allowing them to inflict 250 casualties on the army in the coming season.

The Marches history

2026-07-29T16:24:42Z

GuiltyConscience: /* After the March */

[[Category:History]]
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Marchers Marching.jpg|caption=The exodus from [[Dawn]] gives the nation its name, and defines their stubborn independence.|width=600|align=left}}</div>
==The creation of the Marches==
The history of the Marchers begins with a rebellion in Dawn. A group of disaffected yeofolk determined to leave their lord's lands and make a better life for themselves. Their complaints were numerous and varied; the lack of opportunities for those of low-birth, the failure to recognise the importance of hard work or to adequately reward it. Personal disagreements inflamed these inequities, petty rivalries and personal snubs exacerbated the tension.

The March began relatively peacefully, with petitions to the [[Dawn monarchy|monarch of Dawn]] for greater opportunity and recognition of the yeofolk. When there requests were refused the rebels laid their plan. With no other opportunities, and nowhere else to go, they marched across the country heading for the western border, intent on claiming land outside of Dawn. This initial diaspora was joined on their pilgrimage by thousands more, until they became known as the Marchers. Not all were driven by disgruntlement, a few joined the March because they imagined it would lead to glory and more than a few marched for love.

After leaving Dawn, the Marchers entered the woods of [[Miaren]]. At this time, much of the territory was still dominated by the [[vallorn]], and the March nearly ended in disaster. The local [[Navarr]], however, offered aid and support to the Marchers. After all, the Navarr have a long tradition of helping those who are unhappy with their situation find a new place to live, or a new way of life. While some chose to join the Navarr, the majority of the former yeofolk wanted a land of their own. With some aid from sympathetic stridings and steadings, the former Dawnish folk passed through [[Miaren#Greenfalls|Greenfalls]] and [[Miaren#Oakways|Oakways]] to what is now [[Upwold]]

The first Marchers had few real weapons or pieces of armour between them. The Dawnish nobility fully expected them to flee the oncoming winter or die at the hands of the orcs. The traditional view is that the Marchers confounded these expectations by taking their farm tools and padded jacks and carving out a kingdom for themselves, slaughtering the orc clans they encountered and driving them before them with grim determination. In addition to their Ambition, the Marchers benefited from a unity of purpose that the orcs broadly lacked. While the barbarians as a whole outnumbered the Marchers, they failed to present any cohesive resistance to the invading humans.

Some historians believe that the Marchers were also given some support by the Navarr, supplementing their armaments with the bows and spears both nations favoured. The benefits to the Navarr are obvious; with a friendly human nation to the west they would be able to expand the [[trods]] and hasten the destruction of the vallorn. Indeed, the Marchers succeeded beyond anything the Navarr could have hoped, ultimately providing an opportunity to reconnect with the steadings of distant Liathaven, isolated since the fall of Terunael by hostile tribes of orcs.

Regardless of how they did it, the Marchers carved out a patchwork of cleared lands controlled by a score of independent-minded yeoman households; first Upwold, and later Mitwold. Attempts to conquer the Mournwold were inconclusive; unlike their cousins in the northern regions, the orcs of the Mournwold presented a much more united front. The Mournwold clans not only found it easier put aside their differences and resist attempts to conquer them, they were more open to the idea of assimilating those orcs defeated by the Marchers. There is also evidence that they enjoyed some support from the orc clans of [[Kahraman]] to the south. While the Marchers were able to hold [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]], the [[Mournwold#Chalkdowns|Chalkdowns]], and [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]] at various points they were never able to hold all three simultaneously nor push the orcs out of the Mourn.

The first forays west into [[Bregasland]] began later, after Upwold and Mitwold had been settled for several generations. Those parts of the territory that were dry and fertile at this time were under the firm control of the orcs, but the estuary of the river Od had always been a treacherous marsh and the orcs gave the whole area a wide berth. It was inhabited by several [[Feni]] tribes, but they proved no match for the heavily armed and armoured Marchers and were soon driven out of the few areas of high ground. The land would support no great households, but the hostile marsh was an effective deterrent keeping the new occupants safe from the orcs and over time it became a haven for Marchers who tired of the internecine feuding between the households. To this day, the archetypal Bregas is seen as aloof and standoffish by the rest of the Marchers - while the people of Mitwold and Upwold were caught up in feuds and alliances they remained broadly independent.

In between fights with the orcs. there were sporadic conflicts with Dawn. Occasionally one or the other would attempt to expand into the neighbouring nation's territory, passing through Miaren to attack Upwold or Astolat respectively. They occasionally clashed in Miaren, but large-scale conflict in the woodlands often attracted the attention of the vallorn, or opposition from the local Navarr. To this day the easternmost parts of the Marches, the westernmost parts of Dawn, and central Miaren are scattered with battlefields and ruined forts built as part of this long-running rivalry between the nations. Despite the conflicts and the tension, the two nations often refer to moving to the other; Marchers who put on airs and graces are told to "Piss off to Dawn", while Dawn nobility or yeomen who question the validity of their ancient traditions are given equally earthy advice to move to the Marches.

==After the March==
Even as the Marches spread and established a thriving nation, there were frequent battles between the Marchers themselves. Although Marcher households found it easy to unite against a common enemy, they often fell to quarrelling amongst themselves. Bitter feuds and grudges developed, usually over land and often paid in blood. By the time the [[First Empress]] began her crusade the Marches was split into half a dozen great households, each supported by the loyalties of countless minor households. While the Marchers were culturally united, these great households (at least two of which, the [[The Marches groups#The_Talbots|Talbots]] and the [[The Marches groups#House_Bolholt|Bolholts]] still endure to this day) each ruled their lands independently. Negotiations between households were usually arranged at fairs where powerful and wealthy Marchers would meet up to make deals and alliances and to discuss trade, politics and war. The most important of these was the [[Upwold#Stockland|Stockland Fair]] held every Autumn equinox on the village green. As the Stockland Fair grew in size and importance it became an essential forum for households to air grievances with each other, make alliances, and broadly agree the defence of the Marches against the southern orcs of Mournwold.

The Marchers had no [[Army|armies]] as the Empire would recognise them at this time. Rather, each household undertook to equip and train themselves for war. If a household was threatened by orcs, the neighbouring [[steward|stewards]] would meet and select a prominent [[Yeoman_of_the_Marches|yeoman]] to act as field marshal for the coming battle. The marshal was required to make the final decision on what strategy to employ for a battle and to provide appropriate leadership once the fighting began. An experienced and successful field marshal was a huge asset to any household, allowing them to dictate terms when negotiating a potential attack on orc lands with other households.

This resistance to establishing any formal permanent leadership was a consequence of the independent and stubborn nature of the Marchers. They were in broad agreement that no single individual would be in charge - they had quit Dawn, after all, to get away from a system where the nobles ruled over those who toiled and the idea that someone would set themselves up as "monarch of the Marches" was anathema to them. Choosing their own stewards to run a household and a [[Field Marshal]] to run a battle was the pragmatic compromise that enabled leadership when it was essential, but it was a system with numerous obvious flaws. Attempts to create some more formal method of providing unity to the Marches were made, but each one quickly fell apart.

In the last years before the foundation of the Empire, this resistance to unification nearly spelled the downfall of the Marches. The Marchers were slowly driven out of their holdings in Mournwold - not an uncommon situation at a time when battle waged back-and-forth across the borders of Upwold and Mitwold. This time, however, the southern barbarians continued to push. They captured [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Gravenmarch]] in [[Bregasland]] - then a source of a significant amount of the Marches [[Materials#Green iron|green iron]]. They captured [[Upwold#The Heath|The Heath]] in Upwold, wresting control of [[Sutton Stone Quarries]], and launched numerous probing raids into [[Mitwold#Golden Downs|Golden Downs]] and [[Mitwold#Oddmire|Oddmire]] - the latter having the potential to cut Bregasland off from the rest of the Marches entirely.

Those yeomen who had not lost land to the orcs were not overly concerned - the barbarians regularly raiding the southern Marches and were always turned back - but this time something was different. The orcs fought with a singular purpose, and their internal divisions seemed significantly less pressing in stark contrast to the Marchers themselves. Historians point to a similar situation in [[Kahraman]], and to the rise of the first kings and queens of Narkyst exerting a strong unifying influence over orcs displaced by the Marchers and the Freeborn in previous centuries.

==Joining the Empire==
It is perhaps unsurprising that in the face of the barbarian threat, when [[Landskeeper]] Brigit of Dourfen brought word to the Stockland Fair of the meeting arranged by the [[First Empress]], only a small handful of Stewards were prepared to leave their estates to make the journey to distant [[Casinea#Anvil|Anvil]]. While a number of other households sent representatives along, they were largely more interested in ''"keeping an eye on whatever it is the Dawnish are up to now"'' as one of them put it.

After hearing the Empress' proposal, the Marchers who attended withdrew to consider the matter. Most of the stewards who had attended in person were in favour of the proposed alliance, but there was little agreement among the remainder. The contrary, stubborn, and vengeful nature of the Marchers was a well-known stereotype even in pre-Imperial times and the mere fact that some households were prepared to support the nascent Empire seemed to be enough to ensure that their rivals opposed it. Eventually the group nominated Henry of Meade to present their decision to the Empress and the other gathered dignitaries - some of the Marchers were prepared to join, but the remainder were not prepared to sacrifice their freedom for the security on offer.

The Empress publicly refused to accept the offer. "''I will take all of you, or none of you.''" she announced. It fell to wise Brigit to explain the Empress pronouncement - that the Empire had no use for a divided land. It would not take some of the Marcher Households, and let the others squabble among themselves. The Empress was eager to embrace the Marches but any attempt by her to unite the nation by force would be a disaster. The Empire could not afford to become embroiled in a civil war and worse the Marcher ability to hold grudges would leave the Empire viewed not as liberators but as conquerors. If the Marchers were serious about joining, they would need to be united in doing so.

Another of the Empress' close confidants, Barell, Merchant Prince of Tassato, approached Henry of Meade with an alternative. The cities of Tassato and Sarvos were looking to join forces with others to form a league of like-minded city states. Meade could "cut their losses" and join the Empire as part of this new league. The offer might have been appealing to the [[alders]] of Meade, but it was given short shrift by the stewards of Upwold and their representatives. The city might be an important source of trade and wealth for many yeomen but by long tradition it was land that ruled the Marches, and not coin.

==The Cousin's War==
The Marchers returned home, and brought word of the Empress and her plans to the next grand fair at Stockland. The news was divisive; there were many who argued passionately that this was a chance for the Marches to unite as a nation and that that, and their new allies, would give them the strength to finally drive the orcs from Mitwold and potentially conquer the Mourne. The detractors were just as adamant that the Empire would spell the end of Marcher independence, that they would be ruled over by foreigners, including the widely disparaged nobles of Dawn. The Fair descended into arguments, and in some cases brawling, as drunken Marchers spat insults at each other. It was a relief to many when the Fair managed to close without open fighting breaking out, but the two factions withdrew, hostile and angry, and a descent into civil war began.

Following the dissolution of the Fair, those Marcher households and landskeepers who supported the idea of joining the Empire tried to recruit as many Marchers as possible to their side. Steadily the number of Marcher households remaining neutral was whittled away, with more and more feeling the need to choose one side or the other, or risk being considered an enemy by both sides. There were numerous armed clashes between rival households and old grudges came to the fore, leading to open skirmishes and bloody exchanges. It was always common for a household to call on allies when a grudge turned to open-fighting but the matter of the Empire split the Marches and the bloodshed escalated like never before. There were a few minor battles, but though the losers lost their lands and in many cases their lives, for the most part they were inconclusive, neither side could shift the balance firmly enough to settle the matter.

While there were certainly folk on both sides motivated by the grudges and rivalries that underpinned Marcher society, others had more idealistic inspiration. [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], for example, wrote of his certainty that if the Marches could not be united, they would be conquered either by the orcs, or by a newly-invigorated Dawn. With the might of Highguard and the southern city-states behind them, the Marchers would be unable to resist the Empire's hunger for their rich farmlands. Even if they did not ultimately end up joining the Empire, the Marches could no longer afford to be a divided nation of petty households squabbling with each other. Henry of Meade spoke several times of the danger of an Empire where the elitist notions of Dawn were allowed to reign unchecked, and of what such an alliance might look like without any Marcher common sense to balance our Dawnish pig-headedness.

By contrast his main rival on the opposite side of the matter, the fiery Agnes Tiller of Wayford, argued that the Marches would simply be swallowed up if they attempted to join the new alliance. Instead of going cap in hand to this Dawnish monarch and her Highborn allies, the Marchers should look north to their friendly rivals in [[Wintermark]] - after all the Winterfolk king Alof Beorning had also declined to join the proposed Empire. She and her supporters actively sought a military alliance between the Marches, Wintermark, and the Navarr of Miaren and Hercynia, with the Winterfolk serving as liaisons to those Varushkans who were also unconvinced by the First Empress' vision.

After a year of escalation, the stewards again came together at Stockland but this time there was no appetite for trade and celebration. The two factions and their supporters camped separately on either side of Hepton Bridge. Those who sided with the Empress were led by Brigit, Henry, and the canny military commander, Tom Drake. They established an armed camp on Monk's Heath on the northern bank of the River Meade. Those who believed the Marches should remain independent were lead by Gregory of Ashill and Mary Hay. They pitched camp south of the river, on the commons at Maiden's Run. The fair itself was cancelled for the first time in living memory, and as the sun rose over the fields both armies began to move.

The fighting was bloody, and continued until close to sundown. Although they marginally outnumbered their rivals, Tom Drake's strategy was widely credited with carrying the day. The defeated stewards were forced to accept the outcome to keep their lands, those who refused either fled the Marches or were executed. The Battle of Hepton Bridge was not strictly the last battle of the Cousin's War, but with the deaths of so many opposing stewards on the fields of Stockmarch, the outcome was never in doubt. Some of the defeated households bowed their heads to inevitability, while others refused to capitulate and lost their lands. A few, led by Agnes Tiller's surviving daughter Hazel, quit the Marches with their soldiers and fled north.

Within weeks of the victory at Stockland, Henry and Drake drew up their forces on the fields in Ashbrook and dispatched an invitation to the Empress to meet them there. The popular version of events tells of how [[First Empress]] marched out of southern [[Miaren]], along the road guarded by [[Brock's Toll]], on foot with her standard bearer, and accepted the Marcher request to join the Empire. There is plenty of evidence in the Marches however that this version of events owes more to fancy than fact. The Marchers bargained with the representatives of the putative new alliance not as humble supplicants but as people who had just won a war of unification. Henry and Tom laid down several very specific demands regarding the nature of the alliance, the position of the nations within it, the adoption of the [[Field_Marshal|field marshal]] to provide battlefield leadership where soldiers from multiple nations worked together, and crucially the requirements for how the military of the member nations would operate. Legend has it that Henry is reported to have thrown the Empress own words back at her when presenting the demands ending with the phrase "''we want all of them, or none of them''" - presenting the very real chance that the Marches would not join the Empire and would seek their own path.

The first foundations of the [[Military Council]] were laid during this meeting, with the Marchers receiving unexpected support from both representatives of [[the Brass Coast]], the early [[the League|League]], and several factions of the [[Navarr]]. In the end, the Marcher demands were met and the newly-united Marches became part of the Empire.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Marcher.jpg|align=right|width=350}}

==The Marches in the Empire==
The first thing the newly united Marchers did was turn their armies south and with the assistance of League mercenaries and bands of soldiers from the Brass Coast and Highguard, drive the orcs out of Graven Rock. By removing the immediate threat to Bregasland, the Marchers of Mitwold and Upwold went some way toward reinforcing their claims to have put the past behind them and unified under a single banner. The Bregasland households officially joined the unified Marches shortly afterward.

The barbarians in Upwold and Mitwold could not hold out against Marchers supported by the Empire, and retreated south into the Mournwold. Their raids continued, but the Marchers were in a much better position to rebuff them. Still, the southern orcs remained a constant threat to the Marches, until 74YE when the conquest of Mournwold drove the surviving forces down into Kahraman.

Almost immediately after securing their southern borders, however, the new armies were called away to fight in the first campaign of the new Empire. Tom Drake of Redston led his household and a band of landskeepers to Varushka along with one of the first Imperial armies - the [[Drakes]]. They fought through unfamiliar forests, alongside all those who opposed [[Alderei the Fair]] and brought Varushka into the Empire. Historians say that Tom faced the boyar-king on the battlefield and ultimately defeated him. The Redston folk wear a broken crown on their livery to this day.

Entry to the Empire brought some changes. Pious Marcher folk returning from pilgrimages to [[Highguard]] founded the monasteries which now dot the landscape. Friars have become an important part of most Households and few powerful Marcher households do not have one or more of these learned folk by their side. Imperial writ created the market towns, outside the control of the households. Yet the traditional beliefs that give the Marchers their strength have endured every transformation brought by the Empire.

==Marchers on the Throne==
Two Marchers have sat on [[the Throne|the Imperial Throne]], and their reigns could not have been more different.

The first Marcher to take the Throne was [[Emperor James]] of [[Mournwold]]. Appointed in 257YE, he was crowned as the Empire was in real danger of being destroyed by the barbarian [[orc|orcs]] after decades of fruitless back-and-forth conquest and liberation. He is perhaps most famous for "''fixing the borders''", making it illegal for the Empire to add new territory until such time as the Senate and the Synod were both in agreement that the Empire was sufficiently strengthened as to be able to hold those territories. His reign ushered in the [[Imperial_history#.28281_YE_-_300_YE.29_The_Second_Interregnum|Second Interregnum]], just under twenty years of relative peace and prosperity for the entire Empire during which the Throne remained vacant.

The second Marcher Throne was [[Emperor Walter]] of [[Upwold]]. An effective businessman and [[alders|alder]], he was appointed only a short time ago in 371YE. His reign was very short, and very chaotic - he attempted to run the Empire like a business with near disastrous consequences. He is largely viewed as a failure and an embarrassment by the rest of the Marches. About the only good thing to come out of his reign was an awareness of just how much trouble the Empire was in - laying the groundwork for the appointment of [[Empress Britta]] and the [[Imperial_history#Resurgence|resurgence]] that continues to this day.
===More Marches History===
* [[Life_of_Tom_Drake#Alderei_the_Fair|Life of Tom Drake]] - contains discussion of Marcher hero, and casts a new light on the Cousins' War
* [[Steward of Brock's Heath]] - [[Historical research]] into the life of "old Morgan", a pre-Imperial steward of House Brockheath, which discusses early-Marcher relationships with the [[Navarr]] in particular
* [[Bregasland and the smiths]] - research relating to the sinking of Bregasland, and the story of the disappearing "Marcher smiths"
* [[The Ore Hills Rebellion]] - research regarding the short-lived rebellion in Mournwold in 326YE
{{The Marches Links}}

Only forward

2026-07-29T16:24:16Z

GuiltyConscience:

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:386YE Summer]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Marcher Drums.jpg|caption=The Jotun have returned to the Dour Fens, but the Bregas will not bend their knees to the orcs again.|align=left|width=500}}</div>{{audio|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzqyPPke4PM}}
==Business Unusual==
Bregasland rests fitfully. The Greywaters, and those who felt they had been hard done by, may have been mollified but there's still a dangerous undercurrent. Every time news comes from Anvil of this or that happening, there's a few who mutter “What would Shel do?” into their pints. Those who feel the hand of Imperial law was a little too quick to fall on them and their neighbours grumble in half-sentences, thick with allusion, about the injustices they clutch close to their breasts. To an outsider, it looks like business as usual in the Dour Fens, but to those who live there... they can see the ripples of Mathilda Fisher, what she set in motion, swirling and tugging and teasing just beneath the surface.

Business as usual... and then the Jotun invade. Not into the Fens, not into the shadow of Fisher's Rock nor into the lands claimed by the Greywaters. This time the armies march across the border from the south. From Liathaven, which the Jotun first named the Dead Forest but now, as they [[Under_the_firelight#Wyndyn_Path_(Liathaven)|beat the wild forests back,]] they have taken to calling ''Ashvale''. Two armies, the Fist of Ulven and the Southern Bear, crossing into the only area of solid ground in the whole territory, into Gravenmarch.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;"><quote by="Gjeirfund Haggarsdottir, General of the Fist of Ulven">Under the gaze of the king we come to the dour fens, to take back the lands of our ancestors. As the oldest tore open the mountain to find her answers in spite of the blizzard that sought to stop her, so we will tear open the Marches whatever force tries to deny us our prize.</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;"><quote by="Bjorgthorn Hammerhand, General of the Southern Bear">Only forwards.</quote></div>
==The Only Dry Ground==
Uncharacteristically, especially for an army that is usually a barely-contained whirlwind of joyful violence, the Fist of Ulven come with caution as their shield rather than with overwhelming force. There's an edge of uncertainty to their advance. All too often in the past, the Bregas marshes have been wound round with the [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen|warding echoes]] of [[Night magic]], twisting and turning the paths and sowing confusion in their ranks.

The Southern Bear know no such reticence, moving with the confident surety that marks most of their manoeuvres in Imperial territory. Sometimes they follow the lead of the Fist of Ulven, consolidating the gains they have made; other times they forge ahead eager to be first to the fray.

Not that there is much fighting, as the Jotun measure such things. There are no magical wards to slow their advance, and there are few defenders capable of putting up any serious resistance. A handful of levies, raised by the households of Graven March. Another handful of [[Strong Reeds]] soldiers, absent without leave from their [[Mitwold]] [[Army_orders#Billet|billet]], snuck across the border to visit family or pursue an unwise assignation.

This is no reprise of the last invasion, when the Jotun sought to install Mathilda Fisher as steward of Bregasland. There are few yegarra among their ranks, and none march under the banner of the eels-on-the-water. Yanya Uranduln brings the Howling Bears to fight alongside the Fist, although there is no sign of the walrus banner of their habitual friend-and-rival Eisa Winterborn. Their place is taken by the Ice Fishers of Ldansk, that loose gathering of champions from minor clans across Kalsea who fight for the honour of Kierheim, and Tromsa, and other more distant lands.

A few wonder if the decision not to bring yegarra to Bregasland is intentional. Perhaps King Gudmunder Arasonn, under whose banners the Fist of Ulven fight, wishes to avoid comparison with the recent failed venture into Bregasland? To make it clear that this is about Jotun conquest and not the ambitions of a dead women and her clan. There's no easy way to know, but there is a rumour that for the first time in quite a while the Jarl of Jarls, the leader of the southern Jotun, does not lead the Fist of Ulven himself, entrusting their role in the conquest of Bregasland to his niece Gjeirfund Haggarsdottir.

==Graven Fall==
They may strike carefully, but [[Bregasland#Graven_Rock|Graven Rock]] falls to the Jotun almost immediately. The great grey-stone “pebble” quickly becomes a base of operations for the Jotun. Their caution about its twisting depths soon melts away, and the Howling Bears waste little time before beginning to explore its tunnels and passages, eager to prove their bravery. More practical Jotun among the Ice Fishers of Ldansk set the thralls they have brought with them the task of finding ways to fortify the four-mile-wide plateau. Perhaps Bjorgthorn Hammerhand, general of the Southern Bear, dreams of creating the largest fortification the Jotun have ever known using this ancient rock as a foundation. Such dreams will offer scant consolation to the [[Keeper of the Dour Fens]], denied the bounty of that magical [[sinecure]] that lies beneath the rock for the second time in the space of a year.

From the rock, the armies advance on the town of [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Graven]]. In happier times, [[Navarr]] merchants and [[striding|stridings]] would pass through here in their peregrinations north from Liathaven, or when returning to their home in the south. As well as trade goods, they would deliver and take people from Graven. Those who wanted to see the Empire would join an outward-bound striding, those who had nowhere else to welcome them would arrive with the inward-bound Navarr and perhaps choose to stay, seduced by the bleak beauty of Bregasland. Since the final fall of Liathaven, these stridings have become much rarer and it is perhaps only bad luck that sees two of them visiting Graven when the Jotun come.

They fight alongside their Marcher hosts, of course they do. But they pay a different price to the Bregas yeomen when the town falls. The orcs have not forgiven the Navarr for the indignities and the dishonour they have visited on them. Where they offer the Marchers the familiar Choice, they simply execute any Navarr that survives the initial fighting. Nothing cruel, nothing drawn out. A swift blow from axe or sword or spear and it is done. Each execution is accompanied by a few words, reminding the Navarr that this is what they reap for the dishonour, the indignity, the cruelty, that their people have visited on the Jotun. No mercy for the Imperial Druj.

If the Jotun had been more forceful, they would have pressed further into the unguarded marshes. As it is, their caution and their concern for obfuscating wards or hidden armies has slowed their invasion just enough. Gravenmarch is conquered, but the rest of Bregasland has time to react and to prepare. Time to realise what is happening and begin to make plans. The yeomen ready their bills and their bows, grimly eager for the moment when the Strong Reeds will come marching home and put the Jotun to flight again.
==Game Information==
The region of [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Gravenmarch]] has been captured by the Jotun. They have not made any inroads into the rest of the territory, and were mostly able to seize the land they have conquered thanks to the implacable advance of the Southern Bear. They are busy establishing defensive encampments around Graven Rock.

This means that the [[Keeper of the Dour Fens]] has again lost access to their [[Keeper_of_the_Dour_Fens#Bounty_of_Mana|bounty of mana]], and cannot take advantage of the [[Keeper_of_the_Dour_Fens#The_Weeping_Menhirs|weeping menhirs]] until the region is back in Imperial hands.

==Shadow of the Rock (Battle Opportunity)==
The arrival of the Jotun in Gravenmarch, and their quick subjugation of the region, comes as a shock to many, but something that many folk mutter was ''"as certain as a puddle is wet"''. Yet the Bregas are quick to respond as beaters spread news of the barbarians and a populace accustomed to recent conflict sharpen bill hooks and fletch ash shafts in preparation. A stubborn determination fills people's minds, considering that all they need to do is slow the orc advance long enough for the Strong Reeds to come to their aid. Folk are certain that the army will come soon; after all, '''Amberlain P. Black''' swore an oath.

Gravenmarch plays an important role in the Pride of the people of Bregasland - it is where many folk got their start in the Marches. Near '''Rock Foot Wood''' are the remains of an old dolmen, little more than two rocks standing close together now, though people still call it the Graven Door. This spot is where local Marchers and the egregores meet with those who want to join the nation who have been brought here by the Navarr. The Marcher egregore usually conducts a simple ceremony, it is traditional to sing a rousing song or two, they walk through the door symbolically leaving their old life behind and becoming a Marcher. It's a small thing... and that's why it's so important.

The Graven Door is not in any danger - the Jotun know that it is a site of significance to local Marchers, and they'd never do anything to defile it. But its presence does offer the Empire an opportunity to dispel the [[Bregasland#Sullen|sullen mood]] affecting [[Bregasland#Grey_Fens|Grey Fens]] and the rest of Bregasland. The threat to the Graven Door reminds more folk of what it means to be a Marcher. Pride in small things, loyalty to great ones. There is solidarity and kinship, that can be found even among those who stood close to the Fishers a few seasons ago. Despite the turmoil seen over the last two years people are quick to band together against this new enemy. The proximity of the Strong Reeds instils purpose to resist the Jotun and gives rise to the hope that this latest invasion will be shorter than the last.

===Object: Halt the Burhfæst!===
* '''Adamant has offered the Jotun the use of the Burhfæst, a level two fortification, for a year'''
* '''To prevent this, the Empire must destroy one of Adamant's Mountain Bulwarks, a powerful guardian herald'''
* '''The creature must be incapacitated before it can be destroyed'''
* '''It can be destroyed with Rising Roots that Rend Stone or Inevitable Collapse into Ruin once incapacitated'''

The Ice Fishers have been sent to consolidate the Jotun's gains in Gravenmarch. One of their ghodi, ''Faraldi Blutesson'', is a confidante of the [[Adamant|King Under the Mountain]] and has secured a boon - the ''Burhfæst'' - from the eternal in this matter. In its day the Burhfæst was said to be the strongest fortification anywhere in the world. Now, not so much, fortunately. In [[Imperial_history#Ancient|ancient times]] [[Bregasland#Graven_Rock|Graven Rock]] the legendary fortification disappeared from the mortal world, apparently spirited away to the Summer realm. Adamant has agreed to return it, granting Blutesson the use of it for a year and a day. Built in the likeness of [[Sermersuaq#Olgafsdottirshal|Olgafsdottirshal]], it would see the Jotun in a strong position in Bregasland for a season, let alone a year.

To return the Burhfæst, Blutesson must escort one of Adamant's Mountain Bulwarks to Graven Rock. Stopping the Summer Guardian will not be easy. There are [[Elite_Jotun_characters#Summerborn_Champions|summerborn champions]] that march beside the Mountain Bulwark who will try to protect it and heal it if needed. And the guardian is a dangerous threat by itself; giant fists of hardened granite can smash foes to the ground, splinter weapons and shields, or hurl soldiers through the air.

It can't be executed, but it could be brought low with a powerful and destructive ritual - [[Rising Roots that Rend Stone]] or [[Inevitable Collapse into Ruin]] would both destroy it - but only when it is incapacitated. The rituals won't harm the creature while it is still active. Imperial forces will need to incapacitate the monster and prevent the Jotun from healing it before they invoke the power of the ritual to destroy it.

===Objective: Hunt the Stag of Rains===
* '''Svynna of Ldansk is an eccentric ghodi who has taken four Navarr as thralls'''
* '''If the Empire can capture the ghodi they may be able to negotiate for their release'''

Svynna of Ldansk, the ''Stag of Rains'', is a noted ghodi who comes to Graven Rock with the Ice Fishers under a white banner bearing the skull of a fearsome avian predator of the cold north. Understood to stand apart from many other Jotun, they are notorious for their strange beliefs, the most notable of which is the claim that humans can cross over the Howling Abyss. The ghodi claims it the Jotun's mission not to conquer the Empire but to bring the Empire to the ancestors. Svynna's wild ideas are tolerated by the Jotun, because they enjoy a powerful connection to the ancestors that makes them impressively effective on the battlefield.

During the attack on Graven, most of those local Navarr who didn't escape were killed, but it seems that four of them have survived. Bronwen Graven Stand, her husband, Logan Graven Stand, and their two children, Niamh and Dradan, both are [[A_horn_resounding#Coming_of_Age|Summer children]] who only passed their Test of Arms last year. It's not clear if Svynna saved them because of their age, or perhaps because they were Summer children. All that is known is that the ghodi prevented his fellow Jotun from killing them and then claimed them as thralls.

The four were last seen being taken into Liathaven by Svynna's retinue, presumably destined for a new life as thralls in Liathaven or further West in Hordalant. There is a chance during the battle to find Svynna and barter for the lives of the two youths and their parents. If the ghodi is captured then there is a chance they may agree to let them go as part of a ransom. However, the nature of ''who'' does the negotiating and what is ultimately agreed upon could be a particularly delicate matter.

===Objective: Celebrating the Pride of Bregasland===
<div style="float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;><quote by="Marcher Proverb">Pride in small things, loyalty to great ones.</quote></div>
* '''The Graven Door is a proud symbol of Marcher traditions'''
* '''An impressive show of Pride here will reverberate across Bregasland'''
* '''If the Pride of Bregasland is celebrated and the Strong Reeds are present in the territory it will remove the sullen quality'''
There has been much talk of [[Loyalty]] in Bregasland in recent years. Of the need for Marcher folk to be loyal to the Empire, of Bregas' expectations of what loyalty the Empire owes them. But [[Pride]] is the other half of the most famous Marcher proverb of them all - Pride in small things, loyalty to great ones. The proverb references that people should take Pride in what they do and be loyal to their nation, rather than taking pride in their nation's achievements but being loyal to themselves.

If the Empire chooses this battle, there are several things they can do to demonstrate their Pride. Priests and devotees of Pride have a chance to work their words, deeds, and liao during the battle and before it. Priests can deliver sermons, dedicate new followers, anoint pilgrims, and hallow the weapons of heroes. Those who are dedicated to Pride - especially the [[Champion of Pride]] - all have a part to play in rousing the hearts and minds of everyone who strides through the Sentinel Gate. The ultimate expression of Pride would be a rousing song or two performed at the Graven Door.

A rousing demonstration of Pride by the Empire, Pride to be here fighting for Bregasland, Pride in their fellow Marchers, could have a big impact. It would shame those who were sour that the Empire's justice did no cut deep enough. It would remind them that in the Marchers people have Pride in small things - and show Loyalty to great ones. If that happens, if there is an emphatic show of Pride by the Empire, with the Marchers and their egregores here to witness it, then news of it will spread across the territory. Instilling a renewed sense of Pride in Bregasland and the Marches will cause the mood across the open fens and reed beds to shift. If the oathsworn Strong Reeds return to Bregasland then the [[Bregasland#Sullen|sullen]] mood will be gone and the Pride of Bregasland will be restored.

===Battle environment: The Graven Door===
* '''The Graven Door has an unusual spontaneous aura of Pride'''
* '''The first time a character with a Pride anointing walks through between the pillars of the Graven Door they gain one temporary hero point'''

There is an unusual spontaneous aura of Pride in the region around the Graven Door, the pair of standing stones near Rock Foot Wood. Any character will feel a resurgence of strength, commitment and determination when they walk between the stones for the first time that season. They feel a profound sense of the importance of this moment and the significance of the decisions they are taking.

Any character who is [[Anointing|anointed]] to Pride will gain one temporary hero point the first time they walk through the Door. This hero point is always the first to be used and cannot be restored in any way. Walking through the door a second time has no effect.

==Conjunction==
===Choices (Mitwold)===
* '''A Jotun warband are returning from raiding Mitwold'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Bailiff of the Grand Market'' is responsible for slaying Urse Longarm'''
Even as the Fist of the Ulven and the Southern Bear advance on Graven a small warband moves ahead of the armies and strikes into the rich farmland of [[Mitwold]]. ''Urse Longarm'', fresh from their [[Against_the_Jotun#Threads_in_the_Pattern_(Liathaven)|victory against the Feni enclave]] in [[Liathaven|Ashvale]], has looked to cement their position amongst the southern Jotun with a raid into the rich heartland of the Marches. The warband has managed to keep a step ahead of the scattered [[Strong Reeds]] - billeted as they are across the territory - and have amassed enough of a fortune and gained enough reputation for their actions that ''Longarm'' is returning back to Jotun held Gravenmarch and security.

Given that this represents dealing with those who have threatened the major roads between the settlements of Mitwold it is the responsibility of the [[Bailiff of the Grand Market]], '''Sebastian Shaw''', to kill Urse Longarm and the rest of the Jotun. If ''Urse Longarm'' isn't killed, their reputation will spread, drawing ambitious Jotun from across Narkyst with a desire for wealth and renown.

The Marches groups

2026-07-29T16:23:38Z

GuiltyConscience: /* House Drayton */

[[Category:The Marches]] [[Category:Groups]]
==Overview==
There are many important [[Marcher_household|households]], [[Landskeeper|landskeeper circles]], [[Market_town|market towns]], and [[Monastery|monasteries]] in [[the Marches]]. Despite the number, only a comparative handful are involved in the affairs of the Empire (that is, attend the seasonal summits at Anvil). Their influence can wax and wane, and involvement in Imperial affairs is not always a reflection of their prominence within the nation itself. This page presents in-character information about the groups that attend, or have attended, [[Anvil]] — the kind of thing that someone who asked about them might uncover from talking to their peers. In each case, the information is provided by the players and edited before being put on the wiki.

The majority of groups listed here are made up of player-characters. You should not create a character who is part of a group, or has personal history with one, without first clearing it with the appropriate players. You should also check before including other players' groups in your background. The background team are unlikely to approve a background that significantly impacts or involves another player character group without their permission. There are also a handful of prominent NPC groups included for completeness, but they are not intended for use by player characters.

==Households and Monasteries==
The [[Marcher household|households]] and [[monastery|monasteries]] of the Marches wield the lion's share of political power in the nation, because they control the largest amount of farmland.
===Households of Bregasland===
====Barrowby Abbey====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Barrowby Abbey.png|caption=Barrowby Abbey|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' The Rushes
* '''Motto:''' Hand Proffered, Lantern Lit
* '''Symbol:''' Clasped Hands, Lantern, Herbs and Pears set within a Quatrefoil
Barrowby Abbey was originally founded by local Marcher priests working side by side with pilgrims from Highguard in the aftermath of the Cousin’s War. The abbey's mission is to attempt to provide a source of spiritual guidance that exists outside of the grudges and squabbles commonly found between and within Bregasland households, with a focus on the virtues of [[Loyalty]] and [[Vigilance]].

The abbey itself is built on top of one of three barrows, ancient burial mounds that have stood out from the surrounding fens since before the first Marchers settled in The Rushes. The second barrow, so low and sunken that it is prone to flooding, bears a small herb garden and an orchard that sprawls out into the surrounding wetland. The third barrow, by far the largest, lays bare. Eerie stories about the third barrow have been passed down in hushed tones by generations of lay Marchers, but such tales have never been acknowledged by the monks of Barrowby.

The daily work of the monks consists of tending their lands, distributing herbs and produce to their congregants across northern Rushes and southern Ottermire, and delivering sermons, shriving and the traditional funeral rites of Barrowby Abbey.

====The Black Vigil====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BlackVigil.png|caption=Black Vigil|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Near Gravenmarch
* '''Livery:''' Quartered Black and Purple
* '''Motto:''' A Lantern Lit, a Shadow Felled, a Debt Fulfilled.
* '''Symbol:''' Barbed Crescent Surrounding a Lit Lantern
* '''Steward:''' Gideon of Graven Rock
Across the marshes of Bregasland, the lanterns of the Black Vigil can be seen cutting through the dark as they patrol the fens and guard against encroaching threats.

Unlike many houses of the Marches, the Black Vigil’s ancestry does not trace back to Dawn. Its founding members come from Kallavesa, Tassato and the heart of Bregasland itself. They are warriors, brewers, mummers - vagabonds all.

Each, in their own way, were without guidance before being brought together by Gideon of Graven Rock and given purpose in hunting monsters across the shadowed recesses of the world. A kinship grew, and now through the fog and the fens of Bregasland they come, each member equipped with a lantern to always be a light in dark places. The lanterns' importance and what it represents is proudly displayed on their livery. The Black Vigil believes that ‘monster is a state of mind', so for those who behave monstrously, be they beast, barbarian or Imperial, the hunt is on.

As highly skilled fighters The Black Vigil frequently offer their services as mercenaries, guards and enforcers, to any with coin who may require their aid. The Vigil values respect highly, and for those who have earned their respect they will drink, fight, and share in revelry with until their lanterns burn out.

With their lanterns lit, shadows will fall, and all debts will be fulfilled.
====House Elver====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Elver.png|caption=House Elver|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Northeast of Greywater
* '''Livery:''' Mustard and Azure with Eel Rampant
* '''Motto:''' The water sustains me without even trying. The water can't drown me, I'm done with my dying
* '''Steward:''' Dick Elver
Most of the early history of house Elver is lost but according to their own stories they were part of the first wave of households to march from Dawn. However, instead of marching on foot they spent most of their time on small boats following rivers and streams until finally arriving in Bregasland on a small jutting of land east of Greywater on the coast of Westmere. During the Cousin’s War the household was reluctant to pick a side but eventually sent a small retinue to fight to join the Empire.

In recent years, the household has pursued a quieter life of farming eels, keeping to themselves and avoiding involvement in wider Bregasland or Marcher politics, choosing to pursue artistic endeavours with art and music being strongly encouraged alongside eel farming amongst the household.

During the recent invasion of Mathilda Fisher and her Jotun allies the household had to re-assess its non-political status and now takes an active part in the fight for Bregasland freedom and actively engages in the politics of Anvil.
====House Greywater====
* '''Location:''' Southern North Fens
* '''Livery:''' Drab grey and olive
* '''Motto:''' We remain
* '''Steward:''' Margery Greywater
House Greywater came to recent prominence following the [[Deep_when_the_river%27s_high|conquest of Bregasland]] by the [[Jotun]]. A [[Marcher household|household]] from [[Bregasland#North Fens|North Fens]], they have a chequered reputation in the Marches, even by the standards of Bregasland. "Poacher" is a dangerous word to bandy around... but it's commonly said of the Greywaters that "they don't own a lot of land of their own, but they sure know a lot about other peoples..." What can't be denied is that they're skilful archers and they know the Bregasland marshes like the backs of their hands. They were also known to hate Mathilda Fisher, so-called Steward of Bregasland. Apparently, some old, old grudge exists between the Greywaters and the Fishers involving a basket of stolen eels that predates the founding of the Empire. They refused to take the Jotun conquest of Bregasland lying down - not only did they actively resist the invaders, they weren't quiet about it either. With a little assistance from Marcher heroes, they [[Deep_when_the_river%27s_high#A_Little_Time_.28Conjunction.29|took to the Grey Fens]], working with the [[Strong Reeds]] to resist the would-be conquerors. From hidden camps they mounted a guerrilla campaign against Fisher and her orc allies, using the cover of the marshes to make it impossible for the Jotun to bring them to heel. They helped the Strong Reeds [[Army_qualities#Secretive|lay low]], granting [[Summer_tree#Game Information|significant advantages]]. They continued to bedevil the invaders, and fought bravely to drive them out of the territory.

'''NPC Group:''' The Greywaters are an NPC group; you cannot create a player character who is a member of the Greywaters.

====House Selwyn====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Selwyn.png|caption=House Selwyn|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Ottermire
* '''Livery:''' Green & Blue
* '''Motto:''' Remember to return
* '''Symbol:''' Salmon spear pointed downwards
* '''Steward:''' Roy Selwyn
House Selwyn make their living and their name through the tight control of the rivers that run through their lands in Ottermire. The household is deeply tied to the river's salmon, which return each year to spawn, supposedly inspiring their motto, "Remember to return." The majority of the household is made up of farmers, fisherfolk and sailors tutored by its friars primarily preaching Prosperity, Wisdom and Courage, but most walks of life are found and welcomed within their numbers.

Their most sacred holding is that of the Silver Dolmen, a slumbering Autumn regio surrounded by apple trees that stands on an island splitting the river’s mouth. It serves as a burial ground for the fallen as well as a gathering place for the landskeepers that ally themselves with the household.

Fearful of the elevation of House Greywater’s status in Bregasland and the expansion of Eel’s Landing by Emperor’s decree, members of the Selwyn household first ventured to Anvil in the season following its construction, eager to build up their own name and ensure no poacher would build up enough courage to visit their lands.

====House Wheelwright====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wheelwright.png|caption=House Wheelwright|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Near the Gullet
* '''Livery:''' Claret and Blue
* '''Symbol:''' Seven-spoked wheel
* '''Steward:''' Reg Wheelwright
House Wheelwright have a small plot of land near the Gullet. Originally just the Wheelwright family lived here with some farm hands, now this includes a few other families that have married in and taken a field as their own. The land is mostly used to raise small livestock that are able to thrive in the conditions. There is also a small church built next to the main farm house. All members of the Wheelwright household or attached church are encouraged to wear imagery of a seven spoked cart wheel. This hails back to the founder of the House, while also acknowledging the seven virtues.

House Wheelwright has lived here since their founder, George Wheelwright, bought the land from an old widow. Having always dreamed of a life outside of the town he grew up in, George didn't question the fantastic price, ending up right in the edge of [[Jotun]] territory.

As the name suggests, Wheelwrights like to make things, although there is more demand for mill wheels than the cart wheels they were originally named for. Various members of House Wheelwright have been seen in [[Anvil]], including the steward, Reg, when he has the chance. When Reg is unable to make meets at Anvil, his sister Rosemary speaks for the Household.

House Wheelwright claims links to House Fenner, due to an aunt marrying into House Fenner.

===Households of Mitwold===
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Crossland.png|caption=House Crossland|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Crossland====
* '''Location:''' Near Hay, Mitwold
* '''Livery:''' Yellow and green
* '''Motto:''' Life's short, play in the dirt
* '''Symbol:'''Quartered Yellow/Green with each quarter showing a pickaxe, eel, apple tree and wheat sheaf
* '''Steward:''' Marcus Crossland
The Crosslands come from different backgrounds and professions such as mining, farming, and growing herbs, but it is their common interest in improving the Empire that has brought them together.

Their shared values of hospitality and support for newcomers to the region have inspired them to band together and form a close-knit group. They take pride in making sure that visitors to the summits of Anvil, especially those who are visiting for the first time, feel welcome and supported.

This group strive to be known for their generous and collaborative nature. They are always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need and work together to make the land and the Empire a better place for everyone. Whether it's organizing events, tending to the land, or volunteering their time for community projects, the household is dedicated to improving the world around them.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Garamond.jpg|caption=House Garamond|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Garamond====
* '''Location:''' Mead, Mitwold
* '''Livery:''' per pale Sanguine and bisque in
* '''Motto:''' That which is yet to be found we shall seek
* '''Symbol:''' fess point a pair of keys yellow-ochre in nombril a corn sheaf yellow-ochre
* '''Steward:''' Leof of Mead
House Garamond is situated in one of the oldest buildings in Meade town centre and can trace their roots back to some of the oldest families of [[Dawn]]. The crumbling vaults of House Garamond were once used by the settlers of Mead to store their coin and valuables as well as the irreplaceable historical possessions which House Garamond had accumulated. Eventually folk trusted the [[#House Talbot|Talbots]] over House Garamond and their dilapidating vaults to store their coin resulting in a shift of the House’s income to rely more on its crops and breweries. The artifacts stored in many of the Garamond vaults eventually decayed or were buried as the old vaults collapsed, leaving only a handful that are now proudly displayed for all to see.

To this day, yeomen of House Garamond still have a particular interest in preserving ancient history and can be found travelling from town to town in search of interesting objects of historical importance and educating visitors on the history of their proud remaining artifacts. The keys depicted in their livery once represented the security of their vaults though now only two remain in service, they are considered by House Garamond to be one of the most secure places in Mitwold.

<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Hoottree.jpg|caption=House Hoottree|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====House Hoottree====
* '''Location:''' The Meadows
* '''Livery:''' Dark red and grey brown
* '''Motto:''' Always room on the branch
* '''Symbol:''' Owl wearing a kettle helmet and carrying a polearm
* '''Steward:''' Tarryn Spry
House Hoottree takes its name from the ancient oak marking the boundary between Mitwold
and Upwold, where its lofty branches and deep hollows are home to generations of fat,
contented owls fed by mice stealing from the household's grain stores.

Once unremarkable farmers content to stay out of the Empire's feuds, the household found its
purpose when Meade fell to the Jotun and the roads east filled with refugees. Sitting squarely
on their route, House Hoottree opened its barns without debate, a habit that's stuck since.

The house is now made up of a ragtag group of farmers, business owners and traders ready to
muster for a relief effort, daft scheme, or just a good scrap.

====The Hotspurs====
* '''Location:''' Meade March
* '''Livery:''' Black and blue
* '''Motto:''' De Terra Fortes (from the earth, the strong)
* '''Symbol:''' A four pointed compass on a background of blue and black
* '''Steward:''' Gerald Burberry
Traditionally based around the docks of Meade, the household has holdings on a series of small craggy isles known as the ‘Stoney Isles’ within the delta of the river Meade. This allows the house to keep a watchful eye on the comings and goings of the various barges and ships making their way to and from the docks and permits the house’s fleets to venture out into the wider waterways of the Empire.

Household legend tells of the youths coalescing around the docks many years ago, carrying out odd jobs for anyone willing to pay and "persuading" those who are unwilling. This public service has led to a somewhat rough and ready reputation, aided further by the continuing recruitment from the docksides and dark alleys of Meade.

As business has grown increasingly lucrative the Household's primary concern has become the management and transport of goods coming through the docks from across the waters of Westmere.

====The Marcher Tea Company====
* '''Location:''' Meade March
* '''Livery:''' Black and green
* '''Motto:''' Irrita Me; Invenies Quid Valeam
* '''Symbol:''' A badger rampant on a green field
* '''Steward:''' Chestnut
The Marcher Tea Company is something of an institution in Meade and can trace their distant roots back to the Balstons of Upwold.

Once a proud trade dynasty with roots across the Marches, years of war against the Jotun and the loss of the Mourn fractured the trade ties built carefully over so many years. At the head of their new steward the Tea Company seeks to reclaim its position as one of the premier trading Household and caravans laden with exotic teas from across the Empire are an increasingly common sight in Meade.
====The Talbots of Hay====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Talbot Hay.jpg|caption=The Talbots of Hay|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Golden Downs
* '''Livery:''' Red & Black
* '''Motto:''' Fort et Fidelis (Strength and Loyalty)
* '''Symbol:''' Passant white hound
* '''Steward:''' Hardulph Talbot
The Talbots were originally a noble house in service to House Gauvain. They created a shock wave in Dawnish society when they joined the Yeomen’s' revolt that subsequently led to the creation of the Marches nation.

Since the foundation of the Marches the Talbots have constantly sought to preserve the integrity of the nation against all aggressors, proving stalwart in the defence of the Marches during the many conflicts with Dawn and other bloody engagements. Despite their desire for a strong and independent Marches the Talbots recognised that incorporation into the expanding empire was inevitable and were one of the main proponents for unification. That said, the Talbots very much view themselves as Marches first. They recognise the importance of preserving the Empire but are keen to see the Marches and their Household prosper from this relationship.

To maintain their power, the Talbot are especially keen to invest in and control land in the Mitwold, often binding yeomen to their cause through negotiations and subsequent indentures. In addition, they have maintained a legacy for the quality of their blacksmiths and count several amongst their number. Ever since the fall of the Mournwold the Talbots have helped maintain the garrison at Fenrose keep with money, supplies and on occasion soldiers. Several prominent Talbots have served there as a rite of passage, turning errant youths into hardened warriors and effective leaders.

====The Talbots of Meade====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Talbots Meade.png|caption=The Talbots of Meade|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Meade Downs
* '''Livery:''' Red & Black
* '''Motto:''' Fort et Fidelis (Faithful and Strong)
* '''Symbol:''' Passant white hound
* '''Steward:''' Edward Talbot
The ancient House of Talbot were once the [[seneschal|seneschals]] of the [[Dawn groups#House de Gauvin|De Gauvain]] noble house in Dawn. When they made the decision to March with the other yeomen families they brought with them not only military might but the administrative skills needed to run a successful household. Taking lands in Mitwold, they eventually sided with the [[First Empress]] in the Cousins War, being present at the bloody battle of Hepton Bridge - they claim it was their forces that took the bridge itself.

The Talbots are well-known as landowners and manage well-run estates. This business sense has led them over time to be entrusted with the coin of other houses, using it to buy the stores their neighbours needed. This allowed, over time, the household to accumulate a vast wealth. Eventually they became a powerful household in Mitwold, especially around the trade centres of Meade and Hay. They have extensive properties in Meade but the seat of power for the house is the fortified Talbot Manor on the Meade Downs, situated in acres of sheep grazing land, from which their wool and subsequent wealth is harvested.

The household's animal heraldic symbol being the loyal hound, the white dog of Talbot. Loyalty is the virtue prized highest amongst the Talbots. The family motto “Fort et Fidelis”, which translates to “Faithful and Strong” in one of the Asavean dialects, echoes this sentiment. Although many of them prefer the unofficial motto “Never Knowingly Under Cater”, which is particularly popular around household gatherings and has yet to be proven wrong.

===Households of the Mournwold===
====The Boon County Miners====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Boon County Miners icon.png|align=right|caption=Boon County Miners|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Boon County, Ore Hills
* '''Livery:''' A pickaxe overlaying the rune Feresh on a brown and beige field
* '''Motto:''' Our hills remain
* '''Steward:''' Jedediah ‘Jed’ Boon
Boon County is a large portion of land, deep in the Ore Hills. Made up almost entirely of miners, the Boon County Miners are technically called ‘House Boon’ but choose to steer away from this due to its association with farming households. They are a reclusive lot, deeply entrenched in mining tradition, such as burying their dead by lowering them down a burial mineshaft. They have a notable briar lineage and are zealously dedicated to Pride; their insular nature has left them with a distinct Ore Hills accent. Their former Steward, Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Boon, was executed as a ringleader of the Ore Hills Rebellion in 326YE.

The Boon County Miners were devastated by the Jotun occupation. Those who survived the initial battles refused to leave, choosing to remain on their land due to their Pride; they would rather work their mines as slaves than be ousted. They attempted several revolts during this time, none of which were successful. The lengthy occupation and subsequent Imperial curses further decimated the Boons; when the Mourn was freed, Boon County began to open back up to the Empire. They remain staunchly religious, dedicated to Pride, and have renewed their push to get miners the right to vote in the Marches.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Bleak.jpg|align=right|caption=House Bleak|width=250}}</div>
====House Bleak====
* '''Location:''' Greensward
* '''Livery:''' pink, white, blue
* '''Symbol:''' Blue mournflag over black and white field, 6 forget-me-nots across the top in pink, white, blue
* '''Steward:''' Mel Bleak
If you take the road west out of Tassato Mestra, on the mithril route out to the Singing Caves, then just past the scattered line of menhirs marking the border of the Greensward, you'll find a small crossroads that has grown into a respectable little village.

In the years following the devastating [[381YE Spring Equinox winds of war#Let That Be Your Last Battlefield (Mournwold)|"''Winter of Hell''"]], [[An apple that falls#Cruel Leaders Are Replaced|Mel o' the Mourn]] worked to restore a haunted, ruined farm on the very edge of the territory; her way of rebuilding in a way that didn't involve returning to the site of Greenhill's obliteration. She named it 'Bleak House Farm'.

Despite some controversies, Mel nevertheless found that the farm's position in the Greensward was a great one for employing travellers and strays for seasonal work. Five years of work paid off: enough good folk stayed more than a single season to grow the farm to a village, and enough of those agreed to name Mel as [[Steward]] of the new House Bleak, that they’ve come to accept it.

Aside from a mix of grain, sheep, and pig farms, Mel also takes [[Pride]] in the small garden she planted, from which they harvest their own small supply of [[Technology#Groveblossom and Changing Gender|groveblossom]].

====Copperhill Monastery====
* '''Location:''' Greensward
* '''Colours:''' Grey and Red
* '''Symbol:''' Prancing Cockerel
* '''Leader:''' Abbott Thomas Arch
Copperhill Monastery is dedicated to the virtue of [[Pride]] though all virtues are practiced here. The abbey located between two hills in the Greensward in a region with a long tradition of copper mining. The monks have a tradition of taking in people with [[lineage]] who have nowhere else to go, and a result the population of Copperhill are mostly lineaged. With the war in the Mourn, Copperhill was destroyed but they are working to rebuild and to restore the Pride and [[Prosperity]] of the Greensward.

====House Drayton====
* '''Location:''' Freemoor and Graven March
* '''Livery:''' Black (for the peat), crimson (for the herbs)
* '''Motto:''' From dirt to stream to river
* '''Symbol:''' A Duck Sinister
* '''Steward:''' Nathaniel Drayton
House Drayton started its life in [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]], struggling to cope with scrubby farmland. Several winters were survived by trading skills and herbs picked from the local scrubland of their neighbours. As the years passed, trading became more important to the family. By the time of the Jotun occupation the family had adopted a non-traditional lifestyle living aboard several small river craft, farming the stream banks for herbs and collecting flotsam for trade. They moved much of this to the family members who had moved to [[Bregasland#Gravenmarch|Graven March]]. With the approach of the Jotun cutting off trade and being unable to sustain themselves by staying stationary, the Draytons were some of those who left the Mourn. Those at Graven March established a business trading in herbs and other resources - the Wanderin' Shop - that moved around, even as far as Anvil at times. The shop has a reputation for selling practically anything…
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Forester.jpg|align=right|caption=House Forrester|width=250}}</div>
Even without land, though, the Draytons have never seen themselves as anything other than true Marchers. The head of family still takes the title of steward and the household gathers resources to secure the banks of their home. The Draytons know they come from the land, and though they are now more nomadic in nature than most, the Mournwold moor, its rivers and dirt are where they will return to. Brackish water is common in the streams of the moor and no Drayton will ever turn down a request for a drink; just don't hold out for water.

====House Forrester====
* '''Location:''' Southmoor, outskirts of Sarcombe
* '''Livery:''' A tree on top of a sword hilt located at the centre of a Vertically split burgundy and bottle green background.
* '''Steward:''' Gabriel Forrester
House Forrester is a young household that formed from a chance meeting of forgotten relatives upon their arrival to Anvil. For a short while they spent their visits to Anvil getting to know each other and finding other members of their family.

Since then they have grown to include Marchers of various professions and skills based primarily out of the steward's Mournwold estate located just outside of Sarcombe. As a household based outside Sarcombe their interests are in the trade of goods and craftsmanship.

The Forresters have also joined The Unbound Union during their time in Anvil.

====House of Goatsbridge====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House of Goatsbridge.png|align=right|caption=House of Goatsbridge|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' The Chalkdowns
* '''Livery:''' Green and brown
* '''Symbol:''' A goat, a bridge, and three apples
* '''Motto:''' Retake the Mournwold, Rebuild what we have lost, Regrow the land's bounty (Retake, Rebuild, Regrow)
* '''Steward:''' Sashka of Goatsbridge
Goatsbridge is a farming village situated halfway up a high hill in the Chalkdowns. A large steward's manor squats in the centre, overlooking the market square. The ancient stone bridge the village is named for sits astride a shallow stream that carves through the hills, connecting the village proper to rolling, steep acres of pasture for the goats.

Its people are a mix of those who returned to their homes after the liberation of the Mournwold, and those who remained behind when it was conquered by the Jotun. It is particularly notable for its affiliation with a large coven of mummers who work to ensure magic is used for the prosperity of the Marches under the firm supervision of the local landskeeper circle.

====Happiston Volunteers====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Happiston Volunteers.png|caption=Happiston Volunteers|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Chalkdowns
* '''Livery:''' Red and Brown
* '''Symbol:''' Roaring mandowla rampant
The Happiston volunteers are a young Marcher household founded by a group of former thralls and yegarra. This group was initially a voluntary militia formed to defend the town of Happiston and its surrounds during the period of lawlessness following the retreat of the local jarl's forces. In the years since the Mournwold's re-integration into the Empire the household has grown to include Marchers with a wider range of talents, as well as allowing those who fought for the Jotun to retire their weapons and pursue other enterprises. To this day, the group is committed to rebuilding Happiston, seeing it prosper, and to defend it from those who would take it again.

The house's symbol is derived from the time when the yegarra members of the household served with the Jotun army, the Mandowla's Roar. Due to this connection the red standards and mandowla iconography were what the Happiston Volunteers had easily to hand in the founding of their militia. Some take a certain glee in having taken something from the Jotun, others merely found it practical to adopt the trappings that had struck fear into many a heart in the heat of battle.

====Hogsgrove Coppice====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hogsgrove Coppice.png|caption=Hogsgrove Coppice|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Freemoor, across the valley from the Old Pig
* '''Livery:''' Mustard and Grey, with surnames on the back
* '''Motto:''' The Old Pig, The Coppice, The Mourn / Caligis tremite ante Sagittarios Marchiae (antiquated)
* '''Symbol:''' A white boar on a hill with a single tree atop it.
* '''Steward:''' Henry Dogwood
The Hogsgrove Coppice are a group of coppicers and foresters who work the land and care for the trees of the Hogsgrove Coppice, a small settlement in the hills of eastern Freemoor overlooking Old Pig, a chalk pig carved into the hills, from where the grove gets its name.

The Hogsgrove count among their number several pilgrims of Virtue, and a few talented artisans. They also maintain a strict discipline of longbow archery. Despite their knowledge of forestry and knack for the bow, the Hogsgrove, for the most part, see themselves as yeofolk, not beaters. They prefer to shoot in disciplined units, rather than skirmishing around the woods. They care for trees but work the land like any proud farmer, herder or ploughhand.

Most of the surviving members of the Coppice were born after the [[Jotun]] conquest of the Mourn, and they were among the Marchers of Freemoor who shunned the Imperial armies during the reconquest of the Mourn. The choice to re-join the Empire was not one made lightly, but in the end their loyalty lies, like all true Marchers, with their land.

====House Stone====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=FB_House_Stone_Banner_Artistic.jpg|caption=House Stone|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Ore Hills
* '''Livery:''' Grey above Green, Millstone on Hilt with Bluebell
* '''Motto:''' All of us or none of us, we chose all! We beat down all who did not agree, we're the House of Stone!
* '''Steward:''' Blayk Stone
House Stone's earliest records start at the beginning of the Empire, when the First Empress came to the Marches. Fighting for union in the civil war, the house went from building mills to breaking skulls. Upon the eventual victory, the House stood depleted, and so began a tradition of taking in odd ducks by accepting members divested of their original households. After a period of rebuilding in their lands in Upwold, their Prosperity was again cut short, this time by a sickness that claimed many of the household around 74YE, and the remaining members took House Stone south into Ore Hills in the Mourn. It was here that they built their first "rock farm", with farmers working alongside miners to exploit the natural resources of the hills, as a way to assuage internal conflict over voting rights. The loss of the Mournwold saw most of House Stone's people falling to the Jotun's blades.

The current steward of House Stone, Blayk Stone, succeeded her brother Dunstan in the summer of 381, and since then has been rebuilding the house for the third time. Today the rock farming tradition continues, even if only half the rock farmers can legally vote, spearheaded by the House Stone Rock Farm, the official central holding of the House. Loyalty is considered one of the more important virtues for the House as a whole, while the traditions are often focused on the soil and stone, drawing on its connections as if worried it is going to fly away.

===Households of Upwold===
====Applewood Levy====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Applewood Levy.jpg|caption=Applewood Levy|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Applewood, Stock March
* '''Livery:''' Black and green
* '''Symbol:''' Full apple tree
* '''Steward:''' Tilda Reaper
The Levy is a group of allied households who live, farm, and work in the Applewood northern [[Upwold#Stock_March|Stock March]]. Their farms are scattered around the village of Applewood on the road between Stockland and Moot in [[Hahnmark]], mostly on the west side of the road. Applewood is known for its abundant crop of apples, and for the orchard graveyard that lies to the west of the village where generations of Applewood residents rest beneath the soil.

Applewood had regular problems with the [[Feni]] in the past. Indeed, two months before the Winter Solstice of 376YE much of the village was burned by a major raid which saw several local households forming a levy to act as a unified force and defend the area against future threats. The smaller households merged to form a single household under a single steward who also oversees the Applewood Arms in Anvil. In recent years many of its members have formed a substantial [[military unit]] presence, known as the apple corps, led by whoever is the senior captain; to secure the Applewood itself and extend their help to the rest of the marches when called on.

====House Balston====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Balston.png|caption=House Balston|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Birchland
* '''Livery:''' Blue and green
* '''Motto:''' Rise Again
* '''Symbol:''' Rampant badger
* '''Steward:''' William Hooke Jr
The Balston Household originated from a group of trappers and gamekeepers during the March from Dawn. Their first leader, James Balston, gathered support as they marched west, pursued by the Knights and Earls - and was eventually caught and executed at Brock's Toll - an incident from which the Balstons believe the bridge takes its name. After his death, James' daughters; Hester, Ann and Lily Balston established the settlement of Lambrook, which has been an influential presence in Birchland ever since.

The Balstons take in Pride a tradition of hard-bitten stubbornness in times of war. The household claims to have been the last non-Mournwolders to leave Sarcombe during the territory's fall to the Jotun in 349YE - covering an Imperial retreat which cost the Household's battalion dearly. After some years attending Anvil, the Household again suffered heavy losses when ill-fated fights through the Sentinel Gate saw a number of its members fall. Those who survived however have worked hard to see their proud household rise and thrive again. For these reasons, the members of the Balston household have earned a reputation for sanguine ferocity in the eyes of both their allies and rivals. If not fighting in their iconic blue and green livery, "The Badgers" as they are often known can be found making merry - or making trouble - across Anvil.

<quote by="Balston song">
Rise again, rise again<br>
Though your heart it be broke and your life about to end<br>
No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend<br>
Like the Fighting Brock of Balston rise again
</quote>

====House Boarbridge====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Boarbridge.png|caption=House Boarbridge|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Birchland,
* '''Livery:''' Burgundy and navy
* '''Motto:''' Cross us if you dare
* '''Symbol:''' White boar above a white bridge, white towers
* '''Steward:''' Nana Boarbridge
House Boarbridge was formed after the cousins' war. A group of yeofolk made their farms among the dense trees of Birchland. According to local stories the fertile marshland over which the bridge now stands was once home to a dire boar of gigantic proportions. Taking this as a sign of Prosperity, the newly assembled household set to task to clear the area. So stubborn was this boar to move from their home during the initial settling of the area that the yeofolk felt an instant kinship with it. They felt that it embodied the best of Marcher values. The boar was allowed to stay, the yeofolk instead choosing to build their settlement around and bridge over the boar’s home.

The wealth and influence of the household has recently taken an upturn after [[Delver_of_the_Depths#Lorenzo.27s_Deep_Pockets|Lorenzo’s Deep Pockets]], as it's known, opened in Spring 381YE. There has been an increase in travellers being forced to go through the forests of Birchland due to the sinkhole, seeing more and more traffic making its way over the bridge on their way west or east. Seeing previously unknown prosperity, and having a larger number of farms than ever before means that the household is finding itself more and more involved in marcher politics and wider Imperial affairs.

The household itself is comprised mostly of yeofolk, with a strong tradition of beaters, and a number of [[thresher|threshers]].

====Cockscroft Farm====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cockscroft Household.png|caption=Cockscroft Household|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' The Heath
* '''Livery:''' Orange and green
* '''Motto:''' All Yield
* '''Symbol:''' Crowing rooster beneath three sheaves of wheat
* '''Steward:''' John Fisher
The Cockscroft Farm is a collection of farms in Upwold, sitting just above the border to Mournwold. Though the Heath isn’t best suited for agriculture, the many ritualists on the farm work together in a coven to ensure that their harvests remain prosperous, helped along by the circle of standing stones that enclose their land. They pride themselves on hard work and efficiency, using their graft and magic to grow crops with the most bountiful yield possible.

The household and its farm are young, having been started by a handful of farmers less than a decade ago. Still, they are a close family with firm values that are built on their belief in the Way and Marcher traditions. In the local towns, the household has gained a reputation for their bountiful farms and dogged determination. That, and the fact that a lot of them are called John.

====House Dunholt====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Dunholt.jpg|caption=House Dunholt|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Upwold, Stock March
* '''Livery:''' Mustard Yellow & Burnt Orange
* '''Symbol:''' Crossed axes below an autumn oak
* '''Steward:''' Alfred Dunholt
Perched atop a flowery hillock in Stock March is the ancestral home of House Dunholt. A site as old as its nation, whose founders had slipped away into the ranks of passing rebels and took with them an eternal aversion to authority. An aversion which would lead to their decline.

At the outbreak of the [[The_Marches_history#The_Cousin.27s_War|Cousins War]], House Dunholt was a major producer of barley and their steward Adam “Two Fingers” Dunholt was a very vocal opponent to the Empire. They pledged the household to the independence of the Marches, mustering a force of archers to meet those encamped towards Hepton Bridge. They never made the journey there, ambushed upon the way. Nearly all of them were fought to the death, leaving few left to tend the barley. The great fields were converted into a graveyard orchard and those who remained began anew.

Now House Dunholt is known more for its cider and mead than barley - most often trading in Stockland. Preparing the more popular inns and pubs for those out-of-towners who would turn their nose up at the local ale.

====The Greaye Hunt Merchants====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Greaye Hunt Merchants.png|caption=The Greaye Hunt Merchants|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Stockmarch, Upwold
* '''Livery:''' Blue and Black
* '''Symbol:''' The Greaye Rampant
* '''Motto:''' From ashes we grow, water our road, coin our bill, and contract our bow.
* '''Steward:''' Merriweather Greaye
The Greaye Hunt Merchants were formed after the tumultuous Winter of 384YE. Various parties had come into poor luck with fires, homelessness and other rough turns of fortune, and in their time of need, close friends offered their home beside the river as a temporary respite.

After spending time beside the waterways, tending to their wounds, several business opportunities were discovered, allowing for the group to flourish anew.

Friendships were strengthened over trade and food, and the parties eventually decided to establish themselves as a new household. They now try to act as a trade hub, a financial centre for the local region, encouraging Marcher market towns to reach further and gain access to new goods from across the Empire.

====House Guildenstern====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Guildenstern.png|caption=House Guildenstern|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Stockmarch, Upwold
* '''Livery:''' Burgundy and Bottle Green.
* '''Symbol:''' Manticore leaping over a star
House Guildenstern is one of the many houses of the Marches that traces its roots back to the original exodus from Dawn. The woodlands and hills around the Guildenstern estate are particularly wild and home to dangerous and according to stories, “otherworldly” entities. Still to this day opting to use larger swords than billhooks. They largely kept to themselves, becoming involved in Marcher politics only during the Cousin's War. House Guildenstern still boasts that one of their household was present when the Empress accepted the Marches as part of her Empire.

Due to their knowledge of "strange things" and a general reputation for being "not quite right" House Guildenstern has connections with the [[thresher]] movement as well as many Hedge-mages, fighting against the sorcerers serving [[Alderei the Fair]] as part of Tom Drake's retinue in the army that would become the [[Drakes]].
House Guildenstern continues their involvement in the more magical aspects of the Marches and the Empire, in many cases aiming to treat with eternals.
Their banner is a manticore leaping over a faltering gold star as a nod to their traditional way of thinking (although some link it to an ancient story of the House before the March, another sign that the house is a little peculiar by Marcher standards, their banner being almost Dawnish in its outré imagery). The Guildenstern are very aggressive towards the [[Feni]]. They are a part of the Unbound Union

====House Hartell====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Hartell.jpg|caption=House Hartell|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Hartford, Ashbrook, Upwold
* '''Livery and Symbol:''' Dark green and burgundy with a white stag head badge
* '''Motto:''' Through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond
* '''Steward:''' Edmund Forster
Despite being an old household whose chronicles trace farther back than the March of Succession, other Marchers do not particularly revere the Hartell like they might King's Stoke, Talbots or Grey Shanks. The household itself takes its name from the white stag their hunters pursued through Miaren, which according to their folklore, led them to be the first settlers to emerge from the woods of Birchland.

Hartford, a village within spitting distance of the River Meade, is known for its thriving tanning and leatherworking industry due to its abundant access to birch bark and [[Materials#Beggar.27s_Lye|beggar’s lye]] from neighbouring Birchland.

Their yeofolk have customarily served with the [[Bounders]] from inception and take pride in its reputation for ruthless pursuit. Those who do not go on to become beaters or retire to a well-earned farm maintain the proud tradition of service as sentries at the fortification of East Guard in Birchland.

They often come accompanied by the roaming bar known as the ''Black Rat'' - named after the first patron of its cider.

====House Kinahan====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=House Kinahan.jpg|caption=House Kinahan|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Tower March
* '''Livery:''' Forest green, walnut, and carrot orange
* '''Motto:''' Through the mud and the blood to the green fields beyond
* '''Symbol:''' Rearing Yale
* '''Steward:''' Rantalot Kinahan
The lands of House Kinahan are comprised of open fields found nestled in amongst the dense forests of Towers March. Clinging onto its traditions it has refused to embrace the change of becoming a part of the heavy forestry business, instead making income farming lower valued crops and only cutting down trees for the occasional woodworking to help ends meet.

Although having been everpresent through the history of the Marches, the Kinahans have only recently begun to hold higher aspirations and reach out. They are best known for their absolute loyalty to the household, unnecessary hoarding of food and their strange distaste for all orcs.

====King’s Stoke====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=King's Stoke.png|caption=King's Stoke|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Tower March, Upwold
* '''Livery:''' Yellow and green
* '''Motto:''' “King's Stoke, first and always: first to march, first to stand, first to break the king"
* '''Steward:''' Watkin
The villagers of King's Stoke proudly trace their history to the first Marchers who settled in Upwold and repelled Dawn at the Battle of King's Stoke. The village has remained prominent in the Marches, with several notable, historical figures.

In Anvil, King's Stoke runs the oldest Marcher tavern, The Mandowla's Arms. Several Imperial titleholders have come from the village since the death of Empress Britta, and it has commissioned historical research. Away from Anvil, the village welcomes friends annually to its remembrance of the dead and celebration of harvest, the King's Stoke Wassail.

During invasions of the Mournwold, the village has found itself on the frontier with Jotun territory. Accordingly, it has always been proud to be represented on the battlefield; while losses mean it no longer fields the full bill block it once did, there is rarely a battle where the livery of King's Stoke is not represented.

The influence of prominent briars made the village one of the first to openly welcome briars, and briar children are unusually common in the area. The village has opened its doors to briars rejected by other parts of the Marches and offered space in Tilly's Orchard for burials, giving the village the occasional nickname “the briar patch”.

====Pickham Monastery====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Pickham Monastary.png|caption=Pickham Monastery|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Tower March, between King's Stoke and the Eastern Guard
* '''Colours''' Blue and Red
* '''Motto:''' If you want to hold the land, first build a tower
* '''Symbol:''' Blue, a Silver Tower crowned by a Red Stag's Head
“If you want to hold the land, first build a tower” speaks the proverb, and it speaks truly. The monks of Pickham Monastery live by a Rule that demands readiness for action, simple living, and watchfulness in all things. The monastery’s founder was [[Known_exemplars#Joshua_Benson|Major Joshua Benson]], [[Paragons and Exemplars|Exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]]. A sharp-eyed sentry, he foiled a Dawnish raid on the village of Pickham, and became a renowned local priest of Vigilance. His followers once claimed only Pickham's run-down peel tower, but Pickham Monastery grew to dwarf its namesake village.

The monks have long supported the [[beater|beaters]] and [[thresher|threshers]] of Upwold. Their library is stocked as much toward practical Vigilance as religious matters, and the monks themselves often train as intelligencers, ritualists, or exorcists. They are known for their careful study and cunning use of hearth magics, folklore and curses. A necessary expertise, as the Monastery’s lands have a reputation for hauntings and strange events around Wassail.

Siblings of Pickham often nurture grudges towards fools who act without thought. Dubious assumptions and shifty arguments are seen as falsehoods to be sought out and overturned by the faithful. As such, the siblings of Pickham are as dogged in the pursuit of Clemency or acquittal for the Virtuous as they are in the condemnation of criminals.

====Smuddy Russets====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Smuddy Russet logo.png|caption=The Smuddy Russets|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Birchland, Upwold
* '''Livery:''' Green and white
* '''Symbol:''' The rune Rhyv on an apple
* '''Steward:''' Nancy Smudd
The Smuddy Russets are apple farmers through and through. The house itself is a relatively small one now compared to what it once was, due to fighting for the empire or family tragedies. Living in Upwold, in Birchland, the family was shaken when their house and farm partially fell into “The Bloody Great Hole”. The family quickly acted to stop the house falling in, roping parts of it to the ground and reinforcing others. With this, the Smudds have been working to rebuild ever since and have continued to grow apples in what is left of their orchard as well as ‘branching’ out with having a sideline in the pig business, bar their pet mini-pig, Bacon. He’s special.

As well as growing apples, the Smudds work to help the armies of the Empire by acting as physicks in any battles they are a part of, making sure that any Marcher that falls is picked back up and gets back home. With green and white tabards, the Smudds, with the rune of [[Rhyv]] on their banner to show how important blood is, strive to keep the land they live on and their friends and family safe and strong in ever changing times.

==Towns and Circles==
The [[market town|market towns]] are prosperous, but their [[business|businesses]] give them little opportunity to wield political power directly. Likewise, each [[landskeeper]] circle has its own agenda, often tied to the protection or prosperity of a single region but again they have no direct say on who will lead the [[territory|territories]] of the Marches.
===Market Towns===
====Punters' Knoll====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Black Frog.png|caption=Punter's Knoll|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Ottermire, Bregasland
* '''Symbol:''' A black frog, squatting on a mauve background, surrounded by the initials B F B C
* '''Steward:''' Morgan Sweetlathe
A distinctly Bregas market town, Punters' Knoll perches above the marsh on a network of piers and platforms. Accessible exclusively by boat (or an overpriced ferry service), the town is patronised by local water traffic but also enjoys an 'anything goes' reputation: every boardwalk is crammed with tiny pubs and businesses offering smoking, substances, gambling and other diversions. Thanks to its obscurity, it is a prime location for those looking to do business in private or to abandon their inhibitions for a few days. Nevertheless, the Punters are as proud as any Alders of Meade: 'trendiness' well sums up their attitude, with fashion tips and gossip magazines being worth as much as any crown.

The town is practically synonymous with the Black Frog Boating Company. All the local Alders are members, and everyone else is in some way employed or contracted by the Company. There was once a wooded hill here and this was a town of carpenters and boatwrights, but by the early years of the Empire the trees were gone, the knoll had slipped into the mud and the town was left to survive on its network of walkways and business relationships. Granted a market charter during the reign of Empress Deanne, the BFBC was thusly established to represent the towns' business interests, and has since grown to own a trade fleet in the Westmere and a smattering of river traffic throughout the Empire. Trade across the water to [[Kallavesa]] was one of their early successes, and to this day the Punters proudly claim they were among the first to push (or appropriate) Goosewhisper as a recreational substance outside of Wintermark.

===Landskeeper Circles===
====The Reapers====
* '''Location:''' Maiden's Menhir Inn in Hay, or the Applewood Manor in Upwold
* '''Motto:''' Serve the Marches, Reap the Rewards
The Reapers aren't so much prominent as everywhere and useful. They came to Anvil after Auld Grimm died at the same time as [[Empress Britta]], and have gotten quite skilled at cat herding and ritual shenanigans. So if you wondered who gave the Mourn its prosperous year just after the conquest, it was them. They still gather up small household [[coven|covens]], stick their noses into most of the powerful rituals, and push the borders of what the Marchers can do with magic. Rather a lot of them are what you might call Rainbow Wizards, mainly spread around the realms of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Night.

If you're looking for where they're based, then the closest I can get you is the Maiden's Menhir Inn in Hay or the Applewood Manor in Upwold. Nicholas Reaper, who's officially their if-landskeepers-did-leaders-then-he-would-be, has a favourite seat at the both of them and visits every few weeks. If he's up for taking business, his staff will be outside the door.
==Other Groups==
===Beaters===
====The Boundaryfolk====
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Boundaryfolk.jpg|caption=The Boundaryfolk|align=right|width=250}}</div>
* '''Location:''' Winterstoke Manor, near Ashill, Upwold
* '''Livery:''' Yellow crescent moon on a dark blue bende
* '''Motto:''' “The bounds don’t beat themselves.”
In the years leading up to the Interregnum, the woods and fields in and around the Silver Chase were becoming less hospitable. The local charcoal burners, woodcutters and yeomen grew fearful as the itinerant Feni became bolder, no longer seeming content with thieving the occasional sheep or run-of-the-mill banditry. The threat was constant enough that the informal groupings of beaters just couldn’t keep up. Thus, the Boundaryfolk were formed: a collection of beaters drawn from many smaller houses, joining forces for the good of all.

An unprecedented attack on the settlement of Applewood by Feni gave the Boundaryfolk their first real engagement as a unit and cemented their reputation as canny fighters and loyal Marchers. Since then, there has been much kinship with other houses, such as the Applewood Levy and King’s Stoke.

More recently, the Boundaryfolk have concentrated their efforts on protecting the Empire from threats of a more sorcerous nature. Always happy to share their fire with newcomers, some of them have even made Winterstoke their home. Beating the bounds is a dangerous life, but Upwold’s safety is a rewarding harvest!

Mitwold

2026-07-29T13:09:55Z

GuiltyConscience: /* The Pride of the Marches */

{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofMitwold.png|caption=The households of Mitwold engage in feuding and bitter rivalry.|title=Regions of Mitwold|align=left|width=500}}
==The Pride of the Marches==
Mitwold is arguably the richest of the Marcher territories. There's gold in the soil of Mitwold - the gold of rich harvests of fruit and grain. It has a substantial coast, scattered with small fishing villages and the occasional lonely watchtower. As one moves further inland, the rocky coast gives way to fertile chalk-soiled downs, with rich game-filled woodland, large [[farm|farms]], and prosperous [[market town|market towns]] beyond. The largest settlement in Mitwold - indeed in the Marches - is the "town" of [[#Meade|Meade]], standing proudly at the mouth of the river that shares its name. More a small city than a town, Meade is in some ways the beating heart of the Marches.

When the other nations imagine the Marches, it is usually Mitwold they bring to mind - acres upon acres of well-tended fields and orchards, laid out like a grand patchwork blanket, scattered with villages connected by roads and dirt tracks. Here and there a lonely menhir watches over the land around it, often marking a point of historical interest, or serving as a meeting place for the [[landskeeper|landskeepers]] of the adjoining area.

This is also the territory where many of the best known [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs#Sports_and_Games|ball games]] are played, and it is a regular occurrence for some local dispute to be settled over a savage game of rugby, foot-the-ball, or rounders. Some of the traditional inter-village or inter-household games go back centuries, having become regular fixtures long before the foundation of the Empire. Many have their own traditions - the people of Parkestown and Harwich in the [[#Maiden Downs|Maiden Downs]] compete annually to determine the control of a prime stretch of grazing land between their two villages, for example,

More than anywhere else in the Marches, the [[Marcher household|households]] of Mitwold are engaged in feuding and bitter rivalry. The closer two households are to one another, the more likely it is that they are engaged in a long-running feud. Often the original cause of the feud is lost to history, having become a self-perpetuating state of affairs as each slight delivered by a rival becomes justification for the retaliation that follows. These feuds rarely lead to bloodshed - it is a rivalry of skinned knuckles not bloodied knives.

==Recent History==
Mitwold's history has been comparatively peaceful. Bregasland and Mournwold provide a buffer, protecting it from the martial ambitions of the [[Jotun]]. That is not to say it has been without incident; several times in pre-Imperial history the people of the Marches were at war with the people of [[Wintermark]]. Lonely menhirs and stands of ancient trees along the northern borders of [[#The Meadows|the Meadows]] and [[#Meade March|Meade March]] mark ancient, largely-forgotten battlegrounds. From time to time, stories circulate of unquiet spirits around some of the barrow mounds - bitter Wintermark warriors interred in Marcher soil.

For the most part though, Mitwold has enjoyed the benefits of being a relatively safe place to live, secure in its prosperity - or as sure as any agricultural territory reliant on good harvests can be.

The [[March on their belly|disastrous failure of the Autumn harvest]] in 379YE was followed by a particularly [[March on their belly#Resolution|harsh winter]] during which all the farmers of the Marches suffered significant losses in order to keep the Imperial armies marching. Then the Spring 380YE planting was hit with torrential rains and a vicious blight that devoured many of the seeds before they can be put in the ground. While the rest of the Empire was enjoying a burst of [[The prime colour of the world|vitality and fertility]], the farms of Bregasland, Upwold, and Mitwold were once again labouring under the yoke of a vicious magical [[curse]] that ruined the crops, sapped the life from the beasts in the fields, and spread sickness and hunger wherever it touched.

The plan to construct the ''Imperial Breadbasket'' began in the markets of [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] and received immediate support from [[market town|market towns]] across the Marches. Led by the people of Meade, the alders put their hands in their pockets - not as an act of charity, but as recognition of the fact the Marches prosper when the farmers prosper. It was an investment for the future, as well as an effort to "darn the rip" between the folk of the market towns, and the rest of the Marches. As a result, shortly before the Spring Equinox 381YE, work was completed on a network of granaries and storehouses across Mitwold as part of the [[The_Marches_economic_interests#Granaries and Storehouses - the Imperial Breadbasket|Imperial Breadbasket]] [[great work]]. In addition to its work in securing the future of the Marches, this has helped to improve relations between the yeomanry and the residents of the market towns - reinforcing that even though they do not till the soil, they are still Marchers.

Shortly before the Autumn Equinox 380YE, an earth tremor struck Mitwold, its epicentre near the town of [[#Wayford|Wayford]]. At first, the effects seemed minor - a little damage to some of the buildings in Wayford - but shortly after creatures similar to [[ogre|ogres]] began to appear in the area. Investigations by Marcher heroes discovered that the cause of the raids - if not the earth tremor itself - was an unnatural creature, buried deep beneath the earth. "Bloody Jack" appeared to be some sort of horrible troll creature, no doubt the source of the local legends of Jack-in-Chains. The entity lay at the bottom of an old stone-choked well, bound with magical chains - chains that had been damaged in the earth tremor and were close to breaking completely. The creature remained a threat to Mitwold until the Summer Solstice 381YE. With the [[Under_the_red_sky#Tharim|aid of the Winter Archmage]], several brave yeofolk made a bargain with the sinister [[eternal]] [[Tharim]], allowing the subterranean beast to once again be bound tightly. Several foolish youths tried to gain access to the troll-creature's tomb in search of treasure, but such expeditions were decisively curtailed by the placement of the Pale Chain, a white granite stone that now blocks the entrance to the well.

The business with Bloody Jack also brought to light stories of the Marcher blacksmiths - legendary figures who combined a practical appreciation for metalwork with a calling for negotiating with eternals. These capable individuals disappeared from the Marches as the result of a deal with the Autumn eternal [[Estavus]], and so long ago they were largely forgotten. Several Marcher scholars [[Bregasland and the smiths#The Marcher Smiths|looked into the situation]], and worked to secure the return or release of this uniquely Marcher tradition - a possibility that was [[Smith|recently realised]].

==Points of Interest==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Marcher Finery.jpg|caption=Bridget Talbot served as Senator for Mitwold in the difficult years after the death of [[Empress Britta]].|align=right|width=300}}</div>
=== Meade ===
The largest settlement in the Marches is the city (technically a [[market town]]; it received its charter from [[Empress Mariika]] in 225YE) of Meade in [[#Meade March|Meade March]]. Crowded around the mouth of the eponymous river on the shores of Westmere, Meade is not only the spiritual and administrative heart for the nation, it is also a port whose ships deal in fishing, trade with foreign nations and sea defence against the barbarians through Westmere and the cold salt waters of the Gullet.

Meade is where yeomen from across the Marches come to spend hard-earned coin, and often plays host to foreign visitors from other nations. The lavish week-long Harvest’s End Festival takes place in Meade every autumn, and sees the city fill with folk from all across the Empire. Still, Meade is not without its problems. Some yeomen look askance at the citizens, questioning how they can be ''proper'' Marchers given they live in a town rather than on a farm. To many of their critics, they are merchants, not true yeomen. They point to the scandal during the reign of [[Empress Giselle]] when several alders were implicated in a plot to secede from the Marches - a plot that never had much popular support but whose existence alone was enough to rekindle rumours that the folk of Meade are "not proper." At the same time, the alders of Meade know that their settlement is not even half the size of the great cities of [[the League]], and this can lead to efforts to try and compete with the [[The_League_leadership|merchant princes]] of [[Tassato]] and [[Temeschwar]] with predictably disappointing consequences.

Still, regardless of the past and the attitude of some suspicious yeomen, the people of Meade are Marchers through-and-through. They are practical, stubborn people who hold fiercely to the [[The_Marches_culture_and_customs|traditions]] of the Marches. As their recent involvement in the formation of the Imperial Breadbasket demonstrates, when push comes to shove they look out for their own people - the people of the Marches.

In the wake of the death of [[Empress Britta]] in 376YE, semi-organised groups of bandits began to prey on traders travelling by land from Meade. By [[Town defences|order]] of the [[Senate]], in early 377YE a series of watchtowers and earthworks were constructed around Meade to help address this problem. The works were overseen by Bridget Eastville née Talbot (senator for Mitwold) as part of a larger plan to provide protection to towns throughout the Empire. While the defences are not sufficient to qualify Meade as a true [[fortifications|fortification]], they have already helped reduce brigandry throughout the territory.

The [[Bailiff of the Grand Market]] has a small office in Meade, although most title holders spend little time there (apart from overseeing the security of the grand market on the third weekend of each month). The Bailiff is an [[Imperial title]] appointed each Winter Solstice by the farmers of the Marches.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Forte Fidelis.jpg||caption=Built by Richard Tunstall to guard Mitwold from Jotun aggression.|align=right|width=350}}
===Forte Fidelis===
In 377YE '''Richard Tunstall''', as the [[Imperial Master of Works]], approved the creation of Forte Fidelis in Golden Downs. It was one of only two castles approved by the Master before the Senate [[Amend_powers_of_Imperial_Master_of_Works|removed their ability to do so]]. Construction was funded partly by the Master's stipend (before it was removed by the Senate), and partly by money raised and donated by the Marchers themselves. Work on the fortification was completed shortly before the Winter Solstice 378YE.

The fortification was completed while the [[Accept_Jotun_ceasefire|Jotun ceasefire]] was still in place as a counter to Mitwold's perceived vulnerability to attack from the Mournwold, once hostilities inevitably resumed. Surrounded on all sides by a deep moat, accessible only by a relatively narrow bridge. the castle has yet to see combat. It takes its name from the [[Languages#Latin|Old Asavean]] motto of the Talbot household - "forte et fidelis." Following his retirement from Imperial politics, Richard Tunstall still serves as the castellan, ensuring that the castle is prepared for any potential invasion of Mitwold.

=== Hay ===
“The golden fields of Hay” appear in many a Marcher song. Hay is quintessential Marches, a small rural town set amongst rolling fields. Following the invasion of the Mournwold, the folk of Hay were been deeply concerned about the threat of further orc aggression. Several locals have formed themselves into the Hay Irregulars, an unofficial force dedicated to helping turn back the barbarians should they attempt a concerted raid. The Irregulars served with some distinction fighting off small bands of raiding Jotun, before the Mournwold was finally liberated in Autumn 381YE.

Hay is rightly famous for its fields of wheat, and for its bakeries. Many of the farmers of the [[#Golden Downs|Golden Downs]] bring their grain to market here, where a significant portion of it is used to make flour and bread products including the famous "Hay Huffer" - a crusty triangular bread roll with a thick, doughy texture designed to fill the bellies of labourers across Mitwold and beyond.

=== Wayford ===
A large market town at the confluence of the upper tributaries of the Meade. A layer of gritstone in between the chalk of the wolds means the river is wide and shallow, allowing livestock from the hills to cross, or embark on riverboats to Meade itself. Built along the southern borders of [[#The Meadows|the Meadows]], it is a bustling settlement known for its travellers' inns and for its monthly cattle and sheep markets. Merchants visiting Meade pass through Wayford, as do Marcher traders exporting food and drink to the wider Empire. The town is quite cosmopolitan - there is a large transitory population of [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], [[the League|League]] citizens, and [[Navarr]] coming to Wayford to travel.

All this prosperous trade attracts its fair share of trouble, and the [[Bailiff of the Grand Market]] is regularly called upon to deal with bandits and brigands preying on trade along the roads that pass through Wayford. At the river fork stand several gibbets with a long and bloody history, notable in recent years for playing host to Red Walder and his outlaws, a plague on the Mitwold for many years finally brought to justice in 359YE following a week-long standoff in the Shepford Brewery near the Wayford Bridge. The town is also notable due to legends of a monstrous creature known variously as [[Jack of Irons|Jack-in-chains]], Jack-of-Irons and Bloody Jack who is said to be buried somewhere nearby. Shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE, a menhir of white granite called [[#The Pale Chain|the Pale Chain]] was [[Construct_Giant's_Well|raised]] over the site where the giant is apparently entombed.

=== The Maiden Stone ===
An ancient menhir that stands in a scorched area of land in a grove of ash trees. Every year before the Spring festival the farmers of the area weave the largest straw dolly known in the territories. The Straw Maiden, as the creation is known, is 12 feet tall adorned with wild flowers with intricate patterns of vines woven into her skirt. The Maiden’s skirt is hollow at the base and she is placed atop the stone. The [[Landskeeper|landskeepers]] of the [[#Maiden Downs|Maiden Downs]] then perform a night-long ritual designed to bring prosperity to the fields and flocks of the people of the Downs. The Maiden then stands in the grove until the end of Summer, visited by travellers who leave gifts of food, [[The_Marches_hearth_magic#Poppets|poppets]], minor trinkets, and other offerings at her foot in the hope that she may bring them some small favour. Although the Maiden is exposed to all weathers and temperaments, she does not rot, blow away or decay in any way, staying as fresh and brightly golden as the day she was placed upon the stone. Then, at the festival of Autumn Harvest there is another ceremony, the culmination of which sees the Maiden set alight, burning until there is nothing left.

Needless to say, the ceremonies of the Maiden Stone are roundly criticized by priests of the [[Synod]]. There have been efforts by priests from outside the Marches to ban the practice, denounced as the worst kind of [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolatry]]. The [[Sevenfold Path]] has occasionally attempted to get the [[Conclave]] to [[Declaration#Declaration of Interdiction|interdict]] the ceremonies without success. In 186YE and 247YE, the ceremonies were stopped for a short time but in both cases resumed less than a year later.

The landskeepers of Meadow Downs claim that they are simply performing the three powerful farm-blessing [[enchantment|enchantments]] ([[Blessing of New Spring]], [[Strong Ox, Golden Sun]], and [[Gathering the Harvest]]) and that the gifts left by visitors are simply a harmless tradition. There is some evidence that the landskeepers also perform a rite in the depths of Winter without any witnesses; lurid speculation surrounds this ceremony.

===The Pale Chain===
The Pale Chain is a hulking monolith of white granite from [[Upwold#Sutton_Stone_Quarries|Sutton Stone Quarries]] raised near the town of [[#Wayford|Wayford]] shortly after the Autumn Equinox 381YE. The looming rock is engraved with a spreading oak tree above a three-link chain, giving the menhir its common name. Some rumours suggest there is a second engraving on the bottom of the stone, allegedly in the form of a peculiarly proportioned lion. The construction was plagued with problems and vocal accusations from some of the workers that the project was cursed. One of the skilled masons responsible for shaping the stone lost her arm as the stone was lowered into place, and many of those working on the site muttered in hushed tones of similar unlikely "accidents".

The Pale Chain covers the well where the ravenous giant known as "Bloody Jack" apparently lies forever entombed. The site is watched over by a handful of yeomen from [[The Marches groups#House_Guildenstern|House Guildenstern]] in [[Upwold#Stock_March|Stock March]] - something that has raised some hackles in Maiden Downs. There are also reports of a peculiar pale figure, wrapped in chains and with unpleasantly inhuman features, lurking near the stone on moonless nights - many believe this is one of the heralds of [[The_Thrice-cursed_Court#Tharim|Tharim]] that came to the Marches via the winter [[regio]] known as the [[Hunters_and_wolves#In_the_Copse_of_the_Bone_Birch|Copse of the Bone Birch]] in [[Upwold#Birchland|Birchland]]. According to local stories, if one approaches the stone on such nights and presses one's ear to the ground, a low rumbling voice can be heard from deep in the earth ranting and raving about thieves and liars. Local children have already begun daring one another to approach the stone and test this story out.

===Statue of Cockscroft Lad===
In 385YE, [[Siakha]] heralds [[When Spring comes|attacked]] a Wanderers-Allfriars game, killing thirty-two. '''Jonathan Piper of Cockscroft''', whose early warning prevented wider tragedy, is celebrated with a statue at the old Wanderers practice ground. His expression is mournful, head turned to the name-covered ball in his left hand as he raises a bell to call the hue and cry.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Householder.jpg|width=250|align=left}}

==Regions==
===Golden Downs===
The rich farms of Golden Downs are home to the prosperous village of [[#Hay|Hay]], as well as a number of smaller farming villages. It is also the location of the [[Keeper of the Golden Fields#The Silent Giant|Silent Giant]] standing stone that watches over the surrounding fields, and is in turn watched over by the [[Keeper of the Golden Fields]]. Several other stones mark the old boundaries of one farm or another but the Silent Giant is the largest.

For the last three decades, the Golden Downs has been in a state of war-readiness, expecting an invasion from the Mournwold - indeed the Jotun raided north into the region many times over the duration of the occupation. Citizen militia such as the Hay Irregulars prided themselves on their readiness to fight off such raids, even in the absence of organised Marcher armies. Many [[military unit|independent Marcher captains]] cut their teeth taking [[Military_unit#Take_Independent_Action|paid work]] protecting the rich farms of Mitwold. The need for such special forces was reduced significantly in 377YE when the [[Imperial Master of Works]] approved the creation of [[#Forte Fidelis|Forte Fidelis]] in Golden Downs.

During the Jotun invasion of the Mournwold in 349YE, many of the citizens of [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]] fled north to the Golden Downs; a long history of good relations and familial ties between the two regions helped to mitigate any negative effects of this influx of landless yeomen. Unlike many of the Mournwold refugees the majority of these former refugees show little interest in returning to reclaim the land they (or more often their parents) lost three decades ago.

===Maiden Downs===
The Downs are covered in a patchwork of wealthy and prosperous farms. Some outsiders attribute the success of the farms here to the magic of the [[#Maiden Stone|Maiden Stone]], but the yeomen who work the land here disparage such suggestions. Rather, they point out, their farms are prosperous because they work bloody hard to keep them that way. Still, the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Maiden Downs have a reputation for being a little peculiar, and to be significantly more secretive than those in the rest of the Marches - almost ''[[Bregasland|bregas]]'' in the words of some.

There are no large settlements in Maiden Downs - not even along the highway that links [[#Wayford|Wayford]] to [[Upwold#Stockland|Stockland]]. Farmers are as likely to sell their produce in either town, depending on which is paying the better price in any given season. This has led to a few feuds between households of Maiden Downs and those of Golden Downs and the Meadows over what is seen as "''a lack of loyalty to Mitwold''."

===Meade March===
*'''Quality:''' City, Coastal
Often called the heart of Mitwold, Meade March is the location of the small city of [[#Meade|Meade]], built at the mouth of the river that shares its name. Meade is prosperous, and its port bustling, and since the [[Dredge the Westmere|dredging of the Westmere]], the waters are now deep and wide enough to allow passage to an [[navy|navy]]. Before the Westmere was dredged the alders of the city occasionally discussed how dredging the river would allow the construction of a [[shipyard]], but there was never enough support for such a large-scale undertaking. With the river dredging complete there is now discussion on whether a shipyard will be built after all, or at least a [[fortification]] given that Meade is now potentially at risk of being sacked by a barbarian navy.

Outside of Meade, the Meade March is covered with farms and scattered villages, and even a few small towns. The yeomen here have a somewhat undeserved reputation in the rest of the Marches for considering themselves "''better''" than everyone else because of their proximity to Meade - of giving themselves "''airs and graces''". A common stereotype that appears occasionally in plays and stories is that of the Meade yeoman who farms their field wearing a rich outfit, more suited to a feast day than a work day. There is little factual foundation to this prejudice - although many yeomen of the Meade March visit the city at least once a season and thus have access to a significantly wider array of goods and cloth than residents of more isolated parts of the Marches.

===The Meadows===
While most of this region is rolling farmland, the northern Meadows abuts the [[Kallavesa#Wittal_Grove|Wittal Grove]] of [[Kallavesa]]. The woodlands are home to at least one group of [[Feni]], but for the most part the Meadows is a peaceful, pastoral place. Before the Empire, however, there were occasional clashes between Marchers and raiders from Wintermarker along the border, and the northern woodlands still have an unsavoury reputation as being haunted.

South of the border, the forests that once grew in the Meadows were cleared centuries ago. Here and there between the farms however, a lone tree stands as a boundary marker and a silent reminder of a time when much of the Meadows was covered in trees. These so-called ''Lone Oaks'' are reminiscent in some ways of the menhirs found in other parts of the Marches. According to tales told across the Meadows, in the first years of the Marches the northern woods were home to terrible monsters who regularly attacked people trying to settle north of the Meade river. Eventually, however, a wily blacksmith made a deal with the ruler of the monsters. The creatures would leave the settlers alone if in return the Marchers stopped cutting all the trees down. In the end the Marchers had the last laugh however - they cut down almost all the trees leaving only a scattering of Lone Oaks - but by the careful wording of the agreement the monsters were unable to harm the people of the Meadows as they had kept to the letter of their bargain.

In addition to its farms and eerie trees, the Meadows is also well known for its [[herb garden|herb gardens]], especially in the north. In particular, the quality of [[True Vervain]] grown in the Meadows is generally held to be unmatched in the Marches. The herbalists of the Meadows are known to make occasional pilgrimages north to Wittal, in Kallavesa, to share lore and trade herbs.

===Oddmire===
*'''Quality:''' Coastal, [[#Under Threat|Under Threat]] (Jotun) when the Jotun control [[Bregasland#Ottermire|Ottermire]]
When the Marchers first arrived in Mitwold, Oddmire was extremely marshy. Several decades of work reclaimed most of the region, despite the best efforts of angry [[marshwalkers]] to stop the draining of the swamps and marshes. There are still some treacherous bogs in Oddmire, especially along the southern and western borders with Bregasland, but the majority of the region is fertile farmland. As is traditional in the marches, there are large numbers of farms here, but there are also a few more isolated communities built on the small, rocky islands that lie along the southern shore of the Westmere.

The most prominent settlement here is assuredly '''Odd’s End''', a bustling fishing port. The fisherfolk of Odd's End are known to have something of a chip on their shoulder when it comes to the larger, more prosperous Meade. They fly their banner - a leaping salmon - proudly whenever they set sail and barely a year passes without a major row between fisherfolk from Odds End and boats out of Meade over fishing grounds. A well-respected monastery - Odd's House - stands near the port, dedicated to the virtue of [[Pride]], and the monks there regularly encourage the people of Odd's End to stand up for their rights against the larger Meade.

Beginning to rival Odd's End in prominence is '''Steward's Landing'''. In early 384YE, Imperial heroes [[By_fountains,_by_fishes#Steward.27s_Landing|stopped a Jotun raid]] from destroying this small coastal village. ''Jarvey "Strongoar" Oddsboy'', the steward of the small [[Marcher household]] who oversees Steward's Landing repaid that aid by throwing his full support [[By fountains, by fishes|behind the ambitious raids]] into [[Skallahn]]. By all accounts Jarvey and the rest of House Oddsboy did quite well out of [[Take it further|both raids]]. Part of his profits were put towards expanding Steward's Landing, and along with several fellow coastal stewards, they turned the village into a permanent staging post for Marcher [[fleet|ship captains]] - such as they are - to raid the coastline of Kalsea and [[Fleet#Raid_Kalsea's_coastline|take the wealth]] of the [[Jotun]]. The loot that passes through Steward's Landing has helped fund addition jetties, a boatyard, and expanded the prestige of House Oddsboy significantly.
<box>'''Odd of Odd's End'''<br>
Odd of Odd's End is a popular folk hero from the early days of the Empire, born around 45YE. She was an outspoken devotee of the virtue of [[Pride]], and in later life founded the [[monastery]] that still bears her name. Settling her folk on the shore when the Marchers first reached the Westmere, declaring that this would be the place where she would end her days, she was instrumental in the draining of Oddmire among other significant deeds. A series of stories, popular with Mitwold's mummers, recount the many deeds of this folk hero, especially her battles against marshwalkers, and her rivalry with the alders of Meade.<br><br>Despite her popularity, there has been no serious effort to have Odd recognised as an [[Paragons_and_Exemplars#Exemplars|exemplar]] by the [[Synod]]. When the matter has been raised, the abbot of Odd's End generally shrugs and responds with a variant of "We know she's an exemplar, why should we look to outsiders to confirm it?" Regardless, "Mother Odd" was recognised as an exemplar of Pride in 376YE, shortly before the requirements for [[recognition]] were made stricter. This appears to have had little effect on the people of Odd's End.</box>

==Special Qualities==
===Under threat===
* '''Oddmire'''
During the Winter Solstice 384YE, the Jotun worked with Marcher traitors to expand and reinforce the Otterway in Bregasland. Formerly a narrow raised track that could just about allow two ox carts to pass one another without falling into the fens, it is now a solid construction that would allow twenty soldiers to march abreast along it... into Mitwold.

'''Game Effect:''' While a region has the ''Under threat'' quality, the Jotun and their allies are considered to have a [[beachhead]] in that region. This means their armies will not suffer the usual penalty to take the first region in an enemy territory, as long as they are attacking a region with the ''under threat'' quality.

{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Mitwold|Territory=Mitwold|Season=Summer}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the start of the Summer Solstice 388YE, the Marches control the entire territory. Mitwold is an Imperial territory.
* [[#Forte Fidelis|Forte Fidelis]] in [[#Golden Downs|Golden Downs]] is a rank one [[fortification]].
* [[farm|Farms]] in the territory benefit from the [[The_Marches_economic_interests#Granaries and Storehouses - the Imperial Breadbasket|Imperial Breadbasket]] and the Black Canal and produce an extra 72 rings each season.
* [[Business|Businesses]] in the territory benefit from the Black Canal and produce an extra 36 rings each season

==Further Reading==
* [[Where the slow river flows]] - 388YE Spring wind of war about the effort to push the Jotun from their toehold in the Meadows and start reclaiming Meade March
* [[Rose grow the rushes o']] - 387YE Winter wind of war about the Jotun invasion of Oddmire and Meade March

<ic>Ned shook his head, feeling the wounds under the brigantine. "The gambeson and the brig are holding everything closed Henry. Without the full services of the hospital in Anvil I won't be able to close them fast enough if we take it off. I'm so sorry my friend."

Henry Talbot sat with his back to the tumbled wall of the burnt out homestead, sweat plastering his dark hair to his forehead.

The flush of vigorous life had faded from his cheeks during the escape from the barbarians, but mischief still sparked defiantly in his eyes. Sun beat down and wisps of steam made thin halos about their heads. "Nothing you could have done Ned. Thank the boys for carrying me all this way... How long do you think?"

" It could be an hour, or as short as you..."

Ned paused as he reached into his pouch of herbs. A decade of hunts made him grab instinctively for his pike, the mating cry of a Bregesland Dove in the wrong season could only mean one thing.

"Cullach-A-Cullach!" Sounded to the right, accompanied by a gurgling squeal. A moment later two Orc scouts and a human slave burst from the bushes in front of them. Ned brought the pike to bear, but not fast enough.

The smaller of the two orcs, face split with a recent wound, shoved the slave into the pike and drove her body onto the shaft. Ned drew his dagger, but the orcs were on him before the sword was free. Not relishing the prospect of a standing fight they rushed forward and bore Ned to the earth.

In a flash decision Ned dropped the dagger, grasping the wrist holding a rusty knife and breaking the nose of the second Orc. Broken Nose rolled away from the melee, streaming blood and curses, while Split Face and Ned struggled over the knife.

Suddenly Henry was stood astride Split Face, Ned's dagger in hand. With a butcher's confidence he sliced Split Face's neck to the bone, drenching Ned in ichor.

Ned held fast to the rusty knife, taking it from unresisting hands. As he cleared his eyes Ned heard Henry grunt and the tip of a blade emerged from his stomach. Henry toppled and Broken Nose stooped over the to pull the notched sword free.

Roaring in fury, Ned kicked Split Face's body off and launched himself forward. The notched sword was trapped and useless between them, allowing Ned free reign with the rusty knife...

Ham came to check on them once the rest of the orc scouts were disposed of. Ned sat beside the ashen body of Henry Talbot, truly still now that he had begun his journey through the labyrinth. The remains of a human and two orcs lay in the remains of the herb garden. Not a word passed between the Cullach, just a look and a nod.

With great care they removed Henry's harness and hid it up the chimney of the homestead, suspended from the meat smoking hooks. Ham took the small antler handled knife from Ned's shaking hand and cut Henry's warm heart free from his chest. Ned knelt and filled Henry's mouth with Marcher soil, replaced in the oiled pouch by the heart. They closed his eyes and pushed the remaining wall of the homestead over him.

The fallen stones would conceal him from desecration and keep him from scavengers. Now they had to move on, their burden heavier than a dying friend.

"Rest well Henry Talbot, your march is done."</ic>

[[Category:The Marches]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]
[[Category:Jotun]]

Keeper of the Breadbasket

2026-07-29T13:04:00Z

GuiltyConscience: /* History */

{{CaptionedImage|file=Granary.png|caption=Granary outside [[Mitwold#Hay|Hay]] in [[Mitwold]].|align=right|width=500}}
==Overview==
This [[Imperial title]] was [[Create_title_of_Keeper_of_the_Breadbasket|created]] by the [[Senate]] during the Autumn Equinox 381YE to oversee the function of the granaries and storehouses in [[Mitwold]] and [[Upwold]] that make up the [[The_Marches_economic_interests#Granaries_and_Storehouses_-_the_Imperial_Breadbasket|Imperial Breadbasket]]. Prior to the creation of this title, decisions about the Breadbasket were made by the [[the Marches|Marcher]] [[Senator|senators]] - now such decisions would be made by the Keeper instead.

The Senate [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_Keeper_of_the_Breadbasket|voted]] to amend the position to be appointed by Tally of the Votes at the Spring Equinox 387YE, following a vote of the farm owners of Bregasland, Mitwold, and Upwold at the Winter Solstice 386YE. More information can be found on the '''[[Send for me]]''' wind of fortune.

==Responsibilities==
The Keeper is responsible for the [[great work]] known as the Imperial Breadbasket. The breadbasket on the whole requires little effort to maintain, being largely run by the civil service. If the structures that make it up were to be threatened in any way, however, it would be the responsibility of the Keeper to deal with those threats. Likewise, if any particular [[opportunity]] were to arise related to the Breadbasket, the Keeper would expect to be consulted as to how that opportunity might be resolved.

==Benefits==
The existence of the Breadbasket boosts the income of every farm in Bregasland, Mitwold, and Upwold. It provides an additional 36 rings to each farm in the territories, regardless of curses and other effects that impact their harvests.
__TOC__
The presence of this great work in the Empire also provides a "safety net" to the Imperial armies. If a nation of the Empire is unable to support their armies (because of a powerful curse or because they have lost a territory, for example), then the Keeper of the Breadbasket can opt to direct the bounty of the Breadbasket to support them. This natural decay of all its armies and navies is then halved. The silos can only support a single nation in this way - if a second nation were to have more armies than it could support, then the Keeper of the Breadbasket would need to choose which nation to assist. The grain stores do not allow an Imperial nation to build more armies than it can support.

==Powers==
===Right of Address===
The Keeper of the Breadbasket has the right to make a [[Senate address]] once per summit. This is intended to allow them to present important information for the senators consideration. To make an address, the Keeper must inform the [[Speaker for the Senate]] of their intention, so that the Speaker can add the address to the agenda for the next [[Senate session]].

When the title was created, an attempt was made to require that the address be used whenever the Keeper sought to exercise their power to determine how the benefits of the Imperial Breadbasket may be applied, but this was deemed unconstitutional. It is not possible for the Senate to dictate how a power such as the right of address can be used.

===Distribution of Imperial Bounty===
The Imperial Breadbasket can be used to support a single Imperial nation whose armies are suffering from [[Army#Insufficient_Supply|insufficient supply]] or a single Imperial territory that was suffering from hunger, famine or crop failure.

To use this ability, the Keeper must make an announcement in the Imperial Senate. If the Keeper announces that the Breadbasket is supporting a nation's armies, then the natural decay of all its armies and navies of that nation is halved. If the Keeper announces that the Breadbasket is supporting an Imperial territory, then the support may prompt additional effects, often resulting in an entry into the following seasons [[Recent history|Winds of Fortune]].

If either of these are employed, then the farm owners of the Marches would receive no additional income from the Breadbasket until it is resolved. Further, the silos can only support action in this way - if a second nation were to have more armies than it could support, or a territory were to suffer a famine, then the Keeper of the Breadbasket would need to choose which to assist. The grain stores do not allow an Imperial nation to build more armies than it can support.

No voting is possible by the Senate at this point, as the power has been delegated to the Keeper of the Breadbasket. The [[Synod]] may, however, choose to exercise its [[veto]] over the Keeper's decision.

==Appointment==
This title is appointed during the Winter Solstice by citizens of the Marches who control [[farm]] [[Resource|personal resources]]. The larger the farm an individual has, the more votes they can allocate in support to a candidate. The voting is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.

Only a Marcher character may hold the title. As a title in the Bourse, they cannot be [[revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=Orson.jpg|caption='''Orson BogMyrtle''', Keeper of the Breadbasket|align=left|width=300}}
{{RecentElections|Keeper_of_the_Breadbasket}}
==History==
The three northern territories of the Marches - [[Bregasland]], [[Mitwold]], and [[Upwold]] - are dotted with public buildings referred to as a whole as the ''Imperial Breadbasket''. These granaries, barns, warehouses, grain silos, and storage houses are maintained by the civil service, and overseen by the [[Keeper of the Breadbasket]] who makes any important decisions regarding their bounty. They exist to ensure that the [[farm|farms]] of the Marches are prepared to meet any potentially disastrous setbacks such as poor harvests or wide-scale curses. They were completed just before the Spring Equinox 381YE. Any Marcher farm-owner can make use of their services, and at a reasonable price. The [[great work]] they represent was created as a result of the disasters that beset the nation in 379YE and 380YE.

The [[March on their belly|disastrous failure of the Autumn harvest]] in 379YE was followed by a particularly [[March on their belly#Resolution|harsh winter]] during which the farmers of the Marches suffered significant losses in order to keep the Imperial armies marching. Then the Spring 380YE planting was hit with torrential rains and a vicious blight that devoured many of the seeds before they can be put in the ground. While the rest of the Empire was enjoying a burst of [[The prime colour of the world|vitality and fertility]], the farms of Bregasland, Upwold, and Mitwold were once again labouring under the yoke of a vicious magical [[curse]] that ruined the crops, sapped the life from the beasts in the fields, and spread sickness and hunger wherever it touched.

Next came the [[380YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_Heralds_of_Mourning|catastrophic news from the Mourn]]. Across the Marches morale was low, and tempers frayed. But surrendering in the face of hardship is not really in the Marcher psyche. Rather than turn on each other, the Marchers helped their neighbours - grumbling and complaining all the while, and making it clear their aid was a loan and not a gift.

The plan to construct the ''Imperial Breadbasket'' began in the markets of [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] and received immediate support from many of the [[market town|market towns]]. The call went out for the construction of a great work, a network of granaries and storage barns, coupled with the creation and cultivation of stocks of seed to be made available to all for a modest price in the face of blight, harsh weather, or similar disasters. Meade has long since grown past the point where it can feed itself. It relies on a steady influx of grain, meat, milk, and cheese not just from Mitwold, but from across the Marches. Its prosperity relies on trade routes supported by well-fed and healthy merchants selling food and metal and wood produced by labourers who are not starving to death. The rest of the market towns are in a similar situation - and recognise a simple truth. When the farmers starve, ''everyone'' starves. The alders put their hands in their pockets - but not as a gift, or as charity, but as recognition of the fact the Marches - and the Empire - prosper when the farmers prosper. It was an investment for the future, as well as an effort to "darn the rip" between the folk of the market towns, and the rest of the Marches.

The project required the support of the [[Senate]], and it was not cheap. In the end, even with the assistance of the market towns, building granaries and seed stores for Bregasland, Mitwold, and Upwold still required 100 wains of weirwood and 40 wains of white granite, plus labour costs of 35 Thrones. In the end the project was [[commission|commissioned]] in Summer 380YE, and work completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 381YE.

The benefits to the farm owners of Bregasland was lost when Mathilda Fisher and her Jotun allies conquered Bregasland. The granaries and storage barns went towards supporting the Jotun armies until the territory was reclaimed and the barns restocked.

===The Mournwold===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Mournwold Breadbasket'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Mournwold</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 white granite, 35 weirwood, and 150 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 2 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Grant every farm in the Mournwold an additional 36 rings each season
* Increases the Marcher ability to support armies by one, once Bregasland is back in Marcher hands</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until another great work increasing investment in farms is commissioned in the Mournwold</td></tr></table>
</div>
As of the Winter Solstice 387YE, the network of granaries and storehouses only covers [[Bregasland]], [[Upwold]], and [[Mitwold]]. Expanding the great work so that it includes the [[Mournwold]] is certainly possible. It would require a [[commission]] as for any other great work, and would require 35 wains of weirwood, 15 wains of white granite, 150 crowns of labour, and take six months to complete (assuming [[Great_work#Multiple_Great_Works|no other great works]] were built increasing investment in farms in the interim). When finished, it would grant every farm in the Mournwold an additional 36 rings each season. It would fall under the custodianship of the [[Keeper_of_the_Breadbasket|Keeper]] by default. If Bregasland, Mitwold, Mournwold, and Upwold were all in Marcher hands when it was completed, it would also increase the Marches ability to support armies by one.

====A Stitch in Time====
* '''These opportunities are available until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE'''
* '''Seven wains of white granite will be provided by Stockwater Monastery in exchange for 126 mana crystals'''
* '''Five wains of weirwood will be provided by Harry the Axe if the Marcher Assembly supports the Feni's claim to Alderly'''
* '''The alders of Wayford are holding ten wains of weirwood, ready for the expansion to be commissioned'''
* '''Three wains are being held by Stockwater Monastery ready for the expansion to be commissioned'''
{{:Search high and low}}

==Further Reading==
* [[Search high and low]] - 387YE Winter Solstice wind of fortune that laid out how the Breadbasket could be extended into Mournwold, and the construction of a cottage for the Keeper
* [[Send for me]] - 386YE Winter Solstice results of an appraisal that established how the title might support other nations

{{Responsibilities Expectation}}
[[Category:The Marches]] [[Category:Title]][[Category:Bourse]]

The Ore Hills Rebellion

2026-07-29T12:59:06Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Mary Digger */

[[Category:The Marches]][[Category:History]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=The Versatile Pickaxe.jpg|align=left|caption=Resentment between miners and farmers in Mournwold had been simmering for almost three centuries, until it finally kicked off in 326YE.|width=500}}</div>
==Introduction==
During the Winter Solstice 385YE, Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti, [[Minister of Historical Research]], commissioned the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|department]], and specifically [[Historical_research#Snowstorm_Henk|Snowstorm Henk]], to ''prepare a report into the Ore Hills Rebellion of 326YE, its leaders, their fate, and their virtue''. Snowstorm Henk visited the Mournwold and found the inhabitants welcoming, although he writes that some of his compatriots were a little bemused to find themselves stone-picking or helping to repair boundary fences and drystone walls to “earn their supper”.

Henk notes with interest, incidentally, that if his calculations are correct this Autumn will see the sixty-year anniversary of the what the people of the Marches variously call the Ore Hills Rebellion and the Ore Hills Uprising.
==A Land Divided==
The [[Mournwold]] was conquered, and assigned to [[the Marches]], in the year 74YE during the reign of [[Empress Teleri]]. Prior to that, however, it had been a regular battlefield between the southern [[Jotun]] and the Marcher armies. The barbarian orcs presented a much more united front that those in [[Upwold]], [[Mitwold]], or [[Bregasland]], putting side their differences to resist Marcher domination. At various points prior to the foundation of the Empire, the Marchers held [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]], [[Mournwold#Chalkdowns|Chalkdowns]], and [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]] but were never able to hold all three simultaneously nor push further south.

After the campaigns of 73YE and 74YE, though, the Marches finally controlled the entire territory (with the technical exception of the great woodland of [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]], which remained largely unknown and unexplored for centuries to come, being the domain of the [[Feni]] who once lived there). Rich veins of ore were found in the southern hills, ultimately leading to the discovery of [[mithril]] in northern [[Mournwold#Greensward|Greensward]]. Local legend suggests that the mine was first discovered in pre-Imperial time by Jonah Gold, but that seems unlikely to be literal fact. There's no real record of the Marchers holding territory in the [[Mournwold#Ore Hills|Ore Hills]] or [[Mournwold#Southmoor|Southmoor]], never mind further south. Still, the Ore Hills remain closely associated with the legends of the ghostly miner in the minds of the Marchers, so arguing this point is unlikely to go anywhere enjoyable.

Arguably, the first real signs of discontent in the Mournwold date back to the discovery of the [[Singing Caves]]. The [[Senate]] at the time chose to allocate them as an Imperial, rather than National, seat [[Auction of the Seats|auctioned]] to any citizen. This caused frustration in Mournwold, who argued that the mine was on their land and thus belonged to the Marches. Jenny Toly – the [[Senator]] for Mournwold at the time - argued that the stability of the Imperial Treasury had to take precedence over the desires of Marcher miners. It would be a mistake to imagine it was ''only'' the miners of Ore Hills and Southmoor who were invested in the Singing Caves – the move was certainly controversial - and Jenny Toly was not a popular Senator but maintained her position for as long as she did due to the support of the influential stewards of Chalkdowns and Freemoor.

It would not be until the reign of [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]] that the Singing Caves would be allocated as a Marcher seat on the Bourse, and this fact remained a constant point of contention with the folk of central Mournwold for the next three hundred years.
==Political Divisions==
The Senator for Mournwold continued to be decided by the prosperous farming families of the Chalkdowns, and to a lesser extent Freemoor and Green March. Records make it clear that through its history, more than half of all senators representing the territory were picked by stewards of the Chalkdowns. It was also rare for those senators who were not ultimately selected by the stewards of the northern farms to serve more than a year or two at a time, while the Chalkdowns Senators (as they were increasingly referred to in a pejorative sense) would often serve for five or more years.

The politics of the Marches are, and always have been, based around the control of land. [[Yeoman of the Marches|Yeomen]] select the Senators and appoint the Bourse. [[Farm]] ownership, the possession of and working of land, are fundamentally built into the Marcher perception of themselves. The arguments of the miners of central Mournwold – and there are very few miners elsewhere in the Marches – fell on deaf ears. While some efforts were made to equate owning farmland with owning mines, these efforts gained no traction.

The stewards of Upwold, Mitwold, and Bregasland in particular had no time for suggestions that mining should be equated with farming. Hereward Guildenstern, a Senator for Upwold in the time of [[Emperor James]], summed it up rather cruelly in an address to the Senate when he pointed out that while it was good to have mines in the Marches, “if they all disappeared tomorrow, we'd just have to buy our metals from the Mestrans.” Senator Guildenstern was chastised by the Marcher Assembly for disrespecting the [[Prosperity]] of the miners of Mournwold, but was arguably simply expressing the sentiment of many of his peers.

The resentment in the Mournwold directed towards the “lowland farmers” as they were sometimes dismissively referred to, continued to simmer. That resentment did not flow only from the hills to the farmland, of course. Chalkdowns and Freemoor farmers began to resent what they saw as surly and ungrateful behaviour from the miners. Every shift in costs for food sold to the hill miners was greeted with what was often seen as faux outrage, and easily led into frustration at the miners' “refusal” to recognise that they were at odds with the people of their nation in their demand to be able to appoint the Senator of Mournwold.

As time went on, the situation worsened because the Senators chosen by the stewards were increasingly stubborn and disinterested in the miners' unhappiness.

It would be a mistake to characterise the Mournwold as a constant hotbed of angry miners complaining about yeomen and stewards. As with all such things, political sentiment rose and fell over the three hundred years following the Mournwold becoming Marcher land. There were numerous other issues that were every bit as contentious but as Leontes points out, people in the Marches have never struggled to find reasons to fall out with each other. But, as we now know, things came to a head in 326YE with the Ore Hills Rebellion.
==The Rebellion==
In 326YE, foul weather resulted in a poor harvest across the Marches. There were concerns at the time that this was the result of curses, but nothing could be found to confirm that this was the case. The accusations seem to have been made after the fact, with the implication that the so-called rebels were behind it, spitefully striking at the stewards. There is, again, no evidence this was anything more than misfortune and a particularly wet summer.

Faced with a need to tighten their belts, the farmers of Chalkdowns imposed a significant increase on the price of grain and flour sold to the miners of Ore Hills. This pattern was seen across the Marches, but there is evidence that the Chalkdowns farmers collectively agreed to raise their prices as high as the market would stand, forcing their neighbours to the south to pay up or starve.

For their part, the miners were outraged. They appealed to the Mournwold Senator, Henry Shepherd, to intervene. Shepherd, understandably perhaps, sided with the right of the yeofolk of the Mournwold to set their own prices and manage their own Prosperity.

In early Autumn a delegation of miners from the 'Hills and a Southmoor tried to approach a gathering of stewards in Chalkdowns to negotiate, but were rebuffed, Voices were raised, tempers flared, and there are reports that the argument went beyond shouting to some “spirited pushing and shoving, behaviour more suited to the foot-the-ball field than a negotiation.”

The situation worsened, and then in late Autumn a violent mob descended on the lowland farms, stealing cattle and grain. As near as we can tell from magistrates' records, thirty-four people were killed. Casualties were actually split relatively evenly between farmers and miners – a fact modern songs often distort or ignore. The Chalkdowns (and to a lesser extent Freemoor) yeomen gave as good as they got, and it seems some of them relished the chance to finally strike back at the “miserable miners”.

Among them was Senator Shephard, who was struck down and bled to death during a raid on the Lindenford farm in central Chalkdowns; Elspeth Goatsbridge, one of the most influential stewards in the Mourn at the time; and Cooper Downwold, respected landskeeper. On the other side, Henry Killinghall was killed during the same raid that saw Senator Shephard's death; Thomas and Jeremy Boon, the brothers of Zeke Boon, were killed during a raid on the Crowley farms, and Elenor Woodstock, the most prominent magician among the rebels, was cut down in a hail of arrows during an ambush launched by the yeomen of Ringwood Dale.

The magistrates were quick to respond, ultimately arresting the ringleaders and executing several of them. The speed of this response curtailed retaliatory attacks from the lowlands into the hills – attacks that were definitely being organised even as the Imperial magistrates and their militia arrived. The murder of Senator Shepherd may also have galvanised this speedy response. The rebels were certainly denounced in the National Assembly, and in the Senate alike, during the Winter Solstice summit at Anvil.

Another source of dissatisfaction that continued up until the Jotun invasion fifteen years later is that the Empire, and the rest of the Marches, were broadly seen as siding with the “lowland farmers” and ignoring the “legitimate concerns” of the miners. While some of the yeomen were fined for their behaviour during the raids, only miners were executed. While Marcher legends suggests they were executed for treason, they were more correctly convicted of murder. A large number of other participants faced serious fines, which contributed to the simmering sense of injustice among the miners – who not only faced a very lean Winter but had less money with which to purchase vital supplies.
It's notable that there was a small but notable influx of Mournwold miners into [[Tassato]], who ultimately turned away from their nation and became [[the League|League]] citizens.

The people of the Ore Hills still sing sad songs about the great "injustice" or “betrayal” by the farmers - much to the chagrin of the yeomen of Chalkdowns and Freemoor. Fifteen more years of resentment followed, before the invasion of the Mournwold by the Jotun rendered the matter broadly moot – at least until the territory was liberated for the final time in 381YE.

==The Ore Hills Ringleaders==
There are obviously not many written records of the meetings where the conspirators planned the Ore Hills Uprising (as it is often referred to in the central Mourn hill country). While the miners were grumbling, the first proper meeting that Snowstorm Henk could identify took place at the tale end of Summer 326YE when it was clear which way the wind was running. It was convened by Esme Hooper, the owner of Matilda Stone Quarries and matriarch of a sprawling family of Mournwolders “with iron in their bones” as the saying went. It was here that the decision was made to take what they needed from the “selfish” lowland farmers, should they refuse to see reason.

After the failure of the yeomen to meet the miners' demands, a second gathering took place made up of those who were most angry about the situation. The ringleaders later identified by the Magistrates were Esme Hooper herself, Zeke Boon, Tom and Maggie John, Henry Killinghall, and Mary Digger. All six were executed for their role in inciting, and in most cases participating in, the violence that exploded across the Mournwold over the coming months.

===Esme Hooper===
The Hoopers family had a very long history of vocal bitterness. The charismatic and influential Esme brought the ringleaders together at her [[Mournwold_spoils_of_war#Matilda_Stone_Quarries|tempest jade quarry]], and by all accounts had little difficulty in fanning the flames of rebellion among the conspirators. She maintained that the Chalkdowns farmers were intentionally disrespecting the Prosperity of the miners, and that the nation must be forced to recognise the role played in the Mournwold by the hill folk. The family took particular pride in the fact that there were Hoopers involved in every major disagreement with the lowland farmers from the very start, and despite all the setbacks they never stopped fighting for representation for the miners. She was unrepentant when captured by the magistrates, and went to her execution head high. Even after the end of the uprising, the Hoopers continued to agitate and cause trouble until the Jotun invasion. The family appear to have been killed fighting the Jotun, refusing to surrender Matilda Stone Quarries. A burial mound to the west of the quarry itself that seems to house the bones of the last Hoopers.

===Zeke Boon===
There were plenty of people who did not like Zeke Boon, the mine-captain of the Boon County Miners. He was brash, outspoken, and stiff necked even for a Marcher. Even his detractors, however, could not help but acknowledge his Pride. The extended family owned mines across the area that came to be known as “Boon County”, that their descendants still operate today following the liberation of the Mournwold. Zeke was one of the loudest voices calling for direct action against the lowland farmers, and personally led several of the raids. The rise in prices for vital supplies to see the Marchers of the central hills through the winter was the final straw for the Boons, already angered by generations of disrespect from the Chalkdowns farmers. After the deaths of his brothers Henry and Thomas, killed while stealing sheep from the Crowley farmlands, Zeke was apparently moved to almost supernatural levels of fury. He lead several further raids, and was one of the two Marchers ultimately charged in the death of Henry Shepherd. It apparently took a dozen militia to bring Boon down when the magistrates moved to arrest the ringleaders, such was his stubborn refusal to be arrested.

===Tom and Maggie John===
Tom and Maggie John came as a pair; a husband and wife team whose family had a history of rabble rousing and protestation to rival that of the Hoopers. They were not only concerned with the plight of their fellow miners, but were apparently involved in the abolitionist movement with contacts in many different parts of the Empire. They threw themselves whole-heartedly into the uprising, and led two stealthy raids that were remarkably successful in avoiding the Chalkdowns farmers before a third disastrous raid resulted in five miners and three yeomen losing their lives. They didn't attempt to resist arrest when the magistrates came for them, and both used their trials as opportunities to exalt the courage of the miners, and denounce both the selfishness and lack of pride of the Chalkdowns farmers.

===Henry Killinghall===
Henry Killinghall was master of a green iron mine in the central Ore Hills, whose family were also regular attendees at Anvil, known for selling fine quality magical weapons. Henry provided weapons and armour to his fellow rebels, and participated in the raids, but was not credibly accused of having taken part in any of the murders. Unlike the other ringleaders he was not sentenced to execution, but received a heavy fine. Killinghall, however, refused point blank to pay that fine even when it was clear that if he remained stubborn he would meet the same fate as his fellow organisers. Henry refused to budge; he had planned the uprising with the others and he refused to be spared the same fate.

===Mary Digger===
The last of the six ringleaders to arrive at Matilda Stone Quarries was Mary Digger. Her mine, [[Mournwold_spoils_of_war#Jonah's_Lament|Jonah's Lament]], was widely reputed to be the resting place of Jonah Gold himself, and the Diggers had a reputation for being a little odd – “almost Bregaslike in their strangeness” according to some of their neighbours. Mary was not actually invited to the meeting, but turned up none-the-less having apparently heard of it from the ghost of Jonah Gold. The other ringleaders were extremely sceptical, but allowed her to remain. A magician herself, she ultimately recruited Elenor Woodstock and several other landskeepers who provided magical support to the rebels. She was not shy about fighting alongside her fellow rebels, and along with Zeke Boon was charged with the murder of Senator Shepherd during one of the raids. When the magistrates came to the Mournwold, Mary retreated to Jonah's Lament and refused to leave. She was ultimately hanged from a blasted oak that still stands near the entrance to the mine, and local stories say that on the anniversary of her death, eerie singing is heard in the depths of the mine - perhaps Jonah Gold, or perhaps Mary Digger's unquiet spirit. Certainly the Jotun placed totem stones around the tree, apparently intended to warn off one or both of these ghostly figures.

==Conclusions==
While it's easy for us to write about the facts, stories, and personalities of the Ore Hills Rebellion, it's not really feasible for us to judge virtue. That judgement has to lie with the priests of the Way and the assemblies.
==Further Reading==
* [[Mournwold]]
* [[The Marches history]]

The Ore Hills Rebellion

2026-07-29T12:58:02Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Mary Digger */

[[Category:The Marches]][[Category:History]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=The Versatile Pickaxe.jpg|align=left|caption=Resentment between miners and farmers in Mournwold had been simmering for almost three centuries, until it finally kicked off in 326YE.|width=500}}</div>
==Introduction==
During the Winter Solstice 385YE, Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti, [[Minister of Historical Research]], commissioned the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|department]], and specifically [[Historical_research#Snowstorm_Henk|Snowstorm Henk]], to ''prepare a report into the Ore Hills Rebellion of 326YE, its leaders, their fate, and their virtue''. Snowstorm Henk visited the Mournwold and found the inhabitants welcoming, although he writes that some of his compatriots were a little bemused to find themselves stone-picking or helping to repair boundary fences and drystone walls to “earn their supper”.

Henk notes with interest, incidentally, that if his calculations are correct this Autumn will see the sixty-year anniversary of the what the people of the Marches variously call the Ore Hills Rebellion and the Ore Hills Uprising.
==A Land Divided==
The [[Mournwold]] was conquered, and assigned to [[the Marches]], in the year 74YE during the reign of [[Empress Teleri]]. Prior to that, however, it had been a regular battlefield between the southern [[Jotun]] and the Marcher armies. The barbarian orcs presented a much more united front that those in [[Upwold]], [[Mitwold]], or [[Bregasland]], putting side their differences to resist Marcher domination. At various points prior to the foundation of the Empire, the Marchers held [[Mournwold#Freemoor|Freemoor]], [[Mournwold#Chalkdowns|Chalkdowns]], and [[Mournwold#Green March|Green March]] but were never able to hold all three simultaneously nor push further south.

After the campaigns of 73YE and 74YE, though, the Marches finally controlled the entire territory (with the technical exception of the great woodland of [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]], which remained largely unknown and unexplored for centuries to come, being the domain of the [[Feni]] who once lived there). Rich veins of ore were found in the southern hills, ultimately leading to the discovery of [[mithril]] in northern [[Mournwold#Greensward|Greensward]]. Local legend suggests that the mine was first discovered in pre-Imperial time by Jonah Gold, but that seems unlikely to be literal fact. There's no real record of the Marchers holding territory in the [[Mournwold#Ore Hills|Ore Hills]] or [[Mournwold#Southmoor|Southmoor]], never mind further south. Still, the Ore Hills remain closely associated with the legends of the ghostly miner in the minds of the Marchers, so arguing this point is unlikely to go anywhere enjoyable.

Arguably, the first real signs of discontent in the Mournwold date back to the discovery of the [[Singing Caves]]. The [[Senate]] at the time chose to allocate them as an Imperial, rather than National, seat [[Auction of the Seats|auctioned]] to any citizen. This caused frustration in Mournwold, who argued that the mine was on their land and thus belonged to the Marches. Jenny Toly – the [[Senator]] for Mournwold at the time - argued that the stability of the Imperial Treasury had to take precedence over the desires of Marcher miners. It would be a mistake to imagine it was ''only'' the miners of Ore Hills and Southmoor who were invested in the Singing Caves – the move was certainly controversial - and Jenny Toly was not a popular Senator but maintained her position for as long as she did due to the support of the influential stewards of Chalkdowns and Freemoor.

It would not be until the reign of [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]] that the Singing Caves would be allocated as a Marcher seat on the Bourse, and this fact remained a constant point of contention with the folk of central Mournwold for the next three hundred years.
==Political Divisions==
The Senator for Mournwold continued to be decided by the prosperous farming families of the Chalkdowns, and to a lesser extent Freemoor and Green March. Records make it clear that through its history, more than half of all senators representing the territory were picked by stewards of the Chalkdowns. It was also rare for those senators who were not ultimately selected by the stewards of the northern farms to serve more than a year or two at a time, while the Chalkdowns Senators (as they were increasingly referred to in a pejorative sense) would often serve for five or more years.

The politics of the Marches are, and always have been, based around the control of land. [[Yeoman of the Marches|Yeomen]] select the Senators and appoint the Bourse. [[Farm]] ownership, the possession of and working of land, are fundamentally built into the Marcher perception of themselves. The arguments of the miners of central Mournwold – and there are very few miners elsewhere in the Marches – fell on deaf ears. While some efforts were made to equate owning farmland with owning mines, these efforts gained no traction.

The stewards of Upwold, Mitwold, and Bregasland in particular had no time for suggestions that mining should be equated with farming. Hereward Guildenstern, a Senator for Upwold in the time of [[Emperor James]], summed it up rather cruelly in an address to the Senate when he pointed out that while it was good to have mines in the Marches, “if they all disappeared tomorrow, we'd just have to buy our metals from the Mestrans.” Senator Guildenstern was chastised by the Marcher Assembly for disrespecting the [[Prosperity]] of the miners of Mournwold, but was arguably simply expressing the sentiment of many of his peers.

The resentment in the Mournwold directed towards the “lowland farmers” as they were sometimes dismissively referred to, continued to simmer. That resentment did not flow only from the hills to the farmland, of course. Chalkdowns and Freemoor farmers began to resent what they saw as surly and ungrateful behaviour from the miners. Every shift in costs for food sold to the hill miners was greeted with what was often seen as faux outrage, and easily led into frustration at the miners' “refusal” to recognise that they were at odds with the people of their nation in their demand to be able to appoint the Senator of Mournwold.

As time went on, the situation worsened because the Senators chosen by the stewards were increasingly stubborn and disinterested in the miners' unhappiness.

It would be a mistake to characterise the Mournwold as a constant hotbed of angry miners complaining about yeomen and stewards. As with all such things, political sentiment rose and fell over the three hundred years following the Mournwold becoming Marcher land. There were numerous other issues that were every bit as contentious but as Leontes points out, people in the Marches have never struggled to find reasons to fall out with each other. But, as we now know, things came to a head in 326YE with the Ore Hills Rebellion.
==The Rebellion==
In 326YE, foul weather resulted in a poor harvest across the Marches. There were concerns at the time that this was the result of curses, but nothing could be found to confirm that this was the case. The accusations seem to have been made after the fact, with the implication that the so-called rebels were behind it, spitefully striking at the stewards. There is, again, no evidence this was anything more than misfortune and a particularly wet summer.

Faced with a need to tighten their belts, the farmers of Chalkdowns imposed a significant increase on the price of grain and flour sold to the miners of Ore Hills. This pattern was seen across the Marches, but there is evidence that the Chalkdowns farmers collectively agreed to raise their prices as high as the market would stand, forcing their neighbours to the south to pay up or starve.

For their part, the miners were outraged. They appealed to the Mournwold Senator, Henry Shepherd, to intervene. Shepherd, understandably perhaps, sided with the right of the yeofolk of the Mournwold to set their own prices and manage their own Prosperity.

In early Autumn a delegation of miners from the 'Hills and a Southmoor tried to approach a gathering of stewards in Chalkdowns to negotiate, but were rebuffed, Voices were raised, tempers flared, and there are reports that the argument went beyond shouting to some “spirited pushing and shoving, behaviour more suited to the foot-the-ball field than a negotiation.”

The situation worsened, and then in late Autumn a violent mob descended on the lowland farms, stealing cattle and grain. As near as we can tell from magistrates' records, thirty-four people were killed. Casualties were actually split relatively evenly between farmers and miners – a fact modern songs often distort or ignore. The Chalkdowns (and to a lesser extent Freemoor) yeomen gave as good as they got, and it seems some of them relished the chance to finally strike back at the “miserable miners”.

Among them was Senator Shephard, who was struck down and bled to death during a raid on the Lindenford farm in central Chalkdowns; Elspeth Goatsbridge, one of the most influential stewards in the Mourn at the time; and Cooper Downwold, respected landskeeper. On the other side, Henry Killinghall was killed during the same raid that saw Senator Shephard's death; Thomas and Jeremy Boon, the brothers of Zeke Boon, were killed during a raid on the Crowley farms, and Elenor Woodstock, the most prominent magician among the rebels, was cut down in a hail of arrows during an ambush launched by the yeomen of Ringwood Dale.

The magistrates were quick to respond, ultimately arresting the ringleaders and executing several of them. The speed of this response curtailed retaliatory attacks from the lowlands into the hills – attacks that were definitely being organised even as the Imperial magistrates and their militia arrived. The murder of Senator Shepherd may also have galvanised this speedy response. The rebels were certainly denounced in the National Assembly, and in the Senate alike, during the Winter Solstice summit at Anvil.

Another source of dissatisfaction that continued up until the Jotun invasion fifteen years later is that the Empire, and the rest of the Marches, were broadly seen as siding with the “lowland farmers” and ignoring the “legitimate concerns” of the miners. While some of the yeomen were fined for their behaviour during the raids, only miners were executed. While Marcher legends suggests they were executed for treason, they were more correctly convicted of murder. A large number of other participants faced serious fines, which contributed to the simmering sense of injustice among the miners – who not only faced a very lean Winter but had less money with which to purchase vital supplies.
It's notable that there was a small but notable influx of Mournwold miners into [[Tassato]], who ultimately turned away from their nation and became [[the League|League]] citizens.

The people of the Ore Hills still sing sad songs about the great "injustice" or “betrayal” by the farmers - much to the chagrin of the yeomen of Chalkdowns and Freemoor. Fifteen more years of resentment followed, before the invasion of the Mournwold by the Jotun rendered the matter broadly moot – at least until the territory was liberated for the final time in 381YE.

==The Ore Hills Ringleaders==
There are obviously not many written records of the meetings where the conspirators planned the Ore Hills Uprising (as it is often referred to in the central Mourn hill country). While the miners were grumbling, the first proper meeting that Snowstorm Henk could identify took place at the tale end of Summer 326YE when it was clear which way the wind was running. It was convened by Esme Hooper, the owner of Matilda Stone Quarries and matriarch of a sprawling family of Mournwolders “with iron in their bones” as the saying went. It was here that the decision was made to take what they needed from the “selfish” lowland farmers, should they refuse to see reason.

After the failure of the yeomen to meet the miners' demands, a second gathering took place made up of those who were most angry about the situation. The ringleaders later identified by the Magistrates were Esme Hooper herself, Zeke Boon, Tom and Maggie John, Henry Killinghall, and Mary Digger. All six were executed for their role in inciting, and in most cases participating in, the violence that exploded across the Mournwold over the coming months.

===Esme Hooper===
The Hoopers family had a very long history of vocal bitterness. The charismatic and influential Esme brought the ringleaders together at her [[Mournwold_spoils_of_war#Matilda_Stone_Quarries|tempest jade quarry]], and by all accounts had little difficulty in fanning the flames of rebellion among the conspirators. She maintained that the Chalkdowns farmers were intentionally disrespecting the Prosperity of the miners, and that the nation must be forced to recognise the role played in the Mournwold by the hill folk. The family took particular pride in the fact that there were Hoopers involved in every major disagreement with the lowland farmers from the very start, and despite all the setbacks they never stopped fighting for representation for the miners. She was unrepentant when captured by the magistrates, and went to her execution head high. Even after the end of the uprising, the Hoopers continued to agitate and cause trouble until the Jotun invasion. The family appear to have been killed fighting the Jotun, refusing to surrender Matilda Stone Quarries. A burial mound to the west of the quarry itself that seems to house the bones of the last Hoopers.

===Zeke Boon===
There were plenty of people who did not like Zeke Boon, the mine-captain of the Boon County Miners. He was brash, outspoken, and stiff necked even for a Marcher. Even his detractors, however, could not help but acknowledge his Pride. The extended family owned mines across the area that came to be known as “Boon County”, that their descendants still operate today following the liberation of the Mournwold. Zeke was one of the loudest voices calling for direct action against the lowland farmers, and personally led several of the raids. The rise in prices for vital supplies to see the Marchers of the central hills through the winter was the final straw for the Boons, already angered by generations of disrespect from the Chalkdowns farmers. After the deaths of his brothers Henry and Thomas, killed while stealing sheep from the Crowley farmlands, Zeke was apparently moved to almost supernatural levels of fury. He lead several further raids, and was one of the two Marchers ultimately charged in the death of Henry Shepherd. It apparently took a dozen militia to bring Boon down when the magistrates moved to arrest the ringleaders, such was his stubborn refusal to be arrested.

===Tom and Maggie John===
Tom and Maggie John came as a pair; a husband and wife team whose family had a history of rabble rousing and protestation to rival that of the Hoopers. They were not only concerned with the plight of their fellow miners, but were apparently involved in the abolitionist movement with contacts in many different parts of the Empire. They threw themselves whole-heartedly into the uprising, and led two stealthy raids that were remarkably successful in avoiding the Chalkdowns farmers before a third disastrous raid resulted in five miners and three yeomen losing their lives. They didn't attempt to resist arrest when the magistrates came for them, and both used their trials as opportunities to exalt the courage of the miners, and denounce both the selfishness and lack of pride of the Chalkdowns farmers.

===Henry Killinghall===
Henry Killinghall was master of a green iron mine in the central Ore Hills, whose family were also regular attendees at Anvil, known for selling fine quality magical weapons. Henry provided weapons and armour to his fellow rebels, and participated in the raids, but was not credibly accused of having taken part in any of the murders. Unlike the other ringleaders he was not sentenced to execution, but received a heavy fine. Killinghall, however, refused point blank to pay that fine even when it was clear that if he remained stubborn he would meet the same fate as his fellow organisers. Henry refused to budge; he had planned the uprising with the others and he refused to be spared the same fate.

===Mary Digger===
The last of the six ringleaders to arrive at Matilda Stone Quarry was Mary Digger. Her mine, [[Mournwold_spoils_of_war#Jonah's_Lament|Jonah's Lament]], was widely reputed to be the resting place of Jonah Gold himself, and the Diggers had a reputation for being a little odd – “almost Bregaslike in their strangeness” according to some of their neighbours. Mary was not actually invited to the meeting, but turned up none-the-less having apparently heard of it from the ghost of Jonah Gold. The other ringleaders were extremely sceptical, but allowed her to remain. A magician herself, she ultimately recruited Elenor Woodstock and several other landskeepers who provided magical support to the rebels. She was not shy about fighting alongside her fellow rebels, and along with Zeke Boon was charged with the murder of Senator Shepherd during one of the raids. When the magistrates came to the Mournwold, Mary retreated to Jonah's Lament and refused to leave. She was ultimately hanged from a blasted oak that still stands near the entrance to the mine, and local stories say that on the anniversary of her death, eerie singing is heard in the depths of the mine - perhaps Jonah Gold, or perhaps Mary Digger's unquiet spirit. Certainly the Jotun placed totem stones around the tree, apparently intended to warn off one or both of these ghostly figures.

==Conclusions==
While it's easy for us to write about the facts, stories, and personalities of the Ore Hills Rebellion, it's not really feasible for us to judge virtue. That judgement has to lie with the priests of the Way and the assemblies.
==Further Reading==
* [[Mournwold]]
* [[The Marches history]]

Any dream will do

2026-07-20T08:20:38Z

GuiltyConscience:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]]
<ic>
"I like to think of it like your Great Dance! We'll find a city, and we'll ask them to be our dance-partner. We will create something magical together!"

Alcuin stared at the bishop with a look half way between outrage and contempt. "It's ''nothing'' like the Great Dance", he said as a stop gap to keep from swearing. He liked Bishop Bertolli - of all the bishops in Sarvos, Bertolli gave the best tips whenever Alcuin brought him a letter. But honestly, you could go off people.

"Oh c'mon, it's a bit like it, surely? It's about becoming partners of a kind, like a marriage, so that we grow rich by joining our fates and our fortunes. That's a bit like dancing!"

The Navarr opened and closed his mouth. Twice. "Firstly, I don't know what kind of dancing you enjoy, Bishop, but you should let me take you to Songs and Stories some time. Real dancing is ''not'' about growing rich. And secondly the Great Dance is about ''people'' - it's about people changing partners and people changing their lives. It's about helping ''people'' to find the right place for them to be."

The bishop refused to be acknowledge the protestations. "Right - and that's what we want to do! We want to find some people and help them find the right place for them to be."

"And their right place just happens to be in the League?"

"It will be, if we can persuade them," the bishop grinned.
</ic>
<div style="float: left; width: 300px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly League.png|caption=The Assembly of the League has announced its highest calling; to seek out those who would do well in the Great Game and invite them.|width=300px}}</div>
==Overview==
The Assembly of [[the League]] have declared bringing sapient beings of all kinds into the Empire and [[the Way]] of Virtue and into the League in particular to be [[The_highest_calling#The_Highest_Calling|their highest calling]].

The League is truly cosmopolitan. The Assembly cited the examples of [[Holberg]] and [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]] - both cities that once homed distinct peoples with their own histories but who chose to join the Great Game and become part of the League. Now Holberg is the greatest city in the world, while Apulian has become a city of wondrous secrets. Anyone can find a place in this nation - if they want to embrace the spirit of the nation. They were the first human nation to admit orcs, accepting that anyone who ''can'' play the Great Game is welcome to a seat at the table.
{{SOP|statement=The League has successfully attracted other peoples into the Empire - witness Holberg and Apulian! We urge you to use your ingenuity and cleverness to identify who might next join the League and how we might attract them to be a partner in our great game. We seek to bring other sapient beings from all species into our great Empire and to the Way of Virtue, and where better to come then to this League of great cities. This is our highest calling.|by=Lia Adelaar van Holberg,League Assembly|vote={{GM}} 404-0|when=Spring 388YE}}
==Where to look==
The assembly have made clear that their highest calling is to find new partners in the great game. But where to look? Within the border of the Empire, there are various groups of foreigners who might be persuaded to join the League - both orc and human. In every case, there is a reason why the group has ''not'' become Imperial citizens already - reasons that would need to be addressed before the Assembly's ambition could be made reality.

Further afield, there are cities not so far away which the League could dream to one day marry to their eternal bond. It was this kind of foresight and outreach that made both Holberg and Apulian choose to partner with the League. Arguably, the same kind of thinking led Maria Ivanova of Temeschwar to join with Barell of Tassato when Aldones di Sarvos proposed the founding of the nation. One could even argue that Sarvos and Tassato achieved their independence from Highguard through diplomacy.

Finally, there is the most enigmatic aspect of the assembly's judgement. They are careful to name "sapient beings from all species" as those they wish to reach out to. Orcs and humans both number amongst the League's citizens... but who else might join them? An interesting question indeed...

==Partners within==
* '''Each season the League Assembly can use a mandate to name a different group of people, orcs or humans in the Empire they would like to recruit'''
* '''The opportunity is available each season until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE'''
* '''The statement must name a different League archetype each time that will spearhead the engagement'''

The easiest option is reaching out to groups of foreigners within the Empire who might be persuaded to join the League. There are some obvious candidates, perhaps, but there are all sorts of small groups of orcs or humans who dwell within the Empire who could join the League with the right approach. After all, the thing that fundamentally defines the nation of the League is the promise of opportunity that lies at the heart of urban life. People can bring parts of their culture with them and fold it into the cosmopolitan embrace of Leaguish life in a way that is simply not possible with any other nation within the Empire.

The League Assembly can use a mandate to identify the group the nation should focus on. It could be broadly defined - "all non-Imperial citizens living in (named) territory" - or very specific; there are pros and cons to both approaches. The mandate will need to name a specific League archetype and ask them to take the lead on the approach. That will influence the approach and affect the outcome, so it is important to choose carefully.

The opportunity is available for a year, but it will need to be a different group targeted each season and a different archetype each time. This is the League's highest calling, but even so, one group of citizens can't devote the whole year to this - Leaguers have busy lives to lead!

As such, from the Summer Solstice 388YE and for every summit following before the Summer Solstice 389YE, the League Assembly could pass this mandate.

{{Mandate|mandate=Nothing is beyond our grasp. We send (named priest) with 25 doses of liao to urge {archetype} to reach out to {chosen group} to find ways to persuade them of the benefits of a seat at the great game. Even the most impenetrable forest may fall one tree at a time|assembly=League Assembly}}

This is no guarantee of any kind that any group that the League approaches will agree to join the nation, but the mandate is guaranteed to create an [[opportunity]] to build links with the group, improve relations and bring them closer to the League.

There is one final option. The League could reach out to a group within the Empire who are ''already'' citizens - but who for some reason are unhappy in their current nation - and encourage them to join the League. Obviously, this would be an act of supreme Ambition, and it would likely be very politically significant in its ramifications. But you can't cut down an impenetrable forest without swinging a few axes... At the end of the day, what League citizen would dispute the claim that the League way of life is simply better than that of other nations? What if there were some citizens within the Empire who might agree?

==Partners without==
* '''Instead of reaching out to a group inside the Empire's border they could reach out to a foreign city'''
* '''The Assembly could mandate one League city approach a foreign city to try to improve links with them'''
* '''This could be any large town or city in a foreign or barbarian power on the same continent as the Empire'''

Years ago, Sarvos and Tassato were Highborn cities, outposts of the civilisation of the Patricians that ruled at Pharos. Eventually, they made their break with the Highborn, but it was not done as an act of military rebellion. When the day came, they declared themselves free cities, and somehow both managed to maintain reasonable relations with their erstwhile kin. Similarly, Temeschwar became part of the League without a sword being drawn. The years before Holberg became Imperial are somewhat blurred by time and history, but it's well known that the League forged friendships with the burghers that led to Holberg joining the League long before the Dawnish claimed the territory. And as for Apulian... well. That is quite recent history, after all. It would not be true to say that it was a totally bloodless transition, or without rancour, but it is another example of a city joining the League without any army needing to conquer it.

The Assembly's chosen highest calling evokes this history. It is natural to think about other cities - and to dream that perhaps one day they could be part of the League. However, as the Church of the Little Mother teaches, dreams are for orphans with empty bellies - hard work is what makes the world go round. Better, therefore, to think of hard beginnings instead of triumphant conclusions. No city is going to join the Empire overnight - or even ever, but it would lead to an [[opportunity]] to entwine the fate of the two cities, in a way that would draw their mutual fates closer together.

Approaching a foreign town or city would need a different approach. Rather than lean on a single archetype, the Assembly would need to ask one of the five cities to take the lead. Not unlike a [[The_League_culture_and_customs#Relationships|League marriage]], it would be a formal approach looking to create permanent bonds between the two cities. It sounds fanciful, but there are some who describe Tassato Mestra and Tassato Regario as a pair of lovers bound in fractious matrimony.

{{Mandate|mandate=The Virtuous build up their fellows. We send {named citizen} with 25 liao to urge {League city} to reach out to {foreign city} to show them the advantages of becoming part of the greatest alliance of city-states the world has even seen. Let us marry our fates together.|assembly=League Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, one city of the League will approach the chosen foreign town or city to demonstrate the advantages that being part of the League offers. This is not an invitation to join the League, it is a request to get up and dance. It would open up a conversation with the people of that city but it would be guaranteed to provide an [[opportunity]] to draw the city closer to the League's orbit.

That ''might'' mean that if other circumstances leant that way - if the city's territory was being otherwise invaded, or liberated, or simply threatened in some way that was truly fateful - then an opportunity ''might'' arise for the city to join the League. Some like to dream of the day the League has a dozen twenty territories under its belt! Surely impossible... but few people ever lost money overestimating the League.

There are two key limitations. It is not possible to choose a city that the Empire simply does not know ''anything'' about, and it would have to really be a significant town or city. And crucially, it would need to be a city that is nearby - that is on the same continent as the Empire. No city within the orbit of Sumaah or Asavea, for example, is going to have the slightest interest in this approach. It just is not possible to meaningfully entwine the destiny of one of the League's cities with somewhere half the world away - the affairs of the Great Powers of the world take place at a fundamentally different scale.

Still, from the citadels of [[Axos]] to the bustling [[Faraden]] mining town of Caitun, there are many towns and cities within the Empire's orbit that the League could build up. It would need to build up the city; of course, this approach won't work if the League is trying to tear them down. For that reason, the League might do well to consider carefully before approaching the city of a barbarian or hostile power like Dubhtraig or [[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]]. The opportunity would still be there - but do the League ''really'' want to find ways to benefit the city of Dubhtraig in the middle of a war with the [[Grendel]]?

The two mandates are in [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|competition with each other]]. If both were passed in the same season, the mandate with the highest margin would apply.

==Partners beyond==
* '''Life in the League is cosmopolitan - in theory other species could join'''
* '''The Empire does not know of any other sentient species who might plausibly join, ''at this time'' '''
* '''The League will be ready to take advantage if that situation ever changes'''

The Assembly went out of its way to emphasise that they wished to "bring other sapient beings from all species" to join the League. It is a noble statement - one that goes further even than the recent [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] in pointedly not limiting their welcome to orcs and humans.

The issue is that there simply are no other species the Empire knows of who might conceivably join the League. The hylje of the north are certainly [[Among the hylje|spiritually unlike human or orc]], but if they could ever join an Imperial nation, it would surely be [[Wintermark]]. The fact that they have ''not'' joined suggests that perhaps they cannot. There is something about their nature that is fundamentally formless and ephemeral. Any student of magic knows that the essential nature of things is fundamental to how they act and exist, but the hylje seem able to change their forms more easily, and perhaps - if the darker rumours of the links between the hylje and the akhlut are true - change their nature fundamentally. Whatever the essential nature of a hylje is, it may be beyond the egregore bond to grasp.

There are other sapient creatures in the world. Trolls exist - and the Empire knows of one, perhaps two living trolls, and neither wants much to do with the world nor would it seem prudent to entwine the affairs of the League with creatures whose doom is carved into their very being. No - it is hard to imagine that a troll could ever join the league.

It's hard to be sure what the true nature of a sovereign is - indeed, it is likely that there are as many answers to that as there are sovereigns. They don't tend to have malleable natures, but their natures are bound up in some tight way with the darkness that exists in the north-east of the world. King Rat, the mysterious sovereign who lays claim to the underbelly of Temeschwar, is one such. There are rumours that this being, or more precisely a representative thereof, was seeking to join the League - and that many wished to accept its wish to do so. This might be possible - though the League might want to think exceptionally carefully before formally welcoming a monstrosity into their midst.

A few magicians suggest that the denizens of the Autumn realm are halfway to being League citizens already, but this betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the realms. There is something profoundly different between a city of the Iron Labyrinth and a city of the League. Every citizen of Sarvos has traits in common, but they are all unique individuals with their own loyalties. Every inhabitant of the [[Ephisis|City of Lead and Gold]] has traits that set them apart, and yet fundamentally they all seem to share the same ethos, the same loyalties, the same core desires. A pair of identical twins from the League have more to set them apart than a pair of Ephisis heralds like Crown and Patina. No herald could ever join the League, nor any other Imperial nation for that matter, no matter how much superficial resemblance there was.

Finally, there are the daeva of the [[Commonwealth]]. Not a lot is known about these people. They rarely frequent Leerdam or any of the known Commonwealth ports, and even those who have spent a lot of time in the Commonwealth say that they are an uncommon sight. Despite recognising them as people in the Liberty Pact, in truth, the Empire does not have a clear idea about what they even look like. As far as anyone knows, they are only found on the continent across the Sea of Steel, inhabited by [[Jarm]] and the Commonwealth. There are simply no daeva that anyone knows about who live close enough to the Empire to make an approach worthwhile.

It is a worthy aim, but there simply are no other sapient beings that the League could approach at this time. But who knows? Times change, and sometimes more quickly than anyone can imagine. By making embracing sapient beings their highest calling, the League put a permanent marker in the [[The_League_culture_and_customs#Reckoners|reckoners]] books. If the day ever arises when that marker comes due... then people will remember what was said all those years ago. If the time does come to welcome other sapient beings into the Empire, the League will be ready...

Stand amid the roar

2026-07-19T12:07:20Z

GuiltyConscience:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Peerless Kinship]]
<ic>“Not long until sunset.” said Sanne in a heavy tone.

“Not long at all.” agreed Judah.

The pair fell silent for a while as if afraid that if one of them voiced the obvious they would make it true.

Finally Judah could stand it no longer. “And the scouts definitely said they’d be here by then?” he queried.

Sanne once again tested the string of her bow. “That's what they said."

Judah sighed, and rolled his shoulders against the weight of his armour. “Do you think our reinforcements will get here first?”

Sanne looked back at the farmstead behind them. “They said we would. Assuming nothing goes wrong.” She smiled, not entirely convincingly. “But we don’t need reinforcements, do we? It’s nothing to us. A pair of heroes defending civilisation from a few shitty cultists and a pattern in the stars. It’ll be like the stories. You know, like Elayne Silverlark and what-his-face.”

Judah narrowed his eyes as he scanned the horizon. Which would arrive first, he wondered? Reinforcements, or the enemy? He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Somehow he doubted that anyone would tell the tale of his life if it ended here. “Things bleed, they say. I guess we’ll just have to make sure they bleed more than we do.”</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Peregrine Falcon in Flight.jpg|caption=The cult of the Falconer adopt a philosophy inspired by a certain interpretation of the nature of [[the Claw]] constellation.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Narwhal's Spear, the Sun Chamber, and members of the Wintermark and Highguard assemblies have made their way to the territory to deal with the Cult of the Falconer'''
It started simply, with animal attacks. The beasts of [[Sermersuaq]] were agitated and aggressive. Strange, to be sure, but strange things happen every day. Then the aggression spread. Strange people were seen partaking in unusual rites across the northern Empire. Representatives of a group, or perhaps of a person, called the Falconer repeatedly attended Anvil, bringing with them words of strength, bloodshed, and a return to an imagined past, free from the corrupting decadence of modern life. And as they did so, blood began to be spilt. No longer was this just strange: this was dangerous.

Citizens of the Empire sprang into action in the face of this creeping menace. The [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] were tasked with investigating the Cult of the Falconer, even as the group descended into open blood sacrifice. The Silent Bell [[Sound_and_vision#Never_Get_Old_(Falconer)|revealed the truth]]; that the Falconer was a [[tulpa]], a manifestation of the [[constellation]] of [[the Claw]], whose law states that ''Things Bleed''. Appealing to the insecure, the disheartened, the traumatised who had found no healing in Virtue, this cult had set itself to the task of creating a world governed by nothing but brute animal strength. Without room for nuance, compassion, or introspection, those motivated by rage and suffering would never need to reckon with their pain, only turn it outwards against any who crossed their path.

The assemblies of almost every nation affected by the cult condemned their actions in no uncertain terms, with judgements passed through the General and Highborn assemblies echoing these sentiments. The Senate [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Criminalise_Cult_of_the_Falconer|declared]] the cult to be illegal, turning the wrath of militia and magistrate against the followers of this malign and bloodthirsty entity. Yet hardship and opposition have not deterred the cult. In a true act of defiance, they have erected obelisks of [[white granite]] across Sermersuaq.

But it was clear that harsh words would not be enough. And so the general of the Narwhal's Spear gave orders for the army to return home to Sermersuaq to draw the poison from the wound. The Wintermark Assembly urged every hero of the Mark to root out the cult while the Highborn Assembly urged the faithful to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Wintermarkers as they faced the enemy. Finally, the reformed Sun Chamber called on Barien's patronage to let them slip unseen into Sermersuaq seeking to learn what they could about the Cult and their plans and how they might be thwarted.

==Aimed Spear==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Determination of Ice Kaisa, General of the Narwhal's Spear">Children of Sermersuaq, too soon we must return home. A threat is taking root beneath the snow. Scour our lands for those that follow the Falconer and the obelisks they build; remind them that we are children of snow and ice, not stars and blood. Do not kill these lost and misguided; subdue, mediate and bring them back to the hearth. Do not shed blood, do not let them bleed in the snow.</quote></div>
* '''The Narwhal's Spear has moved decisively against the Cult, attacking their strongholds'''
* '''Their actions have shattered the Cult's forces preventing them forming an army'''
* '''Defeating the Cult's forces has rendered their ritual sites vulnerable'''

The [[Narwhal's Spear]], moving under the effects of [[Find the Best Path]], went home to Sermersuaq. Guided by the orders of '''Determination of Ice Kaisa''', and the clearness of communication instilled in them by the Autumn realm, the soldiers spread out across the territory. The orders are clear: save the misguided souls caught in this tulpa’s lies, and in the general’s words, “''remind them that we are children of snow and ice, not stars and blood.''” Their instructions are to treat these people as victims rather than villains, to bring them home and to avoid empowering their patron by further bloodshed.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Narwhal's Spear.webp|align=right|width=300}}
Some cultists break in the face of their nation’s heroes and throw themselves on the soldiers’ mercy. Arrogant youths whose dreams of [[heroism]] melted away in the face of the bloody reality. Loud-mouthed braggarts who found bloodshed far more appealing from the comfort of their tavern stools. Sad and broken souls who collapse into tears in the face of genuine compassion from their fellows, the weight of their pain becoming too much to bear.

Sadly, most do not come quietly. Some fight like animals, snarling and enraged. Others hold onto the vicious cunning that the Narwhal’s Spear know only too well. The soldiers are not eager to slay their kin, but the cultists refuse to give them a choice in the matter. It is a law, after all: ''Things Bleed''.

The cultists are vicious and utterly lacking in mercy, but they are simply no match for an Imperial army, let alone one with the quick wits and magically-enhanced logistics of the Narwhal’s Spear. The soldiers do not commit to fights they cannot win, and when they do strike, it is with overwhelming force. Everywhere they go, the cult is thwarted. An attack on the Smokehouse of Atalaq falls into an Imperial ambush, an attempt to abduct hylje from the Rikkivesi falls in the face of a wall of spears and arrows, and a group seeking to infiltrate the small settlement of Wreck are tricked into giving up their weapons and then barricaded inside a storehouse by a group of fast-talking icewalkers.

By the time the season is drawing to a close, the Spear have broken the strength of the Cult. Despite the intensity of the fighting, the army has taken surprisingly few casualties due to the disordered nature of their foe. It is clear that the Cult was trying to form their followers into an army - had they been given one more season to complete their efforts, then the result would have been very different. As it is, the burgeoning military strength of the Cult has been shattered - those whose skeins may yet be saved have become [[Wintermark_religious_beliefs#The_Frayed|Frayed]]. Those who were beyond such things were buried where they fell. The Cult's plans for an army of their own are gone.

The attack has been timely; by directly attacking the cult's strongholds, the Spear have been able to draw members of the cult away from the ritual sites they have taken over. That has left these sites vulnerable and enabled the more nimble groups that accompanied the army to move quickly to investigate these locations. That is fortunate, for it soon transpires that raising an army was just part of the cult's plan.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px;">
{{SOPInner|by=Thritt, Wintermark Assembly|statement=The Cult of the Falconer’s influence must be ended. The construction of their obelisks in the Suaq wastes puts at risk the lives of not just all Winterfolk, but of the Hylje, whom Wintermark previously swore to defend. The Wintermark Assembly urges every Hero of the Mark to bring everything they have to bear, to exercise their courage and vigilance to root this cult out from the Suaq Wastes and see it destroyed. We cannot fail the Hylje.|vote={{GM}} 252-10|when=Summer Solstice 387YE}}
{{SOPInner|by=Corrin Arrowsbane, Wintermark Assembly|statement=The Falcon flies alone. False words have told you “Blood-on-the-Snow” walks alongside. Do not hear the Voice in the Pines whispering in every threat. Vigilance tells us to clear our fields; Wisdom tells us to test what we know. This cult follows the stars; not our foe that follows famine.|vote=290-0|when=Summer Solstice 387YE}}
{{SOPInner|by=Destin of the Woodwych Harts, Highborn Assembly|statement=The dangerous cultists of the Falconer threaten Imperial lives and souls - especially those of our cousins in Wintermark. In Peerless Kinship, we hear the words of judgements 168 and 180, and urge all Vigilant Wayfarers to journey northwards and offer any spiritual assistance they can, as directed by their Wintermark hosts, to seek out and confront this threat.|vote=388-10|when=Summer Solstice 387YE}}
</div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sun Chamber colour.png|align=right|width=300}}

==Crossroads and Doorways==
* '''The Sun Chamber voted to journey to Sermersuaq, and to scout for the white granite obelisk of the Cult of the Falconer'''
* '''Members of the sodality have located all four of the menhirs that the Cult has prepared'''
* '''The sodality has recovered a coded message from the body of one of the Cult members'''
Last season, the recently revived [[Sun Chamber]] voted to [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Sodality_resolutions#Door_of_the_Chamber|send members]] of the sodality to the territory to scout for the [[white granite]] obelisks of the Cult of the Falconer. Ably assisted by heralds of the [[Barien|Lord of the Crossroads]], members and former alumni, slip into the territory looking to find the root of the cult's power - the stone menhirs that they have created.

It is daunting work, requiring them to range all over the territory. Sermersuaq is one of the largest territories in the Empire, a huge expanse of tundra that is difficult to cross and easy to hide in. Dangerous too, for the wild parts of Sermersuaq are plagued with monsters released into the world by [[Agramant|Blood on the Snow]] and [[Hayaak|the Prince-in-Exile]]. Fortunately, the Chamber have powerful allies of their own, the heralds of their patron granting them supernatural swiftness as they speed across the land. With all the vigour that youth can bring them, they throw themselves into the task of scouting for the white granite obelisks.

The first obelisk is located almost by accident, in Tanikipari. Members of the Chamber were looking for something much bigger, based on rumours heard about the obelisks. But the cult had buried the stone menhir for some reason, either to hide it or perhaps for some more sinister reason. As a result only the very tip, barely the size of a person, protrudes above the ground, and it might have been missed were it not for the the eagle eyes of ''Megaris of the Empty Sword'', a keen-eyed young sentinel from [[Spiral]].

The Chamber quickly confirm that the menhir is one of the obelisks they are looking for. Once they have a better idea of what they are looking for, the sodality are able to intensify their search and members turn up two more obelisks in quick succession, one in [[Sermersuaq#Suaq_Fount|Suaq Fount]] and one in [[Sermersuaq#Suaq_Wastes|Suaq Wastes]]. According to those members of the cult who have turned back to Virtue, there are four obelisks in total, but the last one proves almost too much to find.
{{WingedMessenger|address=Warlock Yogurn, House of Frost, Silver Peaks, Sermersuaq}}
Eventually it is located, not in any part of Sermersuaq controlled by the Empire, but in the Silver Peaks, the rich mountains claimed by the Thule. Goaded on by the ''Master of Challenges'', a handful of the current members of the Chamber slip over the border into the Thule lands and quickly locate the final obelisk, not far from the [[Stonefield Ice Caves]]. A tense stand-off with a group of warlocks nearly ends in catastrophe, until the scouts are able to convince the Thule that they are not there to steal, but rather to seek out mutual enemies of the Thule and the Empire. Together, the two groups are able to examine the final obelisk, before members of the Cult appear and both groups are forced to withdraw. Members of the sodality leave with a name, Warlock Yogurn of the House of Frost, and a promise that the matter will be reported to the Dragons, who will decide what to do with the obelisk.

Members of the sodality try to avoid battle with the Cult where they can - those with military training understand how foolish it can be for scouts to lose sight of their mission and risk clashing swords with their enemies. Nonetheless, a handful of skirmishes prove impossible to avoid. It seems of little concern at first, a dozen fights like this have happened across the territory, but this one is different. An enciphered document is found on the body of one of the Chosen, a merchant originally from Kallavesa. It strikes everyone as a curious and auspicious matter – the Cult has no time for such sophisticated things as codes, so whatever is concealed within could be important. The note has been passed to the Civil Service, who will deliver it to the assembled Sun Chamber at their next meeting in Anvil in the hope that deciphering it may provide some useful intelligence.

Having successfully located all four of the strange obelisks, the Chamber turns to cooperating with their allies in this quest, those stirred to action by the Wintermark and Highborn assembly, to put together a plan for dealing with them.
====Participation====
Any member of the Sun Chamber can have taken part in the investigation in Sermersuaq over the past season. Appropriate stories could involve gaining the assistance of heralds of the Lord of the Crossroads to move with unnatural quickness over the vast landscape, lucky escapes where you just managed to avoid a large band of Cultists. You may have been part of the small group who had a tense meeting with the Thule in the Silver Peaks, or one of those who found the first menhir in Tanikipari.

Any member of the Sun Chamber who took part in this investigation, and roleplays that they were supported by a herald of Barien, starts play with an additional [[Heroic skills|hero point]]. This is expended first and is lost if not used by the end of the event.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBWintermark.jpg|align=right|width=200}}{{CaptionedImage|file=NBHighguard.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>

==Special Kinship==
* '''The Winterfolk and Highborn have come together to seek out the cult'''
* '''They have uncovered the cult's plan to infuse Sermersuaq with the power of the Claw'''
* '''They have discovered a pillar and a Voice in Suaq Fount'''
The people of Sermersuaq are hardy. It was not so long ago that the Jotun stormed through their lands, and not too much longer than that when Thule maggots roamed across the territory. Buoyed up by the words of '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark''' exhorting them to despise folly and chastise the fools who spread it, and of '''Rafe''', who told them to reject unknown or malicious auras, they are well primed for the judgements of '''Thritt''' and '''Corrin Arrowsbane''', urging them to reject the Cult of the Falconer and confirming the source of their powers.

This is it, the test of the Winterfolk’s resolve to stand firm in the face of malign auras and misguided cultists. Most are not fighters, but hunters bring back word from the wilderness, stormcrows dutifully collate reports from their congregations, and local icewalkers cast divinations to find what intelligence they can. The people of Sermersuaq can be Proud of their sharp eyes, and no gathering of cultists evades their sight.

Yet even as the Winterfolk stand in defence of their land, aid comes from yet more sources. Highborn pilgrims, guided by the words of '''Destin of the Woodwych Harts''', travel north to offer aid to their Winterfolk counterparts. Vigilant inquisitors, ruthless unconquered, and a few former grey pilgrims who walked the trods in the region, all come to offer assistance to their siblings in Virtue.

Their aid proves pivotal; relentless questioning by the Highborn inquisitors of those who have given up the cult slowly reveals the enemy's true ambitions. Their goal is nothing less than the transformation of the land itself, by erecting four great menhirs in the shape of the [[the Claw]] and performing bloodthirsty rites on them, they hope to make all of Sermersuaq become as wild and savage as the constellation itself. In a twisted version of the Marcher traditions of [[The_Marches_hearth_magic#Chalk_Figures_and_Standing_Stones|standing stones]], the Cult seeks not to yoke the forces of nature, and subject them to mortal authority, but the very opposite. To break the yoke of civilisation and give free rein to nature's most cruel instincts. Like marking an object with a rune, they plan to mark the land with the sign of the Claw, so that it resonates with the same magical properties as the constellation itself.

Nobody is certain if the plan will actually work. While the more followers of the Falcon are adamant that nothing can stop them, ice-walkers, mystics, and magisters who examine the plan are uncertain exactly what will happen. Attempts to exploit hearth magic on this scale are fraught with difficulty and impossible to predict. In the end, few believe it really matters what ''might'' have happened - Vigilance demands they are stopped, regardless.

Fortunately, the actions of the Narwhal's Spear have left the cult unable to protect the obelisks, leaving them vulnerable to action by the Empire's heroes. The various leaders of the Cult, the "voices" remain with the obelisks, planning to invoke them when the moment is right, so a capable group could use the Sentinel Gate to destroy the Cult's leadership and remove the threat at the same time.

====Participation====
Any Highborn or Winterfolk can have taken part in the efforts in Sermersuaq, focusing on Suaq Fount. Appropriate stories could involve collaborating with others, careful tracking and hunting, collating information (perhaps with a corkboard), and desperate fights against beasts or cultists. Some priests may have spent time inquisiting those who were captured or surrendered to find out what was planned, while magicians were studying the stars and looking into the cult's plans to see how feasible they really were.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ClawIllustrationInk.JPG|title=The Claw(Illus.)|align=right|width=300}}
==Stone and Stars==
* '''The pillars are huge white granite obelisks, that have been buried in the ground'''
* '''Destroying a pillar will prevent the Cult's magic from affecting that region'''
* '''If one pillar is destroyed, the Cult's plan will no longer affect the territory, only those regions containing an obelisk'''
* '''If all four stone monoliths are destroyed the Cult's plan will completely fail'''
* '''Destroying the pillars will be difficult, they require powerful magic to destroy'''

The Cult's plan requires four obelisks, spread out across Sermersuaq, in an arrangement meant to mimic the shape of the constellation of the Claw. There is one in [[Sermersuaq#Tanikipari|Tanikipari]], one in [[Sermersuaq#Suaq_Fount|Suaq Fount]], one in the [[Sermersuaq#Suaq_Wastes|Suaq Wastes]] and one in the [[Sermersuaq#Silver_Peaks|Silver Peaks]]. The Cult will need all four of these to be in place by the end of the Equinox to bring down their curse on the whole territory.

If so much as a single obelisk is destroyed, then the rites will fall short. The Cultists will still complete the rites, but the effects will only fall on those regions that still contain an obelisk at the time. If all four are destroyed, then the rites will fail completely and there will be no effects.

One mystery remains - how did the Cult obtain the resources for these huge obelisks? The Cult has painstakingly buried the menhirs in the ground, so that the magic they evoke will be communicated to the very soil and rock itself. By all accounts, the things are huge, each must have required at least ten wains of [[white granite]] - meaning the cult must have acquired forty wains in total. There were rumours that the Cult was recruiting at Anvil, trying to acquire white granite for their plan, but few of their supporters are wealthy or powerful. How then have they come by such enormous resources?

Destroying the pillar would require delivering a potent ritual magic. The Highborn magisters and the Wintermark icewalkers and mystics have combined their skills to create three arcane projections, one for each of the groups attempting to destroy an obelisk. Inspired by Winter ritual [[Dreadful Ending]], the projections are Magnitude 20 and would take two minutes to cast, but if cast while close enough to touch one of the Falconer obelisks, it will be completely destroyed. They have provided one copy to each of the citizens charged with ensuring the pillars are destroyed.

===Strengthening Storm===
* '''A band of cultists are protecting the pillar of Tanikipari'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''''Corrin Arrowsbane'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for destroying the pillar and killing the Voice of Tanikipari'''
* '''Killing the Voice of Tanikipari will prevent this individual from posing a threat in the future'''
* '''Destroying the Tanikipari obelisk will ensure the region is not affected by the Cult's magic'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}
A group of vigilant Winterfolk have attempted to destroy the first pillar found, the obelisk near Ittanpari in Tanikipari. Sadly, they encountered unusually strong defences and they were forced to pull back with several members of the band badly wounded. ''Merewalh the Fox'', a Suaq mediator, has sent word back asking for help.

Merewalh was inspired by the words of '''Corrin Arrowsbane''' to seek out this threat. As such, she asks Corrin Arrowsbane to complete the mission to destroy the pillar and kill the Voice of Tanikipari. Killing the Voice will ensure this individual cannot flee and return to pose a threat in the future. Destroying the pillar will ensure that the region is not affected by the Cult's magic.

===Growing Threat===
* '''A band of cultists are protecting the pillar of the Suaq Wastes'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Counsel of the Sun Chamber'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for destroying the pillar and killing the Voice of the Wastes'''
* '''Killing the Voice of the Wastes will prevent this individual from posing a threat in the future'''
* '''Destroying the Suaq Wastes obelisk will ensure the region is not affected by the Cult's magic'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}
The members of the Sun Chamber chose to focus their efforts on the western part of the territory. ''Megaris of the Empty Sword'', the keen-eyed sentinel who found the first pillar, has been keeping an eye on the final target close to the border with [[Tromsa]]. The cultists here have rallied around the "''Voice of the Wastes''", from where they have carried out numerous forays into Kalsea.

As ''Megaris of the Empty Sword'' is a member of the Sun Chamber, it is the responsibility of the [[Counsel of the Sun Chamber]], '''Zoria''', to ensure the pillar is destroyed and the Voice of the Wastes slain. Killing the Voice will ensure this individual cannot flee and return to pose a threat in the future. Destroying the pillar will ensure that the region is not affected by the Cult's magic.

Whilst [[Barien]] would normally require that only members of the sodality take part in any dangerous quest that had employed his help to arrange, here he has made clear that he expects the Chamber will need to call on many allies from outside the sodality if they are to achieve the impossible. Provided the will of the Consul is respected, then the eternal will not be angered no matter who she chooses to undertake the dangerous expedition.

<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Nicodemus of Balthazar's Vineyard.jpg|caption='''Nicodemus of Balthazar's Vineyard''', Speaker of the Highborn Assembly|align=left|width=200}}</div>

===Gathering Darkness===
* '''A band of cultists are protecting the pillar of Suaq Fount'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Speaker of the Highborn Assembly'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for destroying the pillar and killing the Voice of the Fount'''
* '''Killing the Voice of the Fount will prevent this individual from posing a threat in the future'''
* '''Destroying the Suaq Fount obelisk will ensure the region is not affected by the Cult's magic'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}
''Caleb of Matthias' Rest'', a shrewd Highborn [[Unconquered]], was chosen to lead a group of fellow Highborn warriors to the sparse area south-east of the [[Sermersuaq#Face_of_Ikka|Face of Ikka]], hoping to destroy the Cult's power there. These cultists have rallied around the "''Voice of the Fount''", and looked to disrupt the [[Pride of Ikka's Tears]] and claim the mithril for themselves. Sadly, the group never reached the Fount, they were attacked on the way by one of Hayaak's vengeful monsters and too many of the group were wounded for them to continue.

As ''Caleb of Matthias' Rest'' took inspiration from the [[judgement]] of '''Destin of the Woodwych Harts''', it would usually be their responsibility. However, the civil service have been informed that the wayfarer will not be at the coming summit, so it is down to the [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]], '''Nicodemus of Balthazar's Vineyard''', to kill the Voice of the Fount and destroy the pillar. Killing the Voice will ensure this individual cannot flee and return to pose a threat in the future. Destroying the pillar will ensure that the region is not affected by the Cult's magic.

{{CaptionedImage|file=thulebanner1.jpeg|title=Thule banner iconography|align=right|width=200}}
===The Silver Peaks===
* '''There is a fourth pillar in the Silver Peaks'''
* '''The Thule warlocks claim the Dragons will ''attend'' to the pillar'''
Members of the Sun Chamber met with a band of Thule warlocks, and the two groups examined the fourth obelisk together. The Thule were investigating reports of problems: previously tame beasts gone feral; tempers running short; and at least one instance of an escalating curse war between rival warlocks. The Chamber were forced to leave the matter with the Thule, who made clear that the Dragons would "attend" to the matter. That might mean the Thule intend to destroy the pillar themselves, but if it ''definitely'' meant that, the warlock would presumably have said as much.

Still, the Empire will have its hands full dealing with the Cult and the three pillars that are in Imperial-controlled parts of Sermersuaq, they may have to just hope that the Thule are as good as their word.

==What is Known==
The Cult of the Falconer is on the back foot, unable to stand in the face of the overwhelming forces arrayed against it. Yet… the Cult did not grow to this size without being persuasive. Their leaders are charismatic, and some find their message of a simpler world, a world without the strictures of civilisation to restrain them, a world where they can finally express their true desires and be granted the acclaim to which their strength entitles them, deeply compelling. Even as it seems like every living being in Sermersuaq is arrayed against them, some still seek out the Falconer. Perhaps there is a sense of doomed romanticism to it, the star-sworn underdogs continuing to fight against the unstoppable mass of the Empire. Perhaps there is no reason at all.

Regardless of motivation, everyone who has joined the Cult has sworn a simple oath: to follow the Cult’s leaders, and to rise up against the Empire when the time comes. And everyone who has done so has received a warning: failing to fulfil this oath will have dire consequences. Not dire as in a loss of wealth. Not dire as in a terrible injury. Not dire as in a frayed skein. Dire as in the wrath of an entire constellation being directed at you. Things Bleed, but if they bleed hard enough, they don't bleed for long.

===Participation===
If your character would have joined the Cult of the Falconer for any reason, you may email {{plot}} with your CID before noon on Friday the 12<sup>th</sup> informing us that you have sworn the cult’s oath. You should visit GOD on Saturday morning to receive a briefing on any repercussions. As an important note, this has a very high chance of your character no longer being playable. You should not do this if you would be uncomfortable having your character die as a result of their involvement with the Cult.
==Further Reading==
* [[The Claw]]

Not to conquer

2026-07-19T11:58:51Z

GuiltyConscience:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:385YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Karass]][[Category:Rahvin]][[Category:Peerless Kinship]]
<ic>
Erica grinned at the troubadour, clearly enjoying needling her fellow priest. "Does calling it Liberation rather than Freedom make you feel more comfortable?" she asked, posing the question with an air of false naivete.

Ser Fundin took a long swig from his tankard to give himself some time to think. He had expected the Montanian to be poorly educated in the ways of Virtue and he was rather regretting under-estimating the woman. "It doesn't matter what we call it" he finally responded. "The point is that we wish to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj, not to conquer them."

"Oh I rather think it does matter what you call it. But lets not argue semantics like a pair of Urizeni stargazers considering the heavens. Let's talk about what you actually mean to do. You're here to liberate us, and in truth we're not ungrateful. It's definitely an improvement on last time... no-one can deny that. So - when are you going to do that? When will we get liberated?"

The Montanian priest's voice was light and friendly, her hands spread out in a gesture of open inquiry, but there was a note of steel in her voice that made Ser Fundin nervous. "Erm - well we've defeated the Druj - everyone is free from their rule now." he responded unsure of what more he could say.

"Not everyone!" Erica was quick to correct him. "The Druj are still terrorising your people in Murderdale and our allies in the Heart of Peytaht. But lets not argue warfare like a pair of League Bravos brawling in a tavern. Let's agree that we're free now - so that means I can preach the tenets of Freedom throughout the Barrens can I? That means my friends in the Great Forest Orcs can return to their homes and reclaim the Eaves of Peytaht can they? We're all free, so the Black Wind won't have to pay taxes to your Empire? The Rahvin can keep living in the Fangs and keep the mithril?"

Ser Fundin was definitely regretting coming to the tavern this evening. Ser Dindrane would surely have answers to the Montanian's question, but the questing knight was elsewhere and the young troubadour was suddenly aware of how out of his depth he was. "I assume the Imperial Senate will issue a ruling." he finally responded realising how lame the words sounded even as he said them.

"Excellent!" Erica responded with mocking delight. "Lets ignore the question of whether you can ever really be free if you need someone else to give you your freedom for a moment. Liberation means - the return of our freedom... the right to govern ourselves. Not to be subject to the rule of others. So your Senate is going to give us our lands back are they? We won't be forced to live under Imperial rule?"

"But Imperial citizens are free" Ser Fundin protested.

Erica smiled at the troubadour. "Our people left the Empire half a century ago... and then we left them. If we had the faintest desire to be Imperial citizens we could have made that choice at any time in the last fifty years. Do you think the Rahvin want to be Imperial citizens? Or the Black Wind? We convinced them to make peace with your Empire so they could fight the Druj. We made an agreement, and then you broke it and sided with the Druj. They hate you even more than they hate the Druj if such a thing were possible. Do you think they want to become Imperial citizens?"

She shook her sadly. "Words matter... a great deal... If liberation means anything, it means Freedom. And Freedom means the right for living beings to choose for themselves. There can be no Freedom where our choices are made for us by others. It's not Freedom if our only choice is to live by your laws. If you force us to be part of your Empire... then you're no better than the Druj."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Not to conquer.jpg|align=left|caption="Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj."|width=600}}</div>{{audio|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0MoaA7iAn0}}
{{SOP|statement=Pride exalts and uplifts those who have been laid low by the wicked; we come to the Barrens not to conquer, but to liberate and restore those who have been trod underfoot by the Druj. We send Ser Dindrane with 50 doses of liao to urge Dawnish citizens not to settle beyond Dawnguard, but to rather put their words, steel, and coin to the cause of protecting and aiding the many inhabitants of the Barrens who have thrown of the yoke of the Buruk Tepel.|by=Ser Dindrane, Dawn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 233-46|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
{{SOP|statement=In peerless kinship, Highguard wishes to support our glorious siblings in Dawn.|by=Jericho, Highguard Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 980-36|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
{{SOP|statement=Dawn asks Highguard to support them in the Barrens in peerless kinship.|by=Zadkiel de Coeurdefer, Dawn Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 171-0|when=Summer Solstice 385YE}}
==Overview==
The Barrens has been contested territory between the Druj and Dawn for centuries. The [[orc|orcs]] who live there have been caught in the middle between the two powerful nations. They have no love for the Druj, but they also have no love for Dawn. Recent events, since the death of [[Empress Britta]], have cemented that dislike and in some cases turned it into open hatred.

During the conquest of the Barrens, the Dawnish armies embraced the words of the Imperial Synod, committing themselves to a campaign of "liberation" rather than "conquest." They went out of their way to avoid harming the orcs who call the Barrens home, and focused their attention of removing the yoke of the Druj from their necks. However, the Imperial Military Council chose to focus on [[Two_silhouettes#A_Vile_Het_.28Battle.29|supporting the Dawnish people in the west]] rather than [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|freeing the Rahvin]] and turned its attention elsewhere rather than [[Into_the_valley#As_the_Water.27s_Dripping_Down_.28Battle.29|bury the hatchet with the Great Forest Orcs]]. This strategy ultimately led to the [[Everything_is_broken#Glorious_In_Victory_.28Battle.29|Dawnish uprising]], and the final conquest of the Barrens. The Imperial Senate assigned the territory to Dawn - a move guaranteed to spark celebration in Astolat, Semmerholm, and Weirwater, and to [[Everything_is_broken#Future_of_the_Barrens_.28Assignment.29|outrage the orcish ''septs'' of the Barrens]].

Last summit, the Dawnish National Assembly chose to embrace '''Ser Dindrane's''' policy of working with the orcs rather than flooding the territory with settlers. Those Dawnish who had hoped to return to lands lost when they fled the Barrens and regain their estates in Dawnguard are doing so, but new settlers are holding back while Imperial representatives approach the various factions of the Barrens. The focus is now on appeasing the angered septs, and finding ways to create opportunities for the Dawnish to help and support the various faction. This endeavour is complicated by [[Conflict_in_the_Barrens|the history of Imperial and Dawnish relations with the Barrens since Winter 377YE]] - the occupants broadly hate, fear and distrust the Dawnish. The perspective of many orcs in the Barrens is that the Dawnish are indistinguishable from the Druj.

Fortunately, in these initial contacts with the orc septs, the Dawnish have received much needed aid from the people of Highguard. Using their [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|peerless kinships]], Highborn priests serve as mediators, speaking to people who do not trust the Dawnish. They're also able to parley their cautious relationships with two of the Barrens factions - the Vendarri surrendered to the Highborn and a number of Great Forest Orcs have worked with the Highborn in Therunin and Brocéliande in the recent past. Their support has allowed the Dawnish (and the Empire) to skip over the first lengthy phase of negotiations - getting the septs to actually talk to them - and has helped to get to the root of the problems.

All these negotiations take place under the shadow of the Druj. The [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]] they unleashed still rampages across the territory. While the Towers of Dusk stand ready to protect the Barrens from aggression out of [[the Mallum]], there are no armies here. Everyone is on edge, and everyone is aware that a wrong word in the wrong place at the wrong time could cause the entire fragile situation here to collapse.
__TOC__
===Complexity===
This Wind of Fortune has a large number of moving parts and is probably the most complex wind we've ever put together. We've kept it as short as possible, but the situation in the Barrens is incredibly complex, due to the size of the territory and the ten year game history of player interactions with the people who live there. As part of trying to keep it to a manageable length, we've cut down the amount of background and scene-setting we would normally include. There are two pages that provide additional context to this wind - [[Conflict in the Barrens]] lays out the historical situation, both before the game began and after.

The situation is complex in-character as well. It contains a number of potential actions, but it is not intended to be definitive. Many of the options here provide only guidelines about what will happen if they are taken. In particular, if the Empire does multiple things that all change the situation it's impossible to predict in advance how those things will interact with each other. There's also the potential impact of individual characters on the relations between the Empire and the Barrens factions to bear in mind, which might further skew things toward the chaotic. For now, though, each of these "levers" is presented with the best guess of the people involved as to what it will do.

One other thing to bear in mind is that the [[Synod]], its [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] and [[mandate|mandates]], is of only limited use in the Barrens. While a [[judgement]] can be used to influence Imperial citizens, it is unlikely to move any of the factions. They are simply not open to Imperial priests coming to them with liao and attempting to tell them what they should do. So while there ''are'' mandates here, they are about actions Imperial citizens take, and not about influencing the factions directly by sending missionaries. This is intentional, and proposals for alternative mandates that rely on trying to convert the factions, or influence them with [[aura|auras]], are unlikely to be accepted.
<table class="wikitable" style="width:250px; float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;">
<tr><th>Faction</th><th>Status</th></tr>
<tr><td>Rahvin</td><td>Barbarians</td></tr>
<tr><td>Black Wind</td><td>Barbarians</td></tr>
<tr><td>Great Forest Orcs</td><td>Foreigners</td></tr>
<tr><td>Karass</td><td>Foreigners</td></tr>
<tr><td>Montanians</td><td>Unclear</td></tr>
<tr><td>Vendarri</td><td>Unclear</td></tr>
</table>

==Foreigners and Barbarians==
* '''There are several factions in the Barrens that are either foreigners or barbarians'''
* '''The legal status of some factions is unclear'''
The first complication to be considered in the Barrens is the legal status of the various factions within it. The Senate has explicitly [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Karass|recognised]] the Karass as foreigners, but the situation with the other factions is a little less clear.

In Winter 379YE, the Senate [[Declare_war_on_the_Barrens_orcs|declared war]] on "''the Barrens Orcs that are currently laying siege to an Imperial fort''" which included the Rahvin, the Black Wind, and the Great Forest Orcs. While they later [[Declare peace with Orcs of the Great Forest of Peytaht|made peace]] with the Great Forest Orcs, there seemed little need to alter the situation with regard to the Rahvin as they were believed to all be dead. The Imperial Senate has [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Karass|declared]] that the Karass are foreigners. It's not entirely clear what the situation is with the Vendarri is; they are presumably covered by the Winter 379YE declaration, but took no part in the actual attack on the fort, and have since surrendered to the Highborn (and by extension the Empire). Likewise, the status of the Montanians is also unclear. The Empire historically declared war on the [[Freedom Heresy]] forces in 325YE, and in theory the [[#Montanians|Montanians]] are still covered by that declaration. They apparently claim that their grandparents cut ties with the rest of those resident in Montane prior to its [[Freedom Heresy#The fall of Montane|destruction]], but this would not automatically change their status. However, the peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs explicitly applies to "''the humans that the Great Forest recognise as members of their nation''." The Great Forest Orcs have said that they consider the Montanians active in the Barrens to be as much part of their nation as those who have been living in Therunin, but this doesn't necessarily have a legal bearing on the status of the faction as a whole.

With all this in mind, the Civil Service have requested two administrative motions be raised on Friday evening at the Autumn Equinox. Neither of these motions prevents the Senate changing the status of the faction at a later date, but would clarify the position of the Vendarri and the Montanians and their relationship with the Empire.

The first administrative motion states that "The Winter 379YE declaration of war on the orcs of the Barrens includes the Vendarri." If it passes, then the Vendarri are barbarians; if it is defeated they are foreigners.

The second motion is "The provisions of the peace treaty with the Great Forest Orcs that relate to their briar allies also apply to the members of their faction active in the Barrens." If this passes, the Montanian faction will be foreigners and will be assumed to be bound by the same provisions as their members living in Therunin. If it is defeated, any Montanians not living in Therunin will be barbarians. Obviously, this motion has implications for relations with the Great Forest Orcs both those living in Therunin and the Barrens as a whole.

More generally, the Senate can use a single suitably worded motion to declare war on, or peace with, all of the Barrens factions at once much as they [[Declare_Ossium_orcs_as_foreigners|declared all the orcs in Ossium to be foreigners]] following the conquest of [[Ossium|that territory]]. If they want to change the legal status of a single faction, or a group of factions, that would require a motion for each faction.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Barrens Map.jpg|caption=Political map of the Barrens created by Gancio di Catazar.|width=600px}}</div>
==Liberation, Conquest and Negotiation==
* '''The Montanians, the Rahvin, the Great Forest Orcs, the Vendarri and the Karass believe that "liberation" means ceding their lands to them'''
* '''All of the septs are aware that their negotiating position is weak, some more than the others'''
* '''Their demands have been presented in strict order of the things most important to them'''

The Imperial Synod has repeatedly claimed that they have come to liberate the Barrens, not to conquer them. This has translated into clear strategic costs for the Empire, making it significantly harder for their armies to operate in the territory, but that choice has minimised the casualties among the septs who live here and has been noted by all of them. Most have responded positively to this approach, and while the Empire remains hugely unpopular in the territory, it has created the opportunity for dialogue with most of the septs which otherwise would not have existed.

What it has not done is clarify in legal terms what the Empire actually means by "liberation." The point is rapidly approaching where the Empire will have to make clear to the Barrens what "liberation" entails given that none of the occupants of the Barrens have shown any inclination to become Imperial citizens bar the possible exception of the Karass.

The Montanians have eloquently expressed that liberation means nothing less than the right to govern and rule themselves, outside of the Empire. They have actively encouraged the other septs to view liberation in these terms and to demand the Empire deliver this. The recent decision to assign the Barrens to Dawn, who are deeply unpopular in the Barrens, has not been well received by anyone other than the Dawnish themselves. However the impact has been mitigated by the timely intervention of the Dawnish Assembly who have encouraged their people not to settle the Barrens until the situation with the septs has been resolved.

This has created an opportunity for further dialogue which has caused most of the septs to state their case to the Dawnish and Highborn priests sent to talk with them. This wind presents the extent of their demands but is clear that the septs are aware that their negotiating position is weak. Some of them are more aware of just how weak their position is than others. Where relevant, the Civil Service has tried to list their demands in the explicit order that they are most important to the sept, to support any potential negotiation of a compromise. The first bullet point is the demand that is most important to them in each case.

It is genuinely impossible for even the best Imperial prognosticators to say if any [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zone_of_possible_agreement common ground] is actually possible in each case. Only the heroes at Anvil can determine that. What will categorically ''not'' work is to try to persuade the various factions to abandon ''all'' their goals. The Empire is in a position to force any resolution they like, but resentment will only grow in any sept that does not win any concessions from the Empire. That will almost inevitably spell trouble down the line.

==Rahvin==
===Who are the Rahvin?===
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Rahvin can be achieved by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Jannik, The Fangs, Bitter Strand, The Barrens''}}
* '''The Rahvin currently control the Fangs'''
* '''They are still legally barbarians following the declaration of war in Winter 379YE'''
* '''They are regarded positively by most other septs other than the Karass and the Black Wind'''
The Rahvin are now the smallest sept in the Barrens, and arguably the weakest. For years it was assumed that they had been exterminated by the Druj. In Winter last year, however, it [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|became apparent]] that the orcs of the Mallum had not been entirely truthful. Survivors - possibly the last members of the sept still alive - were discovered to be enslaved at [[The_Barrens#The_Fangs|the Fangs]], forced to work in the [[mithril]] mine on the shores of the [[The Barrens#Bittershore|Barren sea]]. Supported by the [[Imperial Orcs]] of the [[Winter Sun]], the slaves freed themselves and turned on the Druj overseers, slaughtering them, and claiming the mine for themselves.

At their peak, as one sept, the Black Wind and the Rahvin were the most powerful sept in the independent Barrens, and were at the forefront of the attempt to secure independence for the territory. Now their situation is very much reduced, but they still appear to be committed to a vision of a Barrens ruled not by the Empire, nor by the Druj, but by the orcs who live there.

===What do the Rahvin Want?===
* '''They want the Empire to recognise them as foreigners and cede control of Bitter Strand, the Carmine Fields, and Murderdale'''
* '''They want the Empire to acknowledge its role in the death of Rahvin and the slaughter of their sept'''
* '''They want to reunite their sept with the Black Wind'''
* '''The Rahvin want a free Barrens that is independent of both the Druj and the Empire'''

The Rahvin want to be ''free'' and they are clear that that means freedom from the Empire every bit as much as it means freedom from the Druj. Recent actions by Imperial Orc, Highborn and Dawnish armies have made them open to the idea of negotiation with the Empire, but the prospect of a settlement looks remote.

The leaders of the Rahvin are clear that if the Empire really means to "liberate" the Barrens, then that means giving control of the territory to the people who live there. Before the sept split, the Rahvin and the Black Wind dwelled in [[The_Barrens#Bitter_Strand|Bitter Strand]], [[The Barrens#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] and parts of what was once [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]]. They want the Imperial Senate to recognise them as foreigners and to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|cede]] these regions to them.

At present there are little more than seven-hundred-and-fifty Rahvin gathered at the Fangs. The initial rebellious slaves have been joined by Rahvin orcs liberated by the Imperial armies from other parts of the territory especially the [[The Barrens#Plains of Teeth|Plains of Teeth]]. They believe that more of their people are likely living as slaves in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], and perhaps the [[Forest of Ulnak]] but they have no way to reach them.

The sept split when the Empire and the Druj made common cause to put down the Barrens Orc rebellion. Those who preferred to go down fighting for the cause kept the name of Rahvin, those who chose to surrender to the Druj became the Black Wind. The Rahvin hope to open negotiations with the much more numerous Black Wind sept in the hope of reuniting with their kindred if the situation allows. They anticipate that the Black Wind will share their ambition to gain control of their former lands in the Barrens.

For now, they control the Fangs which they are mining using the primitive equipment left behind by the Druj. They would dearly like to use the precious metal to arm their sept and the other septs in the Barrens, the better to resist Druj and Imperial domination. Even armed, the Rahvin would be too small to provide a credible military threat, but the same would ''not'' be true if they were able to arm the other factions. At present they lack the means to forge weapons and armour in bulk, and are seeking for ways to resolve that shortcoming. Mostly, they treat the Fangs as a stronghold; keeping the Empire out. They refuse point blank to leave the Fangs. They have received support from the Winter Sun, and some Imperial Orcs continue to supply them despite their technical status as barbarians.

Priests from Dawn and Highguard and members of the Imperial Orcs have all spoken with leaders of the sept. Their assessment is that the orcs are [[Pride|Proud]], [[Ambition|Ambitious]], and [[Courage|Courageous]], but [[Wisdom|Wise]] enough to understand that their best hope at present is to negotiate with the Empire. They will never give up control of the Fangs, they see the mithril as crucial to ensuring the Barrens has the strength to defend itself from future attacks by the Druj and the Empire, but their demands are negotiable. Crucially, they are realistic enough that they don't expect Dawnguard to be handed over to them - most think of the place as being Dawnish anyway.

In addition to land, the Rahvin are bitter about the Empire's role in the death of Rahvin, the charismatic orc who once united the septs of the Barrens against the Druj and the subsequent war against the Rahvin that enabled the Druj to enslave and kill the rest of the sept. If the Empire found a way to acknowledge their role in these events and communicate that to the Rahvin it would improve diplomatic relations and make them less openly hostile.

Leaving the Rahvin in control of the mine while their attitude to the Dawnish, and the Empire as a whole, is one of hatred is extremely risky. Their sept demonstrated in the past that it was prepared to take on outrageous odds in its ambition to free the Barrens from outside control, and there is no doubt they would do so again once they had armed and armoured themselves. If other Barrens orcs rallied to them it is not impossible they could raise an army, given enough time to do so.

===Senate Opportunities : Rahvin===
* '''The Empire is formally at war with the Rahvin; the Imperial Senate could recognise the Rahvin as foreigners'''
* '''The Senate could cede one or more regions to the Rahvin, they want Bitter Strand, the Carmine Fields, and Murderdale in that order'''
* '''The Senate could formally recognise Rahvin control of the Fangs'''
* '''The Senate could issue a statement accepting Dawnish or Imperial responsibility for the destruction of the Rahvin'''
* '''Any one or more of these conditions could be submitted for ratification as a single treaty by the Imperial Senate if signed by the Imperial Consul'''

The first step towards engaging in diplomacy with the Rahvin is likely to be for the Imperial Senate to recognise them as foreigners. The Rahvin understand enough about Imperial law to understand how precarious their current position is while the Empire remains formally at war with them. The Empire declared war on the Rahvin in Winter 379YE - ending that conflict will provide a stable basis for better negotiations going forward.

The Rahvin are adamant that they will ''not'' accept Dawnish or Imperial suzerainty. They have made clear that they want control of the Bitter Strand, the Carmine Fields, and Murderdale in that order. If the Empire were to cede one or more of these regions, then relations would improve accordingly. At present they do not trust the Empire enough to send a delegation to Anvil - last time they came and negotiated in good faith with the Empire at Anvil it did not augur well for the Rahvin. If the Imperial Senate ceded one or more regions of the Barrens to their control it would create enough trust for them to be prepared to send an official delegation to negotiate with Imperial representatives (or receive such a delegation).

Ceding the Bitter Strand would mean giving up the Fangs, a valuable mithril resource currently controlled by the Rahvin. Rather than cede the whole region, the Imperial Senate could recognise Rahvin control of the mithril mine. This would be less effective in improving relations than ceding the entire region, but there are frankly insufficient Rahvin to control the Bitter Strand fully at this time anyway. If this were done, they would still begin arming and armouring themselves, but it would not make the Barrens easier for an outside force to conquer. But if Dawnish citizens do begin to settle in the Barrens, they would eventually establish estates in Bitter Strand outside the area controlled by the Rahvin which would likely lead to friction between the two groups unless relations had greatly improved by then.

Of all the factions in the Barrens bar the Black Wind, the Rahvin are perhaps the most furious with the fact the territory has been given to Dawn. They blame the agreement between the Dawnish and the Druj to split the territory between them for the failure of their ambitions. The Highborn grudgingly suggest that a clear statement by the Imperial Senate accepting Dawn's culpability for the destruction of the Rahvin and the slaughter and enslavement of their people by the Druj will go some way toward improving their attitude toward the Empire - although it will do little for their dislike of the Dawnish. Unless it is supported wholeheartedly by the Dawnish National Assembly, it is likely to offend the people of that nation. An alternative would be to downplay Dawnish culpability, and instead have the Empire as a whole take responsibility for these actions. If that approach were taken, it would improve Rahvin attitudes to the Dawnish slightly, but at the cost of making them more suspicious of the Empire as a whole.

Given the formal way this set of demands have been presented, it would be legally possible for the Imperial Consul to submit a treaty for ratification by the Imperial Senate that met one or more of these demands with a single Senate motion.

===Military Opportunities : Rahvin===
* '''The Empire is currently at war with the Rahvin'''
* '''A single Imperial army could attack the Rahvin to disperse them in a single season taking less than fifty casualties in the process'''
* '''A single Imperial army could besiege the Fangs and starve them out in two seasons without loss'''

While the Synod has called for the liberation of the Barrens, the [[Military Council]] could take an altogether different stance. The Rahvin are preventing the Empire from claiming the just rewards for their labour, and the Empire is still at war with them - a war that started when the Rahvin led an attack on Dawnish lands. There are less than a thousand Rahvin in Bitter Strand. It might not be pleasant, but a single Imperial army could move into the Barrens and defeat them. The general would need to issue an [[Army_orders#Attacking|attacking order]], and make it clear that their intention is to seize the Fangs and drive out the Rahvin. The orcs would likely fight, and it would be necessary to kill their warriors, but there is no way they could stand against an Imperial army, even one depleted by casualties. Civil service estimates that the forces involved in attacking the Rahvin would take less than fifty casualties, but they would not be able to engage in resupply. The Empire would claim the Fangs, and the involvement of the Rahvin in Barrens would be permanently ended.

A less bloody approach could be taken, closing a cordon around the Fangs and starving out the defenders. A single Imperial army could enter the territory and issue a [[Army_orders#Defending|defending order]] to besiege the Fangs. The general would need to be very clear in their orders that their intention was to starve out the defenders of the Fangs. The orcs would be unable to hunt, and their supplies would quickly dwindle. Once started, the blockade would need to continue uninterrupted, but would not require the ''same'' army to maintain it. It would take six months for the Rahvin to run out of supplies to the point they were forced to surrender or accept death by starvation. This would allow the Empire to claim the Fangs without risking Imperial soldiers. It would depend on the response of the Rahvin whether they survived as a faction in the Barrens.

Either of these approaches would send a message to the other factions of the Barrens that opposing the will of the Empire will be dealt with harshly. This would have both positive and negative impacts on relations not only with the septs of the Barrens, but potentially with some of the septs still under Druj control in the Mallum as news spread. It would make the septs less likely to want to cooperate with the Empire, but make any resistance or rebellion less likely.

If an Imperial army were to move into the Barrens and take a defending order, and the general specified that they were protecting the Rahvin, this would make it almost impossible for another Imperial army to either remove them or blockade them. In the case of an opposing Imperial army, Imperial soldiers will not fight without absolutely explicit instructions to do so.

===Synod Opportunities : Rahvin===
* '''The Dawnish, Highborn, or Imperial Orc Assembly could use a mandate to send relief to the Rahvin in the Fangs'''
The Rahvin have freed themselves from slavery, but they are living in wretched conditions. The Imperial Orcs of the Winter Sun have provided basic supplies, and some continue to support the Rahvin, but their ability to do so is limited. Now that the Dawnish control the territory, they are in the best position to provide significantly more support if they want to do so, but the priests of Highguard or the Imperial Orcs could arrange for help if they wished. Such an action would challenge the sept's perception of the nation that undertook it.

{{Mandate|mandate=If we are to be liberators not conquerors, then our Pride must be conveyed by action not by words alone. We send {named priest} with 75 Thrones to provide food and other vital supplies to the Rahvin in Bitter Strand. All that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it.|assembly=Dawn, Imperial Orcs or Highguard National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, the named priest must ensure the funds are in their inventory after the summit just as they would need to do with [[liao]]. Priests will gather food and other vital supplies (dried food, fresh water, warm clothing, healing herbs, oil, building materials and the like) and deliver them to the Rahvin. As long as they do not attempt to use this opportunity to convert or influence the Rahvin, their largesse will improve the sept's attitude of that nation. If Dawnish priests are involved then the orcs will be prepared to at least speak with Dawnish emissaries, and assume a measure of good faith. If Imperial Orcs are responsible it would cause the Rahvin to become more well disposed to the Imperial Orcs, prepared to speak with them directly and securing their ability to negotiate with the orcs on behalf of the Empire.

Providing these supplies will make it harder to starve the Rahvin out, increasing the time to do so by at least three months.

One thing that will definitely not work at this time is any attempt to convert the Rahvin to the virtues; they are on the verge of taking up arms against the Dawnish and the Empire. They will utterly reject any attempt to encourage them to embrace the virtues. Priests trying to do so will simply be turned away - or worse - by the Rahvin.

This act of charity is not necessarily a crime, while the Rahvin are barbarians. Provided it is clearly a mission of mercy rather than an attempt to support them against the Empire, it should not lead to a prosecution but Imperial magistrates may be able to give more detailed advice.

===Rahvin Risks===
* '''If the Rahvin reunite with the Black Wind their power will increase significantly'''
* '''If that happens, it might make it possible to negotiate with the Black Wind'''
* '''If the Rahvin are left in control of the Fangs, they will ultimately supply weapons and armour to every sept in the Barrens'''

The Rahvin were once seen as liberators by the other Barrens orcs factions. While their situation is catastrophically reduced, the other factions will watch to see how they are treated with interest. If their strength were restored, they would certainly wield a great deal of influence in the Barrens for good or ill. Most notably, the Rahvin are keen to reunite with the Black Wind. If they are allowed to do that, it would restore much of the former power and prominence of the sept but it would create a basis for negotiations with the rest of the Black Wind.

Leaving the Rahvin in control of the Fangs would allow them to begin arming and armouring themselves and eventually the other septs. They lack the means to forge weapons at the moment, but that situation won't last forever. In the past, the Rahvin used the Fangs to arm themselves and the other septs, it is clear that they will do so again if given the opportunity. It would take time, but if the Rahvin remain in control of the Fangs then they could launch an armed rebellion in the future. Right now, that outcome is inevitable. It could only be prevented off by improving relations between Dawn and the Rahvin, or by seizing the Fangs from them.

==Karass==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Karass can be achieved by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Anka Karass, the Centipede Stone, The Bleaks, The Barrens''}}
===Who are the Karass?===
* '''The Karass are viewed with suspicion and hostility by other Barrens factions'''
* '''A delegation came to Anvil during the Summer summit'''
* '''The Senate has declared the Karass to be foreigners'''
The Karass have never had much contact with the Empire. They did not throw in their lot with the orc rebellion, maintaining a position as allies of the Druj rather than risk it all for a worthless cause. They mostly dwell in the [[the Barrens#Plains of Teeth|Plains of Teeth]] and [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]]. They are believed to be related somehow to the sept of the [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|Menrothat]] in [[Ossium]], who apparently "enjoyed" a similar relationship with the Druj there. There is no doubt that the Karass enjoyed a better relationship with the Druj than any other group in the Barrens. The other factions of the Barrens are universally suspicious of, or even actively hostile to, the Karass.

During the Summer Solstice, a delegate of the Karass came to [[Anvil]] and met with '''Skywise Rykana''', '''Aramis du Froste''', and the [[Imperial Consul]] '''Jarrigk Orzel'''. Terms were provisionally agreed upon, and the Senate [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Karass|recognised of the Karass as foreigners]]. Shortly after their representative returned from Anvil there was a meeting in the Bleaks attended by representatives from most of their settlements. It was followed by a flurry of activity, and reports from the Towers of Dusk say that most of the Karass settlements on the Plains of Teeth now seem to be abandoned, their inhabitants having withdrawn to the Bleaks and into the [[The Barrens#The Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]].

===What do the Karass want?===
* '''The Karass want the Bleaks, the Plains of Teeth, and the Towers of Dusk ceded to them in that order'''
* '''They want a peace treaty with the Druj'''

The Karass dwell in [[The_Barrens#The_Plains_of_Teeth|the Plains of Teeth]] and [[The_Barrens#The_Bleaks|the Bleaks]] and want control of both these regions, including control of the Towers of Dusk. These requests were denied when their representative visited Anvil at the recent summit. Instead they were offered - and accepted - the status as foreigners.

During their meeting with the Empire, their representative claimed that they were innocent vassals of the Druj, and that they were worried about having a border with the Mallum. The regions where they live border two Druj territories, [[Sarangrave]] and the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], so it is difficult to see how that could possibly happen. However it appears that the Karass are very concerned about the threat from the Druj, and in particular about the certainty of reprisals by the Druj against any Barrens Orc sept that sides with the Empire. Their view is that these risks would be significantly reduced if the Empire agreed a peace treaty with the Druj. While they are certain to break the treaty at some point, agreeing an end to hostilities would reduce the risk of an imminent invasion and give the Karass cover to cooperate with the Empire.

The Karass claim to be happy to serve the Empire, but their actions don't match their words. Despite the Senate declaring them foreigners, they've shown little interest in dealing with the Empire. Instead they've largely withdrawn from the Plains of Teeth into the Untrod Groves and the Bleaks, where they are not welcoming Imperial visitors. The few Dawnish and Highborn priests who are able to speak to some of them send less positive reports. They are described as Vigilant and Ambitious, and largely disinterested in bowing their heads to the Empire. The Karass seemed to have enjoyed a relatively close relationship with the Druj who granted them a considerable degree of autonomy. Whatever the successes of the negotiations at Anvil, when their delegate returns they claim that the Empire has told them they will be ruled by the Dawnish and offered them nothing. This seems to be broadly in line with what they expected - apart from those who expected the Empire to murder the envoy - they seem to believe they will get much more favourable treatment from the Druj.

It seems that if the Empire does want to win the Karass over, they would need to make significant concessions. At present they seem to believe they have more reasons to favour the Druj than the Empire. The clear risk is that if their loyalty to the Druj is anything more than purely transactional, then they might take whatever the Empire gives them and ''still'' side with the Druj when the opportunity arises.
<quote by="Anka Karass">If we cannot have the Bleaks, why would we differentiate the Dawn from the Druj? If our only choice is to be part of your Empire or to be nothing - then we aren't liberated, we're conquered. So why would we accept that? If you liberate someone, you cannot make them your subjects. And if you force us to pick between conquerors, we would pick the Druj every time. Not least because we know that the Dawnish and the Empire will always run away in the end. The Druj did not have to conquer Murderdale or the Carmine Fields, after all.</quote>
===Vendarri Claims===
* '''The Vendarri claim that the Karass will betray the Empire to the Druj the first opportunity they get'''
* '''The Vendarri are deeply distrusted by all factions in the Barrens for betraying the rebellion'''

The Vendarri are the immediate neighbours of the Karass and claim to know them best. They allege that the Karass are largely indistinguishable from Druj - that the sept are closely allied with the Buruk Tepel and were treated well by them when they ruled the Barrens. Their proof of these claims are the rumours that the Karass control an entire Black Lotus plant - how would that be possible unless the sept enjoyed the trust and protection of the Druj? The Buruk Tepel take anything of value from their subjects - the only possible reason why they haven't seized a priceless Black Lotus plant is because they enjoy a close relationship with the Druj. So the Vendarri claim.

According to the Vendarri, the Empire should expect the Karass to be every bit as duplicitous as the Druj themselves are. They claim they will lie and say anything if they think they can gain thereby. According to them any offers of fealty or loyal service should be treated with the same scepticism that the Empire would treat the words of the Druj. According to the Vendarri, if the Karass have accepted their status as foreigners, it is nothing more than a lie.

It is difficult to know how true these claims are. The Karass utterly deny the rumours that they own a Black Lotus plant, but they are widely distrusted by the other factions in the Barrens. So little are they trusted that they were not invited to join the rebellion against the Druj. Unfortunately, to complicate matters further, the Vendarri are not considered much more trustworthy than the Karass. They did join the rebellion when it began, but they turned their coats and switched sides to back the Druj the moment it became clear which why the wind was blowing.

===Senate Opportunities : Karass===
* ''' The Senate could cede one or more regions to the Karass, they want the Bleaks and the Plains of Teeth in that order'''
* ''' The Senate could open negotiations with the Druj with a view to securing the Eastern borders of the Barrens'''

The Karass have been recognised as foreigners but the Empire has refused to cede any land to them. The Karass have claimed to be content to live as citizens of the Empire and vassals of the Dawnish, but the Vendarri claim this is a tissue of lies and the Karass are simply biding their time until the Druj return. At present the Karass appear to believe that they gain more from the Druj controlling the Barrens than the Empire. They have asked for control of the Bleaks and the Plains of Teeth in that order. If the Empire were to cede one or more of these regions, then that might be enough to change the calculation.

Ceding the Plains of Teeth would mean giving up the Towers of Dusk, a crucial fortification that guards the Eastern borders of the Barrens. The Karass claim that if the Empire cedes the region to them, then they will take over the operation of the fortification, saving the Empire the cost of running it.

It's clear the Karass don't expect the Empire to cede the Plains of Teeth (and thus the Towers of Dusk) to them, but they seem disappointed not to be granted the Bleaks. However there may be good reason not to cede any regions to the sept - if the Vendarri prejudice is correct and the Karass are allies of the Druj. While ceding the Bleaks would demonstrate the good faith behind claims the Empire is there to liberate them, and that might improve their attitude, it might also be the same as essentially giving a region back to the Druj.

===Military Opportunities : Karass===
* '''Two armies could destroy the Karass before they become established taking less than one hundred casualties each'''
* '''Declaring the Karass to be barbarians the season after declaring them foreigners would send poor signals to the other septs'''
* '''If the Karass have a black lotus plant then it could be captured if they are attacked directly'''

The Karass are a large sept, and they seem to be reasonably well organised. They've withdrawn from the Plains of Teeth into the Bleaks and the Untrod Groves. They're clearly familiar with the terrain, and the longer they have to dig in and secure their position, the harder they will be to remove. Two Imperial armies on attacking orders, one dealing with the Bleaks and one with the Untrod Groves, would be sufficient to break the Karass. Both armies would likely suffer casualties - beyond those inflicted by the [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]] - but it would be no more than a hundred apiece. Attacking only one region would weaken the Karass, but not neutralise them; most would simply flee to the other region.

This action would almost certainly be illegal unless the Senate declares war on the Karass. While there is no legal issue with the Imperial Senate declaring war on the Karass so soon after declaring them to be foreigners, it would send a very unfortunate message to the other septs in the Barrens. The Karass are almost universally unpopular - they have no friends or allies in the Barrens anymore. However, no matter how much the other septs may dislike the Karass, they would still look askance at such a dramatic reversal. If the Imperial Senate can change their mind so quickly - why wouldn't they act the same way towards the other septs? This action would negate any short-term diplomatic benefits to be had by declaring one of the other sept to be foreigners.

If both regions were attacked by an Imperial army and one of the attacking armies gave orders to conduct [[Army_qualities#Daring|a daring raid]] or to [[Army_qualities#Foraging|plunder the region]], they could seize the sept's Black Lotus plant - if it exists. Of course this will fail if the sept are telling the truth when they claim they do not possess a plant, but otherwise it should be possible to claim this legendary treasure.

The opportunity to deal with the Karass in this way is ''only'' available at the Autumn Equinox. After that, the sept will have secured its position in the two heavily forested regions and it will require additional effort to remove them should the Military Council wish to do so.

===Karass Risks===
* '''The Karass have enjoyed a close relationship with the Druj, if the Empire doesn't convince them to support the Empire, they are certain to side with the Druj in any future conflict in the Barrens'''
* '''If the Karass betray the Empire to the Druj, it would allow Druj armies to more easily seize any regions they control'''

There are significant risks in any concessions to the Karass. If the Karass side with the Druj after they have been given one or more regions of the Barrens, then Druj armies could cross into the Barrens without needing to claim a [[War#Beachheads|beachhead]] first. Even worse, if the Karass had control of the Towers of Dusk, then the Druj could claim them without a fight.

However if the Empire doesn't make any attempt to win the loyalty of the Karass, it may be just as risky. The Karass don't have an army at present, but they are securing their position in the Bleaks and the Untrod Groves. They are armed, with a superior knowledge of the forests than the Empire possesses or any of the other septs for that matter. They are also clearly disciplined as their abandonment of the Plains of Teeth suggests. They could prove a serious thorn in the side of the Empire for some time to come, especially if they were received arms and other support from the Druj.

==Vendarri==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Vendarri is possible by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Garl Huonor, Pyroclast of the Vendarri, The Palace of Fire, Saltmarsh, The Barrens''.}}
===Who are the Vendarri?===
* '''The Vendarri are viewed as treacherous and untrustworthy by the other factions of the Barrens'''
* '''Their major complaint with the Empire is the acts of Imperial Spring magic that destroyed their homes when the Barrens was flooded'''
* '''Their legal status is unclear at present'''

The Vendarri are a secretive sept of orcs who dwell in [[The Barrens#Saltmarsh|Saltmarsh]]. They were known to have a relationship with the Druj that allowed them a modicum of independence and self-rule, and as a result are widely distrusted by the other factions who consider them to be self-serving and treacherous. They prefer to describe themselves as "practical" rather than "treacherous." They have little in the way of any effective fighting force, claim to be powerful magicians, and are known to be skilled scouts and spies. They took part in the rebellion when the Barrens rose up against the Druj, but joined late, and switched sides once it was clear the uprising would fail. The Rahvin hold them in particular contempt for this decision. On the other hand, they have the least reason to distrust or dislike the Empire, and when Saltmarsh was conquered by Imperial forces they surrendered en masse to the Highborn...

Currently, they are still dealing with the aftermath of the magical [[In_the_lonely_hour#Teeth_and_Tempest|storms that battered the Bitter Sea]], raised by Imperial magicians. The Bitter Sea has inundated Saltmarsh causing extensive flooding and destroying many of their settlements and washing away the dams and levees they used to make the area habitable. They are the most welcoming of the Highborn, and seem to have the least dislike for the Dawnish. Indeed, if not for the rumours they have heard that it was a Dawnish Archmage that sent the Bitter Sea flooding into their homes they might even be neutral to the new rulers of the Barrens.

===What do the Vendarri want?===
* '''The Vendarri are willing to leave the Barrens if they are granted permission to live elsewhere'''
* '''They would like the Empire to cede either the Morass in Holberg, or Rebeshof in Holberg or the Saltmarsh in the Barrens to them'''
* '''They would need an escort from the Barrens into Holberg due to the dangers of the journey'''
Unlike the other septs of the Barrens the Vendarri are open to the possibility of leaving the territory and settling elsewhere. Their home, the Saltmarsh, has been wrecked. The floods of salt water have destroyed most of their agriculture, and many of the swamp animals have either died or gone elsewhere. Almost everything they have was destroyed when the Spring magic the Empire raised in the Barrens flooded the Saltmarsh.

Worse, the Saltmarsh is also the easiest route from the Barrens into the wider Mallum, which means they are very, very afraid of both a Druj counterstrike into the Barrens and the possibility their former masters will decide to make an example of them. They are convinced that any sept that cooperates with the Empire will face terrible punishments once the Druj return to the Barrens in force. None of them want to end up on spikes as a warning to other septs not to deal with the Empire. Like the other septs, they still want a region ceded to their control. The difference is that they would prefer that region not to be in the Barrens. After all, their neighbours will hardly be sad to see them go.

The Vendarri are aware of the mostly unsettled marshes of Holberg and consider that they would be perfect for them, specifically [[Holberg#The Morass|the Morass]]. When queried as to ''how'' they know about the Morass, they shift awkwardly and suggest that their guests change the subject. It's sufficient to know that they are making an informed choice about the matter. They'd also like an escort; the Barrens is dangerous not only because there are other septs that would see them come to harm, but because the Druj are still in control of parts of the territory, so they would need an escort.

===Unwilling Neighbours===
* '''The Sand Fishers have made clear they would prefer not to share a territory with the Vendarri'''
* '''The Vendarri are unwilling to live in Ossium while the Menrothat reside there'''
The League National Assembly has made several statements about welcoming orcs - indeed they have just welcomed several thousand [[Windfall|Apulian orcs]] as actual citizens. It is not impossible that they would welcome the Vendarri, especially as they seem only to be interested in stinking marshlands. Unfortunately, there is a fly in the ointment. As soon as they get wind of the proposal, the Sand Fishers of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] send a small delegation to [[Merchant_Prince_of_Misericorde_Market#Misericorde_Market|Misericorde Market]] to make it clear that they have severe reservations against sharing territory with the Vendarri. Their reputation for self-serving treachery is not unknown to the orcs of Ossium and the Sand Fishers warn that they cannot - and should not - be trusted. Allowing the Vendarri to settle in Holberg will certainly sour the Sand Fishers at least a little on their neighbours in the League and may lead to further conflict.

Discussion of Ossium raises another possibility, which the Highborn discuss with the Vendarri. The priests of Highguard have [[Pride_and_prejudice|recently been active in Ossium]] themselves, and some of them sound the Vendarri out about another possibility - the marshes of the [[Ossium#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]]. They are initially interested, but then they learn that the Menrothat sept still occupies part of the territory and their tune immediately changes. Regretfully, they argue, their situation would be little better in Ossium. The Druj of the nearby Forest of Ulnak would still be a threat. So Drownbark Forest is definitely out of the question.

===Senate Opportunities : Vendarri===
* '''The Senate could cede one or more regions to the Vendarri, they would like the Morass ''or'' Rebeshof or Saltmarsh in that order'''
* '''If a region in Holberg is ceded then they would want protection to escort them to reach the area safely'''

The Vendarri would like the Empire to cede them a region so they can live there and govern themselves. They would prefer the Morass in Holberg or Rebeshof if that is an option instead. If they must remain in the Barrens, they would like the Saltmarsh ceded to them.

If the Senate cedes either the Morass or Rebeshof, in Holberg, to the Vendarri, they will begin making preparations to move there. The Senate could arrange a payment of 75 thrones from the Imperial Treasury to secure mercenaries and sellswords prepared to escort the sept to their new homes, and they would not actually be able to take control of the region until this were done. This would significantly improve the Vendarri attitude to the Empire; once they are established they would likely wish to trade with their neighbours, and explore their new status alongside the Sand Fishers and the League. Doing this will lead directly to friction with the Sand Fishers who regard the Vendarri with considerable trepidation.

After some further discussion, the Dawnish and Highborn negotiators are of the opinion that ceding a region of Holberg is not the only option here. The Vendarri don't actually ''want'' to leave Saltmarsh; they just feel that they are in immediate danger from both the Druj and their neighbours, and they know they will struggle to thrive in the region in its current ruined state. If the region were habitable and safe from the Druj, they would be delighted by the prospect of living there if the region were ceded to them. While they have requested the Morass, as time goes on they will become increasingly prepared to settle for almost anywhere that is not close to the Druj - there has been more than one slightly regretful mention that they'd be happy to live with the Highborn if they had any actual marshes. It might be possible to negotiate a different settlement for the Vendarri.

The Vendarri are not especially Ambitious or Courageous, although they do seem to be Wise. While they're currently asking for a region of the Empire be ceded to them, they seem the least assertive of any of the factions in the Barrens. Some priests who have spoken with them seem to think they are more aware of the weakness of their negotiating position than the other septs. Others think the Vendarri are just more pragmatic and less inclined to believe Imperial claims that they have been liberated. If they were ceded a region that was safe from reprisals by the Druj they would become very positively inclined to support the Empire. If not then it ''might'' be possible to negotiate an arrangement similar to that the Great Forest Orcs have in Therunin; residence in an Imperial territory as foreign guests without giving them complete control of the territory.

===Military Opportunities : Vendarri===
* '''The Vendarri could be destroyed as a faction by a single Imperial army taking less than a hundred casualties'''
* '''An Imperial army could protect the Vendarri, improving their attitude to the Empire'''
* '''If the Senate did cede a region to the Vendarri, the sept could be escorted to their new home by an Imperial army'''

The Vendarri would be the first to admit that they are not soldiers. A single Imperial army on attacking orders in the Barrens, whose general made it clear they were driving the Vendarri out, could shatter the faction entirely. Some of the survivors might flee to the Mallum but the faction would cease to be a factor in the Barrens.

It is clear that the Vendarri's greatest concerns is the threat of Druj reprisal, should they collaborate with the Empire in any way. An Imperial army in the Barrens could take defensive orders and specify that they are protecting Saltmarsh and the Vendarri. This would ensure that the Druj could not retaliate against the sept unless they succeeded in retaking the region first, but it is only a short-term solution at best. Vendarri attitudes to whichever nation that army represented would be significantly improved during this time, however.

Finally, if the Senate does cede a region to the Vendarri, an Imperial army could escort them to that new home. The army would need to start in the territory, take a defending order, and specify in their orders that they were escorting the Vendarri. They would then need to move to the target territory. This can only be done if the Vendarri have agreed to the journey. Doing this would prevent the Senate having to spend any money.

===Conclave Opportunities : Vendarri===
* '''Conclave could provide an endowment of 120 crystal mana to the Vendarri magicians to use to mend their homes'''
* '''Conclave could use an endowment to provide the Vendarri with a stipend of 50 crystal mana a season to cast Dripping Echoes of the Fen'''
* '''Conclave could send a single Conclave order to investigate the Salt Marsh and see how they can help'''

Some of the witches and magisters talking to the Vendarri are of the opinion that the orcs don't ''want'' to leave Saltmarsh. It is their home, and has been for hundreds of years. It's just that the territory is ''wrecked''. During the Summer Solstice, Dawnish magicians invoked [[Regrow the Land's Heart]] on the Barrens, and that has gone a long way toward repairing the damage caused by the tumultuous storms. Unfortunately, it isn't enough by itself to deal with all the problems the Vendarri are currently encountering. Their homes have been smashed by the flood waters, vital animals and plants killed, and the waters have still not receded as that the dams they used to protect key areas have been destroyed. The Vendarri are by all accounts magicians themselves however, and initial assessment suggests they are adepts of [[Night magic]] and competent [[Spring magic|Spring magicians]]. An [[Endowment]] of 120 crystal mana from the [[Conclave]] directly to the Vendarri would provide them with what they need to restore the Saltmarsh themselves over the coming months.

The other thing that troubles the Vendarri - that the Druj will seek to retaliate against them - might be addressed in a similar manner. The Vendarri have covens among them capable of performing [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], but their [[mana site|mana sites]] have suffered from the floods alongside everything else. The Conclave could agree to endow them with 50 crystal mana each season for the next year, specifically to raise their own defences around the Saltmarsh. The Vendarri would do that, without a second thought. A single [[declaration]] of [[endowment]] would be enough to create a stipend for the next year. In theory, Imperial magicians could simply cast the ritual on Saltmarsh, but  that would only help if the region were ceded to the Vendarri. Otherwise the magic of the ritual would work against the orcs, making life even more difficult for them to live there.

Either or both endowments would significantly endear the Vendarri to the Imperial Conclave, and to whichever nation the magician who raised the declaration was from. Another possibility would be to dispatch a [[Conclave order]] to Saltmarsh to support the Vendarri, or to find ways that the Conclave could offer greater assistance. Any order might volunteer, but only a single order can undertake this mission. The nature of the order would influence what [[opportunity|opportunities]] they would discover.

Of course some critics point out that if the Conclave does get involved, it will simply encourage the Vendarri to stay in Saltmarsh. In this case, they are almost certainly going to petition for the region to be ceded to them. But of all the septs in the Barrens, they are the one that might be persuaded to accept Dawnish rule. On the other hand, there are some suggestions that some of the Vendarri are in contact with the eternal they call the ''[[Irra Harah|Shimmering Fish]]''. The ''Prince of a Thousand Foes'' has been quiet of late, but some magicians see the signs of his influence in the Vendarri proposals. After all, his creed is very clear on how to deal with conquerors: "If you cannot hide, run; If you cannot run, yield; If you will not yield, kill.''" Right now it seems the Vendarri are preparing to run, but if they are forced to the edge, they may decide they need to kill to survive.

===Vendarri Risks===
* '''The "pragmatic" Vendarri are unpopular with other septs, a reputation that extends as far as the Sand Fishers in Holberg and the orcs in Ossium'''
* '''Any perception of favourable treatment of the Vendarri may cause a negative reaction from other septs'''
* '''The Vendarri have already demonstrated that they will switch sides to support the Druj if their lives depend on it'''

The Vendarri are notorious for their pragmatism - their reputation extends beyond the Barrens and they are unpopular with the Sand Fishers and some of the inhabitants of Ossium as a result. They are seen as treacherous and self-serving. Any attempt to find them a new home elsewhere in the Empire is likely to lead to problems as a result.

However there are problems if they remain in the Barrens. They are not popular with the other septs that took part in the rebellion against the Druj. The Vendarri joined the rebellion late and soon switched sides once it became clear victory was in doubt. That treachery left a bad taste in the mouths of those septs that fought on to the bitter end. The Vendarri are currently the most amenable of any of the Barrens factions to Dawnish rule, and they also seem the most open to negotiation. However there is some risk that if they reach a satisfactory resolution with the Empire that allows them to prosper it may cause rancour and bitterness with the other septs. That might make negotiations with other septs more difficult.

The biggest single risk is that the Vendarri betray the Empire at some point in the future. They openly speak of being "pragmatic" which is the Vendarri way they describe the decision to abandon the rebellion and side with the Druj. If the Vendarri were in a similar situation in future they would do the same again. If the Druj move into the Barrens in force and look set to take territory, then the Vendarri will switch sides if it benefits them.

==Great Forest Orcs==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Great Forest Orcs is possible by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Chief Vallack, Great Forest Encampment, Lower Tarn Valley, Therunin''}}
===Who are the Great Forest Orcs?===
* '''The Great Forest Orcs are foreigners and guests of the Navarr, most of them live in Therunin'''
* '''A number of members of their sept are still held as slaves by the Druj'''
The [[Great Forest Orcs]] claim the Forest of Peytaht is the remnant of a great forest that once covered most of the Empire and the Mallum. Many of them fled the Barrens when the Druj finally conquered the territory, and now live in Therunin as guests of the Navarr. There are still Great Forest Orcs dwelling in the territory, however, mostly as slaves in the [[The_Barrens#Heart of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]] (which remains under Druj control). These two factors make them one of the weaker factions in the territory, at least at the moment.

Imperial relationships with the Great Forest Orcs have slowly improved over time, not least because members of the sept are regularly seen travelling the [[trods]] alongside Navarr stridings. They remain deeply distrustful of the Dawnish however. An offer last Summer to participate in a [[Into_the_valley#As_the_Water.27s_Dripping_Down_.28Battle.29|ceremony of reconciliation]] was declined by the Military Council and so relations with the new rulers of the Barrens continue to be poor.

They are also one of the easiest factions for Highborn [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Wayfarers|wayfarers and grey pilgrims]] to approach. There has been an increasing amount of cooperation between the Highborn and the Great Forest Orcs in Peakedge Striding and in Elerael, where a shared interest in healing and herbs has helped to secure cordial relations.
===What do the Great Forest Orcs want?===
* '''The Great Forest Orcs want to control the Heart of Peytaht and the Eaves of Peytaht'''
* '''The Senate expressed the intention to cede the region and the Weirwood grove to them but they remain under Druj control'''
* '''They are willing to fight the Druj directly to reclaim their homes'''
The Great Forest Orcs of [[Therunin]] watch developments in the Barrens with interest, yet they are also somewhat confused. When they first settled in Therunin they disbanded what remained of their army, putting aside their spears to focus on hunting and securing homes. Yet they made it clear that all their hosts had to do was call and they would send their warriors to support the Navarr armies in a campaign to drive the Druj out of the Barrens. While their aid was solicited to fight in Brocéliande against the Heirs of Terunael, or to help the grand adventure into the heart of the vallorn, the call to fight the Druj never came.

Over a year ago the Senate [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Reassure_Great_Forest_Orcs|reassured]] the orcs of the Great Forest that they intended to return Peytaht and the weirwood grove there to them so that they could return to their ancestral home. Yet with most of the Barrens liberated, the Heart of Peytaht remains in Druj hands and it seems in the short term that the Empire may be content to leave it that way as they strike against the Salt Flats of Sanath. They know that the members of their sept still in the region are in terrible danger. A [[Taken_at_the_flood#A_place_of_safety_.28Conjunction.29|Druj scheme to slaughter many of the sept]] still in Peytaht was thankfully stymied by the Navarr, under the guidance of '''Travid Longest Path'''. Yet there is nothing to stop the Druj making another attempt to slaughter all the Great Forest Orc slaves they have currently working at the weirwood grove.

===Synod Opportunities : Great Forest Orcs===
* '''The Highguard Assembly could ask the Highborn to partner with the Great Forest Orcs to enable them to retake Peytaht'''
* '''The mandate would be in competition with any mandate attempting to name another peerless kinship partner'''
* '''The mandate would improve relations between the Orcs and the Highborn, but impact relations between the Orcs and the Navarr'''
The Great Forest Orcs have become increasingly impatient by the failure of the Navarr to call them to fight alongside them to retake the Heart of Peytaht. They are bemused by the Navarr decision to disavow engagements with the Druj and frustrated by their lack of opportunities to take the fight to their enemy. After discussion with the Highborn priests, ''Chief Vallack'' has made a proposal. The kernel of their army still exists, and with sufficient support they believe they could deal with the remaining Druj and liberate their people themselves – just as the Dawnish did in Dawnguard.

{{Mandate|mandate=The home of the Great Forest Orcs is still in the hands of the Druj, and their people are in terrible danger. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to urge the Highborn to aid them in their endeavour, offering whatever help is needed to drive the Druj from Peytaht. Do not fear to act; only be shamed by inaction.|assembly=Highborn National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then following the Autumn Equinox the Great Forest Orcs will rally their remaining warriors and hunters and launch an attack against the Druj in the Heart of Peytaht. With the aid of the Highborn, they will be able to defeat the Druj, claiming the region and the weirwood grove for themselves (meaning the Senate would not need to cede anything – the region would belong to the Great Forest sept). The Great Forest Orcs will certainly be grateful to the Highborn, although what form this gratitude might take is impossible to say.

However, this aid will come at a price. The Highborn will need to focus their attention on helping the orcs at the cost of aiding one of their Imperial siblings – meaning they will be unable to choose an Imperial nation to support with [[Full_of_sacred_sound#A_Peerless_Kinship|peerless kinship]] this season. As such this mandate is in competition with any mandate attempting to name an Imperial nation in this manner.

Highborn aid to retake Peytaht would be greatly appreciated by the Great Forest Orcs and it would significantly improve relations between the sept and Highguard. However after a long wait, it would be clear indication that the Navarr simply do not intend to fight side-by-side with the Great Forest Orcs against the Druj. As a result, the majority would leave Therunin to return to their former home in Peytaht and the closeness that has existed between the two groups would fade. They wouldn't be angry with the Navarr, but it would be clear that the benefits of their alliance had run their course and it was time for the Great Forest Orcs to make new allies and new friends.

'''Herminius of the House of the Wanderer''' has offered an alternate mandate, using the [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] power, to the Urizen National Assembly.

{{Mandate|mandate=Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer once said "''With our increased responsibilities comes increased obligation to virtue.''" Urizen, we drove the Druj from our lands yet others still remain under the yolk of fear, we must not abandon them. The home of the Great Forest Orcs is still in the hands of the Druj, their people remain in danger. We cannot let this stand. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to urge the Citadel Guard to drive the Druj from Peytaht once and for all. |assembly=Urizen National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted then it will demonstrate support for the [[Citadel Guard]] in claiming the [[The_Barrens#Heart_of_Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]]. The army would receive a bonus of one tenth towards attacking into that region in the season following the Autumn Equinox 385YE, but a penalty one tenth if they did anything else. The Citadel Guard wouldn't be able to take the region on behalf of the Great Forest Orcs, so the Imperial Senate would need to cede it, assuming that was the wish of the Senate. The Great Forest Orcs could be expected to join the Citadel Guard in claiming the region, provided they were informed.

'''Maximillian Ankarien''' has offered an alternate mandate, using the [[Rings_and_crowns#Kinship_and_Greatness|Partner of Greatness]] power, to the Urizen National Assembly.

{{Mandate|mandate=Urizen knows what it is to lose a home and for assurances of aid to go unfulfilled. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to call on the nation to aid the Great Forest Orcs and drive the Druj from Peytaht as they were driven from Zenith.|assembly=Urizen National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted then it will encourage individuals in Urizen to journey to the Barrens in support of the Great Forest Orcs. It would not be sufficient in itself to aid the sept in claiming the region. The mandate would see the people of Urizen become invested in the Barrens.

====Alternative Mandates : Great Forest Orcs====
Under normal circumstances it is not possible for the Navarr national assembly to submit an alternative mandate in the Barrens. Given their close relationship with the Great Forest Orcs however, and the recent [[statement of principle]] of [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_88|Nathair Autumngale]], a member of the Navarr assembly could do so here. The alternative mandate would need to relate to the plan to seize the Heart of Peytaht and seek to inspire the Navarr nation.

'''Brynn Tendfallen''' has offered an alternate mandate to the Navarr National Assembly

{{Mandate|mandate=The time has come for us to match our words with deeds and fulfil our promises to our friends and allies, the Great Forest Orcs. Their home still lies in the hands of the Druj, and their people are in terrible danger. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to urge Navarri to aid them in their endeavour, offering whatever help is needed to drive the Druj from Peytaht.|assembly=Navarr National Assembly}}

'''Nathair Autumngale''' has offered an alternate mandate to the Navarr National Assembly

{{Mandate|mandate=For years now we have lived and fought alongside our allies the Great Forest Orcs. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Stridings and Steadings of Navarr to send whatever aid they can to their reclamation of the Forest of Peytaht. Once more let our spears stand side by side as the Druj are ripped root and stem out of the land they blight with their presence. We will ensure the Great Forest Orcs have every tool they need to save their people and take back their ancestral home. We have upheld our deal with the Druj. But you cannot betray your enemy.|assembly=Navarr National Assembly}}

'''Enis RootBloom''' has offered an alternate mandate to the Navarr National Assembly

{{Mandate|mandate=For too long the peoples of Navarr have struggled to claim the entirety of their homes. Let us not sit idle whilst those who have stood with us suffer a similar fate. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to encourage the people of Navarr to help the Great Forest Orcs in the fight to reclaim the Heart of Peytaht.|assembly=Navarr National Assembly}}

'''Corey Wayfarer''' has offered an alternate mandate to the Navarr National Assembly

{{Mandate|mandate=As Navarr we hold stock in our Oaths. We made an Oath to aid the Great Forest Orcs in retaking their home in the Heart of Peytaht, we send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to call on our Thorns and Armies to hold to that Oath and push the Druj out, after all we consider the Great Forest Orcs to be Navarr and our homes are theirs.|assembly=Navarr National Assembly}}

All of the mandates available to the Navarr National Assembly are competing. If any of these mandates are enacted, then any Navarr army in the Barrens can support the Spears of the Pines and help them conquer the Heart of Peytaht. The general of the army must take an attacking order, and explicitly target the Heart of Peytaht and mention they are supporting the Great Forest Orcs. The Great Forest Orcs will claim the region and it will not require concedence by the Senate. It will also put to rest any concerns the Great Forest Orcs have expressed around the Navarr reticence to fight in the Barrens.

===Military Opportunities : Great Forest Orcs===
* '''Imperial armies could drive the Druj out of the Heart of Peytaht'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs will contribute a 1000 force to any Imperial army attacking the Heart of Peytaht or Murderdale if requested'''
The military council could simply assign one or more armies to invade the Heart of Peytaht and kill the Druj there, claiming the region and the weirwood grove in the process. The Orcs of the Great Forest would welcome such a move and Chief Vallack has committed his people to aiding any such attack regardless of whether it is undertaken by the Navarr or not. As long as it is an Imperial army, and the general clearly invokes the Spears of the Pine, the Great Forest Orcs will commit a thousand force to any attempt to crush the Druj in the Heart of Peytaht, and will help to claim Murderdale if the campaign is successful.

The Great Forest Orcs despise the Druj, and with the Heart of Peytaht liberated, negotiations with Chief Vallack might well secure the support of the “Spears of the Pine” for future military campaigns into the Mallum. Of course that assumes that the Imperial Senate intends to keep faith with the Great Forest Orcs and cede the Heart of Peytaht and the valuable weirwood grove that grows there to them.

===Great Forest Orc Risks===
* '''The longer the Druj remain in control of the Heart of Peytaht, the greater the chance that they butcher the enslaved members of the sept who live there'''
* '''If that happens, the Great Forest Orcs will question why their home is the only region in the Barrens not to be retaken and why the Navarr have played no role in the fight against the Druj'''
* '''The Great Forest Orcs believe that the Imperial Senate has promised the Heart of Peytaht to them - they will become discontent and openly rebellious if the region is not ceded to them'''

At present the Great Forest Orcs are prepared to trust Imperial strategy in their campaign to retake the Barrens, but the longer the Heart of Peytaht remains in Druj hands, the greater the chance that the Druj butcher the inhabitants. They could easily kill hundreds of Great Forest Orcs, who are currently toiling as slaves to cut down weirwood for the Druj. If that happens, the Great Forest Orcs will view the calamity as a failure of Imperial strategy and will question why their home was the only region left in Druj hands. They will also ask pointed questions of their hosts, who they have noted have played no part in the campaign to drive the Druj from Barrens. It will go badly if they feel the Empire has betrayed them and left their kinsfolk to die at the hands of the Druj.

Equally it will go badly if the Empire captures the Heart of Peytaht but does not cede the region to the Great Forest Orcs. They believe that the Imperial Senate has promised their home will be returned to them - they will see it as a stark betrayal of trust if that does not happen. At present they are one of few factions in the Barrens who don't regard the Empire as inherently untrustworthy - obviously their trust would be shattered if the Empire tries to hang onto the region and its precious weirwood resource, but it will be strained the longer the Empire delays in retaking the forests and freeing those members of the sept who are still enslaved by the Druj.

==Montanians==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Montanians is possible by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Allan of Dourfell, Great Forest Encampment, Lower Tarn Valley, Therunin''.}}
===Who are the Montanians===
* '''The Montanians are heretics who embrace the teachings of the malign spiritual presence of anarchy'''
* '''The majority were living in Therunin, but many are now returning to the Barrens'''
* '''The briars that came with the Great Forest Orcs to Therunin have mostly returned to Hope's Rest'''
* '''Their status as foreigners or barbarians is under discussion'''
Unlike the other Barrens septs, the Montanians are humans, and as far as is known they all have the briar lineage. They are the descendants of anarchy heretics who took part in the [[Freedom Heresy]], although they claim their grandparents cut ties with the inhabitants of Montane over ideological issues. They once lived at Dourfell Keep in Hope's Rest, before the majority of them left the Barrens along with their allies the Great Forest Orcs – destroying their home in the process as part of a powerful Spring ritual that apparently killed all the Druj in the process of trying to capture it.

They were a key element of the Barrens Orc rebellion that began in 377YE, serving as messengers and mediators, who helped to spread Rahvin's message to the Great Forest Orcs, the Vendarri and other septs. They are believed to have enjoyed the assistance of the eternal ''Irra Harah'' with whom they are known to have good relations. Since being in the Empire, they have kept themselves to themselves, carefully avoiding preaching their heresy, although they have offered sporadic assistance to Imperial efforts to free people from the yoke of the Druj.

Most of the Montanians have been living in Therunin alongside their Great Forest Orcs allies, but many are now returning to their former lands in the Barrens at Hope's Rest. Never numerous, there is none-the-less a growing force there as the returnees joining with those who never left the Barrens. The situation is further complicated by the recent controversial decision to provide them with [[liao]] from the [[Keeper_of_the_Garden|Garden of Glory]]. Unlike the orcs, they are entirely capable of performing [[Religious skills|liao ceremonies]].

===What do the Montanians Want?===
* '''The Montanians want the Empire to cede Hope's Rest to them'''
* '''They want to see the Druj destroyed'''
* '''They want to sign the Liberty Pact'''
Contact with the Montanians is complicated by the fact they are unapologetic followers of the [[Malign spiritual presences|malign spiritual presence]] of [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy|Anarchy]], which they call freedom or liberty. However, there is some potential for common ground; unlike many heretics they don't deny the seven virtues, and have apparently had previous cordial discussions with Highborn citizens before (although they won't disclose who those people are for fear of getting them into trouble). There's also the recent [[Taken_at_the_flood#Shelter_from_the_storm_.28Conjunction.29|incident in the Barrens]] in which a force of Highborn under the guidance Achseh, the General of the [[Valiant Pegasus]], prevented the Druj from transforming one of their people into a horrible unliving horror. That they were forced to kill the prisoner is a source of sorrow, but nowhere near as much as if they had had their souls enslaved by their mortal enemies.

With the Great Forest Orcs as mediators, a meeting in the Lower Tarn Valley is organised between some Highborn and Dawnish, and some of the Montanians. Discussions are complicated by the fact that they seem averse to the idea of anyone being “in charge” and questions of ''what they want'' are often derailed into discussions as the briars try to reach a consensus among themselves before being able to answer the question.

Their Ambition - and they clearly state it in those terms - is for the Barrens to be Free. Specifically, for the septs of the Barrens – among whose number they count themselves – to be recognised by the Empire as free people, allowed to govern themselves without interference from Imperial or Druj. They are wryly aware of how challenging that Ambition is going to be to achieve. They seem to genuinely want the Empire to cede ''all'' the regions of the Barrens back to the orc septs, leaving the territory a patchwork between disconnected septs. Oddly, perhaps, they don't expect the Dawnish to give up Dawnguard; “it is the home of the people who live there” as one of them puts it. But rather than ruling the Barrens, they imagine a future in which the Dawnish are only one voice equal in power to the septs.

For the Montanians that would mean the Empire ceding Hope's Rest to them. They are more than content to allow the Dawnish to travel and move through the area, but they are clear that for them "liberation" means having a place where they can live and practice their beliefs without fear of persecution. They would be content to live in Hope's Rest under Imperial rule if the Empire formally embraced Freedom as one of the Virtues or if it abrogated all laws restricting religious freedoms, but since they have no expectation of that happening, they suggest the only reasonable compromise is for the Empire to cede their former home to them.

Even more ambitious, they want to see the Druj destroyed as a power, and the entire Mallum liberated – but on the same basis. Returned to the people who live there not made a vassal of the Empire. It is the recent drive to “liberate” the Barrens that has attracted their attention and made them more amenable to talking with Imperial citizens. They're interested to see if the Empire is capable of following through on its promises.

They're also very interested in the [[Voice of Liberty|Liberty Pact]]. They've heard of it from the Navarr, among others, and with the recent decision that any nation is welcome to join, they are interested in applying for membership. While they are small in number, they state their case clearly that nobody is more committed to the cause of Freedom than them. They don't understand how they join the Pact, but they would like the Empire to provide them with names and locations where they might send Winged Messengers to state their case.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><quote by="Allan of Dourfell">You say you have liberated the Barrens, but right now it looks an awful lot like you have in fact ''conquered'' the Barrens. If you're here as liberators, freeing us all from the tyranny of the Druj so we can live our own lives, then we will help that dream to thrive in any way we can, if you let us. But if you have come here as conquerors, using the words of freedom to mask your intentions, then we will fight you if we have to, and so you had best destroy us quickly. It's going to be interesting to see which way you go.</quote></div>

===Senate Opportunities : Montanians===
* '''The status of the Montanians is unclear, the Senate could declare them to be foreigners or barbarians'''
* ''' The Senate could cede the region of Hope's Rest to the Montanians'''

The current legal status of the Montanians is unclear. Most people view them as foreigners - they have been living peacefully in Therunin and walking the trods in recent years without issue. However, there is an argument that they are covered by the Imperial Senate's [[Declare_war_on_the_Barrens_orcs|declaration of war]] on the Barrens Orcs. They're not orcs - but they were certainly part of the alliance the Empire declared war on. The Civil Service are planning to introduce an administrative motion to allow the Senate to clarify whether the Empire considers itself to be at war with the Montanians.

The Montanians have asked the Empire to cede the region of Hope's Rest to them. They especially want the ruins of Dourfell Keep and the area around it – perhaps a quarter of the rugged region. That area would include the powerful spiritual aura that hangs over the ruins, apparently created when the briars unleashed their magic to destroy the castle, the attacking Druj, and many of their own people. They are more than happy to sign a treaty guaranteeing the Dawnish the right to travel freely through the region, although they warn the Empire that the reason they want their land back is so that they can practice their beliefs and preach them openly to people who visit.

While the castle there is in ruins, and they don't seem to have the means to rebuild it, cautious voices have pointed out that they are allied with the Great Forest Orcs. The orcs of Peytaht are masters of the use of weirwood, and have used it in the past to[[Therunin#Holt_of_the_Oak| create a fortification]] in Therunin. If they regained control of the Heart of Peytaht and the weirwood grove there, they may well be able to help their briar allies rebuild Dourfell Keep giving the Montanians a fortification in the Barrens that was not under Imperial control.

===Military Opportunities : Montanians===
* '''There is an opportunity to move decisively against the Montanians who are now gathered at Hope's Rest'''
* '''A single Imperial army could attack the Montanians to eliminate them in a single season taking less than fifty casualties in the process'''
The Montanians are known to be gathering at the ruins of Dourfell Keep in Hope's Rest. Following the Autumn Equinox they have invited a number of their allies from other parts of the Barrens and perhaps beyond, to meet with them there to discuss what happens next. It is clear that they intend to use this meeting to try to encourage the septs of the Barrens to unite around a common goal of a Free Barrens.

A single Imperial army could issue an attacking order in the Barrens, with clear orders to attack the ruins of Dourfell and wipe out the heretics gathering there. They would annihilate this faction completely and take fewer than fifty casualties in the attack. It wouldn't necessarily be pleasant, and if they were foreigners it would be a serious crime, but it would permanently remove the Montanians as a factor in the Barrens – and everywhere else.

Doing this would please the Karass who are known to dislike the Montanians but it would outrage every other Barrens faction bar the Black Wind. It would however send a clear message that the Empire will not be trifled with. While it might be possible for someone to get a warning to the Montanians before the noose closed around them, the sept are highly distrustful of the Empire. It is unlikely they would believe a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged message]] that did not come from someone they already have a close relationship with, or from one of the [[Cardinal|Cardinals]] of the Synod.

===Synod Opportunities : Montanians===
* '''The Imperial Synod could declare the Montanians to be heretics'''
* '''Sending priests to proselytise the Imperial faith to the Montanians in Hope's Rest will cause their views on Freedom to spread'''
The Montanians are unabashed heretics, and blasphemers. They deny the Doctrine of the Seven and the Doctrine of Human Destiny and openly embrace the malign spiritual presence of anarchy. Some believe that they should be denounced in the Synod and declared to be heretics. Others point out that there isn't that much difference between the Montanians and the Faraden in the great scheme of things – and at least the Montanians recognise all seven virtues rather than denying Vigilance, Ambition, and Wisdom.

The Synod itself has repeatedly urged Imperial citizens to free slaves, and to fight slavers. The Montanians applaud these moves, and they have played a major part in the sept's decision to speak to Imperial citizens. Although priests have raised statements of principle denying that liberating slaves has anything to do with the malign spiritual presence of Anarchy, on a number of occasions major military operations to free slaves have been marked by the appearance of spontaneous auras some of which appear to be linked to Freedom. Where there is no evidence of any kind to support the claim, some priests have suggested that these auras may be linked to the Montanians, either directly caused by them or simply a consequence of permitting them to live freely in the Empire.

There are no mandates relating to the Montanians for the Synod to consider, but statements of principle that achieve a greater majority might cause such mandates to arise. However the Civil Service warn that the Montanians have a deep well of ideological commitment every bit as earnest as the Highborn. Thus far they have held back from preaching their beliefs out of respect for the Empire's laws and to ensure their Great Forest Orc allies do not suffer persecution as a result, but they do not view Hope's Rest as a legitimate part of the Empire. Any attempt to send priests to Hope's Rest to proselytise the Way will result in more converts among the priests who undertake the journey than the Montanians.

===Montanian Risks===
* '''The Montanians will continue to push for the entire Barrens to be free from Imperial rule'''
* '''They will ultimately call for rebellion against the Empire if their demands are not met'''
* '''They will try to spread their religious beliefs to any Imperial citizens who enter Hope's Rest'''

The Montanians represent a clear threat to the Empire's rule in the Barrens. They are ideologically committed to Freedom - they make no secret of the fact that they want the entire Barrens to be free of the Empire and the Druj and they plan to dedicate themselves to that cause. They are the only sept in the Barrens whose avowed goals includes the return of lands other than their own. If they are permitted to gather their strength in Hope's Rest they will use their position there to encourage the septs to unite in pursuit of their goals.

At present they are hopeful that negotiation and dialogue will yield results. They are hopeful that the Synod's message of liberation will translate into concrete action by the Imperial Senate to free the Barrens on their terms. However they do not deny that they will ultimately attempt to use force to get what they want if diplomacy fails. There is no significant military force in the Barrens at present, nothing that is remotely capable of resisting Imperial rule. But that situation could slowly change if the Rahvin maintain control of the Fangs and the Great Forest Orcs seize the Heart of Peytaht. The Barrens Orcs raised armies against the Druj, the Montanians will encourage them to do so again if their demands are not met.

Although they are more than happy to live alongside the Dawnish people in Dawnguard, and happy to welcome them to pass through Hope's Rest, they are clear that their self-imposed restriction on openly practising and proselytising their faith does not apply to the Barrens. They are clear that they will attempt to spread their beliefs on Freedom to all the occupants of the Barrens given the opportunity.

==The Black Wind==
===Who are the Black Wind?===
* '''The Black Wind were former members of the Rahvin who split from the sept to join the Druj'''
* '''They live in Dawnguard, Murderdale, Carmine Fields and Bitter Strand'''
* '''They hate everyone including the Druj - the only people they hate more than the Druj are the Empire'''
Rahvin was a powerful orc leader who united the disparate orc septs and helped lay the groundwork for the uprising against the Druj. He claimed they would be “a black wind that would sweep the Druj from the Barrens”. As orcs flocked to his banner, some took the rallying cry as their new name - the Black Wind. At their height the Black Wind were able to muster the equivalent of two Imperial armies, making them the most effective independent military force in the Barrens.

When the Imperial/Druj alliance agreed to split the Barrens, the impact fell most heavily on the Black Wind. For a while they fought on, but with the Empire and the Druj both attacking them at the same time, the outcome was utterly inevitable. Facing certain defeat at the hands of the Druj and the Empire, the sept split. The leaders of the Black Wind surrendered to the Druj, believing it was the only possible way to preserve their people, the Rahvin stayed true to their beliefs and were wiped out by the Druj. The Black Wind army joined the Druj, the Rahvin army was broken and then the Buruk Tepel ordered the execution or enslavement of every single Rahvin Orc in the Barrens. Now only the Black Wind remain living in those regions.

They are a powerful military force - a martial people with thousands of experienced soldiers who form the basis of one of the Druj armies. They hate the Druj with a burning passion - the only people they hate more than the Druj are the Empire. The Black Wind absolutely blame the Empire for forcing them to side with, and fight for, the Druj. The Black Wind are [[Army_qualities#Cruel|merciless]] in battle against the Empire, taking any opportunity to kill as many Imperials as possible.

Currently the Black Wind army is in the Mallum somewhere, presumably resupplying. The Black Wind ''sept'' however remains in the Barrens, composed primarily of young people, elders, and those unable or unwilling to serve as soldiers of the Druj. At the moment the majority of them are still in the Carmine Fields, Murderdale, and Bitter Strand, with a handful of small settlements in Dawnguard. Black Wind Orcs served under Serra Grubfest, the hated Druj governor of the Barrens, and were involved in many of her more brutal reprisals against the Dawnish.

===What do the Black Wind want?===
* '''They want to see every vestige of the Empire in the Barrens destroyed'''
* '''They want a Barrens free of the Empire and the Druj'''

Of all the septs in the Barrens, the Black Wind are the only ones who will not treat with Imperial negotiators. They hide or flee, and refuse to speak when cornered. It is possible that the Karass might be able to treat with them, but they have shown no interest in doing so. The Rahvin are keen to reconcile with the Black Wind, but there is no evidence that the Black Wind are open to that. They used to deal with the Montanians, but it is clear that they no longer do so. Both the Rahvin and the Montanians are seen as fools for ever trusting the Empire in the first place.

The Black Wind desire vengeance against the Empire and most especially the Dawnish. They would like to see all the Dawnish inhabitants of Dawnguard enslaved or executed. If their desire for revenge were sated they would presumably inform Imperial interlocutors, that they wished to control Dawnguard, Murderdale, Bitter Strands and the Carmine Fields, which is where their people live. According to the other septs, what the Black Wind want is the destruction of the Empire for its role in destroying their people, despoiling the Barrens, and leaving them with no choice but to fight for their hated enemies the Druj. Ideally they would like to see the entire Empire destroyed, although they don't have any concept of how that might be achieved beyond fantasies of the Druj and the Empire wiping each other out.

Their overriding goal however is to see a Barrens free of both Empire ''and'' the Druj. The Black Wind are reluctant servants of the Druj - they fight for them only because the alternative was worse. If they had their way, they would want a Barrens free of the Empire and the Druj. Sadly fighting for that freedom is what got them to where they are now.

===Military Opportunities: The Black Wind===
* '''The Iron Helms could execute the leaders of the Black Wind sept to force the Black Wind army to surrender to the Empire'''
* '''If the Empire can maintain a consistent threat of destruction against the Black Wind sept, they could force the army to fight for the Empire'''
* '''Five Imperial armies could force the Black Wind sept to flee the Barrens'''

The Black Wind in the Barrens are primarily non-combatants. Their soldiers fight for the Druj, but they are not ''actually'' Druj. They are cruel, but fuelled by anger and hatred rather than malice. They still feel a strong connection, a love for, their people - their spouses, children, parents, and siblings in the Barrens. The reason they are fighting for the Druj is to preserve the lives of the people they love - they bent the knee to the Druj to save their people from enslavement or worse (the fate the Rahvin suffered).

This presents an opportunity. A horrible opportunity, but a chance to deliver a decisive blow to the Druj none-the-less.

The [[Iron Helms]] are known and feared by both the Druj and by the septs they rule. They are masters of using that fear to get what they want, to demoralise their enemies. If the Iron Helms move to the Barrens and undertake a [[Army_qualities#Cruel|Merciless Assault]], with clear orders to execute key members of the Black Wind, then the army will certainly hear of it. Presented with an ultimatum, the Black Wind will either have to betray the Druj and surrender to the Empire, or stand by as everyone they care about is killed.

There is no doubt among the other septs that the Black Wind will surrender. They hate the Druj, the ''only'' reason they are fighting for them is to try to keep their people safe. If the Empire threatens the safety of the Black Wind sept in the Barrens, they will have absolutely no choice but to surrender. The Black Wind army, the Druj army that carries that name and has engaged in one merciless attack after another on Imperial forces, will collapse. In theory it might even be possible to force the Black Wind to fight for the Empire - given that is exactly what the Druj have done. It would require a constant threat of bloody reprisals against their people if they did not fight.

As a potentially more palatable alternative, the Military Council could send Imperial armies to force the Black Wind to flee the Barrens. It would require a massive force to move the Black Wind, otherwise their people will scatter and hide, but if five Imperial armies are given clear orders to drive the Black Wind sept out of the Barrens then they will be forcibly evicted from their homes. They will be forced to leave most of their belongings behind, which will create an opportunity for spoils of war the following season. The sept will flee East, into the Mallum.

Any action in this vein would damage the Empire's standing with the Rahvin, Montanians, and Great Forest Orcs. Although the Black Wind no longer speak to their former comrades in arms, they are widely viewed as fallen allies rather than enemies by their fellow rebels. There is clear evidence that the Druj have been adept at maximising the propaganda benefits of actions of this kind by the Empire in the past.

===Black Wind Risks===
* '''The presence of the Black Wind in the Barrens is a clear risk to the safety of every Imperial citizen'''

The Black Wind want to see the Empire destroyed, Dawnguard ruined and every Imperial citizen in the Barrens eaten alive by ravenous marsh lizards. They are sullen and filled with Hatred of the Empire, who they regard as a more loathsome version of the Druj. They enthusiastically supported Serra Grubfest against the Dawnish people of Dawnguard and will eagerly seize any opportunity to harm the Empire. Their continued presence is a constant risk to every Imperial citizen in the Barrens.

==Dawn==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NationBannerDawn.jpg|align=left|caption=The people of Dawn celebrate the victory in the barrens.|width=300}}</div>
===Who are the Dawnish?===
* '''The Dawnish are Imperial citizens whose noble houses have lived in the Barrens for centuries'''
* '''The majority live in Dawnguard, but there are Dawnish living in Murderdale, the Carmine Fields, and a few who live in Hope's Rest and Bitter Strand'''

The Dawnish have held Dawnguard for centuries, a foothold in the Barrens that has never wavered. From there they have sought to conquer the territory with waves of Dawnish settlers expanding into Murderdale and the Carmine Fields and beyond. Several prominent noble houses have been based there, although some fled when the region was conquered by the Druj.

Imperial law is clear that these people are Imperial citizens, even those who still toil under the rule of the Druj. They are Dawnish citizens just as the people of Semmerholm, Astolat, and Weirwater are. They are deeply proud of their nation, and delighted by the military and political victories they have achieved. They have fought to make the Barrens a part of Dawn for hundreds of years, and are elated by their triumphant victory.

They're excited to see the Druj finally driven out, and the regions of Murderdale and Heart of Peytaht liberated from their control. They are aware that their neighbours do not share their triumph but the prevailing attitude is one of “we won a glorious victory, now its time for troubadours and advocates!” The National Assembly of Dawn made it very clear that their knights and witches were here to liberate the Barrens, and free the orcs. Most of the people of Dawnguard are entirely behind that idea. As long as they have Dawnguard, and probably Carmine Fields and Murderdale so they have somewhere to farm and expand into, and the Plains of Teeth so that they control the fortress where the Hounds of Glory paid the ultimate, glorious price for victory they see no problem in allowing them to keep chunks of the wilderness if that's what they want. Wild places and unfamiliar septs both mean more opportunities for adventure and glory.

That question of glory comes up many times. The Barrens is a wild land, full of mysteries and excitement and dangerous places, and the Dawnish of Dawnguard like it that way. They point to the true liao consecration of the Well of Hope as a reminder that the quest for glory never ends.
===What does Dawnguard want?===
* '''They want the Towers of the Dawn rebuilt to match the strength of the Spires of Dusk'''
* '''They want the Druj driven out of the Barrens and the eastern borders secured'''
* '''They want the political future of the Barrens as a Dawnish territory secured'''
* '''They want the Fangs and the Eaves of Peytaht to be made Dawnish Bourse seats'''
* '''They want to see the Empire destroy the Druj'''
Having defeated the Druj, the Dawnish want the political and military future of the Barrens to be secured. The physical embodiment of this would be rebuilding the Towers of the Dawn in Dawnguard. The great fortification was overrun by the Druj when they finally conquered the entire Barrens, and its destruction presaged a grim period for the Dawnish who suffered under Druj rule. In the minds of many, the safety of Dawnguard and the Barrens is physically contingent on the construction of a new fortification. For that reason, they want a new fortification to be constructed, at least as big as the Spires of Dusk, if not bigger. That will help to ensure that people feel confident that the Druj cannot retake Dawnguard any time soon. 

At present the Druj still control the Carmine Fields and the Heart of Peytaht. The Dawnish want to see these regions conquered and quickly, to prevent the Druj using them to unleash curses and other terrors on the Barrens and to make it harder for the Druj to return. The Steel Causeway split the regions from the Druj supply lines, but they still represent a major threat to the safety of the territory. The Dawnish want to see that threat dealt with.

They also want to see the eastern borders of the territory secured. There are mixed views of the Karass, the Dawnish don't know them at all, but what they hear from the other septs does not fill them with confidence. If these allies of the Druj hold the Bleaks and the Plains of Teeth, it will allow the Druj to march into the Barrens unopposed. Either the Karass need to be dealt with, or else the Empire needs to establish a new border with the Druj - one that exists beyond the Barrens - by invading Sarangrave and the Salt Flats.

They also want the political future of the Barrens as a Dawnish territory secured. Now that the war is won, they want to make peace with their neighbours, but they aware of the many competing expectations and demands of the other septs. They don't uniformly oppose those demands, they accept that some land may need to be ceded to ensure a lasting peace. However they do not want to give up any land that they view as fundamentally Dawnish by rights or by conquest, notably Dawnguard, Murderdale, the Carmine Fields and the Plains of Teeth. Crucially, they will not accept any outcome that means so much land is ceded that the Barrens ceases to be a Dawnish territory.

Many yeofolk are interested in the possibility of trade, but they understand that might take time. Whatever else happens they want to be sure they'll be able to explore and quest in the Barrens freely no matter who controls which parts of it. They especially want to be sure they can visit the chapel at Hope's Rest, which now serves as a memorial to everyone who died to free the Barrens.

There's some discussion about the Fangs and the Eaves of Peytaht, the weirwood grove in the Heart of Peytaht. They would like both bourse resources to be made Dawnish seats - pointing out that Dawn is the only nation in the entire Empire that has no proper bourse seat. They are aware that the Eaves of Peytaht has been promised to the Great Forest Orcs and cynical voices suggest that the Fangs will end up as an Imperial seat once the Rahvin are kicked out, so hopes are not high of getting both seats.

Finally, they want to see the armies of Dawn spearhead the campaigns against the Druj in the Salt Flats of Sanath, Forest of Ulnak, and the Sarangrave. They want the Druj consigned to dusty archives, their name ultimately known only to scholars and troubadours. The phrase "Death to the Druj" echoes round the Barrens - it is one of the few things that almost everyone agrees on.

===Dawnish Risks===
* '''Any future for the Barrens other than as a Dawnish territory of the Empire will outrage the people of Dawn'''

Now that the Imperial Senate has allocated the Barrens to Dawn, the view of most Dawnish people is that the greatest quest in history has now been completed. Dawn's triumph is glorious beyond compare, not just for Dawn, but for the whole Empire. There is a limitless sense of celebration with the completion of a dream that has occupied the hearts of Dawn for five centuries. Any political resolution that fundamentally changes the status of the Barrens as a Dawnish territory of the Empire will see that joy turn to fury.
===Participation===
This section refers to the non-player character nobles and yeofolk of the Barrens and Dawn. While the characters who attend the Anvil summits are the most influential people in the nation, the folk of the nation often have their own opinions on weighty matters that affect them. There's absolutely no requirement for a Dawnish player character, whichever territory they are from, to agree with all or even any of these positions. You're encouraged to make up your own minds. It isn't "off brief" to disagree with these attitudes. At the same time it's ''also'' not off brief to embrace some or all of them; if you want to be a "populist hero of the people" for example then championing these positions is one way to do it. The only thing to bear in mind is that this section represents the attitude of the Dawnish as a faction in the Barrens - beliefs every bit as political and challenging as those of the other septs. They might be negotiated with using tools such as the Synod or the Senate, but they can't simply be told to believe something else.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj1.jpg|caption=The Druj are still a presence in the Barrens, and while their armies have retreated, they still threaten the territory on three sides. They are known to be spiteful and full of hate when they lose - many of the septs are afraid of what form retaliation might take.|align=left|width=400}}</div>

==The Druj==
* '''The Druj still retain control the Heart of Peytaht and Murderdale'''
* '''They are using these regions to launch attacks on the Barrens'''
Whilst the septs are somewhat encouraged by the Empire having driven off the Druj, especially given the armies' [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_62|focus on liberation]], they are still concerned that the Empire has left the territory relatively undefended while the Druj maintain control of two regions; Murderdale and the Heart of Peytaht. Their armies have fled but there are still more than enough Druj there to cause problems for the Imperials in Dawnguard as well as the other septs. Only last season the late [[knight-protector|Knight-protector of Winter]], '''Aranel Mortère''', was tasked with stopping ''Varag Soulflayer'' from [[Taken_at_the_flood#The_long_chase_.28Conjunction.29|unleashing winter spirits]] throughout the territory. It is clear that these kinds of attacks will continue for as long as the Druj have some foothold in the territory, and with their current holdings they could theoretically reach [[Brocéliande]] or [[Semmerholm]].

The Druj have a well-earned reputation for spitefulness. When the Sand Fishers were granted sanctuary in Holberg, the Druj sent armies to invade the most well defended territory in the eastern Empire just for a chance to punish them and terrify anyone who might resist their rule. They were defeated, but it's a sobering reminder of who the Druj are. They tore down the Tower of the Scorpion rather than let the Empire have it. They almost destroyed the Great Pits of Ennerlund, and the Vigilant Swan, and few Highborn will forget the horrors they inflicted on Reikos when they were driven out. During the final season of fighting in the Barrens, the Tainted Basilisk unleashed a barrage of curses and maledictions against the territory, some of which are still in effect.

For almost everyone in the Barrens it's not a matter of ''if'' the Druj will return, but ''when''. Many of the septs are deeply fearful for their fate when that happens, believing that the Druj will exact terrible retribution if they collaborate with the Empire now.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=CathanArt.jpg||caption=Cathan Canae has indicated that ceding Imperial lands to buy peace, or secure allies, threatens the assurance anchoring the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]].|align=left|width=300}}</div>

==Cathan Canae==
* '''Cathan Canae has been clear in the past that she would consider the Empire ceding more land to their enemies to be sufficient to break the assurance on Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae'''
* '''There is room to negotiate with the eternal if the Empire wishes to cede land in the Barrens'''
* '''The Imperial Synod could denounce the way in which Cathan Canae is dictating how the Empire behaves'''

There is one final fly in the ointment, which the Dawnish enchanters are particularly aware of. The Summer eternal Cathan Canae has made it clear in the past that she is [[Down_the_cavalier_road#Cathan_Canae|concerned]] about the Empire's willingness to trade away land to their enemies, or their supposed allies in return for aid against their enemies. All this talk of concedence is likely to attract the attention of the ''Queen of Ice and Darkness''.

However, after a great deal of discussion, some of it with heralds of the ''Immovable One'' herself, they believe there is room for negotiation. What the ''Mistress of Blizzards'' will '''not''' accept is the Empire giving up land to its enemies in return for peace. But the Empire could make the case that that is not what is being discussed, given that they have been clear all along that their intent was to liberate the Barrens orcs, not conquer the Barrens. Any concessions to the septs ''could'' be presented as rewards to a potential ally in return for their support.

It is not clear what the best argument might be, but the enchanters of Dawn are confident that ceding lands to people the Empire has liberated will not ''automatically'' incur the ire of the ''Mistress of Blizzards''. It would however be unwise to cede lands and then keep casting the [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|Frozen Citadel]] without discussing the matter with the Immovable One first, but the [[Archmage of Summer]] could use their power of [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] to discuss the matter with either the eternal herself or her lieutenants and see if what kind of agreement can be reached.

When the matter is discussed, some Highborn magisters are strongly of the opinion that it is deeply inappropriate for the ''Lady of the Frost'' or ''any'' eternal to be able to dictate Imperial policy in this way. There is more than the faintest hint of [[Religious_crime#Idolatry|idolatry]] about this entire business, and perhaps it might be best for the Empire to stop relying on the “gifts” of an eternal who would attempt such obvious blackmail. They call on the Imperial Synod to take a stance on this matter.

==Menrothat==
* '''The Menrothat of Ossium want the Empire to cede Farweald to them'''
* '''In return the Menrothat will share their a single dose of Black Lotus with the Empire'''
* '''Only the Karass would welcome the Menrothat's return to the Barrens - it would be universally opposed by all other factions'''

There is one final faction with an interest in the Barrens. The [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|sept of the Menrothat]], in [[Ossium]], have let it be known that in return for the Empire ceding them their ancestral lands of Farweald, they will share their [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Treasure_of_the_Menrothat|greatest treasure]] – a dose of ''black lotus'' and their knowledge on what can be done with it.

The Dawnish, the Rahvin, the Great Forest Orcs, the Vendarri, and the Montanians all express significant reservations about the Menrothat returning to the Barrens. Apart from the Karass, whose dark reputation they share, everyone is opposed to them claiming Farweald as their own.

<quote by="From the 380YE Autumn Equinox Winds of War">Two days after the Great Forest Orcs enter Therunin, while they are cautiously raising their tents and receiving the diplomats of the Navarr, the first reports of trouble in the east begin to filter back to the Dawnish forces. Knights errant and questing alike, some of them battered and diseased, bring dire news of a host - a great host of orcs - that has crossed the rivers from the east, slaughtering every orc in their path that does not kneel and bow their head at their approach.

Thousands of orcs. Orcs beneath banners of jade-and-gold, their spiked armour bedecked with skulls and bones. There is no chance to estimate numbers. One party of knights-errant engaged in a test of mettle near the Saltmarsh claim they saw five thousand orcs camped on the banks of the great marshes there. Another lone survivor - who later dies of her wounds - ranted and raved until the end about thirty-, forty-, fifty-thousand yellow eyes watching her from the darkness. A pair of scouts indicate that they saw nothing... but several other scouting parties testing out the defences of the Bitter Strand to the east fail to return and while it is likely that the Barrens orcs accounted for them there is a concern that...

... ten days before the Autumn Equinox, with the Dawnish knights consolidating their meagre gains in the Carmine Fields a band of half a dozen orcs emerge from the south-eastern forests and plant a flag of truce in the soil of the Carmine Fields that flutters and dances in the sudden quick breeze. It is spattered with blood. At the foot of the flag they place sacks, damp and dripping, and buzzing with flies. The six of them settle down to wait unconcerned, beneath the flag. Some of them roll bones, talking quietly among themselves. The others keep watch across the fields.

A discussion, and then the Gryphon's Pride and the Golden Sun both send a delegation of twenty soldiers each to see what is afoot. The orcs make no effort to withdraw. They stand and watch the Imperial troops approach - not afraid, no expression readable beneath their hoods and masks. When the first Dawnish knight comes to within bow-cast, the leader holds up one gloved hand and steps forward.

"Parley," she says in a rasping voice full of age and cynicism. "Parley, knights of Dawn. We have a gift and a proposal from our masters."

The knights pause. The orc speaks again. She gestures to the bags they have piled around the flagpole.

"Here is our gift. The heads of the Rahvin. The leaders of the orcs who attacked your homes. They are dead."

One of the knights asks a question, the orc woman shakes her head.

"You misunderstand me. It is not the leaders who are dead - they are all dead. Every single one of them. The Rahvin are gone. We have reclaimed their lands. As was agreed."

Confusion. The orc does not stop.

"Take a message to your Senate, please, knights of Dawn. We are prepared to negotiate the precise placement of the Line, as agreed. We will await the word of your Senate on the other side of the river, in the Bitter Strand, on the eastern banks of the Kepahitân River, until the end of the Autumn Equinox. We will offer hospitality to a diplomatic envoy of shall we say a dozen. If we hear no word from you we will assume you have reneged on the agreement, are not interested in negotiation, and will act accordingly."

She folds her arms then, and smiles, showing broken blackened teeth. After a moment, the Druj withdraw back toward the river, leaving behind their flag, and the pile of dripping, fly crowded, sacks.</quote>

==Further Reading==
* [[The Barrens]]
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]]
* [[The silent page]]
* [[Two_silhouettes#A_Curious_Reprise_.28Battle.29|A curious reprise]] -384YE Winter battle opportunity involving the Rahvin at the Fangs

Propensity to truck, barter, and exchange

2026-07-18T20:00:15Z

GuiltyConscience:

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:Winds of Magic]]
<ic>"Are you ''sure'' about this, Crown?" Patina asked, their voice laden with concern.

"Of course I'm sure" responded her ever-exuberant boss. "It's a brilliant idea! Provided we get the contracts right. Provided we get the auction right. And provided we get the handover right. Literally nothing can go wrong! All the risk is with the counter-party. The actuaries are delighted with the model!"

"Yeah, it's not that..." Patina tried to interject, but putting words in front of Crown was like trying to put a leaf before a gale.

"And we've already chosen eight contracts already. Now we just need to let the Empire know, and then we can sit back and let the Invisible Hand go to work. It's going to be amazing!"

"Yeah, about those contracts..."

"I know I was surprised too how quickly we secured agreement from the other desks too - but if this works this time there's no reason we can't do it again in the future. We're going to be famous Patina. We'll be the heralds that took the work out of work ethic!"

"But I ''like'' hard work..." said Patina quietly, her voice trailing off

"And this way, you'll have even more time to work your fingers to the bone. But look, if the Imperials get mad about it, we'll just say it was all Able the Rounder's idea!"

This last was too much for Patina and she raised her voice, determined to be heard at last. "Able the Rounder is one of our most valuable customers Crown. You should ''not'' be traducing his reputation by involving him in this scheme of yours..."

"What? It's good for us. It's good for Able. It's good for... where's he from again?"

Patina rolled her eyes... "Sarangrave. He's one of the foremost ''architects'' of Sarangrave. It's a critically important territory in the Empire, with ''major investment needs''." Patina stressed the last in the hope of pointing out the obvious. Crown was great at front of house, but his knowledge of his customer portfolio was excruciating. A mortal she'd met once had had a dog they called a golden retriever, even though it very definitely was not made out of gold. More and more her boss was reminding her of that dog. Including not being made out of gold.

"Right! So he's gonna be delighted by these new arrangements! It's bound to go well."

Patina couldn't take the overbearing optimism a moment longer. She stabbed a blunt metal finger down onto the table spearing one of the pieces of paperwork. "This? He's going to be delighted with this is he?"

To be fair to Crown, he at least had the good grace to look crestfallen. For a moment.

"Caveat Emptor?" he asked plaintively.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Ephisis001.webp|align=left|width=300|caption=The lifeblood of the City of Gold and Lead and its ihabitants is ''trade'', and not ''profit'' as many seem to believe.}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[Ephisis|Sovereign Lady of the City of Gold and Lead]] has become a ubiquitous sight in the Hall of Worlds in recent times, with various heralds from the city attempting to make deals with Imperial citizens who have submitted their goods for potential sale via [[Ephisis' Scale]]. For the most part, trades have been largely successful and have brought Prosperity to both parties.

At least they did until the Spring Equinox. The prices offered by the City can change rapidly, such is the nature of the market place. But a change of personnel on the trading desk compounded issues caused by the fast moving prices to howls of anguish from their Imperial counterparts. ''Crown'', one of the more excitable heralds commonly manning the Imperial trading desks, is never happy about an unhappy customer. Determined to avoid future lost sales, he contacted one of his counterparts in the Empire, '''Able the Rounder''', to discuss what the brilliant Urizeni [[architect]] felt had gone wrong. Fortunately for Crown, the wealthy and experienced merchant had plenty to say on the subject.

What passed between the two is likely to remain confidential, but it seems that it was sufficient to cause a change in the City's plans for the forthcoming summit. Regular traders and novices alike, would do well to take notice.

==The Great Instrument of Ambition==
* '''Ephisis is making eight contracts available to the Empire'''
* '''These contracts will be auctioned off to the highest bidder in the Hall of Worlds at 10:30 on Saturday morning'''
* '''Each contract must be fulfilled in full and before the end of the summit, to receive payment'''
* '''Contracts must be redeemed by delivery to the Hall of Worlds during the balancing of scales'''
* '''Standard settlement terms with the contract holder will be three days after the conclusion of the summit'''

<div {{float}}>
<table>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="text-align:center;">Contracts Available</th></tr>
<tr><th>Goods Required</th><th>Payment Offered</th></tr>
<tr><td>800 Dragonbone</td><td>100 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 Illium</td><td>20 mithril, 20 white granite, 20 weirwood </td></tr>
<tr><td>400 measures total of Green Iron, Oricalcum, Weltsilver and Tempest Jade in any ratio</td><td>100 mana crystals and 100 warm ashes</td></tr>
<tr><td>500 thrones</td><td>200 mithril</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 weirwood</td><td>500 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>400 ambergelt</td><td>20 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>500 measures total of Beggar's Lure or Iridescent Gloaming in any ratio</td><td>[[Pilgrim%27s_Shield|Glistering]]</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

One of the areas that causes the most significant problems for small and large traders is the tendency for bulk sales to flood the Autumn markets. The Invisible Hand will ultimately buy almost anything, but the Empire is one of it's biggest customers and merchants who attempt to dispose of huge sums of materials can temporarily distress prices. This causes problems for large volume traders, who find the offers made for boxes fall short of what they hoped to achieve because they have unwittingly depressed the market value of whatever good they are attempting to sell hundreds of to the Empire. But it also impacts merchants offering small volume traders who discover their handful of dragonbone or whatever precious material has flooded the market is now worth considerably less than they were expecting.

Based on an idea that Crown credits to Able the Taller, the solution the City is going to implement is to offer eight significant contracts. These contracts are the largest requests for purchase or sales that the City has received in other markets. Most come from the Empire's near neighbours, since that keeps shipping costs down, but the City is open about the fact that they trade all over the world, from the tiny bazaar of Pushkin City in far off Mitovoria to the great temple-market of [[Asavean_gods#Lord_Isso_Mãos_de_Ouro|Mãos de Ouro]] in the capital of [[Asavea]].

Normally the City attempts to settle trades with the resources they have acquired from the Empire and elsewhere. It's when the Empire offers large volumes of goods they can't quickly move on because they don't have a known buyer for them, that the prices they offer drops. To avoid the problems experienced at the previous summit, the City is therefore publishing the details of the eight largest contracts that have come in.

The contracts will be offered for auction in the Hall of Worlds at 10:30 on Saturday morning. All bids in [[Game_items#Coins|Imperial currency]], each contract will go to the highest bidder, who will need to settle the purchase there and then. The right to fulfil that contract is then their legal property (and they may do with it as they will). Anyone bearing the contract (assuming they have acquired it legally) may complete it by bringing the desired goods to the balancing of the scales in the Hall of Wolds the following day. There is no need for any additional expense of sending a box to the Autumn realm first, since the settlement value is already agreed. The City will receive the goods, mark the contract complete, and arrange for delivery of payment three days later.

Crown warns that contracts can only be fulfilled at the summit they are purchased at. Any contract that is not fulfilled at the summit is null and void with no refunds. Merchants should be careful to bid accordingly. Contracts must be completed in full, part payment will not be accepted.

In plain terms, turn up in the Hall of Worlds on Saturday morning, outbid any other buyer for one or more contracts, then return the next day with ''all'' the required goods to get paid.

==The Merchant of Rhodes==
* '''The City has published more general guidance on commodities they are likely to offer good prices'''
* '''The prices offered by the City are influenced by local market prices in the Empire but not set by them'''
* '''Prices offered for large volumes of goods will be lower, outside of an advertised contract'''
* '''The City is always happy to be paid in Imperial coin'''

When all is said and done and every grain of salt has been counted, the City of Gold and Lead will always offer a price for something, provided they can find a buyer for it. But some commodities and resources are in high demand in the City and should fetch a good price, while others are not. Some things are nearly worthless - even if the City offers a price for them, it will be a matter of a few rings.

Crown explains that the prices offered by the City are influenced by local market prices, but they are not set by them. The City of Gold and Lead takes the goods sold to them in Ephisus boxes and sells them on elsewhere, either to other cities in the Iron Labyrinth or to other locations in the mortal world. Ultimately the price they are prepared to offer is set by what the heralds believe they can get for the resources they acquire and ''not'' by prices in Imperial markets. Offers ''may'' be influenced by the value of goods at Anvil - the heralds may lower their offer if they believe they can offer less and still make a deal.

Some merchants are surprised to discover they are being offered a price for their goods ''below'' what they could get in Anvil, but that is to be expected. If Imperial traders are offering goods from all over the Empire, then it's perfectly normal that the heralds won't always be able to match local prices for everything.

Perfectly normal perhaps, but definitely not desirable! Crown appears genuinely pained anytime a merchant leaves his trading desk without a sale of some kind. He believes that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_asymmetry ignorance of market conditions] is costing his beloved City business and so he has persuaded his fellow heralds to try publicising more information about what the city does or doesn't want to buy.

The City has published guidance for the various resources and commodities they are commonly offered. The sale price column indicates the price a merchant might hope to get when selling the goods from Ephisis. The purchase price column indicates the level of prices the City might offer to sell goods to Imperial merchants at. There is never a guarantee of profit - these ratings are comparative to each other, not comparative to Anvil prices.

The contracts on offer indicate the resources that Ephisis is trying to secure in order to fulfil significant deals with others merchants. They ensure that the city can afford to purchase large volumes of resources without risking a major loss. They allow Imperial merchants to aim to fulfil the contract knowing with some certainty what their profit margins will be. Prices offered for large volumes of goods will be lower, outside of an advertised contract. The City will still make a bid, but it will be a lower offer the more resources are piled into a box.

Finally it should go without saying that the City of Gold and Lead is always happy to trade in [[Game_items#Coins|Imperial coin]]. Thrones, crowns and rings are all ''very'' welcome in any exchange of wealth.

<div {{float}}>
<table>
<tr><th>Commodity</th><th>Sale Price</th><th>Purchase Price</th></tr>
<tr><td>Ingots and Measures</td><td>High</td><td>Very High</td></tr>
<tr><td>Wains</td><td>Average</td><td>Low</td></tr>
<tr><td>Food and Drink</td><td>Very Low</td><td>Not Available</td></tr>
<tr><td>Common Trade Goods</td><td>Very Low</td><td>Low</td></tr>
<tr><td>Unique Trade Goods</td><td>Very High</td><td>Average</td></tr>
<tr><td>Artifacts</td><td>High</td><td>Not Available</td></tr>
<tr><td>Storied Artifacts</td><td>Variable</td><td>Not Available</td></tr>
<tr><td>Storied items</td><td>Variable</td><td>Not Available</td></tr>
<tr><td>Newly made Magic Items</td><td>Low</td><td>Average</td></tr>
<tr><td>Exhausted Magic Items</td><td>Zero</td><td>Not Available</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mana Crystals</td><td>Average</td><td>Average</td></tr>
<tr><td>Autumn Vis</td><td>Very Low</td><td>Low</td></tr>
<tr><td>Other Vis</td><td>Very Low</td><td>Very High</td></tr>
<tr><td>Herbs</td><td>Average</td><td>Very High</td></tr>
<tr><td>Common Potions</td><td>Very Low</td><td>High</td></tr>
<tr><td>Drugs and Narcotics</td><td>Low</td><td>Low</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

===Ingots and Measures===
* '''Ingots and measures fetch good prices in the City of Gold and Lead'''

Ingots and measures, including ingots of [[ilium]] are ''always'' valuable in the Autumn realm, because the heralds can sell them to agents of the [[Estavus|Sovereign Lord of the City of Fire and Stone]]. For that reason, it is rare for the City to offer such materials and merchants looking to acquire them from the City should expect to pay handsomely for them.

===Wains===
* '''Wains are on offer for sale or purchase whenever the City believes it can make a profit'''
Wains of Materials, while valuable within the Empire, are harder for the autumn realm to trade to other lands, as the bourse certificates represent large amounts of materials sitting in Imperial warehouses. While the City regards bourse certificates as a wonder of the world, they only function perfectly within the Empire. The further you travel from the Empire's borders, the more value they lose. The city's heralds will buy or sell wains, but only when they believe the price favours them - which usually means they will only buy at a price below the highest sale price in Anvil. Sales are a little easier, since heralds are always looking to dispose of bourse certificates they have acquired in the Empire where they can, so citizens looking to buy wains are encouraged to try their hand.

===Food, Drink and Services===
* '''These goods hold no value to the City'''
Food and drink spoil quickly in the Autumn realm - they cannot be placed in vaults and held until a customer is found. For this reason, they are worthless to the Autumn realm. Likewise offers of services are not currently of value, the City trades in ''goods'' - while they appreciate that an offer of services in the future has value, it is not a market they trade in. In all cases the City requests that Imperial merchants do not put these things into an Ephisis box.

===Common Trade Goods===
* '''Goods readily available for purchase in foreign ports are in low demand in the City'''
Imperial [[fleet|fleets]] often acquire unusual goods in foreign ports, such as [[Foreign_ports#Production_Table|Oilybrag]], which can be bought in Zemeh. The City of Gold and Lead has opportunities to trade in all the major cities of the world, so they can already purchase these common trade goods at the same price Imperial merchants paid for them. As a result heralds rarely offer good prices for these goods - Imperial merchants should be better off disposing of them at Anvil rather than trying to sell them to the Autumn realm. It is only worth sending them to the City of Gold and Lead if you need to dispose of them at any price.

===Unique Trade Goods===
* '''Unique goods produced in the Empire command a high price the first time they are sold'''
* '''Unusual or unique goods from difficult to access ports will fetch a good price the first time they are sold'''

While common trade goods are rarely value, unique trade goods are a different matter. If a trader has goods produced in a foreign port which is difficult to access, or which are unique to the Empire, then they will command a good price. The only problem is that the more of such resources the Empire sells, the less valuable the thing becomes. The first one is unique, the second one is not - so prices rapidly fall off.

===Herbs, Potions and Consumables===
* '''The Autumn realm will buy herbs, but rarely if ever offers them for sale'''
* '''Most potions command a poor price when offered for sale to the City'''
* '''Unusual consumables including drugs and narcotics sell well and offer a chance for a good profit if they are put in a box by themselves'''

Herbs are always in demand in the Autumn realm, since they can make use of them, but they don't grow well in the realm if at all. For this reason they command a good price when offered for sale to the city, though it is expensive to buy them from the City. Surprisingly most other potions are not worth offering to the City. It is time consuming to identify them and most heralds have little interest in trading them on, so they offer only very low prices for them.

Unusual consumables, including drugs and narcotics do sell in the Autumn realm but there are few buyers and that does depress the sale price. The Silent Market, a trading operation in the City can offer a price for them, and will also offer them for sale in the right conditions. Drugs that are illegal in the Empire are usually the most profitable for merchants trading with the City.

The ''Silent Market'', is a trading desk that ''only'' deals in unusual items, drugs, narcotics, and storied items. They handle all this trade that comes from the Empire. As a result, these things are always best put in an Ephisis box by themselves so that the Silent Market can assess them and make an offer. Including 20 ambergelt alongside a thirty doses of Bite is a recipe for disappointment, because the Silent Market will buy the Bite but they don't want the ambergelt. Their rivals in the City want the ambergelt but not the Bite. Thus the best way for Imperial citizens to get the best possible price is to put drugs, narcotics and storied items in a separate box.

===Magical Items===
* '''Permanent magical items with a storied history can fetch an excellent price when sold to the City'''
* '''Storied items with history but no actual magic power rarely do so'''
* '''Magic items with a year's duration to run have a known value, but
* '''Magic items that are close to expiring are worthless to the City'''
* '''Storied items need to be put in a box by themselves to get the best price'''

Permanent magical items are valuable throughout the world and the City will always try to offer a good price for them based on the amount of materials needed to create one. When such items have a storied history - that ''can'' increase the price significantly, assuming the City knows of a buyer who is in the market for such a curio. Items with history but no notable magical properties are obviously less valuable - but could be worth something to the right buyer. In either case, the price offered by the heralds is highly variable, merchants are welcome to offer them for sale but should be prepared for the possibility of a low offer. Regular magic items with a year's duration to run are worth less than what their ingredients are worth as they have already lost a seasons worth of use - the Autumn realm are unlikely to offer more than this, because they can buy most magic items from [[Estavus|the Forgemistress]]. Items that are close to expiring are as worthless to the City as they are to the mortals trying to dispose of them.

===Mana and Vis===
* '''Mana is always in demand all across the world, so crystals fetch reasonable prices in the City'''
* '''Autumn vis is produced in large amounts in the Autumn realm and can be had at a good price from the City's heralds'''
* '''Vis from other realms often spoils if kept too long in the Autumn realm, so the City rarely offer good prices for large quantities'''

Mana is the currency of magic, there are even some desperately primitive societies in the world that actually use it in place of money! Most of the city's heralds are currently offering to buy mana crystals for around 24 rings a crystal and to sell it at 26 rings each. [[Vis]] can spoil if kept in the Autumn realm too long, so the City has little interest in trading it, unless there is a large outstanding contract to be fulfilled, otherwise heralds will be loathe to buy or sell it. Autumn vis is the one exception - huge amounts are produced in the Autumn realm and can usually be bought for a good price from the City's heralds, but of course, they offer low prices to buy it back.
==A Possible Patron==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Plenipotentiary'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Eternal:''' Ephisis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Subject:''' Patronage of the Golden Pyramid or their grand lodge</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' What form any aid might take</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year, until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' Cannot be included with other substantial requests</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Heralds of the city of Gold and Lead were recently asked about the possibility of becoming a patron of the Golden Pyramid'''
* '''They confirm that such a thing is possible, but it would require a plenipotentiary to make the appropriate arrangements'''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Terentia of Sarangrave Reforged.jpg|caption='''Terentia of Sarangrave Reforged'''<br>Grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid|align=right|width=250}}</div>
At a recent meeting in Anvil, Crown, one of the heralds of the City, was asked about the possibility of the City of Gold and Lead becoming a patron of the [[Golden Pyramid]], or of the Order's grand lodge. Such an arrangement would be highly unusual - a Conclave order accepting an offer by an eternal to become their patron raises questions about that order's loyalties and their impartiality on matters like [[alignment]]. Still the risks seem relatively low here, the manifesto of the order seems closely aligned with the goals of the eternal and Ephisis has never been under ''enmity'' as far as the records show.

After lengthy discussion between the various markets and independent traders of the City, it appears there is a consensus that most are open to the idea, if there is genuine enthusiasm for it from the Order. However, while eternals of other realms might be content to agree to become a patron without a second thought, the City of Gold and Lead will not contemplate the idea a thorough discussion of what support they could offer the Order, what support the Order might want and importantly, how the Order might further the City's agenda. Ultimately any agreement would need a contract of some kind.

If the Order are serious about engaging the services of the ''Sovereign Lady of the City of Gold and Lead'' as patron of their order - or patron of their lodge, then they would need to arrange for the [[Archmage of Autumn]] to secure a plenipotentiary specifically for that purpose. It could include a single item of other business that was already ongoing, but the City will not seriously engage with a plenipotentiary that incorporates a list of different causes of interest to different groups. But if the Autumn Archmage is prepared to assist the Order and the [[grandmaster]] and his supporters have the backing of the Golden Pyramid to negotiate an agreement for patronage then the City are open to exploring the possibilities.
{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|align=right|width=241|height=240}}
As with any plenipotentiary, it would be most useful if the Archmage is clear what form any aid they would request might take, then the heralds can assess how possible that would be, before the meeting. The more knowledge the City has about ''how'' they could help the Order, the better.
==Further Reading==
* [[Ephisis]]
* [[Ephisis' Scale]]

388YE Summer Solstice Imperial elections

2026-07-18T18:58:24Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Senate Appointment */

===Overview===
The titles below are eligible for re-election at the forthcoming summit. This page will be updated with all the election results after the summit is concluded, and the [[current Imperial titles]] will then be updated.
===National Election===
* [[Bastion|Senator for Bastion]]
* [[Feroz|Senator for Feroz]]
* [[Karov|Senator for Karov]]
* [[Miaren|Senator for Miaren]]
* [[Mitwold|Senator for Mitwold]]
* [[Redoubt|Senator for Redoubt]]
* [[Sarvos|Senator for Sarvos]]
* [[Sermersuaq|Senator for Sermersuaq]]
* [[Spiral|Senator for Spiral]]
* [[Weirwater|Senator for Weirwater]]
===Senate Appointment===
* [[Ambassador to Asavea|Ambassador to Asavea]]
* [[Blackroot Broker|Blackroot Broker]]
* [[Churnspire Adjutor|Churnspire Adjutor]]
* [[Black Thorns|General of the Black Thorns]]
* [[Citadel Guard|General of the Citadel Guard]]
* [[Drakes|General of the Drakes]]
* [[Golden Sun|General of the Golden Sun]]
* [[Granite Pillar|General of the Granite Pillar]]
* [[Northern Eagle|General of the Northern Eagle]]
* [[Red Wind Corsairs|General of the Red Wind Corsairs]]
* [[Sparrow's Reckoning|General of the Sparrow's Reckoning]]
* [[Summer Storm|General of the Summer Storm]]
* [[General of the Third Navarr]]
* [[Imperial Advisor for the Feni|Imperial Advisor for the Feni]]
* [[Imperial Consul|Imperial Consul]]
* [[Knight of Dawnguard|Knight of Dawnguard]]
* [[Master of the Clearing House|Master of the Clearing House]]
* [[Mediator of Hyljehal|Mediator of Hyljehal]]
* [[Minister of Historical Research|Minister of Historical Research]]
* [[Steward of the Tassato Mana Exchange|Steward of the Tassato Mana Exchange]]
* [[Stipulator of Stipends|Stipulator of Stipends]]
* [[Woundbinder of the Mark|Woundbinder of the Mark]]

===Throne Appointment===
* [[Queen's Rose|Queen's Rose]]
===Synod Judgement===
* [[Archbishop of Capodomus|Archbishop of Capodomus]]
* [[Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq|Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq]]
* [[Benefactor of High Chalcis|Benefactor of High Chalcis]]
* [[Beneficiary of the Golden Cascade|Beneficiary of the Golden Cascade]]
* [[Bishop of the Navigators|Bishop of the Navigators]]
* [[Cardinal of Courage|Cardinal of Courage]]
* [[Cardinal of Pride|Cardinal of Pride]]
* [[Cardinal of Wisdom|Cardinal of Wisdom]]
* [[Champion of Ambition|Champion of Ambition]]
* [[Champion of Vigilance|Champion of Vigilance]]
* [[Friar of Honour's Rest|Friar of Honour's Rest]]
* [[Herald of the Throne of Glory|Herald of the Throne of Glory]]
* [[Herb Tender of the Cerulean Balmhouse|Herb Tender of the Cerulean Balmhouse]]
* [[Imperial Inquisitor|Imperial Inquisitor]]
* [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Prosperity]]
* [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of The Way]]
* [[Marshal of the Faith|Marshal of the Faith]]
* [[Mistress of Monuments|Mistress of Monuments]]
* [[Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine|Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine]]
* [[Seeker of Quietitude|Seeker of Quietitude]]
* [[Speaker of the Crows|Speaker of the Crows]]
* [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Ambition]]
* [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Loyalty]]
* [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Pride]]
===Cardinal Appointment===
* [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeeper of Courage]]
* [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeeper of Wisdom]]
===Military Council Appointment===
* [[Strategos|Strategos of the Brass Coast]]
* [[Strategos|Strategos of the Imperial Orcs]]
* [[Strategos|Strategos of the League]]
* [[Strategos|Strategos of the Marches]]
* [[Strategos|Strategos of Urizen]]
===Conclave Order Vote===
* [[Rod and Shield|Rod and Shield]]
* [[Unfettered Mind|Unfettered Mind]]
===Declaration Of Candidacy===
* [[Archmage of Night|Archmage of Night]]
* [[Witness of Conclave|Witness of Conclave]]
===Bourse Auction===
* [[Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration|Arbiter of the Rogue Declaration]]
* [[Arratan Gamble|Arratan Gamble]]
* [[Brilliant Shore|Brilliant Shore]]
* [[Citizens' Voice|Citizens' Voice]]
* [[Custodian of the Concordium Dock|Custodian of the Concordium Dock]]
* [[Damatian Cliffs|Damatian Cliffs]]
* [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave|First Imperial Wayleave]]
* [[Night Quarry|Night Quarry]]
* [[Patron of the Beurteilung|Patron of the Beurteilung]]
* [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave|Second Imperial Wayleave]]
* [[Sutton Stone Quarries|Sutton Stone Quarries]]
===Bourse Vote===
* [[Arch of the Sky|Arch of the Sky]]
* [[Architect of the Crucible|Architect of the Crucible]]
* [[Boyar of the Iron Roads|Boyar of the Iron Roads]]
* [[Broker of Treji Wayhouse|Broker of Treji Wayhouse]]
* [[Cinderpath Custodian|Cinderpath Custodian]]
* [[Corsair of Oran|Corsair of Oran]]
* [[Custodian of the Bleak Tower|Custodian of the Bleak Tower]]
* [[Custodian of the Shchaslyvyy Spile|Custodian of the Shchaslyvyy Spile]]
* [[Dean of Runesmith's Caution|Dean of Runesmith's Caution]]
* [[Envoy to the Karass|Envoy to the Karass]]
* [[Granites of Veltsgorsk|Granites of Veltsgorsk]]
* [[Hakima of Salt and Sand|Hakima of Salt and Sand]]
* [[Keeper of the Bonehives|Keeper of the Bonehives]]
* [[Keeper of the Tome|Keeper of the Tome]]
* [[Mistress of the Glass Parador|Mistress of the Glass Parador]]
* [[Northbound Trademaster|Northbound Trademaster]]
* [[Quaymaster of the Hesychian Docks|Quaymaster of the Hesychian Docks]]
* [[Reeve of Drycastle|Reeve of Drycastle]]
* [[Reeve of the Happiston Mana Exchange|Reeve of the Happiston Mana Exchange]]
* [[Stone Smith|Stone Smith]]
* [[Vigilant Swan|Vigilant Swan]]
===Other===
* [[Brock's Toll|Keeper of Brock's Toll]]
* [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Summer]]
===Sodality Vote===
* [[Azure Sutannir|Azure Sutannir]]
* [[Burgher of Ketsov|Burgher of Ketsov]]
* [[Counsel of the Sun Chamber|Counsel of the Sun Chamber]]
* [[First Thorn of the Vallornguard|First Thorn of the Vallornguard]]
* [[Golden Fleet Salvagemaster|Golden Fleet Salvagemaster]]
* [[High Bard of the Empire|High Bard of the Empire]]
* [[Cat's Graces#Maestro|Maestro of the Cat's Graces]]
* [[Speaker of the Magpies|Speaker of the Magpies]]
* [[Vallornguard#Speaker_of_the_Vallornguard|Speaker of the Vallornguard]]

[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:Recent History]]
[[Category:388YE Summer]]
<div style='font-size: 0.75em;'>Last updated 18/07/2026</div>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:35:41Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Dare do all */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Umarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true liao following the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing 9 liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecrated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizen that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Memorial. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[Signs and Portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The target will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "''Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Drive|Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:35:18Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Dare do all */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Umarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true liao following the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing 9 liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecrated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizen that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Memorial. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[Signs and Portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The target will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "''Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Fist's Memorial|Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:34:10Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Dare do all */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Umarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true liao following the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing 9 liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecrated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizen that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Memorial. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[Signs and Portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The target will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "''Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:31:20Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Visionary */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Umarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true liao following the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing 9 liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecrated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizen that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Memorial. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[Signs and Portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The target will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "'' Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:29:51Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Drive */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Umarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true liao this after the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing 9 liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecrated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizen that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Memorial. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[signs and portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The taget will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "'' Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:29:19Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Drive */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Umarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true liao this after the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing X liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecrated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizen that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Memorial. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[signs and portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The taget will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "'' Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:28:42Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Drive */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Unmarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true lioa this after the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing X liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecreated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizen that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Mermoral. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[signs and portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The taget will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "'' Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The shadows fall behind you

2026-07-18T15:26:44Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Overview */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
<quote by='The Wind Erodes the Mountain, by Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer'>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end<br>
On south sands the spires and citadels of Urizen<br>
Bore witness as armadas and the army fought and bled<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Those maggots, marauders, they brought with them Mawrig's intent<br>
Destruction, devastation, the dirge of a Grendel advance<br>
A portent's in the water, see the signs, the runes were read<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Fleet foot flanking, they evade the enemy's gaze<br>
Into Elos harbour, the hero's hammer did raise

And shattered the enchantment of a tempestuous talisman<br>
Ruining the ritual and wrecking the purple clad plan<br>
The Warriors whispered "farewell", fell, then rose up from the dead<br>
Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest

Stand against storm and sea as sagas are laid to rest<br>
The wind erodes the Mountain, the First finally found it's end.
</quote>

<quote by='In Redoubt, by Ethelfrith Sigeling'>
In Redoubt,<br>
The runes fall, fated.<br>
As Ull lies with Yoorn,<br>
As the fleets flow in.

The tide turns, the swords drawn.<br>
Under Wanderer’s eye<br>
Waves wash on southern wharves.

Elos – lost<br>
And no hero hurries to the hopeless fight.<br>
But the skein demands our foe is forced to falter,<br>
The blade blunted, that, sea borne,<br>
Would bleed the mountain mage’s heart.<br>

So our soldiers stand, and,<br>
Step by hard-won step<br>
Break the wave,<br>
Shatter the sea-sphere.

A final blow<br>
Of a far-sighted fist.
</quote></div>
{{CaptionedImage|file=LastFistBanner.jpeg|caption=Great leaders inspire greatness in others|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
The ripples of the wave that broke on the shores of [[Redoubt]] continue to wash across the Empire. Last season, an [[opportunity]] was [[Flames_and_the_dark#The_Dream_Master|presented]] to create an [[inspirational location]] at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] docks using the last banner of the [[Fist of the Mountains]], a gift from [[general]] '''Umarth "Winter's Flame" Kannask'''. The banner was presented so that it could be raised at Elos when the port was retaken from the [[Grendel]]. The Grendel receded, the Empire surged, and the docks were [[Flames and the dark|quickly back in service]], soon to be joined by [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Acceptance:_Phaleron_and_Phoebus_Al-Pulpi|a new guest]] from the [[Realms#Day|day realm]].

None of this would have been possible without the sacrifice of the Fist of the Mountain. The oldest of the [[Wintermark]] [[army|armies]], they [[To ruin|gave everything]] to prevent the Grendel invaders destroying Elos with a weapon seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]]. If they had not been in Redoubt, the beautiful port-city would have been destroyed by the unleashed power of ''[[Siakha|Maelstrom]]'', and Urizen does not forget such sacrifice.

The [[Synod]] have indicated that they do intend to [[consecration|consecrate]] the restored docks at the [[Redoubt#Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]]. The benefits could be significant, leaving a lasting impact on the region. The unique and powerful aura would draw virtuous citizens to Elos to experience the effects, contemplate the sacrifice of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] and gaze upon the the banner that is ''Umarth's legacy''.
{{SOP|statement=The Empire is an amalgamation of our Ambitions. Each stronger as others take the burden. As Tian bore the flame, Umarth bore the consequence of decision. The Fist of the Mountains paid the price, now our Urizen must take the branches and carry the light. We call for a writ of consecration to build a flame that will burn on the docks of Elos. Let the mystics of Wintermark and the seers and illuminates of Urizen make pilgrimage. There they will reflect on the gift and burden of farsight, to show the Way to their people.|by=Eldrid 'Phoenix Flame' Vestardottir, Ambition Assembly|vote={{GM}} 332-0|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}

==Calling==
* '''The Ambition Assembly have claimed Unmarth's deed as an example of the path of Ambition'''
It is the [[Ambition]] Assembly who have claimed the deeds of the Fist of the Mountain as an example of their path. They cited the story of [[Tian]] who achieved great things, but at a great personal cost, and draw a parallel to the actions of the last general and the brave [[mystic|mystics]] of the Fist. Already, ambitious pilgrims from across Urizen and Wintermark are making the journey to Elos, to be there to witness virtue being made manifest for generations to come.

If the area is consecrated with [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] in the coming season it will have a lasting effect - assuming the Assembly confirm they wish to proceed.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

Should this mandate be passed, the banner will be hung in pride of place and the docks consecrated with the [[Auras_of_Ambition#Dare_Do_All|true consecration]] of Ambition. Like the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine#Academy_of_Arms|Academy of Arms]] in neighbouring [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]], it will become a place of pilgrimage and stand as a symbol of the courage of the Fist of the Mountain, and the bonds of loyalty between Urizen and Wintermark, as well as a celebration of ambition.

==Drive==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fist's Memorial'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Naris, Redoubt </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 wains of [[white granite]], 8 wains of [[mithril]] 60 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires Elos Harbour be consecrated with true lioa this after the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates the title Custodian of the Fist's Memorial
* Creates a sinecure producing X liao
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen or Wintermark national</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Ambition Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives an income of 9 [[liao]] each season
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* Maintain the the site and welcome visiting pilgrims
* Share the stories of the last stand of the Fist
* Encourage Imperial citizens to take a stand against the rapacious Grendel</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''If Elos harbor is consecreated this season, then it would be possible to create a memorial to the Fist'''
* '''The memorial would require a custodian appointed by the Ambition Assembly'''
* '''The title could be held by a Wintermarker or an Urizeni'''
* '''The memorial would improve natural resupply for mortal armies and navies from Wintermark and Urizeni that were resting in Elos'''
Unsurprisingly for a cadre of dedicants of [[Ambition]], the visiting clergy are not simply satisfied to do what was asked and then sit on their laurels. Ambition is not Prosperity, it does not leave time for resting and enjoying the fruits of one's labour, but to strive ever onwards to do ever more. The construction of a memorial is proposed, depicting in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relief relief] the brave acts of the warriors of the Fist for visitors to come and pay their respects for many years to come.

Should it be built, it will create the title of '''Custodian of the Fist's Memorial''', available to any Wintermark or Urizen citizen and elected by the Ambition assembly. They would be responsible for telling the tale of the sacrifice of the Fist, and welcoming any pilgrims to the site. As such, they would receive an income of liao from the civil service each season.

Not only this, but the constant stream of inspired pilgrims would mean that any Urizen or Wintermark [[army]] or [[navy]] who engaged in natural resupply in Redoubt would share in an additional pool of 250 force strength, representing donations and inspired volunteers from among the visiting pilgrims. Armies would need to take a special action to drum up support at Elos harbour, navies would need to put to port there to benefit.

Unfortunately, the [[Argent Sword]] cannot benefit from the Custodian of the Fist's Mermoral. The heralds respond to words like "volunteer" and "donation" in the same way a devout follower of the Way might respond to the vilest [[blasphemy]].

{{SOPInner|statement=In the spirit of forging a greater bond between our nations, and in honour of the Fist of the Mountains, we invite the stargazers of Urizen to meet with the mystics of Kallavesa within our swamps. We would share wisdom over the way we build, live and thrive within the swamp with the ambition to help further your aims in the Sarangrave.|by=Otso Usvaling, Wintermark National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 188-0|when=Spring 388YE}}
==Visionary==
<div {{float}}>
<box>
'''Dissipating Silks'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
{{Mage Armour}}
* '''Effect:''' You may ignore the ''roleplaying effects'' of any single [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] until the end of the battle.
* '''Materials:''' Crafting Dissipating Silks requires no special materials. It takes two months to make one of these items.
</div>
</box>
</div>
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Hero's Journey'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Night Ritual; Magnitude 22/18;'''<br>
''Grants a character with the hero skill a vision and two additional hero points''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the targets receives a single mystic vision related to things that are happening, have happened or may happen at the event, if they have the hero skill. The information is often cryptic and is not a catalogue of events that will happen, more the suggestion of things that are likely to happen, or that are relevant to those events. The vision is one of the [[signs and portents]] that a character can access with that ritual. In addition the targets gain two additional hero points, if they have the hero skill.

The taget will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are keenly aware of the significance of any impending social or martial confrontation. They feel the urge to carefully prepare for the forthcoming conflict, to ensure they are worthy of a hero's name. They find it hard to contemplate shying away from this confrontation, no matter the danger.
</div>
</box>
</div>
* '''If Elos docks are consecrated with true liao at the coming event, the Urizeni will add a schema for a new magical item to Wintermark Law'''
* '''If that happens, Wintermark mystics will arrange to have a new magical ritual added to Urizeni law'''

The [[stargazer|stargazers]] of Urizen and the [[mystic|mystics]] of Kallavesa have not historically spent a great deal of time together. Their natural geographical distance is matched by their different approaches to the supernatural. Still, the last few seasons have forged a great bond between the peoples of the north-west and south-east, threads from individual [[Wintermark_culture_and_customs#Skein|skeins]] interwoven into one great [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Net_of_the_Heavens|net]]. In honour of the links that have formed, each side has worked with their counterparts to prepare a great in the joint traditions of [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Crafting|crafting]] and [[Urizen_hearth_magic#Cession|cession]].

Arethas is one of the illuminates of the Spire of the Stallion's Volition. Known for his debating skills more than the power of his preaching, he has organised dozens of Urizeni magicians to work together to create a suitable gift for the Wintermark people who heroically sacrificed the Fist to save Elos. With the help of the [[Zenith#Crucible_of_Fate|great foundaries in Zenith]], Arethas and his allies have arranged for the creation of a copy of a rare schema that allows someone to learn how to make Dissipating silks. This powerful magical item can be worn by magicians taking the battlefield to provide them with a measure of protection from deadly blows. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, Arethas intends to pass the schema to [[Wintermark_Egregore|Wilda]] so that it can added to Wintermark Law.

Keen to reciprocate, a coven of kallevesa mystics, the Crescent's Eye have made arrangements with [[Sung|Feather on the Breeze]]. A generation ago, a catoblepas killed a favoured herald of the Night Singer and escaped to run amok in the marshes. The coven trapped the monster in a circle of moon-wards, allowing their hunters to finally defeat the beast. The ''Spiral Dancer'' gave the coven a powerful ritual that they could use to grant their hunters the power to overcome the monster. If the consecration of the Elos docks goes ahead, the Crescent's Eye intend to use [[Gift of Knowledge]] to put Hero's Journey into Urizen Lore.

==Dare do all==
* '''The Synod could use the true consecration to celebrate the Grendel's Ambition in attacking Elos docks'''
* '''What effect that might have on Grendel diplomacy or their view of Elos is unknown'''
Just when everyone thought that they had agreed on the proposal and were ready to submit it to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], something perhaps entirely predictable happened; an urizeni [[questor]] opened their mouth and inevitably an argument followed. ''Incommodus'' of the [[Spire]] of the Stallion's Volition asks a challenging question - was it not ''also'' an Ambitious plan of the [[Grendel]], to bring a volatile boon of the [[Siakha|''Maelstrom'']] to attempt to blow the dock to smithereens? Ambition has much to say about it being better to try and to fail than failing to try after all.

While Incommodus' proposal raises a lot of eyebrows it isn't ''entirely'' without precedent. Some Grendel are known to honour the "inspiration" of both [[Zemress]] and [[Emperor Barabbas]], even though both the [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and [[Highguard|Highborn]] figures were their committed enemies. There is an argument that virtue is contagious. The [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]] says that "'' Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species''" so is it that hard to believe that it can transcend the boundaries of nationality and enmity? Incommodus may be out of order, but perhaps he has a point.

After ''much'' debate, slightly different proposals are also drawn up to show not only the [[heroism]] and sacrifice of the Fist, but the [[Grendel_religion#Audacity|audacity]] and ambition of the Grendel in their plan that - while it ultimately failed - was certainly in service of a challenging goal. There were no Grendel available to comment, what with the war and all, and the [[The_League_people#Orcs_and_Humans|Apulian orcs]] approached for comment said they were now too long removed from the politics of the Salt Lords or the mood of the Questioners for them to feel confident in any suppositions they might make. They're followers of the Way now, after all, and be sure to write that down.

A mandate is somewhat grudgingly prepared, one that very much [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|in competition]] with the more traditional one already written.

{{Mandate|mandate=Consequences are the price of Ambition and it is better to try and fail than fail to try. We send (named individual) with a dose of true liao to consecrate the site where the last banner of the Fist of the Mountain flies. May all who see it, whether Imperial or otherwise, know that no price is too high to realise your dreams.|assembly=Ambition Assembly}}

If the mandate is enacted, it will still allow the creation of the [[#Fist's Memorial]], and inspire the exchange between Urizen and Wintermark. If the commission is raised following ''this'' mandate, it will need to be clear whether the focus of the reliefs are to be solely focused on the heroic sacrifice of the Fist, or shared with the Grendel invaders. In the case there is any doubt, the civil service will default to focusing on the Imperial Army.

What other effects it might have, especially with regard to diplomatic relations with the Grendel, if any at all, is unclear. They might ignore it of course, but they have shown a considerable interest in other consecrated locations in the past. The [[Ambassador to the Grendel]] may have their own opinion on the matter, but that will have to be sought at Anvil.

Incommodus' "helpful contribution" does raise an interesting point about inspiration however. Are the acts of the Empire's enemies worthy of commemoration in this way? Can they inspire the virtuous even though the folk who performed them are not themselves followers of the Way? At least one barbarian nation - the Jotun - honours their fallen enemies as well as their own dead and show reverence for the memorials to Imperial heroes they have never met. Should the Empire be doing the same? Any decision on that matter lies in the hands of the Synod, and will thus need to take place in Anvil where Incommodus is not especially inclined to venture.

<ic>
Down they came, the Fist the Fist</br>
And they saw through the mist, the mist</br>
They heard the sound the drums, the drums</br>
The Grendel fleet; it comes it comes</br>
Then Umarth looked he saw he saw</br>
To see their scheme before before</br>
They came to port to fight to fight</br>
But could not dodge his sight his sight</br>
The Maelstroms gift it roared it roared</br>
And crackled on the shore the shore</br>
But none would stop heroes heroes</br>
They came to fight in throes in throes</br>
A crystal brought to seek to seek</br>
Destruction here to wreak to wreak</br>
Yet heroes there stood tall stood tall</br>
Prepared they were to fall to fall</br>
And so they did proclaim, proclaim</br>
A hero has a name, a name</br>
</ic>

The brightest flame

2026-07-18T12:39:46Z

GuiltyConscience: /* The Nature of Fire */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:Peerless Kinship]]
<ic>"Look at Chalonsio, look at Rachensgrab!" Diraz's voice was rising as he warmed to his favourite subject.

"A triumph of the Ambitious and the Vigilant, to be sure." replied Anselm calmly.

"So you say, and yet both raids produced scores of spontaneous auras. Many of those auras were neither Ambitious nor Vigilant in nature."

"It is impossible to tell what Virtue a spontaneous aura is formed from. Miriam of the Cobalt Shield argues that spontaneous auras don't distinguish between the Virtues at all."

Anselm's host was in no mood to back down. "It's impossible to tell which Virtue an aura is part of with ''liao''. But it's as plain as your nose if you experience it. Many of those who went experienced auras of Freedom."

"Perhaps," Anselm conceded, "but we freed thousands of slaves. Perhaps it would be surprising if no aura of Freedom arose as a result."

"Right!" Diraz pounced on on the point. "So here is my question. Freeing the slaves of Chalonsio and Rachensgrab was, inarguably, the right thing to do. In that moment we were worthy to stand in Ahraz' shadow. If you had the chance to do it all over again, would you take it?"

"Without a moment's thought", replied Anselm, "slavery is a perversion of Virtue, it violates ''every'' tenet of Prosperity."

"And would you do it again knowing it would create auras of Freedom?" Diraz paused to let his point in sink in. "The Synod has proscribed Freedom. But if you free those people you will knowingly create scores of Freedom auras that the Synod has banned. Would you still do it, knowing your actions were spreading Freedom in their wake?"

Anselm paused for a moment to consider hie reply, but Diraz didn't wait.

"You must consider, my learned friend, what is heterodoxy but the cradle of orthodoxy? What was the Revelation of the First Empress but heterodoxy to the Patricians that is now our orthodoxy"</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 240px; clear: left; margin: 10px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Nim of Ebon's Hall.jpg|align=left|caption=Nim of Ebon's Hall has called or Highguard to offer their peerless kinship to the people of the Brass Coast.|width=240}}</div>
==Overview==
In the tradition of the founding nation, the [[Highguard|Highborn]] have once again expressed their [[Highguard_religious_beliefs#Peerless_Kinship|peerless kinship]], this time under the leadership of '''Nim of Ebon's Hall''' to their cousins in [[the Brass Coast]]. More specifically, they have identified the [[On_the_road_ahead#City_of_Passions|ascendant Firebrand movement]] whose embers have been stoked by the [[mandate]] of '''Isario i Riqueza''' and the commissioning of the [[On_the_road_ahead#City_of_Wonders|City of Wonders]] as a potential cause for concern.

The arrival of the Highborn is preceded by the words of '''Lita i Nadir i Riqueza'''. They spread across the nation, calling for unity in the shared pursuit of driving the empire forward in virtue, morality and the ever-changing Way. As a result, the [[The_Brass_Coast_culture_and_customs#Hospitality|famously hospitable Freeborn]] throw open their doors and welcome their guests to [[Segura#Anduz|Anduz]]. The Highborn [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] and pilgrims who engage in peerless kinship have a warm temperament and an open mind. Centuries dedicated to spreading the Way has made them effective interlocutors. Their commitment to the Way is uncompromising but they embrace the idea that if you want to be heard, then first you have to listen. They are skilled at getting others to talk and patient enough to wait for the quiet before they speak their own mind.

Some fear the worst however; Lita suggested the Freeborn look to the example set by [[Guerra]], one of the three founders of the Brass Coast. It is a brave choice! Arguably the first firebrand, Guerra famously turned her back on the Highborn [[chapter|chapters]], accusing them of moral cowardice. She left [[Highguard_history#The_Diaspora|early Highguard]] in part because she wanted nothing to do with the chapters or their beliefs.

Still that was centuries ago and times have changed dramatically since then. Provided people have changed with them, everything should be fine.
<div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px;">
{{SOPInner|statement=The Freeborn have a great opportunity ahead of them. By building the burning agora, the Firebrands will be revived and vigorous debate will begin in Anduz. This will spell a great era of discovery among the Freeborn, but they must remain Vigilant. The Highborn Assembly are well-posed to support the Firebrands in pushing the Way to excellence. There are no better partners in debate. In this, we provide our Peerless Kinship
|by=Nim, of Ebon's Hall, Highborn National Assembly|vote=250-12|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=As we look to the foundation of the Burning Agora, and the rekindling of the Firebrands of our nation. Look to Guerra as your example. We urge our Firebrands to use their forum to push for social change, build bridges, and speak on how to drive the Coast and the Empire forward together in virtue, morality, and the ever-changing Way. We welcome our Highborn siblings to join our debate in Peerless Kinship |by=Lita i Nadir i Riqueza, Freeborn National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 158-0|when=Spring 388YE}}
</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: left; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBBrassCoast.jpg|align=left|caption=Along with Dust and Glass, Fire is one of the three mystical pillars of Freeborn spirituality.|width=500}}</div>
==The Nature of Fire==
{{SOP|statement=We prize freedom and disdain arrogance. We send Isario i Riqueza with 50 doses of liao to encourage the citizens of Segura to create a place to discuss doctrine and encourage free thinkers. Every being deserves to live the life they want in the manner they wish.|by=Isario i Riqueza, Freeborn National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 154-0|when=Spring 388YE}}
<div {{float}}><quote by="Hosea of the Winter's Lament"> ...it is fitting they call themselves firebrands, for I might as well try to influence the fire itself. I could feed this fire and watch the world burn, or smother it and embrace the cold darkness. The one thing I cannot do is change them. The flames will not part for me if I plunge my hands into the fire. These flames will not part for anyone.</quote>
</div>
The visiting Highborn are made welcome throughout Anduz, including at the hearths of the firebrands. Most are charged little for a meal and a seat at a table; it is clear their hosts welcome the opportunity to debate virtue and faith. Their guests are as eager to listen as they are to talk, but even so the talk goes long into the night, with both groups embracing the opportunity to discuss their favourite topics. Conversation flows like [[The_Brass_Coast_culture_and_customs#Syrah|syrah]], with matters of Virtue, faith and doctrine discussed, alongside Imperial politics. In fact, many firebrands are more interested in the declarations of the Conclave and the motions of Senate than they are in [[the Doctrines of the Faith]], more concerned with the actions of the [[Military Council]] and the decisions of [[the Throne]] than [[The_Way#The_Paths_of_Virtue|the paths of Virtue]].

These debates are charged and passionate; the wise would expect nothing less of the Freeborn, but their fervour stands out in a crowded room. The firebrands are as committed to their ideals, as any [[grey pilgrim]] who gave up everything to walk the [[trods]]. As zealous in their beliefs as any [[wayfarer]] risking everything to bring the Way to the world. They are possessed of a surplus of self-belief that provides a bottomless well of confidence and a determination to fight for their cause that would impress any [[cataphract]]. It is clear they agree with their guests on many things - and they disagree on just as many. Without the inspiring words of Lita i Nadir i Riqueza, the debates would have quickly turned to arguments and worse.
<div {{float}}><quote by="Felix of the Far Tower"> ...I fear if they come into their own, they will set the world on fire. Not out of wickedness, but out of righteousness. And woe betide what is wrong, for they will burn it from our Empire, like a surgeon cauterizing the wound. Just like their beloved Ahraz did, they will risk everything in their determination to make the Empire a better place.</quote></div>
The conversations are revealing. The people of the Coast are [[The_Brass_Coast|notoriously candid]], and urged on by their assembly, the firebrands have little reason to hold back. In that way the attempt to express peerless kinship has been a tremendous success - it paints a detailed picture of the firebrands to their Highborn guests and to their neighbours all across the Brass Coast.

What emerges is a group profoundly committed to their ideals. Their principles are as varied as their syrah, but there are some common strands woven into every rug in Anduz. What matters to these descendants of Guerra is not Virtue or doctrine. Most follow the seven Virtues of the Way, but they use Virtue to drive them to action, few of them see it as a goal in itself. There are precious few firebrands interested in encouraging [[Ambition]] or building up [[Pride]]. They appreciate [[Wisdom]], but they don't value it for its own sake. Some of them are likely blasphemers; it's hard to avoid the signs that more than a few firebrands are dedicated to [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Anarchy|Freedom]] or worse, but they are not interested in spreading auras or dedicating others to a false virtue.
<div {{float}}><quote by="Anselm of the Broken Mill"> ...the danger is not that they are committed to Freedom, though some undoubtedly are. But even they don't care about the malign aura of Freedom. What they care about is freedom, and for that they are willing to risk anything to achieve it.</quote></div>

What drives them, what animates most of them is ''politics''. There is no conformity - there are firebrand corsairs outraged by the Asavean and Jarmish practices of slavery who are convinced that the Senate should outlaw any contact with these people. But there are firebrand merchants furious at the decision of the Senate to damage their [[Prosperity]] by restricting their right to trade freely with anyone they meet. There are firebrand [[kohan]] outraged at what they see as the failure of [[Loyalty]] by the [[Military Council]] to protect their lands from the Lasambrians and firebrand [[hakima]] who think the Council should leave the nations of the West to their own [[Vigilance]] against the [[Jotun]] while they concentrate their resources wiping out the wicked [[Druj]].
<div {{float}}><quote by="Aban i Darez i Guerra"> ...just imagine if our leaders had the same fire in their belly as the firebrands? Would a firebrand have allowed Feroz to fall? They would sooner burn it to the ground than see our home in Grendel chains. We will not rise until we put that passion in service to our nation.</quote></div>
If the spirit of the firebrands could be harnessed by the nation without taming it, then it might serve the Brass Coast well. Many firebrands argue that the Coast has lost more than any other nation in recent times, with Feroz languishing under Grendel control for years and Madruga drowned in salt, an easy target for the Wreckers and the Asaveans. It is easy to blame events, but the firebrands blame the decisions of the Military Council and the Senate, arguing that is has been Imperial strategy to sacrifice the Coast to achieve victory elsewhere. [[Emperor Ahraz]] was a firebrand and while he famously didn't put the Freeborn nation first, he definitely did put Freeborn priorities first. Some would claim that it was his refusal to compromise those priorities that ultimately brought him down.

If the Highborn and Freeborn Assemblies had hoped to influence the burgeoning firebrand movement, then the peerless kinship has been an abject failure. The one thing the firebrands are ''not'', is people looking for guidance. They are driven by a passionate commitment to their ideals, they believe that the Empire is deeply imperfect and they are certain that they know how to fix it. They are every bit as utopian as an [[Urizen|Urizeni]] [[architect]], and just as confident that they are right, but they cleave to their ideals with a fervour that is rarely matched anywhere in the Empire. Peerless kinship is subtle and powerful, and together the Highborn and Freeborn assemblies can achieve a lot; but it is helpless in the face of a group whose certainty and conviction armour them against any argument.

Those who talk to the firebrands are at pains to stress there is no wickedness here, not even among those who likely bear false auras. They don't denigrate the Way, but they dislike the idea of being constrained by it. The risks that some see might never come to pass, at least not in the current generation. But sooner or later another Ahraz will emerge... and when that happens, they and their followers would throw caution to the fire in their desire to rid the Empire of wrongdoing. Nobody now denies that the first Freeborn Emperor [[The_Courage_of_Ahraz|changed the Empire for the better]], but he [[The_Orc_Rebellion|brought it to the brink of destruction to do it]]. That legacy is who the firebrands are and ''nothing'' will ever change that.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Fire_on_Water.png|caption=Most fires can be quenched, at least a little, by the application of water.|align=right|width=500}}</div>

==Cooling Off==
* '''If the Burning Agora is built, the firebrands will be restored to prominence in Freeborn society'''
* '''The Highborn could help build a bathhouse in Anduz to cool the spirits'''

The peerless kinship of the Highborn has shone a light on the views of the firebrands, but it can do nothing to change their nature. These are the heirs of Guerra, who led her people out of Highguard away from the corruption of the Patricians ''and'' the virtue of the chapters because she believed it was the right thing to do. Ahraz and his allies were the first to call themselves firebrands and whatever else he did, Ahraz is the only Throne in Imperial history to march on Anvil with a barbarian army at his back. It is the essential nature of a firebrand to be committed to their cause and there is little in this world that can shake them from it.

Right now the Freeborn are equally committed. Building the City of Wonders means creating the Burning Agora and that means raising the profile of the firebrands and restoring them to prominence in Freeborn society. The influence of the firebrands died with Ahraz and the bitter divisions that his fall from the Throne wrought. Builing the City of Wonders means building the Agora and that means welcoming the firebrands back into public life, for better or for worse. The only way to change that now would be to abandon the plans for the new city of Anduz and pursue a different course. Perhaps a strongly worded statement by the General Assembly or the Assembly of the Way might convince the Freeborn to jump ship, but failing that, the outcome is inexorable.

Having talked with them at length, few people believe that the firebrands will be ''"pushing the Way to excellence"''. They will undoubtedly try to push ''the Empire'' to excellence, but few firebrands would be content to restrict their discussions to matters of Virtue and the Way. Frustrated that they are unable to find more ways to help, the Highborn pilgrims who have come to Anduz search for someting that ''might'' offer. There is no way to restrain the spirits of the firebrands, but might there be a way to cool their tempers?

<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Anduz Pools'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduz, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 white granite and 36 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the title Keeper of the Anduz Pools</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Does not require one of the Senate's limited commissions</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Opportunity ends if not commissioned before the end of Summer Solstice 387YE</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Keeper of the Anduz Pools'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Freeborn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 7 doses of liao and 7 crowns each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To oversee the pools and tend to the spiritual needs of those who visit them</td></tr>
</table></div>
''Felix of the Far Tower'', a modest chapterhouse dedicated to Prosperity and Ambition newly established in [[Reikos]] includes a number of skilled engineers in their ranks. They propose to construct a bathhouse in Anduz, a traditional Highborn affair with steam rooms, heated baths and cold plunge pools. Somewhere to wash off the dust from the road, but also a place to relax and let the heat of the day drain out of you. It won't put out the fire but who knows what good it might do?

The engineers are prepared to oversee the work, so it would not require one of the Senate's limited commissions provided it passed the Senate before the end of the coming Autumn Equinox. After that point, the engineers will have returned to Reikos and it will be too late. If it were built, the Freeborn National Assembly could the Keeper of the Anduz Pools each year. The Keeper would produce an income of 7 doses of liao and 7 crowns each season, from the grateful patrons of the pools.
<quote by="Emperor Vesna Borkovna Prochnost">False virtues must be rejected in all their forms. They bring destruction to our lives, souls and homes. I reject these malign forces, the synod rejects these malign forces, and so should you.</quote>
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Highborn.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
==Participation: Highborn==
Any Highborn character can roleplay that they were part of the group the came to visit and debate with the firebrands. You must decide how you feel about this nascent movement, it is clear that their passion could serve the interests of the Brass Coast well, but the risks are apparent. The firebrands have no commitment to the Doctrines of the Way; they openly question the foundations of the faith and some propose radical changes that could split the Empire apart. They are largely unconcerned with consequences, if something is the right thing to do, then the firebrands believe it should be done and no matter if everything burns as a result. It is easy to enjoy the company of the firebrands, their passion and enthusiasm is infectious, but they are fixated on what could be and have little concerned for what might be lost to achieve it.

In both cases, you will have come away with the impression that the Firebrands are a disparate group of passionate idealists, who are likely to have increasing influence and impact on the Brass Coast in the coming years. Ultimately, those who came expecting a cult of anarchists left disappointed, or pleased, as the case may be. The modern Firebrands are certainly open to discussing the spiritual force of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Anarchy||Freedom]], but they are more interested in discussing how the Empire might bring freedom to the world. There are many firebrands with novel takes on the seven true paths, their auras and the actual doctrines of the Synod, but in the end, most of them are actually more interested in the politics of the Empire than they are in matters of faith.

<quote by="Isaac di Sarvos">Ahraz shows us the necessity of Courage in facing wickedness and corruption not just in external foes to Humanity, but when it has become entrenched in our own societies ... Courage means to stand without quaking before evil, even when that evil is inside us and our allies.</quote>

==OOC Design Note==
The firebrand is an archetype that ultimately anyone can play. We will add it to the wiki after the burning agora is finished, at which point Freeborn players can officially update their characters if they want to do so. The archetype is intended to appeal to players who enjoy political conflict, who like to play characters that cause trouble, whether that is to fight for a cause or just to set the world on fire and watch it burn. Firebrands will usually find it easy to rally popular support in the Brass Coast, but how much impact that has will be down to the players who choose to play firebrands. We are confident that the more players embrace the ethos of the firebrand - to try to change the world and damn the consequences, the greater impact they will have. Ultimately it will come down to how players portry the archetype, if indeed anyone chooses to do so, and how other players react to them. As such, it is almost entirely beyond the capacity of a wind of fortune to influence that in the slightest.

The Doctrines of the Faith

2026-07-17T21:47:41Z

GuiltyConscience: /* The Doctrine of Enlightenment */

==Overview==
The history of the Doctrines of the Faith, which guide pilgrims along the path of [[the Way]], is not especially straightforward. Historians disagree about their precise origins, with the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] agreeing that the wording of the Doctrines as they are recognised today were first recorded in 73YE. The most well-known commentary on the Doctrines - the one many school children are familiar with - was written somewhat later in 106YE by a [[the League|League]] [[bishop]]. It speaks about the "underpinning" of each of the doctrines known at the time, although some priests disagree with its conclusions.

Two of the Doctrines - the [[#The Doctrine of the Howling Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] and the [[#The Doctrine of the Ancestors|Doctrine of the Ancestors]] are ''much'' later additions. Proposed by Bonewall Rek and Bonewall Cole of the [[Imperial Orcs]], they were recognised in the Empire as the result of a [[change of doctrine]] during the Winter Solstice 380YE. They proved somewhat controversial, especially with the ''präster'' of the [[Sumaah Republic]] who have still not accepted them and continue to [[If_the_wheel_is_fixed#The_Orc_Question|debate their implications]].

During the Spring Equinox 384YE, [[historical research]] was commissioned into the [[On the Doctrine of Human Destiny|origins of the Doctrine of Human Destiny]], which may also provide some insight into the way the Doctrines were codified.

==Doctrines of The Faith==
The doctrines of the faith represent the orthodox understanding of the Way. Each Doctrine is the product of experimental theology that has been debated, analysed and formally recognised by the Synod. Teaching doctrines that are at odds with, and thus undermine, the Doctrines of the Faith are regarded as [[Religious_crime#Heresy|heresy]] and are a [[Religious crime|crime]] under Imperial law.
===The Doctrine of Reincarnation===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;">
<big>''The human spirit is immortal. It inhabits mortal flesh for a span within the world before being liberated again, having gained knowledge and enlightenment. It traverses the Labyrinth of Ages before returning to mortal life through new birth.''</big></div></div>

'''Commentary:''' The Doctrine is underpinned by discovery and analysis of pure liao which, it has been concluded, provides visions of a person’s past lives. This is further supported by the discovery of archaeological evidence that matches the content of some liao visions.

===The Doctrine of Enlightenment===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;">
<big>''Virtue lies in choice and action. Virtue's power to exalt transcends the boundaries of soul, spirit, and species, guiding and inspiring both orcs and humans to their highest destiny. Through the practice of Virtue, orcs and humans develop the strength, knowledge, and enlightenment which marks their highest potential as thinking beings.''</big></div></div>

'''Commentary:''' This Doctrine was [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_3|proposed]] by Lady Clarice Novarion, and formally accepted by the General Assembly of the Imperial Synod, at the Autumn Equinox 385YE, replacing the disavowed [[#The Doctrine of Human Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]]. It identifies that virtue is not unique to humans. It celebrates the idea that through embracing virtuous behaviour, and taking virtuous action, orcs and humans alike can achieve their highest potential spiritually, and in the mortal world.

===The Doctrine of Seven===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;"><big>''There are seven Virtues that guide the spirit through the Labyrinth of Ages. These are Ambition, Courage, Loyalty, Pride, Prosperity, Vigilance and Wisdom. Other qualities may benefit humanity, but lend no aid through the passage of death to rebirth, and some may hinder it.''</big></div></div>

'''Commentary:''' This Doctrine is underpinned by extensive study of legends, relics, pure liao visions and priestly ceremonies to determine the truth and power of qualities. The seven Virtues are acknowledged as the consistent recurring pattern and proof of paragonhood and exemplardom. A byproduct of this Doctrine is that some figures of note were dismissed as being false paragons. The law of blasphemy was introduced to protect citizens from the teachings of false paragons.

===The Doctrine of The Paragons===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;"><big>''A truly virtuous spirit, one who is a paragon of Virtue, is capable of freeing itself from the Labyrinth of Ages through transcendence. A paragon spirit can be identified for having completed at least six of the eight signs of the paragon, after which it can be recognised by the Imperial Synod.''</big></div></div>

'''Commentary:''' The Doctrine is underpinned by the belief that some of the most virtuous spirits in history have never been the subject of a past life vision. The [[Signs_of_the_paragon_and_exemplar|signs of the paragon]] were devised as a series of tests to ascertain which were true paragons and which were exemplars. The Doctrine of the Paragons is an extension of the Doctrine of Human Destiny.

Among Imperial priests, there are a number of [[schools of thought]] regarding the meaning, role, and qualities of exemplars and paragons, and the role of the signs that define them.

===The Doctrine of the Creator===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;"><big>''Human destiny is our own. The Creator, whose hand can be seen in all patterns of nature, seeks no dominance of, control over or communion with human spirits''.</big></div></div>

'''Commentary:''' This Doctrine stems from the principle of seeing design in the patterns of creation, and prompted several experimental theological attempts to contact the Creator. The most common results of such experiments have been silence, which has been taken as proof neither one way or the other. A small number of experiments have resulted in the scholars involved losing their sanity from which mixed conclusions have been drawn. Some have held that the Creator Spirit is currently of a nature beyond comprehension – save, perhaps, by a Paragon or Exemplar – whilst others maintain that the strain of effort was too great.

===The Doctrine of the Labyrinth===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;"><big>''The Labyrinth of Ages is a place of pure spirit and beyond the true comprehension of any but a paragon. Flesh and blood may not enter, only that which is of spirit may traverse into and out of it, and it has no peer.''</big></div></div>

'''Commentary:''' The Doctrine of the Labyrinth was created by the Synod as a response to two, quite different, beliefs. It asserts the reality of the Labyrinth of Ages from those who doubt its existence, or believe it to be metaphor. It also seeks to refute the teaching of [[Schisms and Heresies|Realmists]] who speculate that the Labyrinth is a magical realm akin to [[Day Realm|Day]] or [[Night Realm|Night]].

===The Doctrine of the Howling Abyss===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;"><big>''Orcs live only one life. After death, the orcish soul either is lost to the Howling Abyss or crosses it to become an Ancestor who can guide and advise living orcs.''</big></div></div>

'''History:''' The Doctrine of the Howling Abyss was created by the Synod during the [[Symposium of Revelation]] during the Winter Solstice 380YE. It was proposed by the [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] [[Preachers|preacher]] Bonewall Rek, and [[Change of doctrine|accepted]] by the General Assembly as part of an attempt to better understand the nature of the orc soul, and the place of the Imperial Orcs in the Way. The [[Imperial_Orcs_religious_beliefs#The_Howling_Abyss|Howling Abyss]] is a feature of [[orc]] belief shared by both the [[Imperial Orcs]] and the barbarians, as far as is understood.

===The Doctrine of the Ancestors===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;"><big>''To cross the Howling Abyss an orc must be known for their deeds. Though there may be other ways to cross, embracing the Seven Virtues leads an orc to the Great and Inspiring deeds that make an Ancestor and a Virtuous Ancestor can guide future generations on the Way.''</big></div></div>

'''History:''' As with the Doctrine of the Howling Abyss, the Doctrine of the Ancestors was created during the Symposium of Revelation. It was proposed by Bonewall Cole, and supported by the General Assembly. The belief in [[Imperial_Orcs_religious_beliefs#Imperial_Orc_ancestors|ancestor spirits]] is a key feature of the beliefs of many orcs, both Imperial and barbarian.

==Disavowed Doctrines==
In Autumn 385YE, the General Assembly took the momentous decision to formally set aside the Doctrine of Human Destiny. It was disavowed in favour of the Doctrine of Enlightenment, the better to enable the Way to encompass the obvious Virtue of orcs as well as humans.

===The Doctrine of Human Destiny===
<div class="ic"><div class="ic-inner" style="display: block;"><big>''Only human spirits reincarnate, therefore humans are the greatest of all beings in creation for only human spirits gain strength, knowledge and enlightenment through rebirth. The paragons not only personify Virtue but the full potential of humanity.''</big></div></div>

'''Commentary:''' This Doctrine was underpinned by the discovery liao has no effect on orcs and, by assumed extension, other non-human beings. At the time it was widely held that miracles and achievements attained by the paragons were superhuman in nature and the eventual destiny of all virtuous humans. Replacement by the Doctrine of Enlightenment allowed the Way to acknowledge evidence of Virtuous behaviour in both orcs and humans. [[Historical research]] regarding the Doctrine, and its origins, was commissioned by the [[Minister of Historical Research]]; the resultant document, ''[[On the Doctrine of Human Destiny]]'' is publicly available to any Imperial citizen.

==Further Reading==
*[[The Way|The Way of Virtue]]
* [[Imperial Theology]]
** [[Liao]]
** [[The Doctrines of the Faith]]
** [[Signs of the paragon and exemplar]]
** [[Schisms and Heresies]]
** [[Investigative Theology]]
*[[Synod]]
*[[Religious skills|Religious Skills]]
*[[Religious Crimes]]
*[[On the Doctrine of Human Destiny]] - A report from the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] about the origins of the [[#The Doctrine of Human Destiny|Doctrine of Human Destiny]]

[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

Full circles

2026-07-17T17:06:27Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Regarding the Convocation */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]]
<ic>The servant - Marinus had been at pains to explain that they were definitely no slaves in his household and everyone working for him was fairly rewarded for their labours - placed a glazed clay bowl in front of Nevyn. It was three-quarters filled with clear water, and there were leaves floating in it. A tiny mote of panic began to grow in the Navarr vate. He had no idea what he was meant to do with it. Was it soup? It was cold - but there were cold soups, he knew. Should he use a spoon, or pick it up in his hands? Was he meant to eat the leaves? He'd accepted Marinus' invitation expecting another rough meal round a campfire such as they'd enjoyed while campaigning against Oblivion, not this sit-down meal with tables, and chairs, and bowls of... whatever this was.

Not for the first time he imagined that his brother in the Celestial Arch would have already looked up everything about Jarmish meal etiquette and know exactly what to do. He could feel Marinus' eyes on him, feel the amused expression on his face as the old naga watched to see what he would do.

Someone kicked him in the ankle. It was the young woman sat across the table from him, and she had an exasperated expression on her face. When he looked over, she pointedly dipped her hands into the bowl in front of her and washed them. He shot her a quick smile, and she rolled her eyes at him before admonishing Marinus.

"Father, this is not how we treat guests in this house. You're being rude."

Marinus had the good grace to blush slightly, although it was barely visible on a face already speckled with cherry-red scales.

"You're right, Mirandir my sweet. I was just interested to see if our guest would recognise the custom."

Things clicked quickly into place for Nevyn then.

"Oh, it's like the Highborn tradition then," he said, laving his own hands in the cool water. There was an odd tingle, by no means unpleasant, presumably from the thick fleshy leaves. He looked around for something to dry his hands on that wasn't his trousers, but before he could find anything his neighbour handed him a little towel without really looking at him, still in conversation with the fellow to this left.

"It is indeed," Marinus agreed. "Although I think we have improved on it a little bit. The ''harilik aaloe'' secretes a sap that soothes the skin. My forbears were given to heavy work, and used the juice regularly to treat inflammation and blisters. Today it reminds us of their Prosperity and Ambition, and by sharing our towels as Calibir just did, it helps build the bonds of friendship and Loyalty. Every ceremony has a meaning if you pick away at it long enough. This one I have a particular fondness for - we took a tradition of the Highborn wayfarers, and made it our own without disrespecting its origin, and that should be a source of Pride for anyone."

Marinus' brow crinkled in mock outrage suddenly.

"However, my nephew is being unforgivably rude by not acknowledging you at our table, and he has been raised better than that."

The young man jumped, and spoke quickly in Jarmish, words falling over themselves in his haste. The Navarr picked out a few words - welcome, unity, words and deeds. The rest was a mishmash of syllables he would have struggled to untangle even if the lad had been speaking more slowly. Calibir looked to his uncle, who nodded, and then he went back to his conversation. Mirandir rolled her eyes again, as only a teenager can.

"So now you are welcome to my table and our fellowship," said Marinus, beaming. "Again mostly ceremonial, but it means that if anyone tries to kill you before we've finished eating I have to defend you even at the cost of my own life. And after the week we have had, fighting those murderous -" he said a word Nevyn hadn't learned yet that made Mirandir blush in her turn " - anyone who ''is'' unwise enough to interrupt our meal by trying to kill you is not going to live long enough to regret it."

Nevyn assumed his host was joking, but then realised he was deadly serious. He glanced quickly around the table, and while most of the rest of the family were busy talking and washing their hands, he saw steel in the gaze of Mirandir and a few of the others he knew were fluent in Imperial.

"Its the kind of thing my forbears took very seriously even before they knew words like ''Truduus'' or ''Julgus'' - Loyalty or Courage as you would say." Marinus chuckled self-deprecatingly. "But also my ancestors would never forgive me if I let a guest at our table be stabbed between the hand-washing and the coffee."

"Ancestors?" said Nevyn, furrowing his own brows slightly.

"A turn of phrase," said the Jarmish magician airily, dismissing it with a wave of his hand. "But come, it is time for food. I've had my cook prepare any number of traditional dishes for you to try and while we're eating, you can tell me all about this new 'proscription' business you mentioned the other day before the ambush."

Three more servants began distributing bowls and plates groaning under the weight of brightly coloured foodstuffs Nevyn had never encountered before, and he silently hoped that he'd be too busy putting food in his mouth to fit his foot in it.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderSevenfoldPath.jpg|caption=The magicians of the Sevenfold Path build a bridge between the Conclave and the priests of the Synod - and now perhaps with priests even further afield.|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Sevenfold Path continue to support the fight against Cold Sun in Jarm
* '''They have made a major donation of liao to the Wayist priests of the Jarmish Convocation of Virtue
The situation in the [[Commonwealth]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarm]] is tense, to say the least. Accusations fly back and forth about who precisely instigated the [[Cold war|incursion]] of [[Cold Sun]] in Lantir. The Empire is caught up in them, and Imperial magicians are being treated with additional suspicion in both nations.

Or rather, most of them are. The [[Sevenfold Path]] are in Jarm, helping to resist the advance of Cold Sun. As magicians known for their religious connections, they prompt a number of reactions from their peers. Many simply ignore their commitment to the Way - religion is after all considered a private matter for Jarmish folk. Others take every opportunity to challenge them, often motivated by bitterness about perceived insults or past attempts to overturn society. A small number enthusiastically welcome them and their aid, either because they have seen first hand what the ''[[Cold Sun#Heralds|scions]]'' can do or because they are already adherents of the Way.

It is this latter group that the Sevenfold Path magicians in Jarm made contact with [[Weaving_tangled_nets|last season]], and with whom some have continued to cultivate closer ties while around them the chaos of Cold Sun is matched by the chaos of international diplomacy.

there is some controversy closer to home. Magicians of the [[Sevenfold Path]] have been [[Weaving_tangled_nets#Sevenfold Path|active in Jarm]], offering support against Cold Sun and in the process

==Virtuous Friendship==
* '''The Sevenfold Path have made a significant donation of liao to the Convocation of Virtue
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[File:Assembly Ambition.png]]
[[File:Assembly Courage.png]]
[[File:Assembly Loyalty.png]]
[[File:Assembly Pride.png]]
[[File:Assembly Prosperity.png]]
[[File:Assembly Vigilance.png]]
[[File:Assembly Wisdom.png]]
</div>
In the process of fighting Cold Sun, magicians of the Sevenfold Path have made friendly contact with the ''Convocation of Virtue''. They are a loose, informal fellowship of scholars from across Jarm dedicated to study of the seven virtues. Some of them trace their roots back to [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] and [[Urizen|Urizeni]] [[illuminate|illuminates]] while others have more recent origins as converts of the Sumaah or in some cases the Sarcophan Delves. A wryly admit to having converted ''themselves'' - a handful cite the influence of poorly translated copies of the ''[[Seer_of_the_Gateway#Publication_2|Echoes of the Labyrinth]]'' as instrumental in leading them to their faith. While they came to the Way by disparate paths, and members regularly disagree with each other, they are drawn together by a fundamental belief in the power of the virtues, and the exaltation of the human spirit.

In pursuit of securing closer ties, a dramatic gift of liao was arranged by the Sevenfold Path during the Spring Equinox. The [[Conclave]] agreed that the [[Conclave order|order]] should [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Sevenfold_Path_and_Convocation_of_Virtue|continue to provide their good example in Jarm]]. Unfortunately, there was a little controersy around the declaration itself. It was brought by '''Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo''' on behalf of the Sevenfold Path, rather than being raised by the Grandmaster '''Elagabala'''. The declaration still stands however, and has still had its effect, but the magistrates are investigatung the situation as a potential [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_against_the_Processes_of_the_State|subversion of the agencies of the state]].

Regardless, the liao was still collected and provided to the Convocation, and the Sevenfold Path remain engaged in Jarm despite the current political hullabaloo. Some of the liao will go towards creating virtuous auras to help in the fight against Cold Sun, but perhaps more importantly it will also allow the Convocation to [[consecration|consecrate]] their meeting houses, [[dedication|dedicate]] more priests, and spread the inspirational touch of the Way to their fellow pilgrims.
===Regarding the Convocation===
* '''The Sevenfold Path has learned more about the Convocation and its practices
Fighting alongside them against Cold Sun has given members of the Sevenfold Path more insight into the Convocation of Virtue. They certainly appear to represent the most organised and widespread followers of the Way in Jarm. They number both magicians and mundane citizens among their number, who view the virtues as a path toward not only enlightenment but also as guides to help them pursue their personal ambitions.

There are other notionally individual followers of the Way or even small sects spread across Jarm, but the Convocation regretfully describes them as closer to "cultists" than actual pilgrims. It's not uncommon for a group to adopt one or two of the virtues, for example, in a manner similar to the sects of the Axou, or to create their own garbled version of the [[Doctrines of the Faith]] that serve their particular agenda. There are other actual sects who follow the Way, but they are at odds with the Convocation as a whole, often insisting on a form of "ideological purity of faith" that the Convocation cannot embrace. There are even, apparently, a few cells of zealots drunk on the tents of [[Courage]] and [[Ambition]] who use criminal methods to attack the interests of the Princes, invariably leading to them meeting the same kind of end such groups would meet in the Empire. While their commitment to their interpretation of virtue is clear, they nonetheless cause real problems for those who don't share them but who look like them in the eyes of some of the suspicious Magician-Princes.

The Convocation is somewhat conservative in its beliefs, but has wholeheartedly embraced the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Enlightenment|Doctrine of Enlightenment]]. They have extensively discussed the other Doctrinal changes the Empire has undertaken - but find that those relating to [[orc|orcs]] are broadly irrelevant to them. There are factions within the Convocation who are staunch abolitionists, wishing to see slavery ended in the Principalities for numerous reasons relating to [[Pride]], [[Prosperity]], and [[Ambition]]. Others see it as a necessary part of the Jarmish traditions, and point to the tenets of [[Pride]], [[Prosperity]], and [[Ambition]] as supporting the institution.

Unlike the Synods of the Empire and [[Sumaah Republic]], there are no formal ranks within the Convocation - nothing like a [[Cardinal]] for example. Individual sects may be a little more structured, particularly the larger ones, but even there their leaders more closely resemble [[the League|League]] [[bishop|bishops]] than any Synod title. When decisions need to be made, priests reach an agreement via debate, extensive letter-writing, and an annual meeting that takes place during the Winter Solstice each year. It's also interestingly rare for members of the Convocation to prioritise one virtue over the other six, and is often viewed as a sign that someone is straying from the path. One Sevenfold Path magician notes that if the Convocation of Virtue were to join the Imperial Synod, they would be solidly placed in the Assembly of the Way.

While the Convocation tends towards the scholarly, they are by no means passive. The level of proselytising varies from sect to sect, but many are committed to the ambition of sharing the virtues with anyone who will listen. Most Princes generally tolerate them - but by no means all. The Jarmish attitude to religion and faith as a purely personal matter protects them from censure, but some Princes closely identify the Convocation with the Imperial Synod and treat it with a significant degree of suspicion. There is always a threat of ''some'' kind of clampdown on the Convocation by the House of Princes - every time the Empire or Sumaah does something that annoys the Jarmish government concerns are raised about the pilgrims in the Principalities. Ultimately, though, it is the relaxed attitude to matters of faith that means nothing ever comes of this. To crack down on someone for their spiritual beliefs would not only set dangerous precedents, it would broadly be viewed as ''gauche'' by most of the people of Jarm.

It is however hard for the Sevenfold Path to shake the suspicion that the Convocation represents a specifically ''Jarmish'' approach to the Way. Its members don't deny that they share a religion with the Empire, but they don't look to either the Imperial Synod or the Sumaah Houses of the Way as their "leaders". They see themselves more as equals to the Synod and the Houses, laughable as that might appear. They are certainly keen to cultivate ties with the Sevenfold Path - who are after all magicians - and accept their aid in strengthening the faith in Jarm.

==Vasilisa the Pilgrim==
* '''The Convocation does not recognise paragons and exemplars
* '''They honour a figure called Vasilia the Pilgrim as their spiritual progenitor
* '''There is an opportunity to learn more about Vasilia using historical research
One figure who is referenced several times in discussion with the Convocation of Virtue is that of ''Vasilisa the Pilgrim''. Vasilisia is viewed as an inspirational figure by the Convocation of the Way. While the Convocation does not formally recognise any paragons or exemplars, they still honour inspirational figures. Stories of these figures are used as parables, as part of sermons or religious instruction, or sometimes to hide the teachings of the virtues in "plain sight" for a wider audience unaware of their religious underpinnings. Vasilisa is pretty universally respected by the priests of the Convocation, amny of whom speak of her with a degree of actual affection.

According to the stories told to the Sevenfold Path, Vasilia was a magician from northern Jarm who travelled across the early Principalities and beyond in a quest to understand the unknowable. She weighed and examined the many spiritual truths she encountered through the lens of her own beloved traditions, and took every opportunity to encourage others to do the same.

To the priests of Jarm, she is closely tied to their understanding of Pride - that shame is an anchor that drags one down; that the virtuous inspire others with their words and deeds so that they can see how to change their own lives; that every individual is fundamentally shaped by where they come from no matter how far they may travel from their homes; and that while one should never be ashamed to change one's mind, neither should one throw away the traditions and beliefs that makes someone who they are. She is also seen as a figure of great Wisdom - knowing that she did not know everything; embracing doubt over convenient certainty; carefully testing the claims of priests and spiritualists; listening sincerely to others with different experiences and opinions but never taking their words as gospel; putting together the building blocks of thought to create her own understanding of the world.

It all gets a little esoteric in places, but fundamentally Vasilia is seen by the Convocation as ultimately being their founder, even though she apparently lived and died long before the first missionaries brought the early inkling of the Way to Jarm. When challenged on this, they explain that she created a blueprint whereby Jarmish folk interested in matters of faith and spirit could engage with it without surrendering their identity as people of the Principalities. It was through her example that the original Convocation came together, and so they view her as their spiritual progenitor.
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Vasilia the Pilgrim and Jarmish inspiration'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Historical Research</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Should clearly indicate it is an invitation to the Convocation of Virtue to share stories of Vasilia the pilgrim, and their approach to inspirations</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' None additional</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Produces a historical research document relating to Vasilia the Pilgrim and Jarmish attitudes to paragons and exemplars</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One yer; until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Dependant on the Convocation of Virtue remaining well-inclined to the Sevenfold Path</td></tr>
</table></div>
A polite enquiry by one of the Sevenfold Path members indicates that the Convocation is absolutely open to . After some discussion, the proposal is that if either the [[Lepidean_Librarian#Lepidean_University|Lepidean University]] or the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] offer a formal invitation to members of the Convocation to visit the Empire to share their stories, they would happily share more about Vasilia the Pilgrim, and about their attitude to inspirational figures in general. Obviously, this would require either the [[Lepidean Librarian]] or the [[Minister of Historical Research]] (or the [[Senate]]) to commission the appropriate [[historical research]].
===Path of the Spirits===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House of the Pilgrim'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Coastal region on the Bay of Catazar</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 white granite, and 36 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Provides hospitality to Jarmish pilgrims of the Way visiting the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' The commission must clearly indicate it is a place for Jarmish pilgrims of the Way to find hospitality</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Convocation of Virtue proposes an edifice in the Empire to offer hospitality to visiting Jarmish pilgrims
The initial gift of liao is valuable, but it is only a start. After discussion, a proposal is put forward. It's currently... challenging... for Jarmish merchants to visit the Empire. There's some talk of arranging trade via Zemelslo but that doesn't feel especially efficient, given that it would be dependant on the winds of politics (which seem to be blowing in a distinctly unpredictable way at the moment). Likewise, any attempt to re-establish something along the lines of the Limitu Principality House of the Way would be utterly dependant on the patience of one Magician-Prince or another - and more importantly their entire families and all their successors.

What they would like is for the Sevenfold Path to arrange the creation of a pilgrim's shrine in the Empire - the ''House of the Pilgrim''. It would need to be constructed in a coastal region on the Bay of Catazar, with a clear mandate to welcome and offer hospitality to Jarmish pilgrims who wish to visit the various [[Inspirational_location|sites of virtue]] across the Empire, and to discuss the Way with their Imperial peers (by which they mostly mean the Sevenfold Path, but also enlightened members of the Synod). It needn't be anything expecially [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandiose]] - the Convocation is talking about an [[edifice]] using at least 12 wains of [[white granite]], that would take three months to build, and have a basic cost of 36 crowns in labour costs.

Ensuring Jarmish pilgrims were welcomed, free to meet with followers of the Way in the Empire, and perhaps most crucially, free to purchase liao, then it would create an avenue for the Sevenfold Path to strengthen ties with the Convocation. In return, the Convocation would provide the [[Sevenfold_Path#Conclave_vault|vault]] of the Seventfold Path with a number of Jarmish "star jewels" - one each of the ''Jewel of the Celestial Bowl'', the ''Jewel of the Celestial Eagle'', the ''Jewel of the Celestial Tower'', and the ''Jewel of the Celestial Spring''. These [[Magic_items#Talismans|talismans]] empower magicians to use their spells more frequently, and presumably would be useful to the members of the Order or their friends.

The edifice presents other opportunities, although not ones that are proposed by the Convocation directly. While the Jarmish priests don't request anything of significant grandeur, a larger edifice than the minimum suggested, especially one that incorporated either beautiful gardens (representing the inclusion of at least 5 wains of [[weirwood]]), or a library combining religious and magical ropics (representing the inclusion of at least 5 wains of [[mithril]]), or that was simply larger and more beautiful (representing more wains in general) could not help but impress the pilgrims.
==Blossoms of Virtue==
* '''The Sevenfold Path or the Empire could pursue closer ties with the Convocation
* '''The Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path could guide their order to engage in discussion with the Convocation
* '''Some methods have been identified; others doubtless exist
Other ways to further impress the Convocation, and increase their enthusiasm for the Empire, would be if the finished edifice were to be [[Consecration#True_Liao|consecrated]] with [[liao#true liao|true liao]] by the [[Pride]] assembly, or if the [[Synod]] were to [[recognition|recognise]] ''Vasilisa the Pilgrim'' as an exemplar or paragon. It's impossible to predict what the outcome would be, but any of these approaches would certainly encourage friendship between the Convocation of Virtue and the Sevenfold Path - and potentially, ultimately, the Synod.

What doesn't seem to be on the cards at the moment is any personal contact with the Convocation. Their lack of titles and structure means that there is nobody "in charge" and while there are a number of respected scholars among them, none have so far put themselves forward. Some of the Sevenfold Path magicians believe this might be a form of precaution against censure; the more organised the Convocation becomes the easier it is to see it as a threat. Likewise, proof of "secret missives" flying back and forth between Imperial citizens and Jarmish followers of the Way risk providing grounds for the more xenophobic Princes to take action against the Convocation. For now, then, any approaches to the Convocation will need to be made with care, likely using tools such as Synod [[judgement|judgements]] and Conclave [[declaration|declarations]].
{{CaptionedImage|file=Elagabala Preaching.jpg|caption='''Elagabala ''', Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path|align=right|width=450}}
The Sevenfold Path currently remains in Jarm, helping to fight Cold Sun. If the [[Grandmaster]] of the Sevenfold Path wished, they could use a [[Declaration]] to [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guide the order]] to further engage with the Convocation. As well as continuing to battle the ''scions'', magicians of the [[Conclave order|order]] would spend time with their Jarmish fellows and further explore their connection to the Way. The Grandmaster could name a specific question about the Convocations approach to spiritual matters, their opinion on specific doctrinal issues, the specific challenges facing them as followers of the Way in Jarm, or their attitude to touchy subjects such as slavery, orcs, or the ''magocracy''. This would have the usual costs, but would provide an entry in the Winds of Fortune for the Autumn Equinox detailing more about the chosen topic. Even if Jarm chose to eject the Conclave Orders, the information would still be gleaned before the order was forced to leave. Guiding the order in this way would incur the usual costs.

The civil service also urge caution. Drawing attention to the growing relationship between the Sevenfold Path and the Convocation - via discussing them in an [[Ambassador|Ambassadorial]] letter for example - could prove detrimental to the fragile ties being established. It could also cause problems for the Convocation, especially given the current situation in Jarm.
{{Jarm Links}}

War games

2026-07-17T16:45:23Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Public Record */

[[Category:Wind of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>The ambassador looked at his team, at the long lines of exhaustion carved into their faces. They'd been pouring over every word in the message for two days now, looking at every possible interpretation. What could they possibly mean by that? There had been little enough rest this last year, and none at all since the winged message arrived and turned the world upside down.

What was the saying the Sarcophan had? "Things are always darkest before the ship goes down." Bloody Sarcophan black humour.

And besides it wasn't true, not really. Things had been looking up these last few days. The Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges had made his offer, and both governments had agreed to send their brightest and their best. Negotiations would be fraught obviously, bound to be. But it was plain enough to their side how bad the situation was getting, it was bound to be the same for their old adversaries. A lasting peace was hardly likely, but without a ceasefire the Cold Sun would continue its rise. Thousands more would die. More towns and cities reduced to crystalline slag. Surely their people could make the other side see they would need to swallow their pride or this would be the end of them.

The ambassador sighed, and wiped a hand across their forehead. It had been a long nine months, never mind a long three days. Nine months doesn't even scratch the surface, really. Long days and exhausting nights since the quiet war turned loud. Two giants pressed shoulder-to-shoulder for too long. Anyone could have predicted the outcome. The secret to avoiding war, the ambassador read once, is to make sure everyone has enough room to swing their army around. Or to beat their chests, perhaps.

At least they were not alone against the Oblivion Gate. The Empire has proved invaluable in recent months. Their incursion might have been on a smaller scale, but the experience it had given them was invaluable. A year ago, it would have seemed inconceivable that their magicians would be on the battle-lines, but here they were. They'd helped save lives and if this meeting Clever Spider had arranged went well, perhaps the door on Cold Sun could finally be closed... Then the recriminations can begin in earnest he thought with a sardonic chuckle.

The ambassador sighed gloomily and pulled his thoughts back to the room. He coughed to clear his throat. "Right, we've been over this letter fourteen times now. Today we're going to go over it again. Before we start, I'll remind everyone that we all know what it says, we've all got a copy in front of us, we're here to work out what it ''means''."

It was always the same, nobody wanted to go first. They inclined their head slightly to lock eyes with the understudy and nodded to indicate he should start with his analysis. The fellow was too ambitious by far; it would be good for him to get a taste of leadership here at the sharp end of the wedge.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Checkmate explained.jpg|align=left|caption=Cold Sun is not the only thing causing chaos among the great powers of the east.|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Commonwealth and Jarm remain at war'''
* '''Cold Sun has destroyed the minor nation of Lantir'''
* '''The ''scions'' of Cold Sun threaten both larger nations'''
The [[Commonwealth]] and the [[Principalities of Jarm]] have been at open war for some time now, a conflict that erupted over control of the borderlands between their nations. Now, the tiny country of Lantir is no more - the [[Cold Sun]] has risen and the ''scions'' seek to [[Cold war|ravage the two eastern powers]] as they once attempted to do in the Empire. Attempts to contain the incursion [[Weaving_tangled_nets#Against_the_Cold_Sun|have failed]], despite the aid of Imperial soldiers and magicians. The failure of the two rival powers to appreciate the full magnitude of the threat posed threat by the ''Oblivion Gate'' means there has so far been no coordinated response to the invasion. Yet even in this time of heightened conflict, the wheels of diplomacy continue to turn... and sometimes those same wheels snag your sleeve and before you know it your entire arm has been crushed to pulp.
==Principalities of Jarm==
* '''The Empire remains at peace with the Principalities of Jarm, but trade with that nation is embargoed
* '''The Senate has approved trade with the tiny independent nation of Zemelslo that lies within the Jarmish sphere of influence
* '''Jarm is at war with Imperial allies in the Commonwealth, and faces the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Principalities is Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll, of Highguard
The ''magocracy'' of the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are not exactly friendly to the Empire. Ruled by the House of Princes, relations have been rocky for years. The Empire is allied with their great rival, the Commonwealth, via the [[Liberty Pact]], and have made several attempts to interfere in Jarmish interests. They may not be at war with the Empire at the moment, but diplomatic relations remain somewhat chilly. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], and [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll of [[Highguard]]}}

==Commonwealth==
* '''The Commonwealth remains friendly to the Empire, and allied via the Liberty Pact'''
* '''The Commonwealth is at war with the Principalities of Jarm
* '''The Commonwealth has recently encountered the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Commonwealth is Cyrus of Ebon's Hall of Highguard
{{Nation|nation=Commonwealth|status=Foreigner|port=[[Commonwealth_ports#Leerdam_(Eastern_Commonwealth)|Leerdam]] and [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_(Western_Commonwealth)|Volkavaar]]|ambassador=Cyrus of Ebon's Hall of [[Highguard]]}}
The Commonwealth are one of the closest allies the Empire has among the great powers of the known world, thanks primarily to their shared membership of the [[Liberty Pact]]. Both nations are dedicated to extending their influence over the whole world, but for now their rivalry with the Empire remains amicable. Even if it the two great nations must eventually clash, nobody sees that happening any time soon. The Empire shared its mastery of magic with the magicians of the Commonwealth, and Commonwealth soldiers fought and died alongside the Freeborn in the [[A beacon of smoke|fall of Siroc]].

Their ambassador to the Empire is ''Militärattache Ludkhannah Schöningen'', of Die Stahlhalle in the port-city of Volkavaar, a veteran soldier who reports to the generals who hold the reins of political power in their nation. An old campaigner, they generally speak plainly and as honestly as any politician can when dealing with their Imperial counterpart.

==Cold Sun==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cold Sun Art.jpg|align=right|caption=The Lantir Incursion sees scions of Cold Sun expanding outwards from a central point, and the number of heralds involved is orders of magnitude greater than the armies that invaded the Empire.|width=300}}</div>
* '''Cold Sun continues its incursion on the borderlands of the Commonwealth and Jarm
* '''At the request of the Autumn archmage, the eternal Prospero has brokered a summit to address cooperation between the two nations
* '''Several Conclave orders continue to support the Principalities of Jarm
* '''There have been major revelations about the factors that lead to the Lantir incursion
* '''These revelations have resulted in significant disruption
Following the Autumn Equinox, the [[Cold Sun]] began a [[Cold war|major incursion]] into the lands between the Commonwealth and the Principalities of Jarm. The tiny nation of Lantir, whose disposition had ultimately led to the war currently raging between the two great powers, was destroyed and overrun. Six [[Conclave order|Conclave orders]] and one [[army|Imperial army]] were able to provide direct aid to the two great nations of the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] in their fight against the ''[[Cold_Sun#Heralds|scions]]'' of ''Endless Nothing'' but the situation continued to look dire. Centuries of rivalry, and the ongoing war between the two great powers, meant that they were unable to reach anything like a coordinated plan of response to the forces of ''Oblivion''. Efforts to contain the blight failed, and the ''scions'' continued to spread across the borderlands, and began to press into Commonwealth and Jarmish territories.

The last season has seen the fighting continue, and members of the Conclave orders involved continue to provide support both on the front lines and behind the scenes. The presence of experienced [[Rod and Shield]] warrior-magicians fighting with Commonwealth soldiers has proved especially effective at countering probing strikes by the ''scions''. Yet each order has contributed in their own way. There has also been some measure of assistance from officers and veterans of the [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[army|armies]], visiting the Commonwealth as part of an effort to [[Towards_a_common_good#Doctrine|build closer ties]] between Highguard and the martial nation.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Vossk.jpg|caption='''Vossk''', Archmage of Autumn|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Following the Spring Equinox, and in part thanks to efforts by the [[Celestial Arch]], there has been an unofficial redirection of forces away from the battle lines between the two nations. This repositioning doesn't represent any kind of ceasefire, but perhaps a grudging awareness in both governments that soldiers fighting each other are effectively doing Cold Sun's job for it. Negotiations about a full ceasefire are underway, with the Jarmish broadly in favour (again thanks to the Celestial Arch as much as anything else), and the Commonwealth being stubborn.

Regardless, it seems that Cold Sun has made only minor gains this season in territories bordering Lantir. Sadly, while only a few regions have changed hands, there have been numerous deeper raids aimed at claiming [[mithril]] and [[ilium]] that have seen hundreds die and further stretched the resources of the [[Silver Chalice]] to help grant succour to the ''scions'' civilian victims.

There is some good news, however. Emissaries of the Commonwealth and the House of Princes have agreed to meet on neutral ground to discuss cooperation against the devastating rampage of Cold Sun. The Jarmish were already prepared to accept the need for collaboration with their bitter rivals due to the [[Weaving tangled nets#Celestial Arch|politcal machinations]] of the [[Celestial Arch]]. The [[Archmage of Autumn]], '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' prevailed on the [[Prospero|Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges]] to bring the Commonwealth to the negotiation table, and provide neutral ground for those negotiations to take place. Neither side trusts the other, but a summit to discuss a ceasefire and potential cooperation was agreed to.

Unfortunately, the preliminary reports of that meeting filtering back to the Empire as the Summer Solstice approaches is that it ended ''disastrously'' - in large part due to the actions of Imperial [[ambassador|ambassadors]].

==Jarmish Anger==
* '''The Ambassador has informed Jarm that the Empire know who was responsible for the Lantir incursion'''
* '''The House of Princes demand that the Ambassador disclose everything they know ''immediately'' '''
According to ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', '''Ambassador Thaumiel''' has revealed that Imperial spies have uncovered who it was that invited Cold Sun to destroy Lantir City, devastate the tiny nation, and begin the rampage that has so far cost thousands of Jarmish lives (never mind those of folk of the independent border region, or the Commonwealth). Thaumiel reassured their opposite number that the actual perpetrators were no more - that "''only ash remains''." They did not reveal ''who'' these perpetrators were but the ambassador said their investigations had confirmed "no Jarmish Prince was foolish or desperate enough to conjure up the Oblivion Flame" and invited the Lord-Magister "''to draw the appropriate conclusions''."
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll.jpg|caption='''Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll''', Ambassador to Jarm|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Obviously, Trescher immediately reported to the House of Princes. Despite their public insistence that the Commonwealth was behind the atrocity, it is likely that the Lord-Magister may be quietly relieved to discover the attack wasn't carried out by one of their own. None-the-less, they have responded by ''demanding'' that the Empire ''immediately'' share everything they know. While the magicians who caused the breach may be dead, the people behind their cowardly attack must face retribution. The fact the ambassador has chosen to be coy on this matter means there are only three realistic conclusions, according to Lord-Magister Anton.

The first is that the Commonwealth is behind the attack, and the Empire is shielding their allies. The alliance between the two nations is well known, after all, even before the [[Liberty Pact]] made it official. If this is the case, then it will expose Commonwealth idealism as a sham. For them to try and use a weapon like the Cold Sun shows that they will truly stop at nothing to enforce their dominance over the independent countries that surround them, and use any tool to try and murder Jarmish citizens. There will be no cooperation with the Commonwealth, and Jarm will take every opportunity to ensure that Cold Sun turns its burning gaze towards them and destroys as much of their nation as possible.

The other conclusion is that it is the ''Empire'' who are behind this attack. That some coven of Imperial magicians opened the [[regio]] that allowed Oblivion to enter Lantir and begin murdering and destroying. It is questionable whether the Commonwealth have the necessary command of magic to open a portal for Cold Sun, but everyone knows the Empire can, because they did it once already. It's possible that they were acting on their own, that they didn't have the full support of the entire Empire, but that doesn't matter. After all these years of Imperial diplomats taking a holier-than-thou attitude, for their people to fall back on unleashing an unequivocal force of destruction against the Jarmish people will put the final nail in the coffin of Imperial-Jarm relations. The House of Princes will have no alternative but to declare war, and throw their resources toward bringing the Empire to its knees.

The only other real possibility is that the Commonwealth and the Empire are jointly responsible. That they conspired together to destroy Jarm, with Commonwealth magicians backed by Imperial knowledge and resources. They sacrificed the people of Lantir, and then saw the situation explode in their own faces. Is this the truth that the Ambassador is hinting at?

The [[Civil Service]] advise that the House of Princes is '''demanding''' answers. The Jarmish ambassador has suggested to the princes that his Imperial counterpart may have told them everything he knows. Or more hopefully that he is pausing simply to ensure that he has the names of those involved and the proof to back up the claims, and that both will be forthcoming as soon as the Empire have them. If that happens, then the House of Princes will be deeply grateful, but they are now unlikely to accept anything less than that. The Cold Sun has slaughtered thousands of Jarmish subjects, finding out who was responsible for that atrocity is almost more important than winning the war. The Empire will need to provide answers and quickly.

This would be a difficult enough proposition if not for...

==Commonwealth Fury==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cyrus12292.jpg|caption='''Cyrus, of Ebon's Hall''', Ambassador to the Commonwealth|align=right|width=400}}</div>
* '''The Ambassador has informed the Commonwealth that the Shuttered Lantern has determined who was responsible for the Lantir incursion'''
* '''They have indicated they know that it was Commonwealth citizens who unleashed Cold Sun and that they will tell Jarm in the coming season'''
* '''The Commonwealth demands that under no circumstances must this information be made public'''
According to Militärattache Schöningen, '''Ambassador Cyrus''' has indicated that the [[Shuttered Lantern]] have discovered that the source of the Lantir incursion was "''deceased terrorist citizens of the Commonwealth''." Further, they informed their counterpart that "''Jarm will learn the source of Cold Sun in Lantir next season; the wider world will learn thereafter''."

The Militärattache has quietly harboured suspicions that one of their own might be responsible for the catastrophe. Her greatest fear has been that the Jarmish might find a way to pin the act on the Commonwealth. Never did she imagine that the Empire would discover who was responsible and then decide to tell Jarm and rest of the world. It is hard for the Commonwealth to see this as anything other than a betrayal of their friendship with the Empire. Worse, it comes from an Empire claiming to act in the interests of the Commonwealth, and demanding that the nation meet with Jarm to discuss an armistice. Rather than allowing this matter to be dealt with internally, the Ambassador implied the Empire fully intended to share their "investigation" with Jarm and the world.

It's then clear that the Jarmish already know - or at least suspect. When Commonwealth diplomats arrive at the meeting arranged by Prospero at the urging of the Imperial Archmage of Autumn, one of the first things their opposite numbers from Jarm did was to share their "conclusions" based on what the Empire had already told them. What should have been a forum for discussing a ceasefire, and arranging cooperation against the threat of Cold Sun, instead devolves into shouted accusations and bitter denials.

There is a great deal of anger at the highest levels, but Militärattache Schöningen cautions against acting precipitously. The Empire have been good allies to the Commonwealth to this point. The two great powers have worked well together in the past, and despite tempers running hot in the wake of this seeming betrayal, cooler heads must prevail.

There is talk of immediately exiling the advisors from the [[Rod and Shield]] and the [[Golden Pyramid]] from Commonwealth lands, given that the Conclave is clearly engaged in espionage on behalf of the Empire. However, a more measured argument points out that it is the ''Shuttered Lantern'' who have been spying, and that order is currently based in Jarm (fuelling further concerns about how trustworthy their evidence is). In the end, the Commonwealth assigns a cadre of observers to keep an eye on the two Conclave orders, to ensure they are not spying while appearing to help against Cold Sun. This, inevitably, reduces the effectiveness of their aid. It's also clear that ejecting the magicians is still on the table, which would end opportunities to [[Weaving tangled nets#Rod and Shield|gain hero stones]] or [[Weaving tangled nets#Golden Pyramid|acquire a schema]] from the smiths of [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]]. So far, the Commonwealth has not made any move to end the gift of [[Trade_goods#Soldier's_Booze|soldier's booze]] to the [[Granite Pillar]] - but whether that continues or not will depend entirely on how the current situation is resolved.

There's also talk of withdrawing immediately from the [[Liberty Pact]]. Doubts about the value of the alliance have been [[Weaving_tangled_nets#Future_Good?|growing in the Commonwealth for some time]], this perceived betrayal could easily be the final straw. As the Imperial Ambassador already puts it, "''the Liberty Pact has crushed the international slave trade''." With apologies to '''Jarrigk Silktongue Du Meravon''', it seems that the Liberty Pact has run its course, and the Commonwealth has no interest in "''a more trade-focused agreement''" at this time. Militärattache Schöningen notes that the Empire may have been better served investigating claims made by '''Octavious of the Celestial Cartographers''' that their friends in Axos are trading with slavers from the Mallum, but its clear she is speaking from frustration and anger.

Once the fury has cooled slightly, Militärattache Ludkhannah formally requests that the Empire share all the information the Shuttered Lantern has gathered on this matter with the Commonwealth. They ask that under no circumstances should it be shared with anyone else, ''especially'' the Principalities of Jarm.

If the Empire shares their claim that the Commonwealth was responsible for the attack on Lantir with ''anyone'', then it will cannot help but mark the end of the current friendship. It will do considerable damage to the Commonwealth, it will let Jarm claim the high ground in their devastating war and undermine Commonwealth diplomacy with many smaller nations in their orbit. The generals will have no choice but to view the Empire as at best untrustworthy, and at worse as a force opposed to the Common Good.

==Untangling the Knot==
* '''Both Jarm and the Commonwealth have demanded the Empire's evidence regarding who caused the Lantir incursion'''
* '''How the Empire proceeds will be crucial in defining their relations with the eastern powers and their own standing among the nations of the Known World'''
* '''The civil service have done their best to advise on how the situation could precede'''

The [[civil service]] advise that while the situation is almost as bad as it possibly could be, there might be ways to mitigate some of the fallout. While anyone can correspond with a great power, it is the words of the appropriate ambassador that has the greatest weight, exceeded only by the formal declarations of houses such as the [[Senate]] or the [[Conclave]]. A random citizen of the Empire could claim to have "proof" about who was responsible for Lantir, but unless that claim was backed up by an ambassador, or perhaps in the case of the Commonwealth, the Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern, it would carry comparatively little political weight. Thus a lot will hinge on what is said next.

Unfortunately, given the Jarmish know the Empire have learned who unleashed Cold Sun, but the Commonwealth demands that they do not tell the Jarmish, the ambassadors are placed in a tricky position. They also note that the Principalities, unlike the Commonwealth, are unaware that the Shuttered Lantern were involved in investigating this matter. If that information were released then it may trigger an expulsion of Imperial magicians from Jarm - but it might not. The Jarmish are often weirdly pragmatic about such matters. A lot would depend on how it was presented.

When it comes to actually sharing the evidence, the key information that would need to be communicated would be the name of the person or persons who invited Cold Sun into Lantir; how they acquired the resources to do so; and what their motivation was. Assuming the Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern has this information, it would be up to the appropriate Ambassador to communicate it. The full details won't be needed - the Commonwealth and Jarm are both capable of using this limited information to perform their own investigations.

This means that attempts to present false information could quickly unravel. The Jarmish and the Commonwealth will investigate and swiftly identify the lie if the evidence does not stack up. Any lie will need to be utterly watertight and stand up to thorough investigation to avoid making the matter worse. Even then it might not work - if it is not compelling then the two nations might not believe it, even if they can't prove it's a lie.

If the Empire provides Jarm with any proof of Commonwealth guilt then it will be diplomatically devastating. The Commonwealth prides itself on pursuing the Greater Good, and any evidence that their people had caused the deaths of thousands of people and wiped out an entire nation would give all their critics a bludgeon with which to beat them. It would wreck their relationship with their allies in the east, and it would take years for them to recover.

Worse, if the evidence pointed to the Empire, it would damage their own standing on the "world stage". Significant credence would be given to Jarmish accusations that Imperial spies and agitators are set on interfering in their business. Depending on the nature of the evidence, it might see other nations leery about allowing Imperial citizens to visit, cause problems for Imperial traders, and potentially complicate existing Imperial treaties. It would also inevitably support the concerns of Axos in particular in relation to their worries about Imperial intentions regarding the vallorn.

The civil service also caution that a degree of coordination will be needed in any event. Jarm and the Commonwealth despise one another, but as shown by recent events, each side will rapidly become aware of what the Empire has told the other. Both great powers are angry and suspicious, and will seize on any inconsistency in the Imperial response here.

==Orders and Opportunity==
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[File:OrderCelestialArch.jpg|link=Celestial Arch]]
[[File:OrderRodAndShield.jpg|link=Rod and Shield]]
[[File:Chalice.jpg|link=Silver Chalice]]
[[File:OrderShutteredLantern.jpg|link=Shuttered Lantern]]
[[File:OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|link=Golden Pyramid]]
</div>
* '''Six Conclave Orders remain active in the east
* '''While opportunities still exist, they may not survive the fallout from the diplomatic crisis
* '''The Sevenfold Path interactions with the Convocation of Virtue are discussed in the Full circles wind of fortune
Six Conclave orders still remain active in the east; the [[Celestial Arch]], [[Sevenfold Path]], [[Shuttered Lantern]] are still offering aid to Jarm; the [[Rod and Shield]] and [[Golden Pyramid]] are in the Commonwealth; and the [[Silver Chalice]] continues to look to the injured of all sides, and the succour of the civilians threatened by the war. The Sevenfold Path are [[Full circles|pursuing their own path]] in the east, but it is worth considering the position of the other orders in light of the crisis.

The [[grandmaster]] of the Shuttered Lantern remains in a position to [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guide their order]], to instruct magicians in Jarm to engage in a stratagem of some kind. Doing so at the moment, with the additional scrutiny due to House of Prince anger with the Ambassador, would mean that it would be hard to undertake a stratagem without the Jarmish being aware they have done so. With that in mind, however, the grandmaster could guide the order during the Summer Solstice by urging them to undertake some action involving ''protecting and exposing secrets and knowledge'', ''acquiring the knowledge and secrets of the Empire's enemies'', or ''guarding and shielding the secrets of the Empire'' in the east. If they do so, this will create an opportunity at the Autumn Equinox, even if in the meantime Jarm ejects Imperial magicians or declares war.

The Celestial Arch are still present, but the current chaos makes it impossible for them to achieve a political aim this season. Only once the matter of the Lantir Incursion intelligence is resolved would there be any opportunity to influence the magicians of Jarm - and that opportunity will be entirely lost if Jarm expels the order magicians, or they are directed to apply their expertise somewhere else.

The Rod and Shield are engaged on the front lines, fighting alongside Commonwealth soldiers. Their aid is having a notable effect in slowing Cold Sun's expansion. This isn't because of their martial prowess - although that is a factor - but because of their experience fighting the ''scions'' in the Empire. While they remain in the Commonwealth, and in the absence of a ceasefire and cooperation between the Commonwealth and Jarm, they are actively contributing to the defence against Cold Sun. Without their presence, it's likely the scions would have made more gains this season and many more people would have died.

The Golden Pyramid continue to be welcome in [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]]. A number of artisans chosen by the grandmaster have been taught to make ''War Rings'', and the offer of a [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] remains on the table. Of course, this potential prize can only be claimed if they continue to aid against Cold Sun, and are not expelled by the Commonwealth. There has also been no further invitation to Imperial war-smiths to visit and study with those in Murolosch, although the port remains open to Imperial captains. Until the matter of the Lantir Incursion evidence is resolved, no further opportunity will be forthcoming.

Finally, the Silver Chalice continue to have the grudging support of both sides. While the Commonwealth is furious with the Empire and suspects Conclave spies, they cannot deny the work the Chalice is putting in to protect the victims of Cold Sun. Their lack of favouritism - treating warriors of both the Commonwealth and the Principalities - garners grudging respect. There is also no question that they are helping to reduce the suffering of the people threatened by the ''scions''. There is no need for the Grandmaster to guide the order to have members continue to work in the east, but if they are guided to go elsewhere there will be no opportunity to return.

Any order currently in the Commonwealth or Jarm will remain active there until they are expelled by the host country, or the grandmaster guides the order elsewhere. Once an order leaves, however, it will require a new [[opportunity]] for them to return - one whose likelihood depends a lot on what happens with the current diplomatic crisis.

==Commonwealth and Highguard==
* '''The Highborn armies have sent members to the Commonwealth
* '''While warmly received, the diplomatic crisis has soured the tenor of their visit
Following the Spring Equinox, the [[Pilgrim's Defiance]], [[Seventh Wave]], and [[Valiant Pegasus]] all sent officers and veterans to the Commonwealth to speak with their counterparts. There was much discussion about [[Highguard_military_concerns#The_Vigilant_War|vigilant war]], and the ways armies of differing [[Army_qualities|specialities]] could work together.

Unfortunately, while the visit is well received at first, the furore surrounding the accusations of Commonwealth involvement in inciting the Lantir Incursion quickly throws a pall over the exchange. The exchange has been beneficial, but it is clear that unless the current diplomatic crisis is resolved, there will be no further talk of any practical advice around army qualities, nor the opportunity for key members of a new Highborn army to train in the Commonwealth and adapt their tactics.

Still, the specialists have returned to the Empire with the promised gifts from their time spent advising the General's Council. Each general of Highguard has received a [[Trade_goods#Hero_Stone|heldenstein]], a [[Trade_goods#Law_Stone|gesetzstein]], and a [[Trade_goods#War_Amulets|kriegsamulett]].

==Trade Matters==
* '''Radosmo and Murolosch remain available to Imperial traders
* '''Imperial vessels trading with Leerdam and Volkavaar have a -1 penalty to their production
For the moment, at least, matters of trade have not been directly impacted. The port of [[When_peace_was_far_away#Free_Port|Radosmo]], in the "independent" [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Free_Ports_And_Free_People|nation of of Zemelslo]] remains open to Imperial captains. The smiths of [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]] remain keen to treat with visiting merchants from the Empire, although how long this will remain the case is hard to say. Once the matter of the Lantir Incursion intelligence is resolved, it's possible there will be a major impact on all trade in the Sea of Steel.

It's also notable that Commonwealth merchants remain a little leery of visiting captains on Imperial vessels, due to the knowledge that the Empire is also effectively trading with Jarm in Radosmo. As such the -1 penalty to the production of fleets visiting Volkavaar and Leerdam continues. This penalty will certainly be removed if the Ambassador shares the secret intelligence reports gathered by spies using trade with Radosmo as cover to conduct espionage (although given the current crisis in relations between the Empire and the Commonwealth that might not be saying much depending on how things shake out in the end).

==Brazen Enthusiasm==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Seven Locks 2.jpg|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''The City of Locks offers access to a smuggler's port on the Sea of Steel
* '''All that is required to claim it is for the Conclave to uphold a declaration of acceptance
While the Commonwealth and Jarm are both angry with their respective ambassadors for different reasons, there is at least one group that is more than pleased with this outcome. Shortly before the Summer Solstice, a herald from the [[Basileia|City of Locks]] arrives at the Hub with an offer for the Empire. Apparently, the ''Princess of Weirs'' is very impressed with the way the Empire is handling the situation in the east; the chaos serves her interests very well indeed and as a consequence she offers a simple reward.

The City of Locks will arrange for the Empire to gain access to a hidden island on the Sea of Steel. There they will find a smugglers port, independent of both the Commonwealth and Jarm, where Imperial captains will be able to acquire choice goods from the two great powers. The port has extensive markets, and crucially neither Jarm nor the Commonwealth would know Imperial captains were trading there. Unless one of the Ambassadors decided to tell them, of course. The ''Carver of Cliques'' will not tell anyone the Empire trades there, and will forbid the [[Basileia#The_Five_Pillars|Five Pillars]] likewise from doing so.

All that is required is for the Conclave to support a [[Declaration]] of [[Alignment#Acceptance|Acceptance]] thanking the City of Locks for their offer, and accepting it on behalf of the Ambassadors of the Empire. As long as they do so before the end of the Summer Solstice, details of where the port is located and guides from the ''Union of Lock-Keepers and Stevedores'' will help Imperial captains find it.

There are two tiny other matters of consideration; access to the port remains only so long as the Conclave does not declare [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] against the City of Locks or the ''Union of Lock-Keepers and Stevedores''; and only vessels enchanted with the [[Lure of Distant Shores]] will be able to make the journey safely. Ships that don't have this specific enchantment will simply be unable to reach the port. It is, apparently, all part of an old arrangement between the lords of that place and the City of Locks, the details of which need not concern the Empire at this time (says Basileia Brazen's herald).

The Civil Servant Jorgen, who has long experience dealing with heralds bringing messages from eternals, describes the offer as stinking like week old fish, but at least on the surface it appears to be a legitimate offer, and the promise that the City of Locks will not reveal the Empire's trade with the smugglers in particular seems to have significant weight.

==Public Record==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Public Embassy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Senate Motion</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Specify that correspondence sent through an embassy be made public</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 2 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' The text of any letter sent via the communication power of an ambassador with an embassy would be published on the wiki</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' The Senate could do this at any time</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Only letters sent via an embassy would be public</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Senate could require that letters sent by ambassadors be a matter of public record'''
* '''Only letters sent by Imperial ambassadors via the communication power of an embassy would be affected
The fact that both the Commonwealth and Jarm are making claims about what Imperial Ambassadors have said makes some folk uneasy. The only Imperial citizen who knows for sure what was actually in the letter is the Ambassador themselves. And, theoretically, the Imperial civil service of course. Each [[embassy]] has a staff of civil servants associated with it that will [[Ambassador#Communication|handle communication]] with their counterpart in the nation they deal with. This handily defrays the costs of sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] and gives the ambassador an opportunity to compose a missive away from the chaos of Anvil.

After some discussion with key embassy staff, the civil service has grudgingly responded to enquiries by indicating that their involvement means that it would be possible to make the formal letters sent by an ambassador a matter of public record. Arguments that the letters represent a "meeting" by an Imperial body facilitated by the civil service, and thus fall under the right of [[Member_of_the_Synod#Witness|witness]], so all formal correspondence should be given to the Synod gets short shrift. But, if the Senate wished to do so, they could require that letters submitted via the embassy staff be recorded and copies published. This would remove any doubt as to what an ambassador has or has not said, and potentially allow valuable continuity between ambassadors.

The civil service stress that this would ''only'' affect letters set via an embassy. Correspondence sent directly during a summit via [[Call Winged Messenger]] would not be made public. Furthermore, it would not be possible for the Senate to demand that ambassadors only communicate via the embassy - it is at the discretion of the ambassador how they discharge their responsibilities. Finally, it would be "all or nothing". Either all embassies would work in this way or none would; it would not be possible to pick and choose.

There is no particular rush on this; the civil service identify that this is a power of the Senate, and they could make this change at any time if they wished to do so.

'''OOC Note:''' If the Senate pass this motion, then the contents of ambassador letters emailed to {{plot}} after an event would be added to the wiki. This would start in the downtime after the summit where the motion was passed, and continue until it was abrogated. If the Senate later abrogated this provision, no more letters would be added but existing missives would remain a matter of record. Our usual rules on [[Secrecy#On_the_Wiki,_In_the_Downtime|secrecy]] would apply - while the letters would be available for players to read this would not mean everyone in the known world immediately knows everything about Imperial diplomacy.
{{Jarm Links}}
{{Commonwealth Links}}

War games

2026-07-17T16:43:33Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Public Record */

[[Category:Wind of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>The ambassador looked at his team, at the long lines of exhaustion carved into their faces. They'd been pouring over every word in the message for two days now, looking at every possible interpretation. What could they possibly mean by that? There had been little enough rest this last year, and none at all since the winged message arrived and turned the world upside down.

What was the saying the Sarcophan had? "Things are always darkest before the ship goes down." Bloody Sarcophan black humour.

And besides it wasn't true, not really. Things had been looking up these last few days. The Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges had made his offer, and both governments had agreed to send their brightest and their best. Negotiations would be fraught obviously, bound to be. But it was plain enough to their side how bad the situation was getting, it was bound to be the same for their old adversaries. A lasting peace was hardly likely, but without a ceasefire the Cold Sun would continue its rise. Thousands more would die. More towns and cities reduced to crystalline slag. Surely their people could make the other side see they would need to swallow their pride or this would be the end of them.

The ambassador sighed, and wiped a hand across their forehead. It had been a long nine months, never mind a long three days. Nine months doesn't even scratch the surface, really. Long days and exhausting nights since the quiet war turned loud. Two giants pressed shoulder-to-shoulder for too long. Anyone could have predicted the outcome. The secret to avoiding war, the ambassador read once, is to make sure everyone has enough room to swing their army around. Or to beat their chests, perhaps.

At least they were not alone against the Oblivion Gate. The Empire has proved invaluable in recent months. Their incursion might have been on a smaller scale, but the experience it had given them was invaluable. A year ago, it would have seemed inconceivable that their magicians would be on the battle-lines, but here they were. They'd helped save lives and if this meeting Clever Spider had arranged went well, perhaps the door on Cold Sun could finally be closed... Then the recriminations can begin in earnest he thought with a sardonic chuckle.

The ambassador sighed gloomily and pulled his thoughts back to the room. He coughed to clear his throat. "Right, we've been over this letter fourteen times now. Today we're going to go over it again. Before we start, I'll remind everyone that we all know what it says, we've all got a copy in front of us, we're here to work out what it ''means''."

It was always the same, nobody wanted to go first. They inclined their head slightly to lock eyes with the understudy and nodded to indicate he should start with his analysis. The fellow was too ambitious by far; it would be good for him to get a taste of leadership here at the sharp end of the wedge.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Checkmate explained.jpg|align=left|caption=Cold Sun is not the only thing causing chaos among the great powers of the east.|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Commonwealth and Jarm remain at war'''
* '''Cold Sun has destroyed the minor nation of Lantir'''
* '''The ''scions'' of Cold Sun threaten both larger nations'''
The [[Commonwealth]] and the [[Principalities of Jarm]] have been at open war for some time now, a conflict that erupted over control of the borderlands between their nations. Now, the tiny country of Lantir is no more - the [[Cold Sun]] has risen and the ''scions'' seek to [[Cold war|ravage the two eastern powers]] as they once attempted to do in the Empire. Attempts to contain the incursion [[Weaving_tangled_nets#Against_the_Cold_Sun|have failed]], despite the aid of Imperial soldiers and magicians. The failure of the two rival powers to appreciate the full magnitude of the threat posed threat by the ''Oblivion Gate'' means there has so far been no coordinated response to the invastion. Yet even in this time of heightened conflict, the wheels of diplomacy continue to turn... and sometimes those same wheels snag your sleeve and before you know it your entire arm has been crushed to pulp.
==Principalities of Jarm==
* '''The Empire remains at peace with the Principalities of Jarm, but trade with that nation is embargoed
* '''The Senate has approved trade with the tiny independent nation of Zemelslo that lies within the Jarmish sphere of influence
* '''Jarm is at war with Imperial allies in the Commonwealth, and faces the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Principalities is Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll, of Highguard
The ''magocracy'' of the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are not exactly friendly to the Empire. Ruled by the House of Princes, relations have been rocky for years. The Empire is allied with their great rival, the Commonwealth, via the [[Liberty Pact]], and have made several attempts to interfere in Jarmish interests. They may not be at war with the Empire at the moment, but diplomatic relations remain somewhat chilly. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], and [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll of [[Highguard]]}}

==Commonwealth==
* '''The Commonwealth remains friendly to the Empire, and allied via the Liberty Pact'''
* '''The Commonwealth is at war with the Principalities of Jarm
* '''The Commonwealth has recently encountered the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Commonwealth is Cyrus of Ebon's Hall of Highguard
{{Nation|nation=Commonwealth|status=Foreigner|port=[[Commonwealth_ports#Leerdam_(Eastern_Commonwealth)|Leerdam]] and [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_(Western_Commonwealth)|Volkavaar]]|ambassador=Cyrus of Ebon's Hall of [[Highguard]]}}
The Commonwealth are one of the closest allies the Empire has among the great powers of the known world, thanks primarily to their shared membership of the [[Liberty Pact]]. Both nations are dedicated to extending their influence over the whole world, but for now their rivalry with the Empire remains amicable. Even if it the two great nations must eventually clash, nobody sees that happening any time soon. The Empire shared its mastery of magic with the magicians of the Commonwealth, and Commonwealth soldiers fought and died alongside the Freeborn in the [[A beacon of smoke|fall of Siroc]].

Their ambassador to the Empire is ''Militärattache Ludkhannah Schöningen'', of Die Stahlhalle in the port-city of Volkavaar, a veteran soldier who reports to the generals who hold the reins of political power in their nation. An old campaigner, they generally speak plainly and as honestly as any politician can when dealing with their Imperial counterpart.

==Cold Sun==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cold Sun Art.jpg|align=right|caption=The Lantir Incursion sees scions of Cold Sun expanding outwards from a central point, and the number of heralds involved is orders of magnitude greater than the armies that invaded the Empire.|width=300}}</div>
* '''Cold Sun continues its incursion on the borderlands of the Commonwealth and Jarm
* '''At the request of the Autumn archmage, the eternal Prospero has brokered a summit to address cooperation between the two nations
* '''Several Conclave orders continue to support the Principalities of Jarm
* '''There have been major revelations about the factors that lead to the Lantir incursion
* '''These revelations have resulted in significant disruption
Following the Autumn Equinox, the [[Cold Sun]] began a [[Cold war|major incursion]] into the lands between the Commonwealth and the Principalities of Jarm. The tiny nation of Lantir, whose disposition had ultimately led to the war currently raging between the two great powers, was destroyed and overrun. Six [[Conclave order|Conclave orders]] and one [[army|Imperial army]] were able to provide direct aid to the two great nations of the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] in their fight against the ''[[Cold_Sun#Heralds|scions]]'' of ''Endless Nothing'' but the situation continued to look dire. Centuries of rivalry, and the ongoing war between the two great powers, meant that they were unable to reach anything like a coordinated plan of response to the forces of ''Oblivion''. Efforts to contain the blight failed, and the ''scions'' continued to spread across the borderlands, and began to press into Commonwealth and Jarmish territories.

The last season has seen the fighting continue, and members of the Conclave orders involved continue to provide support both on the front lines and behind the scenes. The presence of experienced [[Rod and Shield]] warrior-magicians fighting with Commonwealth soldiers has proved especially effective at countering probing strikes by the ''scions''. Yet each order has contributed in their own way. There has also been some measure of assistance from officers and veterans of the [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[army|armies]], visiting the Commonwealth as part of an effort to [[Towards_a_common_good#Doctrine|build closer ties]] between Highguard and the martial nation.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Vossk.jpg|caption='''Vossk''', Archmage of Autumn|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Following the Spring Equinox, and in part thanks to efforts by the [[Celestial Arch]], there has been an unofficial redirection of forces away from the battle lines between the two nations. This repositioning doesn't represent any kind of ceasefire, but perhaps a grudging awareness in both governments that soldiers fighting each other are effectively doing Cold Sun's job for it. Negotiations about a full ceasefire are underway, with the Jarmish broadly in favour (again thanks to the Celestial Arch as much as anything else), and the Commonwealth being stubborn.

Regardless, it seems that Cold Sun has made only minor gains this season in territories bordering Lantir. Sadly, while only a few regions have changed hands, there have been numerous deeper raids aimed at claiming [[mithril]] and [[ilium]] that have seen hundreds die and further stretched the resources of the [[Silver Chalice]] to help grant succour to the ''scions'' civilian victims.

There is some good news, however. Emissaries of the Commonwealth and the House of Princes have agreed to meet on neutral ground to discuss cooperation against the devastating rampage of Cold Sun. The Jarmish were already prepared to accept the need for collaboration with their vitter rivals due to the [[Weaving tangled nets#Celestial Arch|politcal machinations]] of the [[Celestial Arch]]. The [[Archmage of Autumn]], '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' prevailed on the [[Prospero|Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges]] to bring the Commonwealth to the negotiation table, and provide neutral ground for those negotiations to take place. Neither side trusts the other, but a summit to discuss a ceasefire and potential cooperation was agreed to.

Unfortunately, the preliminary reports of that meeting filtering back to the Empire as the Summer Solstice approaches is that it ended ''disastrously'' - in large part due to the actions of Imperial [[ambassador|ambassadors]].

==Jarmish Anger==
* '''The Ambassador has informed Jarm that the Empire know who was responsible for the Lantir incursion'''
* '''The House of Princes demand that the Ambassador disclose everything they know ''immediately'' '''
According to ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', '''Ambassador Thaumiel''' has revealed that Imperial spies have uncovered who it was that invited Cold Sun to destroy Lantir City, devastate the tiny nation, and begin the rampage that has so far cost thousands of Jarmish lives (never mind those of folk of the independent border region, or the Commonwealth). Thaumiel reassured their opposite number that the actual perpetrators were no more - that "''only ash remains''." They did not reveal ''who'' these perpetrators were but the ambassador said their investigations had confirmed "no Jarmish Prince was foolish or desperate enough to conjure up the Oblivion Flame" and invited the Lord-Magister "''to draw the appropriate conclusions''."
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll.jpg|caption='''Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll''', Ambassador to Jarm|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Obviously, Trescher immediately reported to the House of Princes. Despite their public insistence that the Commonwealth was behind the atrocity, it is likely that the Lord-Magister may be quietly relieved to discover the attack wasn't carried out by one of their own. None-the-less, they have responded by ''demanding'' that the Empire ''immediately'' share everything they know. While the magicians who caused the breach may be dead, the people behind their cowardly attack must face retribution. The fact the ambassador has chosen to be coy on this matter means there are only three realistic conclusions, according to Lord-Magister Anton.

The first is that the Commonwealth is behind the attack, and the Empire is shielding their allies. The alliance between the two nations is well known, after all, even before the [[Liberty Pact]] made it official. If this is the case, then it will expose Commonwealth idealism as a sham. For them to try and use a weapon like the Cold Sun shows that they will truly stop at nothing to enforce their dominance over the independent countries that surround them, and use any tool to try and murder Jarmish citizens. There will be no cooperation with the Commonwealth, and Jarm will take every opportunity to ensure that Cold Sun turns its burning gaze towards them and destroys as much of their nation as possible.

The other conclusion is that it is the ''Empire'' who are behind this attack. That some coven of Imperial magicians opened the [[regio]] that allowed Oblivion to enter Lantir and begin murdering and destroying. It is questionable whether the Commonwealth have the necessary command of magic to open a portal for Cold Sun, but everyone knows the Empire can, because they did it once already. It's possible that they were acting on their own, that they didn't have the full support of the entire Empire, but that doesn't matter. After all these years of Imperial diplomats taking a holier-than-thou attitude, for their people to fall back on unleashing an unequivocal force of destruction against the Jarmish people will put the final nail in the coffin of Imperial-Jarm relations. The House of Princes will have no alternative but to declare war, and throw their resources toward bringing the Empire to its knees.

The only other real possibility is that the Commonwealth and the Empire are jointly responsible. That they conspired together to destroy Jarm, with Commonwealth magicians backed by Imperial knowledge and resources. They sacrificed the people of Lantir, and then saw the situation explode in their own faces. Is this the truth that the Ambassador is hinting at?

The [[Civil Service]] advise that the House of Princes is '''demanding''' answers. The Jarmish ambassador has suggested to the princes that his Imperial counterpart may have told them everything he knows. Or more hopefully that he is pausing simply to ensure that he has the names of those involved and the proof to back up the claims, and that both will be forthcoming as soon as the Empire have them. If that happens, then the House of Princes will be deeply grateful, but they are now unlikely to accept anything less than that. The Cold Sun has slaughtered thousands of Jarmish subjects, finding out who was responsible for that atrocity is almost more important than winning the war. The Empire will need to provide answers and quickly.

This would be a difficult enough proposition if not for...

==Commonwealth Fury==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cyrus12292.jpg|caption='''Cyrus, of Ebon's Hall''', Ambassador to the Commonwealth|align=right|width=400}}</div>
* '''The Ambassador has informed the Commonwealth that the Shuttered Lantern has determined who was responsible for the Lantir incursion'''
* '''They have indicated they know that it was Commonwealth citizens who unleashed Cold Sun and that they will tell Jarm in the coming season'''
* '''The Commonwealth demands that under no circumstances must this information be made public'''
According to Militärattache Schöningen, '''Ambassador Cyrus''' has indicated that the [[Shuttered Lantern]] have discovered that the source of the Lantir incursion was "''deceased terrorist citizens of the Commonwealth''." Further, they informed their counterpart that "''Jarm will learn the source of Cold Sun in Lantir next season; the wider world will learn thereafter''."

The Militärattache has quietly harboured suspicions that one of their own might be responsible for the catastrophe. Her greatest fear has been that the Jarmish might find a way to pin the act on the Commonwealth. Never did she imagine that the Empire would discover who was responsible and then decide to tell Jarm and rest of the world. It is hard for the Commonwealth to see this as anything other than a betrayal of their friendship with the Empire. Worse, it comes from an Empire claiming to act in the interests of the Commonwealth, and demanding that the nation meet with Jarm to discuss an armistice. Rather than allowing this matter to be dealt with internally, the Ambassador implied the Empire fully intended to share their "investigation" with Jarm and the world.

It's then clear that the Jarmish already know - or at least suspect. When Commonwealth diplomats arrive at the meeting arranged by Prospero at the urging of the Imperial Archmage of Autumn, one of the first things their opposite numbers from Jarm did was to share their "conclusions" based on what the Empire had already told them. What should have been a forum for discussing a ceasefire, and arranging cooperation against the threat of Cold Sun, instead devolves into shouted accusations and bitter denials.

There is a great deal of anger at the highest levels, but Militärattache Schöningen cautions against acting precipitously. The Empire have been good allies to the Commonwealth to this point. The two graet powers have worked well together in the past, and despite tempers running hot in the wake of this seeming betrayal, cooler heads must prevail.

There is talk of immediately exiling the advisors from the [[Rod and Shield]] and the [[Golden Pyramid]] from Commonwealth lands, given that the Conclave is clearly engaged in espionage on behalf of the Empire. However, a more measured argument points out that it is the ''Shuttered Lantern'' who have been spying, and that order is currently based in Jarm (fuelling further concerns about how trustworthy their evidence is). In the end, the Commonwealth assigns a cadre of observers to keep an eye on the two Conclave orders, to ensure they are not spying while appearing to help against Cold Sun. This, inevitably, reduces the effectiveness of their aid. It's also clear that ejecting the magicians is still on the table, which would end opportunities to [[Weaving tangled nets#Rod and Shield|gain hero stones]] or [[Weaving tangled nets#Golden Pyramid|acquire a schema]] from the smiths of [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]]. So far, the Commonwealth has not made any move to end the gift of [[Trade_goods#Soldier's_Booze|soldier's booze]] to the [[Granite Pillar]] - but whether that continues or not will depend entirely on how the current situation is resolved.

There's also talk of withdrawing immediately from the [[Liberty Pact]]. Doubts about the value of the alliance have been [[Weaving_tangled_nets#Future_Good?|growing in the Commonwealth for some time]], this perceived betrayal could easily be the final straw. As the Imperial Ambassador already puts it, "''the Liberty Pact has crushed the international slave trade''." With apologies to '''Jarrigk Silktongue Du Meravon''', it seems that the Liberty Pact has run its course, and the Commonwealth has no interest in "''a more trade-focused agreement''" at this time. Militärattache Schöningen notes that the Empire may have been better served investigating claims made by '''Octavious of the Celestial Cartographers''' that their friends in Axos are trading with slavers from the Mallum, but its clear she is speaking from frustration and anger.

Once the fury has cooled slightly, Militärattache Ludkhannah formally requests that the Empire share all the information the Shuttered Lantern has gathered on this matter with the Commonwealth. They ask that under no circumstances should it be shared with anyone else, ''especially'' the Principalities of Jarm.

If the Empire shares their claim that the Commonwealth was responsible for the attack on Lantir with ''anyone'', then it will cannot help but mark the end of the current friendship. It will do considerable damage to the Commonwealth, it will let Jarm claim the high ground in their devastating war and undermine Commonwealth diplomacy with many smaller nations in their orbit. The generals will have no choice but to view the Empire as at best untrustworthy, and at worse as a force opposed to the Common Good.

==Untangling the Knot==
* '''Both Jarm and the Commonwealth have demanded the Empire's evidence regarding who caused the Lantir incursion'''
* '''How the Empre proceeds will be crucial in defining their relations with the eastern powers and their own standing among the nations of the Known World'''
* '''The civil service have done their best to advise on how the situation could precede'''

The [[civil service]] advise that while the situation is almost as bad as it possibly could be, there might be ways to mitigate some of the fallout. While anyone can correspond with a great power, it is the words of the appropriate ambassador that has the greatest weight, exceeded only by the formal declarations of houses such as the [[Senate]] or the [[Conclave]]. A random citizen of the Empire could claim to have "proof" about who was responsible for Lantir, but unless that claim was backed up by an ambassador, or perhaps in the case of the Commonwealth, the Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern, it would carry comparatively little political weight. Thus a lot will hinge on what is said next.

Unfortunately, given the Jarmish know the Empire have learned who unleashed Cold Sun, but the Commonwealth demands that they do not tell the Jarmish, the ambassadors are placed in a tricky position. They also note that the Principalities, unlike the Commonwealth, are unaware that the Shuttered Lantern were involved in investigating this matter. If that information were released then it may trigger an expulsion of Imperial magicians from Jarm - but it might not. The Jarmish are often weirdly pragmatic about such matters. A lot would depend on how it was presented.

When it comes to actually sharing the evidence, the key information that would need to be communicated would be the name of the person or persons who invited Cold Sun into Lantir; how they acquired the resources to do so; and what their motivation was. Assuming the Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern has this information, it would be up to the appropriate Ambassador to communicate it. The full details won't be needed - the Commonwealth and Jarm are both capable of using this limited information to perform their own investigations.

This means that attempts to present false information could quickly unravel. The Jarmish and the Commonwealth will investigate and swiftly identify the lie if the evidence does not stack up. Any lie will need to be utterly watertight and stand up to thorough investigation to avoid making the matter worse. Even then it might not work - if it is not compelling then the two nations might not believe it, even if they can't prove it's a lie.

If the Empire provides Jarm with any proof of Commonwealth guilt then it will be diplomatically devastating. The Commonwealth prides itself on pursuing the Greater Good, and any evidence that their people had caused the deaths of thousands of people and wiped out an entire nation would give all their critics a bludgeon with which to beat them. It would wreck their relationship with their allies in the east, and it would take years for them to recover.

Worse, if the evidence pointed to the Empire, it would damage their own standing on the "world stage". Significant credence would be given to Jarmish accusations that Imperial spies and agitators are set on interfering in their business. Depending on the nature of the evidence, it might see other nations leery about allowing Imperial citizens to visit, cause problems for Imperial traders, and potentially complicate existing Imperial treaties. It would also inevitably support the concerns of Axos in particular in relation to their worries about Imperial intentions regarding the vallorn.

The civil service also caution that a degree of coordination will be needed in any event. Jarm and the Commonwealth despise one another, but as shown by recent events, each side will rapidly become aware of what the Empire has told the other. Both great powers are angry and suspicious, and will seize on any inconsistency in the Imperial response here.

==Orders and Opportunity==
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[File:OrderCelestialArch.jpg|link=Celestial Arch]]
[[File:OrderRodAndShield.jpg|link=Rod and Shield]]
[[File:Chalice.jpg|link=Silver Chalice]]
[[File:OrderShutteredLantern.jpg|link=Shuttered Lantern]]
[[File:OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|link=Golden Pyramid]]
</div>
* '''Six Conclave Orders remain active in the east
* '''While opportunities still exist, they may not survive the fallout from the diplomatic crisis
* '''The Sevenfold Path interactions with the Convocation of Virtue are discussed in the Full circles wind of fortune
Six Conclave orders still remain active in the east; the [[Celestial Arch]], [[Sevenfold Path]], [[Shuttered Lantern]] are still offering aid to Jarm; the [[Rod and Shield]] and [[Golden Pyramid]] are in the Commonwealth; and the [[Silver Chalice]] continues to look to the injured of all sides, and the succour of the civilians threatened by the war. The Sevenfold Path are [[Full circles|pursuing their own path]] in the east, but it is worth considering the position of the other orders in light of the crisis.

The [[grandmaster]] of the Shuttered Lantern remains in a position to [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guide their order]], to instruct magicians in Jarm to engage in a stratagem of some kind. Doing so at the moment, with the additional scrutiny due to House of Prince anger with the Ambassador, would mean that it would be hard to undertake a stratagem without the Jarmish being aware they have done so. With that in mind, however, the grandmaster could guide the order during the Summer Solstice by urging them to undertake some action involving ''protecting and exposing secrets and knowledge'', ''acquiring the knowledge and secrets of the Empire's enemies'', or ''guarding and shielding the secrets of the Empire'' in the east. If they do so, this will create an opportunity at the Autumn Equinox, even if in the meantime Jarm ejects Imperial magicians or declares war.

The Celestial Arch are still present, but the current chaos makes it impossible for them to achieve a political aim this season. Only once the matter of the Lantir Incursion intelligence is resolved would there be any opportunity to influence the magicians of Jarm - and that opportunity will be entirely lost if Jarm expels the order magicians, or they are directed to apply their expertise somewhere else.

The Rod and Shield are engaged on the front lines, fighting alongside Commonwealth soldiers. Their aid is having a notable effect in slowing Cold Sun's expansion. This isn't because of their martial prowess - although that is a factor - but because of their experience fighting the ''scions'' in the Empire. While they remain in the Commonwealth, and in the absence of a ceasfire and cooperation between the Commonwealth and Jarm, they are actively contributing to the defence against Cold Sun. Without their presence, it's likely the scions would have made more gains this season and many more people would have died.

The Golden Pyramid continue to be welcome in [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]]. A number of artisans chosen by the grandmaster have been taught to make ''War Rings'', and the offer of a [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] remains on the table. Of course, this potential prize can only be claimed if they continue to aid against Cold Sun, and are not expelled by the Commonwealth. There has also been no further invitation to Imperial war-smiths to visit and study with those in Murolosch, although the port remains open to Imperial captains. Until the matter of the Lantir Incursion evidence is resolved, no further opportunity will be forthcoming.

Finally, the Silver Chalice continue to have the grudging support of both sides. While the Commonwealth is furious with the Empire and suspects Conclave spies, they cannot deny the work the Chalice is putting in to protect the victims of Cold Sun. Their lack of favouritism - treating warriors of both the Commonwealth and the Principalities - garners grudging respect. There is also no question that they are helping to reduce the suffering of the people threatened by the ''scions''. There is no need for the Grandmaster to guide the order to have members continue to work in the east, but if they are guided to go elsewhere there will be no opportunity to return.

Any order currently in the Commonwealth or Jarm will remain active there until they are expelled by the host country, or the grandmaster guides the order elsewhere. Once an order leaves, however, it will require a new [[opportunity]] for them to return - one whose likelihood depends a lot on what happens with the current diplomatic crisis.

==Commonwealth and Highguard==
* '''The Highborn armies have sent members to the Commonwealth
* '''While warmly received, the diplomatic crisis has soured the tenor of their visit
Following the Spring Equinox, the [[Pilgrim's Defiance]], [[Seventh Wave]], and [[Valiant Pegasus]] all sent officers and veterans to the Commonwealth to speak with their counterparts. There was much discussion about [[Highguard_military_concerns#The_Vigilant_War|vigilant war]], and the ways armies of differing [[Army_qualities|specialities]] could work together.

Unfortunately, while the visit is well received at first, the furore surrounding the accusations of Commonwealth involvement in inciting the Lantir Incursion quickly throws a pall over the exchange. The exchange has been beneficial, but it is clear that unless the current diplomatic crisis is resolved, there will be no further talk of any practical advice around army qualities, nor the opportunity for key members of a new Highborn army to train in the Commonwealth and adapt their tactics.

Still, the specialists have returned to the Empire with the promised gifts from their time spent advising the General's Council. Each general of Highguard has received a [[Trade_goods#Hero_Stone|heldenstein]], a [[Trade_goods#Law_Stone|gesetzstein]], and a [[Trade_goods#War_Amulets|kriegsamulett]].

==Trade Matters==
* '''Radomoso and Murolosch remain available to Imperial traders
* '''Imperial vessels trading with Leerdam and Volkavaar have a -1 penalty to their production
For the moment, at least, matters of trade have not been directly impacted. The port of [[When_peace_was_far_away#Free_Port|Radosmo]], in the "independent" [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Free_Ports_And_Free_People|nation of of Zemelslo]] remains open to Imperial captains. The smiths of [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]] remain keen to treat with visiting merchants from the Empire, although how long this will remain the case is hard to say. Once the matter of the Lantir Incursion intelligence is resolved, it's possible there will be a major impact on all trade in the Sea of Steel.

It's also notable that Commonwealth merchants remain a little leery of visiting captains on Imperial vessels, due to the knowledge that the Empire is also effectively trading with Jarm in Radomoso. As such the -1 penalty to the production of fleets visiting VOlkavaar and Leerdam continues. This penalty will certainly be removed if the Ambassador shares the secret intelligence reports gathered by spies using trade with Radomoso as cover to conduct espionage (although given the current crisis in relations between the Empire and the Commonwealth that might not be saying much depending on how things shake out in the end).

==Brazen Enthusiasm==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Seven Locks 2.jpg|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''The City of Locks offers access to a smuggler's port on the Sea of Steel
* '''All that is required to claim it is for the Conclave to uphold a declaration of acceptance
While the Commonwealth and Jarm are both angry with their respective ambassadors for different reasons, there is at least one group that is more than pleased with this outcome. Shortly before the Summer Solstice, a herald from the [[Basileia|City of Locks]] arrives at the Hub with an offer for the Empire. Apparently, the ''Princess of Weirs'' is very impressed with the way the Empire is handling the situation in the east; the chaos serves her interests very well indeed and as a consequence she offers a simple reward.

The City of Locks will arrange for the Empire to gain access to a hidden island on the Sea of Steel. There they will find a smugglers port, independant of both the Commonwealth and Jarm, where Imperial captains will be able to acquire choice goods from the two great powers. The port has extensive markets, and crucially neither Jarm nor the Commonwealth would know Imperial captains were trading there. Unless one of the Ambassadors decided to tell them, of course. The ''Carver of Cliques'' will not tell anyone the Empire trades there, and will forbid the [[Basileia#The_Five_Pillars|Five Pillars]] likewise from doing so.

All that is required is for the Conclave to support a [[Declaration]] of [[Alignment#Acceptance|Acceptance]] thanking the City of Locks for their offer, and accepting it on behalf of the Ambassadors of the Empire. As long as they do so before the end of the Summer Solstice, details of where the port is located and guides from the ''Union of Lock-Keepers and Stevedores'' will help Imperial captains find it.

There are two tiny other matters of consideration; access to the port remains only so long as the Conclave does not declare [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] against the City of Locks or the ''Union of Lock-Keepers and Stevedores''; and only vessels enchanted with the [[Lure of Distant Shores]] will be able to make the journey safely. Ships that don't have this specific enchantment will simply be unable to reach the port. It is, apparently, all part of an old arrangement between the lords of that place and the City of Locks, the details of which need not concern the Empire at this time (says Basileia Brazen's herald).

The Civil Servant Jorgen, who has long experience dealing with heralds bringing messages from eternals, describes the offer as stinking like week old fish, but at least on the surface it appears to be a legitimate offer, and the promise that the City of Locks will not reveal the Empire's trade with the smugglers in particular seems to have significant weight.

==Public Record==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Public Embassy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Senate Motion</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Specify that correspondence sent through an embassy be made public</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 2 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' The text of any letter sent via the communication power of an ambassador with an embassy would be published on the wiki</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' The Senate could do this at any time</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Only letters sent via an embassy would be public</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Senate could require that letters sent by ambassadors be a matter of public record'''
* '''Only letters sent by Imperial ambassadors via the communication power of an embassy would be affected
The fact that both the Commonwealth and Jarm are making claims about what Imperial Ambassadors have said makes some folk uneasy. The only Imperial citizen who knows for sure what was actually in the letter is the Ambassador themselves. And, theoretically, the Imperial civil service of course. Each [[embassy]] has a staff of civil servants associated with it that will [[Ambassador#Communication|handle communication]] with their counterpart in the nation they deal with. This handily defrays the costs of sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] and gives the ambassador an opportunity to compose a missive away from the chaos of Anvil.

After some discussion with key embassy staff, the civil service has grudgingly responded to enquiries by indicating that their involvement means that it would be possible to make the formal letters sent by an ambassador a matter of public record. Arguments that the letters represent a "meeting" by an Imperial body facilitated by the civil service, and thus fall under the right of [[Member_of_the_Synod#Witness|wittess]], so all formal correspondence should be given to the Synod gets short shrift. But, if the Senate wished to do so, they could require that letters submitted via the embassy staff be recorded and copies published. This would remove any doubt as to what an ambassador has or has not said, and potentially allow valuable continuity between ambassadors.

The civil service stress that this would ''only'' effect letters set via an embassy. Correspondence sent directly during a summit via [[Call Winged Messenger]] would not be made public. Furthermore, it would not be possible for the Senate to demand that ambassadors only communicate via the embassy - it is at the discretion of the ambassador how they discharge their responsibilities. Finally, it would be "all or nothing". Either all embassies would work in this way or none would; t would not be possible to pick and choose.

There is no particular rush on this; the civil service identify that this is a power of the Senate, and they could make this change at any time if they wished to do so.

'''OOC Note:''' If the Senate pass this motion, then the contents of ambassador letters emailed to {{plot}} after an event would be added to the wiki. This would start in the downtime after the summit where the motion was passed, and continue until it was abrogated. If the Senate later abrogated this provision, no more letters would be added but existing missives would remain a matter of record. Our usual rules on [[Secrecy#On_the_Wiki,_In_the_Downtime|secrecy]] would apply - while the letters would be available for players to read this would not mean everyone in the known world immediately knows everything about Imperial diplomacy.
{{Jarm Links}}
{{Commonwealth Links}}

War games

2026-07-17T16:29:24Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Principalities of Jarm */

[[Category:Wind of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>The ambassador looked at his team, at the long lines of exhaustion carved into their faces. They'd been pouring over every word in the message for two days now, looking at every possible interpretation. What could they possibly mean by that? There had been little enough rest this last year, and none at all since the winged message arrived and turned the world upside down.

What was the saying the Sarcophan had? "Things are always darkest before the ship goes down." Bloody Sarcophan black humour.

And besides it wasn't true, not really. Things had been looking up these last few days. The Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges had made his offer, and both governments had agreed to send their brightest and their best. Negotiations would be fraught obviously, bound to be. But it was plain enough to their side how bad the situation was getting, it was bound to be the same for their old adversaries. A lasting peace was hardly likely, but without a ceasefire the Cold Sun would continue its rise. Thousands more would die. More towns and cities reduced to crystalline slag. Surely their people could make the other side see they would need to swallow their pride or this would be the end of them.

The ambassador sighed, and wiped a hand across their forehead. It had been a long nine months, never mind a long three days. Nine months doesn't even scratch the surface, really. Long days and exhausting nights since the quiet war turned loud. Two giants pressed shoulder-to-shoulder for too long. Anyone could have predicted the outcome. The secret to avoiding war, the ambassador read once, is to make sure everyone has enough room to swing their army around. Or to beat their chests, perhaps.

At least they were not alone against the Oblivion Gate. The Empire has proved invaluable in recent months. Their incursion might have been on a smaller scale, but the experience it had given them was invaluable. A year ago, it would have seemed inconceivable that their magicians would be on the battle-lines, but here they were. They'd helped save lives and if this meeting Clever Spider had arranged went well, perhaps the door on Cold Sun could finally be closed... Then the recriminations can begin in earnest he thought with a sardonic chuckle.

The ambassador sighed gloomily and pulled his thoughts back to the room. He coughed to clear his throat. "Right, we've been over this letter fourteen times now. Today we're going to go over it again. Before we start, I'll remind everyone that we all know what it says, we've all got a copy in front of us, we're here to work out what it ''means''."

It was always the same, nobody wanted to go first. They inclined their head slightly to lock eyes with the understudy and nodded to indicate he should start with his analysis. The fellow was too ambitious by far; it would be good for him to get a taste of leadership here at the sharp end of the wedge.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: left; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Checkmate explained.jpg|align=left|caption=Cold Sun is not the only thing causing chaos among the great powers of the east.|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Commonwealth and Jarm remain at war'''
* '''Cold Sun has destroyed the minor nation of Lantir'''
* '''The ''scions'' of Cold Sun threaten both larger nations'''
The [[Commonwealth]] and the [[Principalities of Jarm]] have been at open war for some time now, a conflict that erupted over control of the borderlands between their nations. Now, the tiny country of Lantir is no more - the [[Cold Sun]] has risen and the ''scions'' seek to [[Cold war|ravage the two eastern powers]] as they once attempted to do in the Empire. Attempts to contain the incursion [[Weaving_tangled_nets#Against_the_Cold_Sun|have failed]], despite the aid of Imperial soldiers and magicians. The failure of the two rival powers to appreciate the full magnitude of the threat posed threat by the ''Oblivion Gate'' means there has so far been no coordinated response to the invastion. Yet even in this time of heightened conflict, the wheels of diplomacy continue to turn... and sometimes those same wheels snag your sleeve and before you know it your entire arm has been crushed to pulp.
==Principalities of Jarm==
* '''The Empire remains at peace with the Principalities of Jarm, but trade with that nation is embargoed
* '''The Senate has approved trade with the tiny independent nation of Zemelslo that lies within the Jarmish sphere of influence
* '''Jarm is at war with Imperial allies in the Commonwealth, and faces the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Principalities is Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll, of Highguard
The ''magocracy'' of the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are not exactly friendly to the Empire. Ruled by the House of Princes, relations have been rocky for years. The Empire is allied with their great rival, the Commonwealth, via the [[Liberty Pact]], and have made several attempts to interfere in Jarmish interests. They may not be at war with the Empire at the moment, but diplomatic relations remain somewhat chilly. Communications tend to be brusque, bordering on the curt.

The Jarmish ambassador to the Empire is ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', who attends at the House of Princes. A canny and influential politician who has served the House of Princes for over forty years, he represents the Jarmish to the Empire and vice-versa. A potent master of Autumn magic, he is known for his sarcasm and dry wit, and for his commitment to the sovereignty of the Principalities he serves.
{{Nation|nation=Jarm|status=Foreigner|port=[[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Kavor_(Northern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Kavor]], [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Vezak_(Southern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Vezak]], and [[Principalities_of_Jarm_ports#Rigia_(Eastern_Principalities_of_Jarm)|Rigia]] (all closed)|ambassador=Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll of [[Highguard]]}}

==Commonwealth==
* '''The Commonwealth remains friendly to the Empire, and allied via the Liberty Pact'''
* '''The Commonwealth is at war with the Principalities of Jarm
* '''The Commonwealth has recently encountered the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Commonwealth is Finn Pridetalker of Wintermark
{{Nation|nation=Commonwealth|status=Foreigner|port=[[Commonwealth_ports#Leerdam_(Eastern_Commonwealth)|Leerdam]] and [[Commonwealth_ports#Volkavaar_(Western_Commonwealth)|Volkavaar]]|ambassador=Finn Pridetalker of [[Wintermark]]}}
The Commonwealth are one of the closest allies the Empire has among the great powers of the known world, thanks primarily to their shared membership of the [[Liberty Pact]]. Both nations are dedicated to extending their influence over the whole world, but for now their rivalry with the Empire remains amicable. Even if it the two great nations must eventually clash, nobody sees that happening any time soon. The Empire shared its mastery of magic with the magicians of the Commonwealth, and Commonwealth soldiers fought and died alongside the Freeborn in the [[A beacon of smoke|fall of Siroc]].

Their ambassador to the Empire is ''Militärattache Ludkhannah Schöningen'', of Die Stahlhalle in the port-city of Volkavaar, a veteran soldier who reports to the generals who hold the reins of political power in their nation. An old campaigner, they generally speak plainly and as honestly as any politician can when dealing with their Imperial counterpart.

==Cold Sun==
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Cold Sun Art.jpg|align=right|caption=The Lantir Incursion sees scions of Cold Sun expanding outwards from a central point, and the number of heralds involved is orders of magnitude greater than the armies that invaded the Empire.|width=300}}</div>
* '''Cold Sun continues its incursion on the borderlands of the Commonwealth and Jarm
* '''At the request of the Autumn archmage, the eternal Prospero has brokered a summit to address cooperation between the two nations
* '''Several Conclave orders continue to support the Principalities of Jarm
* '''There have been major revelations about the factors that lead to the Lantir incursion
* '''These revelations have resulted in significant disruption
Following the Autumn Equinox, the [[Cold Sun]] began a [[Cold war|major incursion]] into the lands between the Commonwealth and the Principalities of Jarm. The tiny nation of Lantir, whose disposition had ultimately led to the war currently raging between the two great powers, was destroyed and overrun. Six [[Conclave order|Conclave orders]] and one [[army|Imperial army]] were able to provide direct aid to the two great nations of the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] in their fight against the ''[[Cold_Sun#Heralds|scions]]'' of ''Endless Nothing'' but the situation continued to look dire. Centuries of rivalry, and the ongoing war between the two great powers, meant that they were unable to reach anything like a coordinated plan of response to the forces of ''Oblivion''. Efforts to contain the blight failed, and the ''scions'' continued to spread across the borderlands, and began to press into Commonwealth and Jarmish territories.

The last season has seen the fighting continue, and members of the Conclave orders involved continue to provide support both on the front lines and behind the scenes. The presence of experienced [[Rod and Shield]] warrior-magicians fighting with Commonwealth soldiers has proved especially effective at countering probing strikes by the ''scions''. Yet each order has contributed in their own way. There has also been some measure of assistance from officers and veterans of the [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[army|armies]], visiting the Commonwealth as part of an effort to [[Towards_a_common_good#Doctrine|build closer ties]] between Highguard and the martial nation.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Vossk.jpg|caption='''Vossk''', Archmage of Autumn|align=right|width=300}}
Following the Spring Equinox, and in part thanks to efforts by the [[Celestial Arch]], there has been an unofficial redirection of forces away from the battle lines between the two nations. This repositioning doesn't represent any kind of ceasefire, but perhaps a grudging awareness in both governments that soldiers fighting each other are effectively doing Cold Sun's job for it. Negotiations about a full ceasefire are underway, with the Jarmish broadly in favour (again thanks to the Celestial Arch as much as anything else), and the Commonwealth being stubborn.

Regardless, it seems that Cold Sun has made only minor gains this season in territories bordering Lantir. Sadly, while only a few regions have changed hands, there have been numerous deeper raids aimed at claiming [[mithril]] and [[ilium]] that have seen hundreds die and further stretched the resources of the [[Silver Chalice]] to help grant succour to the ''scions'' civilian victims.

There is some good news, however. Emissaries of the Commonwealth and the House of Princes have agreed to meet on neutral ground to discuss cooperation against the devastating rampage of Cold Sun. The Jarmish were already prepared to accept the need for collaboration with their vitter rivals due to the [[Weaving tangled nets#Celestial Arch|politcal machinations]] of the [[Celestial Arch]]. The [[Archmage of Autumn]], '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' prevailed on the [[Prospero|Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges]] to bring the Commonwealth to the negotiation table, and provide neutral ground for those negotiations to take place. Neither side trusts the other, but a summit to discuss a ceasefire and potential cooperation was agreed to.

Unfortunately, the preliminary reports of that meeting filtering back to the Empire as the Summer Solstice approaches is that it ended ''disastrously'' - in large part due to the actions of Imperial [[ambassador|ambassadors]].

==Jarmish Anger==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll.jpg|caption='''Thaumiel of Steeplechase Toll''', Ambassador to Jarm|align=right|width=300}}
* '''The Ambassador has informed Jarm that the Empire know who was responsible for the Lantir incursion'''
* '''The House of Princes demand that the Ambassador disclose everything they know ''immediately'' '''
According to ''Lord-Magister Anton Trescher of the Hidden Hook'', '''Ambassador Thaumiel''' has revealed that Imperial spies have uncovered who it was that invited Cold Sun to destroy Lantir City, devastate the tiny nation, and begin the rampage that has so far cost thousands of Jarmish lives (never mind those of folk of the independent border region, or the Commonwealth). Thaumiel reassured their opposite number that the actual perpetrators were no more - that "''only ash remains''." They did not reveal ''who'' these perpetrators were but the ambassador said their investigations had confirmed "no Jarmish Prince was foolish or desperate enough to conjure up the Oblivion Flame" and invited the Lord-Magister "''to draw the appropriate conclusions''."

Obviously, Trescher immediately reported to the House of Princes. Despite their public insistence that the Commonwealth was behind the atrocity, it is likely that the Lord-Magister may be quietly relieved to discover the attack wasn't carried out by one of their own. None-the-less, they have responded by ''demanding'' that the Empire ''immediately'' share everything they know. While the magicians who caused the breach may be dead, the people behind their cowardly attack must face retribution. The fact the ambassador has chosen to be coy on this matter means there are only three realistic conclusions, according to Lord-Magister Anton.

The first is that the Commonwealth is behind the attack, and the Empire is shielding their allies. The alliance between the two nations is well known, after all, even before the [[Liberty Pact]] made it official. If this is the case, then it will expose Commonwealth idealism as a sham. For them to try and use a weapon like the Cold Sun shows that they will truly stop at nothing to enforce their dominance over the independent countries that surround them, and use any tool to try and murder Jarmish citizens. There will be no cooperation with the Commonwealth, and Jarm will take every opportunity to ensure that Cold Sun turns its burning gaze towards them and destroys as much of their nation as possible.

The other conclusion is that it is the ''Empire'' who are behind this attack. That some coven of Imperial magicians opened the [[regio]] that allowed Oblivion to enter Lantir and begin murdering and destroying. It is questionable whether the Commonwealth have the necessary command of magic to open a portal for Cold Sun, but everyone knows the Empire can, because they did it once already. It's possible that they were acting on their own, that they didn't have the full support of the entire Empire, but that doesn't matter. After all these years of Imperial diplomats taking a holier-than-thou attitude, for their people to fall back on unleashing an unequivocal force of destruction against the Jarmish people will put the final nail in the coffin of Imperial-Jarm relations. The House of Princes will have no alternative but to declare war, and throw their resources toward bringing the Empire to its knees.

The only other real possibility is that the Commonwealth and the Empire are jointly responsible. That they conspired together to destroy Jarm, with Commonwealth magicians backed by Imperial knowledge and resources. They sacrificed the people of Lantir, and then saw the situation explode in their own faces. Is this the truth that the Ambassador is hinting at?

The [[Civil Service]] advise that the House of Princes is '''demanding''' answers. The Jarmish ambassador has suggested to the princes that his Imperial counterpart may have told them everything he knows. Or more hopefully that he is pausing simply to ensure that he has the names of those involved and the proof to back up the claims, and that both will be forthcoming as soon as the Empire have them. If that happens, then the House of Princes will be deeply grateful, but they are now unlikely to accept anything less than that. The Cold Sun has slaughtered thousands of Jarmish subjects, finding out who was responsible for that atrocity is almost more important than winning the war. The Empire will need to provide answers and quickly.

This would be a difficult enough proposition if not for...

==Commonwealth Fury==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Cyrus12292.jpg|caption='''Cyrus, of Ebon's Hall''', Ambassador to the Commonwealth|align=right|width=400}}
* '''The Ambassador has informed the Commonwealth that the Shuttered Lantern has determined who was responsible for the Lantir incursion'''
* '''They have indicated they know that it was Commonwealth citizens who unleashed Cold Sun and that they will tell Jarm in the coming season'''
* '''The Commonwealth demands that under no circumstances must this information be made public'''
According to Militärattache Schöningen, '''Ambassador Cyrus''' has indicated that the [[Shuttered Lantern]] have discovered that the source of the Lantir incursion was "''deceased terrorist citizens of the Commonwealth''." Further, they informed their counterpart that "''Jarm will learn the source of Cold Sun in Lantir next season; the wider world will learn thereafter''."

The Militärattache has quietly harboured suspicions that one of their own might be responsible for the catastrophe. Her greatest fear has been that the Jarmish might find a way to pin the act on the Commonwealth. Never did she imagine that the Empire would discover who was responsible and then decide to tell Jarm and rest of the world. It is hard for the Commonwealth to see this as anything other than a betrayal of their friendship with the Empire. Worse, it comes from an Empire claiming to act in the interests of the Commonwealth, and demanding that the nation meet with Jarm to discuss an armistice. Rather than allowing this matter to be dealt with internally, the Ambassador implied the Empire fully intended to share their "investigation" with Jarm and the world.

It's then clear that the Jarmish already know - or at least suspect. When Commonwealth diplomats arrive at the meeting arranged by Prospero at the urging of the Imperial Archmage of Autumn, one of the first things their opposite numbers from Jarm did was to share their "conclusions" based on what the Empire had already told them. What should have been a forum for discussing a ceasefire, and arranging cooperation against the threat of Cold Sun, instead devolves into shouted accusations and bitter denials.

There is a great deal of anger at the highest levels, but Militärattache Schöningen cautions against acting precipitously. The Empire have been good allies to the Commonwealth to this point. The two graet powers have worked well together in the past, and despite tempers running hot in the wake of this seeming betrayal, cooler heads must prevail.

There is talk of immediately exiling the advisors from the [[Rod and Shield]] and the [[Golden Pyramid]] from Commonwealth lands, given that the Conclave is clearly engaged in espionage on behalf of the Empire. However, a more measured argument points out that it is the ''Shuttered Lantern'' who have been spying, and that order is currently based in Jarm (fuelling further concerns about how trustworthy their evidence is). In the end, the Commonwealth assigns a cadre of observers to keep an eye on the two Conclave orders, to ensure they are not spying while appearing to help against Cold Sun. This, inevitably, reduces the effectiveness of their aid. It's also clear that ejecting the magicians is still on the table, which would end opportunities to [[Weaving tangled nets#Rod and Shield|gain hero stones]] or [[Weaving tangled nets#Golden Pyramid|acquire a schema]] from the smiths of [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]]. So far, the Commonwealth has not made any move to end the gift of [[Trade_goods#Soldier's_Booze|soldier's booze]] to the [[Granite Pillar]] - but whether that continues or not will depend entirely on how the current situation is resolved.

There's also talk of withdrawing immediately from the [[Liberty Pact]]. Doubts about the value of the alliance have been [[Weaving_tangled_nets#Future_Good?|growing in the Commonwealth for some time]], this perceived betrayal could easily be the final straw. As the Imperial Ambassador already puts it, "''the Liberty Pact has crushed the international slave trade''." With apologies to '''Jarrigk Silktongue Du Meravon''', it seems that the Liberty Pact has run its course, and the Commonwealth has no interest in "''a more trade-focused agreement''" at this time. Militärattache Schöningen notes that the Empire may have been better served investigating claims made by '''Octavious of the Celestial Cartographers''' that their friends in Axos are trading with slavers from the Mallum, but its clear she is speaking from frustration and anger.

Once the fury has cooled slightly, Militärattache Ludkhannah formally requests that the Empire share all the information the Shuttered Lantern has gathered on this matter with the Commonwealth. They ask that under no circumstances should it be shared with anyone else, ''especially'' the Principalities of Jarm.

If the Empire shares their claim that the Commonwealth was responsible for the attack on Lantir with ''anyone'', then it will cannot help but mark the end of the current friendship. It will do considerable damage to the Commonwealth, it will let Jarm claim the high ground in their devastating war and undermine Commonwealth diplomacy with many smaller nations in their orbit. The generals will have no choice but to view the Empire as at best untrustworthy, and at worse as a force opposed to the Common Good.

==Untangling the Knot==
* '''Both Jarm and the Commonwealth have demanded the Empire's evidence regarding who caused the Lantir incursion'''
* '''How the Empre proceeds will be crucial in defining their relations with the eastern powers and their own standing among the nations of the Known World'''
* '''The civil service have done their best to advise on how the situation could precede'''

The [[civil service]] advise that while the situation is almost as bad as it possibly could be, there might be ways to mitigate some of the fallout. While anyone can correspond with a great power, it is the words of the appropriate ambassador that has the greatest weight, exceeded only by the formal declarations of houses such as the [[Senate]] or the [[Conclave]]. A random citizen of the Empire could claim to have "proof" about who was responsible for Lantir, but unless that claim was backed up by an ambassador, or perhaps in the case of the Commonwealth, the Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern, it would carry comparatively little political weight. Thus a lot will hinge on what is said next.

Unfortunately, given the Jarmish know the Empire have learned who unleashed Cold Sun, but the Commonwealth demands that they do not tell the Jarmish, the ambassadors are placed in a tricky position. They also note that the Principalities, unlike the Commonwealth, are unaware that the Shuttered Lantern were involved in investigating this matter. If that information were released then it may trigger an expulsion of Imperial magicians from Jarm - but it might not. The Jarmish are often weirdly pragmatic about such matters. A lot would depend on how it was presented.

When it comes to actually sharing the evidence, the key information that would need to be communicated would be the name of the person or persons who invited Cold Sun into Lantir; how they acquired the resources to do so; and what their motivation was. Assuming the Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern has this information, it would be up to the appropriate Ambassador to communicate it. The full details won't be needed - the Commonwealth and Jarm are both capable of using this limited information to perform their own investigations.

This means that attempts to present false information could quickly unravel. The Jarmish and the Commonwealth will investigate and swiftly identify the lie if the evidence does not stack up. Any lie will need to be utterly watertight and stand up to thorough investigation to avoid making the matter worse. Even then it might not work - if it is not compelling then the two nations might not believe it, even if they can't prove it's a lie.

If the Empire provides Jarm with any proof of Commonwealth guilt then it will be diplomatically devastating. The Commonwealth prides itself on pursuing the Greater Good, and any evidence that their people had caused the deaths of thousands of people and wiped out an entire nation would give all their critics a bludgeon with which to beat them. It would wreck their relationship with their allies in the east, and it would take years for them to recover.

Worse, if the evidence pointed to the Empire, it would damage their own standing on the "world stage". Significant credence would be given to Jarmish accusations that Imperial spies and agitators are set on interfering in their business. Depending on the nature of the evidence, it might see other nations leery about allowing Imperial citizens to visit, cause problems for Imperial traders, and potentially complicate existing Imperial treaties. It would also inevitably support the concerns of Axos in particular in relation to their worries about Imperial intentions regarding the vallorn.

The civil service also caution that a degree of coordination will be needed in any event. Jarm and the Commonwealth despise one another, but as shown by recent events, each side will rapidly become aware of what the Empire has told the other. Both great powers are angry and suspicious, and will seize on any inconsistency in the Imperial response here.

==Orders and Opportunity==
<div style="float:right; width: 175px; clear: right;">
[[File:OrderCelestialArch.jpg|link=Celestial Arch]]
[[File:OrderRodAndShield.jpg|link=Rod and Shield]]
[[File:Chalice.jpg|link=Silver Chalice]]
[[File:OrderShutteredLantern.jpg|link=Shuttered Lantern]]
[[File:OrderGoldenPyramid.jpg|link=Golden Pyramid]]
</div>
* '''Six Conclave Orders remain active in the east
* '''While opportunities still exist, they may not survive the fallout from the diplomatic crisis
* '''The Sevenfold Path interactions with the Convocation of Virtue are discussed in the Full circles wind of fortune
Six Conclave orders still remain active in the east; the [[Celestial Arch]], [[Sevenfold Path]], [[Shuttered Lantern]] are still offering aid to Jarm; the [[Rod and Shield]] and [[Golden Pyramid]] are in the Commonwealth; and the [[Silver Chalice]] continues to look to the injured of all sides, and the succour of the civilians threatened by the war. The Sevenfold Path are [[Full circles|pursuing their own path]] in the east, but it is worth considering the position of the other orders in light of the crisis.

The [[grandmaster]] of the Shuttered Lantern remains in a position to [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guide their order]], to instruct magicians in Jarm to engage in a stratagem of some kind. Doing so at the moment, with the additional scrutiny due to House of Prince anger with the Ambassador, would mean that it would be hard to undertake a stratagem without the Jarmish being aware they have done so. With that in mind, however, the grandmaster could guide the order during the Summer Solstice by urging them to undertake some action involving ''protecting and exposing secrets and knowledge'', ''acquiring the knowledge and secrets of the Empire's enemies'', or ''guarding and shielding the secrets of the Empire'' in the east. If they do so, this will create an opportunity at the Autumn Equinox, even if in the meantime Jarm ejects Imperial magicians or declares war.

The Celestial Arch are still present, but the current chaos makes it impossible for them to achieve a political aim this season. Only once the matter of the Lantir Incursion intelligence is resolved would there be any opportunity to influence the magicians of Jarm - and that opportunity will be entirely lost if Jarm expels the order magicians, or they are directed to apply their expertise somewhere else.

The Rod and Shield are engaged on the front lines, fighting alongside Commonwealth soldiers. Their aid is having a notable effect in slowing Cold Sun's expansion. This isn't because of their martial prowess - although that is a factor - but because of their experience fighting the ''scions'' in the Empire. While they remain in the Commonwealth, and in the absence of a ceasfire and cooperation between the Commonwealth and Jarm, they are actively contributing to the defence against Cold Sun. Without their presence, it's likely the scions would have made more gains this season and many more people would have died.

The Golden Pyramid continue to be welcome in [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]]. A number of artisans chosen by the grandmaster have been taught to make ''War Rings'', and the offer of a [[Magic_items#Schema|schema]] remains on the table. Of course, this potential prize can only be claimed if they continue to aid against Cold Sun, and are not expelled by the Commonwealth. There has also been no further invitation to Imperial war-smiths to visit and study with those in Murolosch, although the port remains open to Imperial captains. Until the matter of the Lantir Incursion evidence is resolved, no further opportunity will be forthcoming.

Finally, the Silver Chalice continue to have the grudging support of both sides. While the Commonwealth is furious with the Empire and suspects Conclave spies, they cannot deny the work the Chalice is putting in to protect the victims of Cold Sun. Their lack of favouritism - treating warriors of both the Commonwealth and the Principalities - garners grudging respect. There is also no question that they are helping to reduce the suffering of the people threatened by the ''scions''. There is no need for the Grandmaster to guide the order to have members continue to work in the east, but if they are guided to go elsewhere there will be no opportunity to return.

Any order currently in the Commonwealth or Jarm will remain active there until they are expelled by the host country, or the grandmaster guides the order elsewhere. Once an order leaves, however, it will require a new [[opportunity]] for them to return - one whose likelihood depends a lot on what happens with the current diplomatic crisis.

==Commonwealth and Highguard==
* '''The Highborn armies have sent members to the Commonwealth
* '''While warmly received, the diplomatic crisis has soured the tenor of their visit
Following the Spring Equinox, the [[Pilgrim's Defiance]], [[Seventh Wave]], and [[Valiant Pegasus]] all sent officers and veterans to the Commonwealth to speak with their counterparts. There was much discussion about [[Highguard_military_concerns#The_Vigilant_War|vigilant war]], and the ways armies of differing [[Army_qualities|specialities]] could work together.

Unfortunately, while the visit is well received at first, the furore surrounding the accusations of Commonwealth involvement in inciting the Lantir Incursion quickly throws a pall over the exchange. The exchange has been beneficial, but it is clear that unless the current diplomatic crisis is resolved, there will be no further talk of any practical advice around army qualities, nor the opportunity for key members of a new Highborn army to train in the Commonwealth and adapt their tactics.

Still, the specialists have returned to the Empire with the promised gifts from their time spent advising the General's Council. Each general of Highguard has received a [[Trade_goods#Hero_Stone|heldenstein]], a [[Trade_goods#Law_Stone|gesetzstein]], and a [[Trade_goods#War_Amulets|kriegsamulett]].

==Trade Matters==
* '''Radomoso and Murolosch remain available to Imperial traders
* '''Imperial vessels trading with Leerdam and Volkavaar have a -1 penalty to their production
For the moment, at least, matters of trade have not been directly impacted. The port of [[When_peace_was_far_away#Free_Port|Radosmo]], in the "independent" [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Free_Ports_And_Free_People|nation of of Zemelslo]] remains open to Imperial captains. The smiths of [[Weaving tangled nets#Murolosch|Murolosch]] remain keen to treat with visiting merchants from the Empire, although how long this will remain the case is hard to say. Once the matter of the Lantir Incursion intelligence is resolved, it's possible there will be a major impact on all trade in the Sea of Steel.

It's also notable that Commonwealth merchants remain a little leery of visiting captains on Imperial vessels, due to the knowledge that the Empire is also effectively trading with Jarm in Radomoso. As such the -1 penalty to the production of fleets visiting VOlkavaar and Leerdam continues. This penalty will certainly be removed if the Ambassador shares the secret intelligence reports gathered by spies using trade with Radomoso as cover to conduct espionage (although given the current crisis in relations between the Empire and the Commonwealth that might not be saying much depending on how things shake out in the end).

==Brazen Enthusiasm==
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Seven Locks 2.jpg|align=right|width=250]]</div>
* '''The City of Locks offers access to a smuggler's port on the Sea of Steel
* '''All that is required to claim it is for the Conclave to uphold a declaration of acceptance
While the Commonwealth and Jarm are both angry with their respective ambassadors for different reasons, there is at least one group that is more than pleased with this outcome. Shortly before the Summer Solstice, a herald from the [[Basileia|City of Locks]] arrives at the Hub with an offer for the Empire. Apparently, the ''Princess of Weirs'' is very impressed with the way the Empire is handling the situation in the east; the chaos serves her interests very well indeed and as a consequence she offers a simple reward.

The City of Locks will arrange for the Empire to gain access to a hidden island on the Sea of Steel. There they will find a smugglers port, independant of both the Commonwealth and Jarm, where Imperial captains will be able to acquire choice goods from the two great powers. The port has extensive markets, and crucially neither Jarm nor the Commonwealth would know Imperial captains were trading there. Unless one of the Ambassadors decided to tell them, of course. The ''Carver of Cliques'' will not tell anyone the Empire trades there, and will forbid the [[Basileia#The_Five_Pillars|Five Pillars]] likewise from doing so.

All that is required is for the Conclave to support a [[Declaration]] of [[Alignment#Acceptance|Acceptance]] thanking the City of Locks for their offer, and accepting it on behalf of the Ambassadors of the Empire. As long as they do so before the end of the Summer Solstice, details of where the port is located and guides from the ''Union of Lock-Keepers and Stevedores'' will help Imperial captains find it.

There are two tiny other matters of consideration; access to the port remains only so long as the Conclave does not declare [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] against the City of Locks or the ''Union of Lock-Keepers and Stevedores''; and only vessels enchanted with the [[Lure of Distant Shores]] will be able to make the journey safely. Ships that don't have this specific enchantment will simply be unable to reach the port. It is, apparently, all part of an old arrangement between the lords of that place and the City of Locks, the details of which need not concern the Empire at this time (says Basileia Brazen's herald).

The Civil Servant Jorgen, who has long experience dealing with heralds bringing messages from eternals, describes the offer as stinking like week old fish, but at least on the surface it appears to be a legitimate offer, and the promise that the City of Locks will not reveal the Empire's trade with the smugglers in particular seems to have significant weight.

==Public Record==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Public Embassy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Senate Motion</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Specify that correspondence sent through an embassy be made public</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 2 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' The text of any letter sent via the communication power of an ambassador with an embassy would be published on the wiki</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' The Senate could do this at any time</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Only letters sent via an embassy would be public</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Senate could require that letters sent by ambassadors be a matter of public record'''
* '''Only letters sent by Imperial ambassadors via the communication power of an embassy would be effected
The fact that both the Commonwealth and Jarm are making claims about what Imperial Ambassadors have said makes some folk uneasy. The only Imperial citizen who knows for sure what was actually in the letter is the Ambassador themselves. And, theoretically, the Imperial civil service of course. Each [[embassy]] has a staff of civil servants associated with it that will [[Ambassador#Communication|handle communication]] with their counterpart in the nation they deal with. This handily defrays the costs of sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] and gives the ambassador an opportunity to compose a missive away from the chaos of Anvil.

After some discussion with key embassy staff, the civil service has grudgingly responded to enquiries by indicating that their involvement means that it would be possible to make the formal letters sent by an ambassador a matter of public record. Arguments that the letters represent a "meeting" by an Imperial body facilitated by the civil service, and thus fall under the right of [[Member_of_the_Synod#Witness|wittess]], so all formal correspondence should be given to the Synod gets short shrift. But, if the Senate wished to do so, they could require that letters submitted via the embassy staff be recorded and copies published. This would remove any doubt as to what an ambassador has or has not said, and potentially allow valuable continuity between ambassadors.

The civil service stress that this would ''only'' effect letters set via an embassy. Correspondence sent directly during a summit via [[Call Winged Messenger]] would not be made public. Furthermore, it would not be possible for the Senate to demand that ambassadors only communicate via the embassy - it is at the discretion of the ambassador how they discharge their responsibilities. Finally, it would be "all or nothing". Either all embassies would work in this way or none would; t would not be possible to pick and choose.

There is no particular rush on this; the civil service identify that this is a power of the Senate, and they could make this change at any time if they wished to do so.

'''OOC Note:''' If the Senate pass this motion, then the contents of ambassador letters emailed to {{plot}} after an event would be added to the wiki. This would start in the downtime after the summit where the motion was passed, and continue until it was abrogated. If the Senate later abrogated this provision, no more letters would be added but existing missives would remain a matter of record. Our usual rules on [[Secrecy#On_the_Wiki,_In_the_Downtime|secrecy]] would apply - while the letters would be available for players to read this would not mean everyone in the known world immediately knows everything about Imperial diplomacy.
{{Jarm Links}}
{{Commonwealth Links}}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T16:07:21Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Hare Protector */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legitimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloquium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The ''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for the title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beachcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to help the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then she should use whatever power she has to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of her plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T16:06:58Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Hare Protector */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legitimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloquium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The ''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for the title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beachcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to help the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then she should use whatever power she has to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of her plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T16:06:42Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Hare Protector */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legitimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloquium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The ''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for the title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beachcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to help the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then she should use whatever power she has to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of her plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T16:02:15Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Shining Ink */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The ''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for the title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beachcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to help the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then she should use whatever power she has to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of her plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T16:00:53Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Light and Air (Day) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The ''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for the title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beachcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T16:00:37Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Light and Air (Day) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for the title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beachcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T16:00:24Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Light and Air (Day) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for the title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beahcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the Empire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T15:58:49Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Light and Air (Day) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. They even [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she says what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beahcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.

==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbamble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the EMpire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T15:54:53Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Over Troubled Waters (Autumn) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. Where they even approached it they [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Question_Liaising_with_Eternals|declined to challenge the Synod]] and indeed [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du Besté''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she say what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beahcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.
==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbamble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the EMpire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T15:53:27Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Over Troubled Waters (Autumn) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. Where they even approached it they [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Question_Liaising_with_Eternals|declined to challenge the Synod]] and indeed [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du BestéUp''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she say what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beahcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.
==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbamble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the EMpire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T15:53:13Z

GuiltyConscience: /* A Silenced Call */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightmares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. Where they even approached it they [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Question_Liaising_with_Eternals|declined to challenge the Synod]] and indeed [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grim Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?

==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero Wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du BestéUp''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she say what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beahcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.
==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbamble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the EMpire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T15:50:01Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Overview */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''Four have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. Where they even approached it they [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Question_Liaising_with_Eternals|declined to challenge the Synod]] and indeed [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grin Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?
==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero Wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du BestéUp''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she say what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beahcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.
==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbamble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the EMpire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Ambassadors of death

2026-07-17T15:49:35Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Piper at the Gates */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Plenipotentiary]]
<ic>"Obviously I'm not saying that Archamge Bella Vicente should be above punishment, or immune to criticism, or anything like that. I'd be the last one to say that wizards can't screw up, oh my yes, I could tell you stories... which I won't because who has time for that? Maybe later. Anyway they make mistakes, or they decide they want to curse enemies in a way that causes an unfortunate number of other people to suffer nightares about sharks, or... I've lost track of where I'm going with this. Right. Yes. Bella. I'm just saying that the nature of the punishment levied against any Archmage or Grandmaster - or any prominent magician if I'm honest but I know, I know, you have to be realistic - any such censure should be down to the ''Conclave'' not a bunch of, no offence, a bunch of magistrates. The crime is apparently that Bella dealt with an eternal the Conclave said shouldn't be dealt with - that's fair enough, that's a legtimate fuckup, the Conclave is being reasonably clear on all this. And it's not like anyone is sad that the bloody Mask Gang are under Conclave enmity - they're a shower of arseholes believe me I know - but because the enmity was placed by the Conclave it stands to reason that it's the ''Conclave'' that ought to decide what to do about it. Not what amounts to a shower of jumped up... sorry, no offence, a group of well-meaning people some of who aren't even ''magicians''. Can any mundane person ''really'' understand the motivations of someone like Bella Vicente? What they thought was important enough they felt the need to deal with the Clowns in Multicoloured Hats. Basically, what I'm trying to get at, is that only ''magicians'' should be in a position to investigate an archmage, and only the Conclave should be trusted to decide if there's any case to answer and if there is what that case should be. Plus of course Bella Vicente was always very polite to me whenever we spoke, you know? Very friendly, a class act. Edited ''Move to Vote'' as well, in between all the Archmage duties, hard to imagine how they found the time to do all that ''and'' allegedly betray the Empire to the Court of Wankers. You see what I am saying?"

The two guisers looked at each other as their host shovelled another pawful of apple pie into his mouth.

"Right..." said Jack. "Yes, I see exactly what you are saying. But the thing is..."

She floundered a little, and looked at Gillan for help.

"The thing is, oh Brother of Wizards, what we ''actually'' asked was 'Is the apple pie alright and what are the odds of getting hold of a Mask of the Seamstress?'"</ic>

{{CaptionedImage|file=Bella Vicente d'Apulian.jpg|caption='''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''', former Archmage of Night|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
* '''Five eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages'''
* '''For have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries'''
For the first time in a long time, only five [[eternal|eternals]] have sent emissaries in response to the [[archmage]] [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] messages (the last time was probably [[What_did_the_deep_say%3F|Winter 381YE]]). Each archmage is empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their [[realms|realm]] each season, with certain expectation of ''some'' kind of response, but '''Bella Vicente d'Apulian''' has resigned as [[Archmage of Night]] without sending one. Rumour surrounds the resignation, with scandalous stories suggesting one of the most prominent magical representatives of the Empire has been involved in possible treason. Other stories say that they have been the victim of a smear campaign by magicians jealous of the power of [[Night magic]]; a political assassination orchestrated in the [[Basileia|City of Locks]]; or a cunning stratagem by the former archmage themselves to entrap enemies of the Empire. Regardless of the truth, without a plenipotentiary message there will be no parley with an eternal of the Night realm during the Summer solstice.

At least with regard to the other realms, it is otherwise business as usual. Since the end of the Spring Equinox, messengers representing five eternals have come to the Empire from their eternal patrons, detailing the response to each plenipotentiary missive.

==In the Midnight Hour (Winter)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wolf Cloak.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Queen of Silence'' has received the plenipotentiary message of the Archmage of Winter
* '''A parley is arranged for midnight on Friday to discuss the vallorn with representatives of the Navarr
* '''Kaela considers the assurance on Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been broken, the ritual will no longer function
* '''The current archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Tara, Knight of the Grim Legion, Spring 388YE">Those unliving who the Lady of the Grim Host spares the ignominy of death are glad to receive her blessing. If the Synod no longer thinks so, my Lady-Captain will take that into careful consideration for the future.</quote></div>
Almost immediately after the Spring Equinox, two member of the Grim Legion visit [[Anvil]] on behalf of their mistress, the ''[[Kaela|Queen of Silence]]''. They are here in response to the plenipotentiary message of the [[Archmage of Winter|Archmage]]. The ''Queen of the End'' is prepared to discuss serving as patron to an army of Navarr.
Archmage Arora is invited to bring the [[General]] of the [[Black Thorns]] who has most recently faced the vallorn directly; the [[Senator]] of [[Miaren]] where Kaela understands the new army [[The first shot#Miaren|will be raised]]; and up to three other Navarr citizens. The topic for discussion will be patronage of the new army, bringing about the end of the vallorn, and if time permits, how the Archmage plans to end this foolish proscription against joining the Grim Legion. There must be no misunderstanding however. Any aid she offers will certainly involve members of the Grim Legion fighting alongside them against the vallorn.
===A Silenced Call===
* '''Kaela considers the ritual assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust to have been breached
* '''The ritual can no longer be cast and has no effect
There is however a second, arguably more serious matter. ''End of Strength'' noted the Imperial decision to [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|forbid mortals from joining her Grim Legion]]. It does not matter that the [[proscription]] did not specifically name her or her Legion; the [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|legal interpretation]] as laid out by the Constitutional Court is very clear. Joining the Grim Legion is an act of [[idolatry]], and any who seek it, or help them achieve that end, will be punished. What matters is that a long time ago, the ''Queen of Silence'' agreed to bind her power to a ritual created by Imperial magicians - the [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]]. The ritual calls on members of her Grim Legion to fight alongside the Empire's [[military unit|warbands]], especially those who support Imperial armies.

Like almost all rituals that draw on the power of an eternal it was created with an [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Assurance|assurance]] - it would lose all power if the act of joining the Grim Legion were ever [[interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Attempts to explain that it is the [[Synod]] that has taken this step, and not the [[Conclave]] fall on deaf ears. When the ritual was codified, the Synod had no power to forbid membership of the Grim Legion; such a decision could only be made by the Conclave. The situation has changed, and as far as ''Dark-Between-the-Stars'' is concerned, the spirit of the agreement has been broken. The Empire has declared joining the Grim Legion to be a crime.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Broken Assurances and You'''</big><br>
The [[Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust]] has ''not'' been removed from the rituals known by characters who had mastered it. They will need to find other means to [[Downtime#Retraining|retrain]] the ritual during or after the Summer Solstice. This change is not a rules change, being something entirely arising in play. Consequently, there's no opportunity to email and ask to unlearn the ritual out-of-character. Given the late arrival of this wind, however, any character who has not done any retraining in the downtime after the Spring Equinox can email {{plot}} before '''midnight on Tuesday the 21st July''' and ask for the ritual to be removed, given they would have been able to do this if the wind of fortune had arrived earlier.</box></div>
The ''End-of-Strength'' is not given to undue haste however, and chose to give the Conclave time to address the issue. They broadly [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions|remained silent]] on the matter. Where they even approached it they [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Question_Liaising_with_Eternals|declined to challenge the Synod]] and indeed [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Idolatry_and_the_Assembly_of_Nine|seem to have endorsed]] their proscription. Consequently, the ''Sorrowful One'' wants the Archmage of Winter to be aware that the assurance of Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust has been broken - the ritual will no longer have any power. Things come to an end all the time, after all. The legionnaires do not rule out the idea of negotiating the aid of the Grim Legion in future, but if it happens it will be through the auspices of a different ritual. There will of course be no discussion on this matter while the Empire refuses to allow its people to accept her most potent boon. Having delivered their messages, they depart the way they came.

As news spreads there is something of a difference of opinion about whether this ultimatum is really a bad thing. While the Clarion Call of Ivory and Dust was a useful tool, there have [[Clarion_Call_of_Ivory_and_Dust#Description|always been questions]] about the virtue - or lack thereof - of dealing with the Grin Legion. Nobody has ever been able to clarify whether the legionaries have souls or not. Are they a form of unliving that simply has the memories of the dead person? A herald made in their image? A spirit trapped forever between life and death and unable to move on? An actual human or orc forever imprisoned in the world unable to reach the Labyrinth or cross the Howling Abyss? Is the Empire really worse off, argue some priests and some members of the [[Sevenfold Path]], now the ritual is lost?
==Over Troubled Waters (Autumn)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Prospero001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Prospero Wishes to discuss the matter of favours owed
* '''A parley relating to diplomacy is offered for {{TBC}} at the Summer Solstice
* '''A ''second'' parley is offered to the Dawnish Knight-Protector of Autumn at {{TBC}}.30 which the Archmage may attend if they wish
* '''The current Archmage of Autumn is Vossk of Zenith Ascendant
The formal emissary of the [[Prospero|City of Bridges]] to the Empire is a minotaur, resplendent in ruby and emerald robes. Rather than visit [[Anvil]] as so many other emissaries of the [[realms]] do, they appear instead at the [[Astolat#Castle of Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] to speak to the [[Civil Service]]. As usual, their message is precise and gets straight to the point. The Archmage of Autumn has requested a boon from the ''Sovereign Lord of the City of Bridges'' and after due consideration that boon has been granted. Archmage '''Vossk of Zenith Ascendant''' indicated that the favour would be repaid by the Imperial [[Ambassador|Ambassadors]] and the ''Prince of Ties'' deems that more than acceptable.

With that in mind, the ''Reckoner of Ebony and Bone'' asks that the Archmage bring the [[Ambassador to Jarm]], the [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth]], and the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Celestial Arch]] to parley at the Summer Solstice to discuss returning the favour. The meeting will take place in a chamber set aside for the purpose, at {{TBC}} in the evening on Saturday, during the Summer Solstice. The minotaur messenger is quick to offer reassurance that Prospero is aware that Imperial politics can move at a glacial pace and does not expect either favour to be completed by the end of the summit. The end of the year will be more than sufficient.

Finally, the messenger notes that ''Threadweaver'' acknowledges the favour that Archmage Vossk has called in. As a consequence, there will also be a time set aside for magicians from Dawn to present their case as to why ''Subtle Spider'' might wish to help them create a [[college of magic]] in their nation. Prospero proposes that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-protector of Autumn]], '''Earl Galahad Du BestéUp''' gather up to four Dawnish [[Earl#Enchanters|enchanters]] and bring them to the [[Hall of Worlds]] at half past {{TBC}}. Dawn is a powerful and influential nation, and Prospero looks forward to speaking with them even if no agreement on matters of colleges can be reached.

==Apples and Oranges (Summer)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Meraud001a.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Meraud has replied to a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Summer'''
* '''A meeting with several Dawnish and League citizens is planned to begin during the Summer segment of the Arcane Colloqium (15.15pm on Saturday)'''
* '''Meraud offers a way for Imperial magicians to send word of their plans and receive some of his golden apples'''
* '''The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose'''
The ''[[Meraud|Lord of the Lake]]'' has had [[Secret_meeting#Fire_Mage|ups-and-downs]] in recent years but there's no sign of this in the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] that turns up to the Hub in Anvil midway between the Spring Equinox and the Summer Solstice. A proud elfin battlemage in mage armour of spun silk and moonlight, with a great flowing mane of red hair, she delivers the words of the ''Mage of Summer'' to the civil servants as if she is the favoured messenger of a mighty monarch. Archmage Mirella has asked three things of Meraud, the herald says, and for each request there is an answer.

Meraud wishes '''Ser Drayvana''' to be aware that if they truly seek the profound change that comes with the [[changeling]] [[lineage]], the test that the ''Tender of the Endless Orchards'' sets is well known. A profound act of magical power, something full of majesty. Something [[glory|glorious]]. Has Ser Drayvana achieved such a thing? With that in mind, Meraud will send one of his orchard-tenders to the Hall of Worlds during the Arcane Colloquium on Saturday to meet with Ser Drayvana, and requests that the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Summer]] be there to vouch for Drayvana's ambition. There are no promises; the boon of transformation is not one lightly sought.

As to the matter of the Golden Chalice... the ''Regent of the Southern Skies'' was under the impression the Synod had proscribed the very idea of an eternal serving as a patron for Imperial citizens without the oversight of the Conclave. Something Meraud does not actually consider necessary of course. If the ''Chatelaine of Sunrise and Sunset'' has misunderstood then the Golden Chalice should come to the Arcane Colloquium as well there to meet with his herald and discuss how things may progress.
===Speak Up A Storm===
* '''Meraud can no longer sustain the ''From the Mouths of Babes'' ritual
* '''The ritual can be cast for one final time during the Summer Solstice but only at the Imperial regio
* '''During the Solstice, the ritual will work slightly differently
* '''After the Summer Solstice the ritual will no longer function
The trickier request made by the Archmage, however, is to restore power to the ritual [[From the Mouths of Babes]], or to create a new communication ritual. This is by no means as easy as it might at first appear. The ''Lord of Summer Stars'' has been thinking long and hard and can find no easy way to maintain the ritual as it was, not least because the heralds who once oversaw its use are needed elsewhere. Meraud is no longer the same as he was when the ritual was made. His priorities, and his essence, have shifted since the recent changes. On the other hand, however, he does not wish to see Imperial magicians receive aid and advice only from ''"[[Sadogua|that crawling toad]]"''. A compromise then.

During the Summer Solstice, ''From the Mouths of Babes'' will be castable once more by Imperial magicians, but for one last time. The method of doing so has changed however. Instead of just reciting the message - which must be no more than fifty words in length as normal - the communication must be written on a scroll and sealed within an opaque container along with at least five ingots of [[tempest jade]]. The ritual must also be cast at the [[regio#Imperial regio|Imperial regio]].

Furthermore the scroll must bear a device representing the magician who penned the message, a personal image that reflects who they are and the magic they master. The message should tell Meraud of the powerful magic the magician intends to perform, and of the aid they believe they need to achieve their ambitions.

The message will be sent to Meraud, but there is an additional twist. The ingots required will serve as a gift for the attendants in the golden orchards that belong to the ''Lord of the Lake''. To show the message has been received, they will place one of the [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] of the orchard in the container as a promise that the words will be read by the ''Fire Mage''. If the ambitions of the one who penned the missive intrigue the ''Prince of the High Tower'', then at the Autumn Equinox he will find a way to respond. Perhaps a missive in turn, perhaps send out a herald, perhaps something else.

This opportunity is available only at the Summer Solstice but there is one other matter that may interest magicians of the Empire. The attendants at the orchard will provide one golden apple for ''every'' five ingots of tempest placed in the contained with the missive up to a maximum of ten apples (meaning a maximum number of ingots equal to the maximum number of words in the message which appeals to the ''Wand Mage'').

After the solstice, Meraud will give more consideration to the matter of communication, but cannot promise anything. As a monarch of the Summer realm, he does not really have the luxury of free time that he can spend "''lounging around reading [[Missive for Sadogua|endless missives]] from the mortal realm in a pathetic attempt to get people to like him''."
==Light and Air (Day)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Beachcomber'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To seek the truth
* To ask Roshanwe for guidance on a single matter each season
* To represent Roshanwe in her dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The ''Elder Pharos'' has received a plenipotentiary from the Archmage of Day
* '''She proposes a ''chosen'' title to help represent her to the Empire
* '''The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka
''Elder Pharos'' is grateful to receive the opportunity given by the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Day after she [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Out_in_the_Open_(Roshanwe)|spoke with some of her heralds]] at the Spring Equinox. The Archmage seems to be under some misapprehension over the ''Mariner's'' commitment to the cause, and has asked for some ceremonial oath-taking involving hot pieces of metal before things may progress. The''Torchbearer's Companion'' wishes to be clear - she is not some malevolent umbral snake, she say what she means and she means what she says: the [[Cold Sun]] is the ultimate enemy of mortal-kind, and she intends to steadfastly stand on the side of mortals in the war that is raging on the other side of the sea of steel, and wherever else it may appear. The Archmage of Day can consider to have her word on that.

One thing ''The Weaver of Nets'' hoped that her Heralds would make clear as that she wanted the Archmage to detail some ways in which she might be able to help the Empire against this foe. Though the Archmage's concerns are respected, no requests being forthcoming has presented something of a quandary, yet one that can easily be resolved. The ''Wise Pioneer'' proposes that the Conclave permit her to regularly speak to a citizen of the Empire, and offer her advice on ongoing matters that concern them. This will allow the Empire to ask for her advice on matters relating to the Cold Sun, but also any other [[Roshanwe#Concerns|matters of interest]].

Should the conclave [[Alignment#Acceptance|agree]] to this arrangement, each year the ''Fisherman'' will send a herald to the Hall of Worlds to meet with the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Sevenfold Path]], the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] (for ''Beachcomber'' sees herself as a lay member of their assembly) and the [[Archmage of Day]]. Each of them will have the opportunity to present a candidate of their choosing, and the Herald will select who shall take on the role for the coming year. No citizen may hold the role more than once, for it is a good idea to have a constant set of fresh ideas when following the winding path towards truth.

It is worth noting that this title would currently be [[Stones_in_the_wellspring#Idolatry|illegal to hold]] under current the current list of [[proscription|proscriptions]], and anyone who held it would be committing the crime of [[idolatry]]. The ''Sun-dappled Shore'' considers this to be a challenge for the Conclave to resolve.
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House on the Shore'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 wains of [[white granite]], and 30 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires the Conclave to have agreed to the creation of ''Beachcomber''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a small set of apartments for title for Heralds of Roshanwe to meet with them
* Provides the ''Beahcomber'' with an income of three prismatic ink each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year; until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>

Should it be desirable, there is a [[regio]] not far from the proposed location of the [[In harmony and unison|Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path]] near a fishing village that was abandoned during attacks by the Wreckers. If the [[Senate]] would be willing to build a small set of apartments for the ''Beachcomber'', heralds of ''Path of Light'' would be able to more easily visit them and be able to provide a small income of [[Vis#Prismatic Ink|prismatic ink]], as well as being able to seek the counsel of the Grandmaster on occasion.

The ''Pearlescent Advisor'' intends to send a herald to the Hall of Worlds at 13:30 on Sunday to either select the first ''Beachcomber'', or to have an informal discussion with the Grandmaster, Cardinal, and Archmage regarding the matter.

===Shining Ink===
* '''Roshanwe offers to prepare a proposal for a commission to provide prismatic ink
* '''The commission will be built at Starstep in Operus
* '''She asks the Conclave to use a declaration of acceptance to suggest how extensive the commission should be
* '''This opportunity is only available during the Summer Solstice
Separate to the above, ''Wayfinder'' has taken a cursory look at various locations in the Empire where she might be able to helpt the Empire secure more [[Vis#Prismatic ink|prismatic ink]] - a vital resource in healing the wounds inflicted by the warrior-heralds under the command of the [[Cold Sun]]. One such location is ''Starstep'' in Operus. [[Foggy_mountain_top#Richard_of_Holberg|Previously suggested]] as a potential location by Richard of Holberg for a similar construction, those plans were made defunct due to the damage caused following the invasion of the ''Scions''. ''She-Who-Walks-Beside'' believes she can put a proposal together for the location, however seeks guidance from the Conclave (in the form of an appropriately upheld [[Alignment#Acceptance|Declaration of Acceptance]]) on the scale of the design; a minor structure (around 20 wains), a moderate endeavour (around 50 wains) or a grand erection (around 100 wains).

The ''Netweaver'' offers reassurance that whatever proposal she makes, she has no intention for it to be any kind of [[fane]], nor would she require the Senate to concede the location. This site will be by mortals, for mortals, ''PathPromise'' just intends to help things along the way as she can.
==Among the Thousands (Spring)==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''The ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
* '''He declines parley, but will apparently send heralds to meet with some of his friends in the Empire
* '''He offers a boon to Imperial magicians who wish to protect the weak, the oppressed, and the innocent
* '''The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbamble
Not long before the Summer Solstice, a slight figure arrives at Anvil and speaks to one of the civil servants there. They don't approach the Hub directly, rather simply sitting down next to ''Jorgen of Wintermark'' while they were grabbing a bite to eat at one of Anvil's many fine food vendors. The only thing that gives away that they are not just a common Imperial citizen are their bright, golden eyes and the fact they launch into a message from the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' without even pausing to introduce themselves. Apparently, the ''Bright-of-Eyes'' has done as the Archmage of Spring asked. They have interceded in Nesustak Forest, helping to ensure that those who had thrown off the yoke of the Druj survives the threat of the [[vallorn]]. Not that their friends would have done otherwise; they remain committed to supporting the rebels of Nesustak regardless of what the Empire wishes. But the invitation from '''Archmage Clearbramble''' gave them greater license to act in what is ostensibly an Imperial territory. The ''Quick-of-Foot'' held the [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wards of power]] together as long as possible against the insatiable hunger of the Doom of Terunael; offered succour to soldiers of the Empire who might otherwise have been overwhelmed; and ensured that those who could not fight, or chose to heal, were able to move quickly through the violence of the vallorn. That part of the request has been discharged.

''Shacklebreaker'' did this even though he does not trust the Empire. For now, the Imperial powers are talking about dealing "fairly" with the Nesustak rebels, but Irra Harah has seen where this leads. There was a great deal of talk of "liberating" [[the Barrens]], and that ended in bloodshed not once but many times. The expedience Imperial folk love so well means that they are now pursuing closer relations with the treacherous Karass than they ever did with the Vendarri, despite the latter having aided them repeatedly against the Druj. The herald shrugs. There's no point belabouring these things. The ''Lord of Brambles'' has seen where this talk of liberty goes, and so has the EMpire. Listing all the ways the Empire become the tyrants they claim to hate is not worth the breath that would be wasted in doing so.

If the Archmage of Spring wants to help the rebels of the Mallum, then they should use whatever power they have to convince the Empire to return the Sarangrave to the people whose ancestors lived there long before there was an Empire, or a Druj, or a Terunael. Rather than forcing them to live in one forest in one corner of the marshes, return that land to the people who have called it home for centuries untold. Stop giving parts of the Mallum away to would-be oppressors like the [[Axos|Victorious Axis]]. Stop parcelling out other peoples' homes to Imperial nations as prizes. The herald sighs again, indicating that they don't expect the Empire to listen, because they have never listened before. Maybe this time they will change, but ''Eartwitcher'' finds it unlikely.

What ''Run-Like-the-Wind'' does appreciate, however, is the commitment shown by ''Ser Guy'' and others to defending those who need protection. ''Murmur-in-the-Grass'' won't attend parley with the Archmage of Spring this season, but will instead arrange to meet with its friends at Anvil. If they want to bring the Archmage with them, so be it. This is not due to any animosity, says the herald. '''Arwydd Clearbramble''' is an unknown quantity but the words of their plenipotentiary have set them off to a good start. As such ''Papa Otec'' offers a boon to the people of the Empire.
===Piper at the Gates===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box><big>'''Woodward quality'''</big><br>The ''Woodward'' quality empowers any casting of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' or similar defensive ritual that draws on the power of Irra Harah and targets that region. The enchanted wards will call up heralds and mortal friends of the eternal to support it meaning it would provide 6,000 rather than 4,000 strength to protect the region.<br><br>Furthermore, while the quality exists, heralds of Irra Harah will find it easier to enter the mortal world there, and support the people in that territory who have reason to fear oppression, tyranny, or violence. The exact effect will vary on the situation but it will always mean that those trying to flee an area of violence, or hide from those who wish them harm, will be helped to do so. It's worth noting however that the one thing Irra Harah ''can't'' do is stop the vallorn gaining power from potent Spring enchantments. As seen recently in [[Thorn and bone|Sarangrave]].<br><br>[[Alignment#Enmity|Enmity]] will curtail this power, but even then it will remain possible for some powerful heralds of Irra Harah to enter and support the region with the Woodward quality, even if they cannot easily move beyond its borders.</box></div>
* '''Irra Harah offers a boon relating to Forge the Wooden Fastness
* '''Performing the ritual will see Irra Harah send support to the folk of a territory
* '''If the ritual is cast with a small amount of ilium the target forest will permanently gain the woodward quality
This season, anywhere within the borders of the Empire that Imperial magicians cast [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]], ''Circle of Tall Grass'', or a similar ritual, then the ''Voice-of-the-Voiceless'' will send his heralds to help the folk of that territory. The exact nature of that help will depend on the situation there, but it will focus on protecting the weak, aiding the innocent, and giving voice to the voiceless.

If the ritual is cast with 8 rings of [[ilium]], however, the effect will be greatly pronounced. The chosen woodland will gain the ''Woodward'' quality, and any future Forge the Wooden Fastness raised there (or a similar warding ritual drawing on the power of Irra Harah) will be empowered. Furthermore, the ''Woodward'' quality will mean that heralds and friends of the eternal will offer aid to anyone facing tyranny or oppression in that territory.

In particular, if the quality is granted to [[Mournwold#Alderly|Alderly]] or [[Upwold#Tower March|Tower March]], Irra Harah will be ready to help the fight to protect the [[The Marches|Marcher]] orcs and [[yeoman of the Marches|yeofolk]] from murder at the hands of the [[Synod]] should that ever become necessary, in Mournwold or Upwold at least.

Likewise, if the ritual is cast on [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]], [[The Barrens#Untrod Groves|Untrod Groves]], or [[The Barrens#The Bleaks|The Bleaks]], the eternal will be ready to protect the folk of the Barrens - human and orc alike - from the violence of war with the Mallum, the Empire, or even the vallorn.

===Hare Protector===
* '''Irra Harah has provided information on who destroyed the boon he gave to the landskeepers during the Winter Solstice
* '''The assurance on Forge the Wooden Fastness is, by design, quite fragile
* '''The ''Price with a Thousand Foes'' is watching
Finally, on the matter of the Marches, the ''Breaker of Bounds'' has apparently gotten over their [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#No_Hiding_Place_(Irra_Harah)|initial anger]] on hearing that the ''Protectors Stone'' it entrusted to the [[Landskeeper|Landskeepers]] of the Marches was stolen destroyed. On hearing it was stolen by violence, he is saddened but not surprised. The initial hasty response has given way, apparently, to resignation. No doubt the landskeepers are already pursuing the criminals, with the aid of Imperial magistrates. The herald vouchsafes that given that ''Keep-a-Watch'' crafted the covenstone themselves they know who used [[Winter magic]] to break it. Perhaps the Linley Weaver's investigations should start with '''Raoul''' of the [[Highguard_groups#The Suns of Couros|Suns of Couros]].

The herald is at pains however to make sure the Archmage, and the landskeepers, are aware that the [[Forge_the_Wooden_Fastness#Assurance|assurance]] of ''Forge the Wooden Fastness'' was chosen with great care. Indeed, it was proposed by the Marcher [[Smith|smiths]] who convinced the eternal to bind themselves to this ritual in the first place. If the landskeepers refuse to attend a meeting at the Hare Stone, the assurance is broken. If the Hare Stone ''itself'' is destroyed, making it impossible for the landskeepers to attend a meeting there, the assurance will ''also'' be broken. A way, said the smiths, for the ''Prince with a Thousand Foes'' to be able to sever the agreement himself if ever he had good enough reason to do so. Perhaps it is time to consider such a drastic action. Perhaps.

On that note... the final, ''final'' thing the herald mentions is that right now Irra Harah is watching the Empire and its people carefully. The Archmage says that the Empire are "''taking good actions towards the liberation of these people whilst respecting who they are''." Yet the Empire has still given Sarangrave to the people of Urizen, not to the folk who actually live there. How long will it be before the refusal of the people of Sarangrave to bow their heads to the Empire will see those heads cut off? There is another chance here - the latest in a long line - for the Empire to do things differently and to step away from the yoke of four hundred years of arrogance and oppression. Perhaps ''this'' time things will go differently - but the ''Wise Rabbit'' is not holding his breath. The refrain of "''fuck the bunny''" is not a sentiment that inspires much hope.

==Timetable==
The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Day !! Time !! Eternal !! Realm !! Note
|-
| Friday || 00:00 || [[Kaela]] || Winter || Parley; Archmage and guests are invited to a chamber
|-
| Saturday || TBC || [[Prospero]] || Autumn || Parley; two consecutive meetings in a chamber
|-
| Saturday || 15.15 || [[Meraud]] || Summer || An informal meeting during the Arcane Colloquium
|-
| Sunday|| 13.30 || [[Roshanwe]] || Day || An informal meeting in the Hall of Worlds
|-
| Unknown|| Unknown || [[Irra Harah]] || Spring || A private meeting with some friends; no details provided
|-
|}

Six sheets to the wind

2026-07-15T15:56:37Z

GuiltyConscience:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Challenge]]
<ic>
"''Hoist up the thing!''" Curator was having a wonderful time. The ship felt alive under her hands as she called instructions to the hardened crew. They continued at their task, allowing the herald to shout nonsense as they sailed
along the Bay of Catazar.

"''Batten down the whatsit!''" Curator shouted out again, exhilarating in the sheer joy of the moment. Moving to sit on the railing at the stern, watching the water pass by below. Now this was boat sailing! She would just have to tell Bellows and Temper once she had finished her task.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 20%; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BarienArt.jpg|align=left|caption=[[Barien]] exemplifies meeting, setting, and overcoming challenges.|width=3000}}</div>
==Overview==
Each season, the [[inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] of the [[Barien|Iron Duke]] come to Anvil to issue new [[Challenge the Iron Duke|challenges to the mortals of the Empire]]. The ''Lord of the Crossroads'' is eternally eager to test the skills and the wits of those brave enough to step forward, aiming to challenge the Courageous heroes of the Empire.

Every person who has [[Challenge the Iron Duke]] cast upon them will be guaranteed entry to a challenge. Depending on the challenge, they ''may'' be able to bring a certain number of attendants with them to assist. The exact number will depend on the nature of the challenge and the number of challengers. The [[Civil Service|civil service]] will publish exact numbers in [[Anvil#The_Hub|the Hub]] on Saturday morning for all to see.

Challengers will need to choose a reward from one of the [[Challenge_the_Iron_Duke#Rewards_and_the_Dragonforge|items found in the Dragonforge]]. Challengers who have been victorious in the past year may not take part in another challenge until a year has passed.

==Challenging the Duke==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2">'''Last Season's Covens'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>Coven of Endless Summer</td><td>Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>Drake's Fire</td><td>Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>Phoenix Rising</td><td>Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>The Cabal of Nevezamzer</td><td>Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>The Coven of Golden Wings</td><td>Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>The Eternal Family</td><td>Navarr</td></tr>
<tr><td>The Glass Mantle</td><td>The Brass Coast</td></tr>
<tr><td>The Golden Grove</td><td>Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>The Tempest Flame</td><td>The Brass Coast</td></tr>
<tr><td>Voices of the Unbound Storm</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''To formally enter, a challenger must be the recipient of the Challenge the Iron Duke ritual'''
* '''A challenger can only enter a single challenge each summit; if they win, they may not enter again for a year'''
To formally enter one of the Iron Duke's contests, a citizen must be the target of the Summer ritual [[Challenge the Iron Duke]]. The ritual is magnitude 30, and only a handful of [[coven|covens]] have it mastered. It is possible to cast the ritual without mastery, but it is harder and more expensive, so anyone who is interested in entering a challenge would be best advised to seek out a coven known to be able to cast the ritual. According to the heralds of the ''Traveller'', nine covens successfully performed the ritual last season. The heralds advise those interested in taking part to seek out these covens first.

Even for those covens who have the ritual mastered, it is expensive. Champions who seek to prove themselves will need to find some way to convince a coven to put them forward. Just being able to pay the ritual's cost might not be enough, though it is likely the minimum price that will be asked.

==Challenge of the Domination Sands==
* '''Barien invites warriors of the Empire to a grand melee challenge at the Anvil arena'''
* '''Three markers will be placed at the edges of the arena; every ten seconds, the last challenger to touch a marker will get a point'''
* '''Challengers will fight individually in a grand melee with the aim of gaining as many points as possible'''
* '''The challenge will last five minutes, meaning up to 90 points in total can be earned'''
* '''Challengers may not use consumables as usual, but may return to the arena after being healed by their second'''
* '''A number of heralds from the Summer realm will also be competing'''
* '''At the end of five minutes, the top half of point scorers with at least one point will be considered victorious'''
* '''Challengers may have someone introduce them to the crowd before the start of the bout if they wish'''
* '''The heralds of Barien will meet challengers at the Anvil arena at 16:00 on the Saturday of the summit'''

The [[Realm#Summer|Summer realm]] is a fractious place. No matter where you are in that magic realm, from golden fields to the tallest mountains, [[eternal|eternals]] and their heralds are concocting plans and fighting battles to prove their supremacy over each other somehow. But if there's a foolproof way to bring them together in some sort of peace, at least for a minute, it's a tourney. The pavilion of [[Barien]] and his heralds roam from crossroads to crossroads around the vast expanses of that world, putting on games and tourneys for the immense entertainment of everyone involved.

Looking to exploit the still-new [[Opening_ceremonies#Barien's_Gift|Tourneyground of Camock]], better known now as the Anvil Arena, Revel and the heralds of Barien have chosen to bring one of these tourney games to the Empire's corner of the mortal realm. Always seeking to one-up each other, the Iron Duke's heralds endeavour to concoct more interesting and spectacular games than the last, to earn the adulation of the crowds and appease the appetite of their eternal lord. One recently popular game is called "Domination". A twist on the traditional grand melee in order to make a delightfully dynamic battle, Domination tests not just the fighting skill of participants, but also their endurance and wits.

The game of Domination is fundamentally a grand melee; fighters will compete individually and will fight against every other competitor, with no prearranged teams. For this round, the fighters will be those who take up the Iron Duke's Challenge for this summit. In addition, several herald fighters from the summer realm will also make the trip to Anvil via the Hall of Worlds, in order to soak up a bit of mortal atmosphere and prove their superiority over... well, everyone present, ideally.

In the game of Domination, three markers are laid near the edges of the arena, at some distance from each other. The aim for competitors is to take one (or more) of these markers and hold it for as long as possible. Every 10 seconds a chime will sound, and the last challenger to have touched a marker will gain a point. The entire bout will last 5 minutes, meaning a total of 90 possible points will be up for grabs as part of the challenge. At the end of 5 minutes, the bout will be stopped, and points tallied up. Those in the top half of the points table will be considered victorious in the challenge (or get certain bragging rights in the case of the heralds), and those in the bottom half will be considered to have lost and get a consolation prize. In the unlikely event that less than half of the competitors score any points at all, only those who have scored at least 1 point will be considered victors.

The heralds of Barien will arrive at the Anvil Arena at 16:00 on the Saturday of the summit. Before the bout begins, the heralds will allow each challenger to briefly introduce themselves to the crowd, or have an announcer do it for them.

===Rules of Engagement===

The following rules will be in effect for the challenge, as enforced by Barien's heralds.

* '''It is not possible to move the markers'''
* '''Challengers may benefit from enchantments, boons, magical items, and similar prior to the start of the bout'''
* '''Challengers may use heroic and magical abilities in the arena'''
* '''Use of consumable items, including potions, herbs, and crystal mana are not permitted in the arena itself'''
* '''Challengers may receive new or mended weapons from outside of the arena if theirs are shattered'''
* '''Other challengers should be driven from markers by combat means; no blocking, grappling or physical contact is permitted'''
* '''There are no boundaries to the arena; challengers hit by REPEL may be flung outside of the arena but are free to return'''
* '''Challengers may receive healing from anyone, including outside the arena, once a bout begins if they yield; if they do so, they must leave or be removed from the arena by willing helpers, and return through the re-entry point marked by one of Barien's heralds'''
* '''Once a challenger yields, they cannot participate in the fight until permitted to return by the herald through the re-entry point'''
* '''A downed challenger counts as yielding; their allies may remove them from the arena to heal them'''
* '''Challengers continue to earn points after they have yielded if another challenger does not claim their marker'''
* '''This is a sporting event; <u>no executions, looting or eating people</u>'''

As usual, Barien encourages willing healers and physicks to attend the tournament and heal the competitors during the challenge. Healers willing to help out should wait until a challenger clearly yields and leaves the arena. Downed challengers should be removed from the Arena as soon as possible. Allies should hold a hand on their heart to indicate they should not be struck by the combatants and remove the challenger quickly so that they can be healed and return to the fray.

==Challenge of the Swift Seas==
{{PDFLink|align=right|link=File:CTID_Swift_Sea_Rules.pdf|caption=Click for Swift Seas rules}}
* '''Barien invites Imperial citizens to take part in a game of racing boats in a magical Summer chamber'''
* '''Challengers will each control a boat and must manoeuvre round a course on a map against their opponents, hitting six checkpoints and avoiding obstacles'''
* '''The first half of challengers to cross the finish after hitting all the checkpoints will be considered victorious'''
* '''The game will use vector movement rules with players able to pick up magical enchantments and curses on the course'''
* '''The heralds of Barien will meet the challengers in the Hall of Worlds at 18:00 on the Saturday of the summit'''
* '''Due to limited space in the chamber, challengers cannot bring attendants unless needed for accessibility purposes'''

Competition in the Summer realm takes many forms. Combats, mind games, tests of crafting, wits and cunning; anything that can be some kind of competitive test will be turned into one. Many of these are inspired by or copied from games mortals have invented, but sometimes a contest appears in the mortal realm, usually when the heralds of the Iron Duke in order to administer challenges to those willing to take up Barien's mantle. But one type of game rarely makes the transition from the pavilions of the realm of Summer to Anvil: racing!

Many heralds enjoy the thrill of long races against each other through the Forest of Arden, racing atop beasts in the Fields of Glory, or speeding boats around the endless archipelagos of the seas. Alas, the physical limitations of chambers and the mortal realm make many of these impossible for mortals to partake in. But Barien offers a cunning alternative: how about a simulation?

The challengers of the Empire, if they wish to take part, are invited to a chamber of the summer realm provided by [[Rhianos]]. The herald Windward, premier sailboat racer of the Regent of the Eternal Sea, will oversee this challenge that aims to emulate the spirit of the daring boat races common throughout the world.

Each challenger will be given control of a token boat, placed on a gridded map showing Windward's home archipelago. Racers will take it in turns to move their boats around a course, aiming for a sequence of six checkpoints dotted around the map that must be passed in order. There is no luck to the movement of the boats; however, they retain their inertia after each move, and can only steer, brake and accelerate so much. Going too fast when trying to round an island might result in running aground, which will bring the boat to a dead stop and force the challenger to build speed from scratch.

In order to spice things up a bit, Windward has distributed a number of enchantments and curses around the map for sailors to pick up. These provide all benefits for the challengers to use, usually revolving around "stopping your opponents" and "making your boat go faster", in true Rhianos spirit.

Victory in the challenge will go to the first half of the players to hit the checkpoints in sequence and then cross the finish line. The rest of the field will get a consolation prize. The heralds will meet the challengers in the Hall of Worlds at 18:00 on the Saturday of the summit to take them to the chamber - the challenge will last up to two hours.

To ruin

2026-07-14T13:25:36Z

GuiltyConscience: /* The Dead */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:387YE Autumn]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Heroes Tale.jpg|caption=A hero has a name.|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==A Fistful of Runes==
{{audio|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp2OmkEw9Z0}}
At first the watchers on the cliffs of [[Redoubt#Optarion|Visten]] believe it is a wave, a wall of water sweeping toward their shores; or perhaps a fogbank roused and motivated by powerful magic. Then the spyglasses of those in the towers reveal that it is neither. It is a forest of masts. An armada of Grendel ships. The alarm is raised, and as the news spreads quickly and the lights of the heliopticon flash their warning, the true scale of what is coming is made clear. All four Grendel navies are here - the Shamal, and the Simoom and the Tempest and the Golden Wind.

They bring the thunder with them; the beating of great drums, drums that keep time for those at the oars of the Asavean warships. The ''Leaping Bull'', sunk during the [[Harvest_of_infamy|failed attack on Meade]], has been replaced and more than that. Along with ''Venger’s Blade'' and ''Wind Tamer'' and ''Balo’s Grace'' come the ''Pilum Asav'' and the ''Deep Fury''. Five Asavean battle-ships, each with its own small fleet of auxiliary ships clustering in its wake, bound together by discipline and the beat of the drums. Each of the five would be a force to be reckoned with; together they might be a match for an entire Imperial or Grendel navy. Together with the Grendel armada…

''The runes click and clack and fall. [[Gralm|Crossroads]] and [[Jotra|swords]] and [[Ull|road]].''

They do not come with stealth - so many ships are a roaring stormfront - but they have swung out away from the shore as they arc westward, well out of reach of the defenders on the shore. The folk of Visten make ready for the attack as best they can - [[sentinel|sentinels]] in the harbour, magicians versed in healing and in battle-magic behind - but the armada does not stop. It does not care for Visten, nor for the Ribbon of Salt. And, indeed, the waters around the bay where the spire sits are too shallow for all save the lightest Grendel warships to approach. Even as the soldiers of the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]] - already on alert - rouse themselves the ships are gone, curving around the reaching headlands of [[Redoubt#Tomari|Tomari]].

As the armada gathers speed there is the faint hope that the Grendel might intend to keep moving, to smash themselves into the teeth of [[Necropolis#Reumah's_Rest|Reumah’s Rest]] or the [[Sarvos#The_Great_Chain|Great Chain]]. Yet there is a certainty, a foreboding, heavy in the hearts of the people of [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] as the harbingers of the heliopticon roar their alarm across Redoubt.

They come scything around Rebekah’s Leap, to the mouth of the lazy Couros, to [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] once more. [[On_southern_sands|Last time]] they attacked the port, they did so almost as an afterthought, on their way from Madruga to the Broken Shore. They were handed an embarrassing defeat by the combined force of the [[Citadel Guard]], the [[Towerjacks]], the [[Northern Eagle]], and the combined garrisons of [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]] and the Court.

This time they seem fired up with a furious, terrible purpose. Everyone here knows what [[A beacon of smoke|happened in Siroc]], when last the Grendel and the Asaveans sailed together. Some folk retreat as the armada rounds the headland; most stay. They will fight to protect their home, to do what it takes to prevent their beautiful spire being rendered into ash.

''The runes spin and tumble, and the stars wheel overhead. The [[Queros|wave]], the [[Pallas|apple tree]], the [[Naeve|Fang]].''
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Elos Harbour.png|align=left|caption=The port of Elos: white granite and light.|width=400}}</div>
==Knife in the Dark==
The garrisons are on the move as soon as the armada passes Visten. The [[sentinel|sentinels]] of the Court march east, the defenders of Cargo march south. The heliopticon chatters and winks. The little garrison at Elos readies itself. The seers at the [[Penumbral_Watcher#Tower_of_Light_and_Shadow|Tower of Light and Shadow]] search the [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|shrouded]] sky for any beneficent sign but on these odd nights the constellations are unfamiliar - the true stars seem to [[The Lock|hide themselves away]], and the Crab, the Looking Glass, and the Bondring offer nothing that can be interpreted.

In the past the Grendel have sometimes assayed diplomacy before their attack, offering a chance to retreat and give them easy pickings. They do not do so this time. Horns blare, hundreds of horns, and the battle begins without preamble.

The green sails of the Tempest lead the way, a spear thrust straight to the heart of Elos’ defences. They allow nothing to distract them as they break through the harbour defences and seize control of several of the lighthouse towers. Behind and beside them come the Golden Winds and the red-sailed Shamal. They too [[Navy_orders#Shore_Offensive|strike straight]] into Elos - a risky strategy if there were any ships to oppose them but they must know there are not. As soon as they have secured part of the harbour wall, the Golden Winds begin disgorging Grendel warriors into the spire - the Black Eels and the Bone Nautilus and the Hamsin join the attack, three whole armies of the Broken Shore. The blue-sailed Simoom do not attack the docks directly, not at first, but rather assails the ships docked there - Imperial and Axou vessels are mercilessly boarded and looted, taken by the Grendel where time allows. Only those trading ships flying the flags of the Sarcophan Delves are spared - that vaunted neutrality serving as a shield.

The Asavean battle-ships follow behind, and once the Grendel have begun to secure the harbour they disgorge their own sunbronze armoured soldiers, their tridents soon bathed in the blood of Urizen sentinels.

They do their best, those brave defenders of Elos, but the odds are so stacked against them. They can only fall back, and hope against hope that aid is coming, as the Grendel secure more and more of the harbour and the reality - that the spire will fall next - becomes unavoidable.

''The runes bounce, spin. The [[Rhyv|red knife]], the [[Irremais|black blade]], the [[Verys|lion]] come to rest in a triangle about the crossroads and the road chosen.''
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="Umarth 'Winter's Flame' Kannask, General of the Fist of the Mountains">There are dark omens in the sky, and a dread grows. When we cast the runes, however, we find hope. First among the runes is Zorech, and we take pride and passion that we do what must be done. You have liberated Madruga, and now you march to aid the Great Forest Orcs to the east. Your Ferocity and Loyalty is seen. Ignore those who doubt us. Despise folly and chastise the fool that spreads it. We make for the court of the white fountain, where we will pause to hem in the Husks, and alert the Urizen archers to our plans. The husks are useful, but do not let them stray. Keep them penned in till we unleash them next season.</quote></div>

==Horns on the Hillside==
A long journey along the coast has brought the Fist of the Mountains across the River Couros, over the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#News_From_the_Plain_(Necropolis)|Courspan bridge]]. Tired from the long march and the cold stares of Sarvos and Necropolis, the scops nonetheless keep spirits high as they come into Redoubt. An old army, the first army of [[Wintermark]]. Soldiers from the far north-west, supported by miners and engineers, regularly advised by clever [[Wintermark magical traditions#Icewalkers|icewalkers]] and proud [[Wintermark culture and customs#Art and History|scops]]. The soldiers of the Fist are known for their caution, and for their ability to fight viciously in tight spaces over vertiginous drops. Centuries of fighting in the mountains of [[Sermersuaq]], [[Skarsind]] and [[Hahnmark]] will no doubt set them in good stead for defending the mountains of Urizen.

That caution and cleverness is augmented these days by the [[divination|divinations]] of the [[Army_qualities#Farsighted|farsighted]] advisors that march with the army. The [[mystic|mystics]] mark the omens, mark the fall of the runes, and if their advice is heeded the Fist of the Mountains is almost never where the enemy expects it to be - but often in just the right place at just the right time.

The dead follow in their wake, last to cross the bridge under the disapproving gaze of the [[Steward of the Dead|stewards]] of Ethan's Respite. In Winter last year, the magicians of Wintermark [[Quickening Cold Meat|drew down a host of Winter spirits]] to fight with the Fist. The [[Follow_me_my_friend#Where_All_That's_Wrong_is_Right|dead walked]] in [[Tassato]] and marched with the Fist to [[Follow_me_my_friend|battle in Reinos]], and in the [[Long_grass_and_stormclouds#On_Freeborn_Shores|Quiet Grasses of Madruga]]. Their presence as the army marched through [[Sarvos]] and [[Necropolis]] did not go unremarked, of course. Not that all the winter spirits still wear the dead flesh of [[the League]]. There are a few [[orc|orcs]] of the [[Reinos|Lasambrian Hills]] among them now, still showing the wounds that killed them, crusted with dry blood. The spirits of the [[Realms#Winter|Winter realm]] do not care where the meat comes from, and the death of the husk is no great impediment to them.

To Redoubt come the Fist of the Mountains, and the dead, and the ravens, and the jackdaws, and the hawks fly ahead of them to presage their coming.

''The runes clatter like old bones. Both lanterns - [[Ophis|light]] and [[Diras|dark]] - with the [[Xun|wyrm]] between them on the mystic’s mat.''

They come to Redoubt, where they are not expected to be, into the teeth of the storm. Is this, here, the right place? Is now the right time?
{{CaptionedImage|file=GenFistoftheMountains.jpg|caption=Umarth Kannask, General of the Fist of the Mountains|align=right|width=250}}
==A Hero's Tale==
The light of the heliopticon shrieks a warning and despite their long march, the Fist of the Mountains gird themselves and move straight to engage the Grendel and their Asavean allies. Nobody will ever know it for sure but they arrive, their [[Banner-Bearer|banner-bearers]] sound the horns of battle, at the exact moment the first Grendel sets foot on the docks. Sometimes the world is simply like that, a mass of secret knots that no mortal will ever see.

Horns blare, and the warriors of Wintermark come to the aid of the people of Urizen. People they have never met, for the most part. Strangers, for whom the heroes of the ‘Mark are prepared to shed blood and lay down their lives if it comes to it. The mystics have read the signs, and the icewalkers have read the winds, and the veterans have read those symbols that are seen only by the eye of those who have known battle and survived. They do not charge pell-mell to the assault; their strategy is considered, careful, but no less resolute and courageous for all that.

The first priority is to protect the people of Elos, to give those who would be overwhelmed a chance to fight or flee. The second is to keep the Grendel from taking the harbour, or the spire, or to make them pay dearly for doing so. To delay them so that the garrisons to the north and the east can reach Naris. So that whatever harm is done here is contained, is ameliorated, if it cannot be prevented.

''They are very far from home, and some of the runestones are still in the air, still tumbling toward the mystics mat.''

At first the appearance of the Fist of the Mountains seems to set the attackers into disarray. They do not seem to have anticipated any major Imperial forces to be present at all. Yet they rally quickly, adjusting their approach to deal with the unexpected presence of four thousand Winterfolk. It quickly becomes clear that while the Tempest, the Shamal, the Golden Winds, and the Asavean warships are here to conquer, the rest of the Grendel forces are in a much more [[Army_qualities#Foraging|larcenous]] frame of mind. They fight, of course, but they are more interested in engaging in [[maggot|maggotry]] - stealing the wealth of this prosperous port for themselves. This by itself would be enough to ignite the fury of Wintermark, even without the threat to the innocent people of Naris.

Battle rages through the avenues of Elos, between the living and the dead. The Grendel are at a disadvantage because they cannot bring their full force to bear on the Winterfolk in one go - the streets of Urizen are wide but they are not ''that'' wide. Instead the cunning people of the north-west employ hit-and-run tactics, having a seemingly uncanny insight that lets them avoid the counterattacks set against them, an uncanny sense for where they can catch the Grendel unawares. An [[astronomancy|astronomancer]] might nod sagely and speak of the nature of The Door; but the magicians of Elos have more pressing matters on their minds.

It’s quickly obvious that the Fist of the Mountains cannot stop the Grendel capturing Elos. They can delay, but the conquest appears inevitable. Plans are begun to withdraw, a fighting retreat, taking as many of the Urizen with them as they possibly can.

Elos falls to the Grendel. The Fist of the Mountains retreat.

==Now For Wrath==
Elos falls, but the battle continues. This is no simple raid; the Grendel are here in force and they are here to conquer. They spread out across the coast, and spire after spire falls before them. They plunder freely, stealing a king’s ransom in crystal mana, dozens of magical items, and anything else with value that they can get their hands on. Yet they also establish encampments, seizing structures to turn to their own ends. Their ambition seems to be to take the whole of Naris… and perhaps more.

Joined at last by the garrisons of Cargo and the Court, the Fist of the Mountains continue to fight them at every turn, to stymie their plans, to slow them and turn them back where they can. They clash with the Black Eels, and the Hamsin, and the Bone Nautilus time and again, buying time for besieged Urizeni spires to escape with their greatest treasures - their books and their scrolls - even as they must leave so much else behind. If the Grendel hoped to seize some of the magical lore of Urizen, those hopes are unrealised.

It is just a matter of time before Naris falls entirely to the armada and the Asaveans. Yet even that does not appear to be the full extent of the Grendel strategy. The farsighted seers and scouts of the Fist of the Mountains have unearthed one more layer of intent, more to this attack than just the desire for conquest and plunder.

''The runes are settling now. The [[Hirmok|scythe]], the [[Sular|ship]], the [[Mawrig|storm]].''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">[[File:FistoftheMountains_Colour.png|link=387YE_Summer_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Fist_of_the_Mountains]]</div>

==Let This Be The Hour==
The Grendel have always been clear about one thing; they will be the uncontested masters of the Bay of Catazar. They will not countenance the Empire raising an [[navy]]. They burnt the shipyard at Atalaya, and the Freeborn Storm, to secure their dominance. Their spymasters must now realise the potential inherent in the Grand Harbour at Elos, that it could quickly become a place where navies were raised, almost on their doorstep. Or perhaps it is just the wealth of Urizen that calls them, like carrion birds. Either way, they do not plan to simply ''hold'' Elos. They plan to remove it as a threat. Permanently.

To that end, they have brought with them a misshapen sphere of tempest jade seized from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#Temple_of_Tempest_Jade|Temple of Tempest Jade]] in distant [[Bay of Catazar#Raineach|Raineach]]. A treasure of High Priestess Shivaarn plundered from her stronghold and brought here to the shores of Redoubt. A thing of the [[Siakha|Maelstrom]] intended to unleash absolute devastation against the harbour and the spire, to absolutely devastate them so that there might be no thought of Urizen or Highguard raising navies here. A show of strength and power. Not a crude burning such as the Asaveans forced in Siroc, but a careful and calculated excision. The removal of a thorn.

(And if that attack also destroys the Tower of Light and Shadow… well it’s doubtful the spies and agents of the Broken Shore will weep overlong with that particular annoyance dealt with).

The talisman will kill, most likely, a lot of people as well. There is every chance it will destroy not only Elos, but may threaten the mouth of the Couros itself and perhaps even [[Necropolis#The Necropolis|the Necropolis]] which after all is barely more than a bridge away to the west. Apparently this is a price the Grendel are prepared to pay to send an unequivocal message to the people of the Empire. That ''they'' own the Bay of Catazar, and that ships sail it at ''their'' whim.

It would be easy for the Fist of the Mountains to leave the Grendel to it, to let them destroy the port, to kill those people, to unleash ruinous [[Spring magic]] whose full reach cannot be predicted. But these are the heroes of Wintermark and they will not allow such an atrocity to take place. This is the Fist of the Mountains, and while there are dark omens, and dread grows, there is also hope. It will be no easy task, but it will need to be done swiftly if it is to work. There is no time for the heroes of Anvil to pass through the [[Sentinel Gate]] - so overwhelming has the Grendel attack been that it must be faced ''now'' or Elos will be lost and who can say for sure what else may be threatened as well. The omens are clear.

The catastrophe sphere is being erected in the plaza at the heart of the harbour, and it is there the heroes of Wintermark must strike if they are to end the Grendel scheme. They mirror, in a way, the Grendel attack. They move hard and fast, driving their blade deep into the heart of the Grendel occupying forces. Their assault takes the southern orcs and their mercenaries by surprise, exploits the fact that so many of them are bent on plunder and keen to ensure that ''they'' not their fellows get first bite of the apple.

They break the perimeter of Grendel-held Redoubt, and they do not stop. They have barely stopped since they left Madruga, and exhaustion must be taking a heavy toll, but they will not, cannot let this horror unfold while they are there to take action. Lives are spent to get as many warriors as possible to the heart of Elos, back into the settlement they had been driven out of. So many lives. The Urizen sentinels support them of course, but it is Wintermark that must pay the price and take the lead, and all the farsight and omens in the wide world can only take one so far.

Vicious fighting ignites again in Elos, but this time it is the Imperial Winterfolk attacking a Grendel-held settlement. More lives paid to get to the heart of the harbour. A cordon of sneering Asavean mercenaries stands between the heroes and their quarry, but they are no match for the blades of the ‘Mark. More specifically, they are no match for the dead, the Winter spirits clad now as often in Grendel husks as in Leaguish ones. They fall on the Asaveans, whose arrogant contempt turns to chaotic terror as the beasts start to feast. The heroes of Wintermark are right behind and more blood spilled, more brave soldiers fall whose bodies will not find their place in the marshes of the Sovennan.

At the last, the Grendel magicians and their Lord themselves fight, to keep the Empire at bay. As the dead feast, as it becomes clear that, impossibly, the Fist of the Mountains cannot be stopped, one of the Grendel tries to bring that ugly, squatting sphere of tempest jade to life. A crackling green glow blossoms within it…

''The last few runes land and lie still. The [[Tykonus|banner]]. The [[Lann|hound]]. The [[Feresh|eagle]]. Only one more still tumbles.''

… and then a two-handed hammer smashes against the crystal. Once, twice, a third time, cracking, cracking, and then shattering the infernal crystalline eye wide open. An unknown warrior of Wintermark, with a great hammer, and the courage of [[Inga Tarn]] herself flowing in their veins, ends the Grendel scheme. Breaks the priceless orb into a thousand pieces. The energy within hurls everyone in the plaza to the ground as it discharges and there is a moment of creaking silence.

Elos still stands. The harbour still stands, the spire. The waters of the Bay continue to surge, the Couros continues to flow, and the clouds that gather are nothing more than clouds. It starts to rain.

The price though… the price that has been paid.

''The last rune lands, and the silence falls. The [[Yoorn|shears]].''
{{CaptionedImage|file=Yoorn.png|title=Rune: Yoorn|align=right}}

==Like Rain On The Mountain==
The Fist of the Mountains have paid that price. Like the first [[Burning Falcon#History|Burning Falcon]] at [[Kallavesa#Ishal|Ishal]]. Like the [[Hounds of Glory]] at the [[Cost#Glory|Towers of Dusk]]. Like the [[Iron Helms]] and [[Isaella's Dance]] [[under eastern skies]]. The cost of stopping the Grendel destroying Elos, and risking so much else beside; the cost of ensuring that the libraries of the spires remain unlooted; the cost of slowing the Grendel, of confining them to Naris; of winning Urizen vital breathing space. That cost, that price, has been the Fist of the Mountains. The eldest of the Wintermark armies has fallen. The skein has been cut with the black iron shears that end all things in time.

They cut a swathe through the might of the Grendel with foresight and irrepressible courage. They taught the haughty Asaveans to fear. They seized victory even if it cost them everything else. They will sing songs of the Fist of the Mountains in Kallavesa, and in Hahnmark, and in Sermersuaq.

And everywhere else, as well, if the scops have any say in the matter.
{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofRedoubt.png|caption=Dangerous lowlands and fortified citadels|title=Regions of Redoubt|align=right|width=500}}
==Game Information==
* '''Grendel forces have seized Naris and are seven-tenths of the way toward conquering Siluri'''
* '''They now control Elos, including several commissions there, and the Tower of Light and Shadow'''
* '''The Fist of the Mountains army has disbanded'''
The Grendel have launched a major assault against Redoubt along with five Asavean battleships. They took the port at Elos, and then quickly spread to capture the whole of [[Redoubt#Naris|Naris]]. They are seven-tenths of the way toward claiming [[Redoubt#Siluri|Siluri]] as well.

As the Grendel have captured the [[Elosian_Architect#Great_Harbour_at_Elos|Great Harbour at Elos]], the [[Elosian Architect]] and the [[Quaymaster of the Hesychian Docks]] have lost access to their ministries. The [[fleet]] owners of Redoubt have also lost the [[great work]] benefit provided by the harbour.

They have likewise, seized the [[Penumbral_Watcher#Tower_of_Light_and_Shadow|Tower of Light and Shadow]] removing the ability of the [[Penumbral Watcher]] to gain further resources. It’s not clear if they have penetrated the tower, but it is no longer in Imperial hands. They are also threatening the [[Prelate_of_Adelmar%27s_Shrine|Academy of Arms]] in Siluri, but at the moment the shrine there, dedicated to [[Adelmar the Lion]] remains in Imperial hands.

The Fist of the Mountains army has disbanded, due to the overwhelming force brought against it. The brave sacrifice of the heroes of Wintermark has stopped the Grendel from destroying the Great Harbour at Elos, and causing significantly more damage as well. It also ensured that the Grendel would not take Siluri this season as well as Naris; prevented them from looting any significant magical texts; and ensured that the majority of Urizen in the invaded regions were able to flee to safety.

While the Fist of the Mountains have put paid to the Grendel using the stolen boon of Siakha to devastate Elos, they are still in possession of the region where it stands. Without a swift and effective response from the Empire it is eminently possible they will fall back on purely mundane means to achieve their goal - destroying the Great Harbour and with it the Hesychian Docks and perhaps the Tower of Light and Shadow as well. Unless they change strategies (and with the Grendel, nothing is ever guaranteed), these three commissions will be ruined by the start of the Winter Solstice if they are not dealt with.

===The Dead===
*'''There are a thousand winter spirits in Naris
Unfortunately, when they disbanded, the Fist of the Mountains was [[enchantment|enchanted]] with dangerous [[Winter magic]]. The ritual had nearly run its course - indeed the general seems to mention in their orders of planning to unleash them in the [[Sarangrave]] - but with the destruction of the army the spirits have been freed prematurely.

It is not clear what this means, but there is a thousand-strong force of unliving husks, motivated entirely by the desire to feed on mortal flesh, loose in Naris now. They will certainly remain for at least a season, after which they will ''probably'' retreat back to the [[Realms#Winter|Winter realm]]... but that is by no means a certainty in a place as powerfully magical as Urizen. Indeed, there are still unliving horrors in parts of [[Zenith]] from last time the ritual ended in Urizen.

Regardless, they represent an unknown danger. Destroying their bodies is rarely enough to do more than slow them down - the spirit simply finds another corpse to inhabit. And while they most often take a new body from those nearby they can in theory inhabit a cadaver anywhere in the same territory.

===Hunger of the Gulls===
* '''A significant portion of the Grendel force were involved in raiding
A significant portion of the Grendel army was engaged in looting and plundering, rather than focusing on taking land or fighting the defenders of Redoubt. They have seized a significant amount of wealth, especially crystal mana and valuables. They have not, however, managed to claim any significant magical works - the Fist of the Mountains has ensured that the spires of south-western Redoubt were able to retreat safely.

It's probable that this vicious raid has had an impact on the Imperial Treasury, however. Redoubt is perhaps the richest of the Urizen territories, and Elos has become one of the wealthiest spires in the territory. Precisely how much impact this will have will need to be seen - the [[Master of the Imperial Mint]] will likely be the first to know.
===And Finally...===
* '''Eilian Sweetwater, is unaccounted for; he was involved in an extended appraisal of the historical lighthouses of the Empire
Given the significance of events going on in Redoubt, one final matter almost gets overlooked. During the Summer Solstice, the Imperial Senate approved a requested sabbatical from [[Appraisal#Eilian_Sweetwater|Eilian Sweetwater]], in which he intended to make a study of the Empire's historic lighthouses. The first historic lighthouse he was asked to look at was the fallen lighthouse of Nikephoros... in Redoubt. Sweetwater certainly reached Elos shortly before the Grendel attack, and was known to be looking for a captain prepared to take him and his companions to the rock where the lighthouse once stood. Unfortunately, nobody has any idea what happened to him after that.

It's possible he died during the raid, or is somewhere among those fleeing the Grendel advance. It's possible he has fallen into the hands of the invaders - either the Broken Shore or the Asaveans. It's possible he and his friends are currently sat on a desolate rock in the Bay of Catazar with no way to communicate with anyone that doesn't risk attracting the attention of the invaders. Either way, it is ''very'' unlikely he will be providing his report on the lighthouse during the Autumn Equinox.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Lock&KeyIllustrationInk.JPG|title=The Lock and The Key (Illus.)|align=right|width=256|height=240}}
==Battle Opportunity : All That is Gold==
The loss of the [[Fist of the Mountains]] has sent shockwaves across [[Redoubt#Naris|Naris]] and all of [[Redoubt]]. Some who chose to remain in the region now flee. Once secure in the belief that the army and the Court of the White Fountain would hold back the invaders, now the dead also stalk the coasts of the territory. The fear grows further when news of the raid on [[Sarvos]] and the advance of the [[Grendel]] in [[Mareave]]. Will aid come this season? Can armies be spared from the eastern front with the [[Druj]]? Those who were once refugees from [[Zenith]] remember the death and misery they endured. Refugees from [[Redoubt#Elos|Elos]] and the surrounding spires steam north and east, away from the coast.

The Grendel, too, are perhaps taken aback. Their initial plan to destroy Elos has been thwarted; hundreds of mercenary soldiers lost for nothing, money wasted. Imperial war scouts report that there is some contention between Moridun forces eager to find blame, or at least ensure they are not ascribed with failure in the eyes of the Salt Lords back home. But slowly, as the equinox approaches, an understanding is gained of what the Naguerro are attempting. Their focus has shifted from the rubble-strewn streets of Elos to the wider coastline as units of wave riders spread out in search of regios and to explore every corner of the rugged shores.

The prognosticators have identified an opportunity, amid the confusion and uncertainty of the interaction between [[The_Key_and_The_Lock#The_Lock|the Lock]] and [[The_Key_and_The_Lock#The Key|the Key]], to reach the ''Tilphussian Approach'' an area of scattered heath and woodland that rises up to the cliffs of Naris and the hidden [[Redoubt#Tower_of_Light_and_Shadow|Tower of Light and Shadow]]. Heroes can travel through the [[Sentinel Gate]] on either day of the equinox to reach the location.

===Objective: Preserve the Shrouds===
* '''The Tower of Light and Shadow is under threat from Grendel Sky ritualists'''
* '''Preventing the ritual team from casting Piercing Light of Revelation will protect the Tower'''
* '''Without intervention, the Grendel will be able to locate the Tower and loot and destroy it after the summit'''
* '''The Naguerro are hoping to make use of whatever resources they take from the Tower'''

The Grendel have been made aware of the existence of the Tower of Light and Shadow, the residence of the [[Penumbral Watcher]], from their now shattered [[A_dark_and_stormy_night#Watchers'_Flute|espionage ring]]. Thus far, the arcane nature of the structure and the eldritch nature of the magics emanating from the Tilphussian Reach have prevented them from actually discovering the tower's physical location. ''Caoimhe Kalleghan'', a senior magician operating alongside the Bone Nautilus, has dispatched a [[The_League_magical_traditions#Realms|Sky]] [[coven]], the ''Rays of Uanán'', to the Naris peninsula to locate the Reach and pierce the shrouds that hide the Tower from the Grendel's forces.

The coven sustained several key losses when the Fist of the Mountains sacrificed themselves to save the harbour. Information indicates the ritualists have secure supplies of [[Game_items#Mana_Crystals|mana crystals]] and [[Category:Paraphernalia|paraphernalia]] to assist their work and make up for the loss of mastery they faced. Due to the strange character of the tower's shrouds, they need to cast [[Piercing Light of Revelation]] at Magnitude 30 at a strong [[Day magic|Day]] [[regio]] at the ''Tilphussian Approach'' on both Saturday and the Sunday of the equinox, otherwise the tower will remain hidden.

Killing the ''Rays of Uanán'' coven would utterly defeat Kalleghan's schemes, but the coven could simply be prevented from accessing the regio to thwart their plans. If the opportunity is not taken, or the coven are not stopped from casting their rituals, then the Sky mage Kalleghan will be able to loot the magical knowledge found there. Given how delicate the magic is, there will be nothing left of the tower's strange dweomer afterwards - if the Grendel loot the tower, the Penumbral Watcher will be no more. The Naguerro are skilled magicians and reportedly have plans to make use of whatever treasures the tower gives up.

===Objective: Control the Spirits===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Binding Gems of the Three.jpg|width=300|caption=The gemstones will be delivered to the war scout if the battle is chosen.|title=Gemstones of indeterminate size|align=right}}
* '''Hundreds of Winter spirits animate the bodies of the dead across Naris'''
* '''The ''Thrice-Cursed Court'' collectively offer to take control of these terrors'''
* '''Successfully completing the offer of ''The Bound'' will give the Thrice Cursed Court control of the horde'''
Since the death of Empress Britta, the Winter ritual of [[Quickening Cold Meat]] has been used a number of times to call forth spirits to animate the dead to fight alongside the forces of the Empire. It is a powerful ritual, but all too often, there are unwelcome consequences when the ritual reaches its duration or is cut short. With the fall of the Fist of the Mountains, there are nigh on a thousand shambling cadavers that plague Naris, threatening both the fleeing citizens of Elos, the garrison of the Court of the White Fountain, and the Grendel invaders.

A way to contain the threat comes from an unexpected quarter. A meek and emaciated figure, more scar tissue and rent flesh than normal skin, stumbles from the Anvil regio to the Hub. There it offers a boon of the [[The Thrice-cursed Court|Three Acting as One]], a rare proposition from the ''Three'' who so often bicker and conspire between them. The Court propose to claim the spirits, seizing control of them and thereby preventing them from running amok.

All that is asked of the Empire is for three people to bear a bound gemstone with them onto the battlefield. Each stone, one from each member of the Court, will allow the bearer to endure great hardship in combat, but come at the [[Pallid_Flesh_of_the_Dead_King|expense of their vitality]], as if they were afflicted by a powerful venom. The bearers will need to head into the horde of dead and locate three white granite pillars. The gems must each be left at the base of one of the pillars as an offering to the ''Bound'', enabling them to focus their power and seize control of the spirits across the region in the days that follow.

===Battlefield opportunity: Recover the ''Pinnacle''===
* '''Pinnacle is a relic of the founding of the Fist of the Mountains'''
* '''With the loss of the army, the stone has been looted by the Grendel'''
* '''Recovering ''Pinnacle'' will prevent the Grendel selling or utilising the relic in future'''
The story of ''Mountain's Pinnacle'' is a tale from the founding of the Fist of the Mountains. ''Reeta Larksong'' of Fernhal, a stormcrow of Hahnmark who helped found the army, was the first bearer of the relic. According to the tales, Reeta climbed to the highest peak of [[Hahnmark#The Fingers|the Fingers]] and ripped a stone from the mountainside with her bare hands. Hardly an ostentatious memento, it was carried without pomp for centuries by the stormcrows, serving as a reminder of the steadfast mountains from where the first warriors journeyed to join the army. Its existence was once a well-kept secret, and with few outside the army even aware of its existence. But with it falling into the hands of the Grendel, the few surviving crows of the army are keen to see ''Pinnacle'' recovered. If it can be found, the Wintermark egregore can ensure it is returned to the summit of the Fingers where it can remain as a symbol of the Pride in those heroes who gave their lives against the southern barbarians. Otherwise, the Grendel are bound to try and find some nefarious use for it.

===Battlefield opportunity: Exfiltrate the Turncoat===
* '''''Muirgheal Cuindlis'' wishes to defect to the League'''
* '''The maistir will seek out League free companies carrying pikes wrapped in purple'''
* '''They will need help fleeing the battlefield, someone would need to cast Cuckoo's Egg'''
* '''Cuindlis will offer jewels worth ten thrones to those who bring her to safety'''
The mercurial Grendel agent known only as the ''Red Ibis'' has surfaced once again, contacting the civil service on behalf of one ''Muirgheal Cuindlis''. She is understood to be a merchant formerly based in Dubtraigh, with previous links to [[Feroz]] during the occupation of Governor Rahab. Having lost considerable amounts of money in the changing tides of the war with the Empire, Muirghael has evidently decided to break ties with the Salt Lords and seek a better life in the Empire. Using the last of her amassed wealth, she bought a maistir commission in the Hamsin army and reached out to the ''Red Ibis'' to seek assistance in escaping the Broken Shore.

Despite her military rank, Muirgheal has no access to military secrets or campaign intelligence that is not already known to the Imperial civil service. However, she is wealthy and willing to pay those who help her get out. Understood to be eager to join the League and settle in the port city of Sarvos, Muirghael will need locating, and then returning to Anvil via the [[Cuckoo's Egg]]. The maistir has made it clear that she will seek out "pikes wrapped in purple" on any battlefield, taking this to be a sign of the League's acceptance of her defection. The biggest difficulty will likely be the commander's unit that will not let her escape with her life should treachery be evident. If successfully brought to Anvil, Cuindlis has promised those who bring her to her new life ten thrones and goodwill gestures from any future business endeavours she is able to establish in Sarvos.

===Battlefield opportunity: Recover Tassatan Gravegoods===
* '''The dead of Tassato still bear with them their burial finery'''
* '''Jewellery of value may be found on the shambling dead'''
* '''An agent will visit the League camp after the battle to discuss suitable rewards'''
When the Fist of the Mountains were enchanted with Quickening Cold Meat, it wasn't just the bodies of the dead that rose from mortuary slabs or crawled from family vaults. Valuables of the dead, masks and rings especially, were born from crypts with their former owners. Many citizens of the [[Tassato|twin city]] are keen to recover these family heirlooms; the lost jewellery of their forebears. Even more so, the distraught city-folk are keen to ensure that the jewellery is not pillaged by the Grendel and hawked off in the back streets of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Dubhtraig|Dubtraigh]]. Should any citizen recover valuable jewellery from the husks on the battlefield, a merchant prince acting on behalf of the deceased's families will be available at 13:00 that day, at the crossroads of the League camp to negotiate rewards for their return.

===Battlefield threat: Winter husks===
* '''Hundreds of dead shamble the area, animated by spirits of the Winter realm'''
* '''The husks can be destroyed through various means'''
The spirits of the Winter realm are able to animate the bodies of the deceased, making recently fallen corpses or long-dead skeletons rise and shamble into combat. Rarely are such husks a major threat; their jerking movements and decaying equipment are no match for a skilled soldier or hero of the Empire, but in great numbers, they can overwhelm unprepared foes.

Wise heads and keen minds are the best weapons when combating Winter-animated husks on a large scale. Priests will be able to [[Exorcism|exorcise]] a husk with a single dose of [[liao]], firm in the knowledge that the possessing spirits cannot resist such force of will. Skilled warriors able to land [[Calls#CLEAVE|cleaving strikes]] or [[Calls#IMPALE|mortal blows]] can make short work of the monsters, severing limbs and bisecting the torsos of the monsters with ease. Even simple strikes will be sufficient to bring down a corpse, enabling a swift decapitating strike to prevent the body from rising again.

===Battlefield threat: Strange Conjunction===
* '''The strange interaction between the Lock and the Key is interfering with the Conjunction'''
* '''The nations going through the gate will be split in two'''
* '''The first half of the nations will emerge in the forest, near the husks'''
* '''The second half of the nations will emerge in the open near the Grendel forces'''
* '''The war scout will discuss the order with the Field Marshal if the Military Council choose this battle'''

The inexplicable astronomantic effect involving [[The Key and The Lock]] is affecting the conjunction of the Sentinel Gate. After careful investigation, the prognosticators are confident that the Gate will work as predicted, but it won't be as straightforward as usual.

Because of the strange magic, the forces going through the Gate should expect to be divided into two groups. The first half of those going through will emerge near the husks. Those who go through after them will appear in the open near the Grendel forces. The war scout will discuss the implications and the order that nations should go through with the Field Marshal if the Military Council elect to take advantage of this strange conjunction.

Thorn and bone

2026-07-14T12:30:54Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Sarangrave */

[[Category:Winds of War]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Thorns.png|caption=The vallorn rises in Sarangrave, and the Nesustak Forest will fall before it.|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Of Sword and Shield==
Five Imperial armies are in Sarangrave this season. The [[Black Thorns]], [[Boyar's Hasta]], and [[Granite Pillar]] stand ready to face the vallorn as it comes pouring out of Bendol into the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak Forest|Nesustak Forest]]. The [[Citadel Guard]] and the [[Golden Axe]] focus their efforts on the reamining threat of the [[Druj]], whose desperation becomes more and more pronounced as each season passes. There is also the Axos army of ''Ipotavo'', but they are concerned with claiming the Thornfen and protecting it from any errant vallornspawn.

Likewise, the limited military forces of the Nesustak rebels - the warriors of the Marsh Striders and the Bloodwater Spears and the other former slaves of the Mallum - are focued entirely on protecting their homes from the vallorn, fighting alongside the Empire's armies. Also fighting with the Imperial armies warbands lead by Imperial captains, easily another two whole armies worth of heroes and champions. Most fight alongside the [[Black Thorns]], with a healthy contingent standing with the [[Boyar's Hasta]], but there are warriors from across the Empire fighting in Sarangrave this season and every army has its supporters.

There is also something in the air; [[Autumn magic]] floods the territory bringing with it an intuitive sense of the presence of danger that allows folk to avoid nearby enemies and hazards. Those affected by this power find themselves drawn by chance to safe locations, and possessed of an uncanny awareness of the paths to take to help them avoid capture or death. While its usefulness to those fighting the vallorn is obvious, it also provides a measure of protection to the armies fighting in Sarangrave this season.
<div {{float}}>
<quote by="Cadwell Waystone, General of the Black Thorns">Few words are needed for me to explain what is about to fall upon Nesustak Forest and the spets of the Mallum that live within it. The Greentide of the Vallorn will descend across the land, but we will be there to meet them. Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe. We will deploy a solid defence to buy time for the soldiers of the Granite Pillar to protect the spts. We will show these septs the light of virtue and the strength it provides. Leave the word of the desparate Druj to our siblings the Citadel Guard and Golden Axe.</quote>
<quote by="Serafina Semenov, General of the Boyar's Hasta">My Hasta! You make our quartermaster weep. A family of raiders, sapscallions, you are loud, opinionated and at least two of you owe me money. But to the Druj? To our foes? Yiu are the ghost in the wind. The nightmare at the edges of their Tunnel vision. But the job is not finished. The hand does not leave the door while the dark is moving. The Vallorn made the mistake of waking up while we're here. Make it a rude one. Hold the Vallornguards wisdom in one hand and the emperors steel in another. Our eyes saved the Sarangrave, now let our spears defend those who cannot defend themselves.</quote>
<quote by="Sychar of Ebon's Hall, general of the Granite Pillar">We love the sword not for its sharpness, but for what it protects. We are soldiers; we are trained to fight, because if we do not, there are those who will tear virtue down. And so, alongside our allies in Varushka, Urizen and Navarr, we shall engage the Vallorn and in doing so protect the septs with a Solid Defence. We come as liberators, not conquorers, to bring the light of the Way. Where we go, virues follow! You are the light in the darkness, and I could not be prouder of you my beloved siblings.</quote>
</div>
==The Doom of Béantal Dol==
The last act of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted_Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] was to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#End_of_All_Songs|rouse the vallorn]] of [[Sarangrave#Béantal Dol|Béantal Dol]] to devour Sarangrave, just as they raised the vallorn of [[Therunin|Tharunind]] to lay waste to [[Therunin]]. Using the [[Sentinel Gate]], Imperial heroes managed to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Bloodwater_Marsh|stem the tide]] of the vallorn in [[Sarangrave#Bloodwater Marsh|Bloodwater Marsh]], and in the process [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Objective:_Shatter_the_Bilious_Breath|shatter]] the corrupt army of the Tainted Basilisk once and for all. Nothing can save the warding stones that once kept the vallorn contained in [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]], but thanks in part to the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Game_Information_:_Béantal_Dol|vigilance of the Boyar's Hasta]], the worst of the damage has been contained...

All except for the Nesustak Forest. The Tainted Basilisk directed their malice against the Forest and the Marshes, against the rebels and the Empire. Even as heroes are fighting in the Bloodwater Marsh, the vallorn is beginning to surge forth across the woodlands claimed by the former slaves of the Sarangrave Druj.

Almost since the moment it was first unleashed, since it brought about the ruin of Béantal Dol, the vallorn in Bendol has been contained. That last desperate act of the Terunael magicians meant that a thousand years of growth, of the fecund magic of the [[Realms#Spring|Spring realm]] pouring into the mortal world, had nowhere to go. The warnings were plentiful; if the warding stones were removed the vallorn would explode outwards like a mechanism under tension that has finally been released. And explode it does. An eruption of greenery that spreads in all directions. It is weakened in Turan Flats, in Thornfen, and in Whisperwood. It has been held back in Bloodwater Marsh. Now it seeks to overwhelm Nesustak and the people who live there, a terrible tendril of destruction whipping out from the dark heart of Bendol.

The people of Nesustak Forest will fight - but they stand no chance against the unleashed vallorn. Even the aid of the ''[[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Fores]]'' won't be enough to save them. The [[inhabitants of the realms#heralds|heralds]] and mortal "friends" of the Spring [[eternal]] will do their best but this is not a corrupt overseer, a tyrant, an oppressive conqueror that they can face down, nor is it a force that they can rally the oppressed to rise up against. It is a force of nature, utterly wild and completely savage, incapable of fear, remorse, or pity. A sea of life that will consume everything in its path, transforming everything over which it washes into part of itself.

So it falls to the Imperial armies to face the vallorn of Bendol, to stand against the tide, to turn back the sea. There are degrees of victory, of course, but anything short of total triumph will see Nesustak Forest tainted, wounded by the vallorn in a way that cannot be healed until that day where mortals finally face the wrath of the vallorn united, and achieve its destruction. Just as with [[Therunin#East Ashes|East Ashes]], where the [[Pilgrim's Defiance]] fought bravely against Tharunind, if any part of the vallorn makes it through the defenders the land will be [[A_bright_cerulean_flame|infested]] with the power of chaos.

A tall order.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Cadwell Waystone.png|caption='''Cadwell Waystone''', General of the Black Thorns|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Serafina Semenov.jpg|caption='''Serafina Semenov''', General of the Boyar's Hasta|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sychar of Ebon's Hall.jpg|caption='''Sychar of Ebon's Hall''', General of the Granite Pillar|align=right|width=250}}
</div>
All three armies are [[enchantment|enchanted]] with the [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]]. This is not a struggle to kill the opponent - right now there is no way to kill the vallorn in any way that matters - but to face its wrath and endure it. In the wild woods of Nesustak, the preternatural strategic awareness granted by [[Day magic]] will prove invaluable, allowing for soldiers spread across the region to coordinate their efforts toward the shared goal. The Black Thorns take the lead, appropriately enough, forming the first line of defence against the horror boiling out of Bendol. The Granite Pillar see to the defence of the septs of the Mallum, to those newly established settlements across Nesustak that house those who broke free of Druj dominance. The Boyar's Hasta stand between the two, ready to turn their spears to the defence of the former slaves or to plunge them into the heart of the vallornspawn, whichever is most needed.

The rebels of Nesustak are not defenceless; all those who can fight prepare to do so. The heralds of ''Unshackled'' are everywhere, offering counsel and support. There is no hiding from the vallorn; it devours all hiding places. There is no yielding; it is incapable of mercy. There is only flight, or fight. Those who cannot fight flee westward, under the protection of Highguard. Those who can fight take up spear and bow and ready themselves to battle the End of the World alongside Imperial soldiers. There is some suspicion, of course, but the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#The_Defence_of_Nesustak|example]] of the [[Gryphon's Pride]], and the clear commitment of the Empire to defend them, mean that it is put, for the moment at least. Even the children of the ''Ward of the Young'' urge the people of Nesustak to take the aid of Imperial armies at face value, at least for now. There may be a time when the septs of the Mallum and the Empire must fight one another, but for now they are united in a single cause.

There is barely enough time to prepare, though, before the first tendrils of the vallorn stretch out from the heart of Sarangrave into the forest, and chaos flows in their wake.

==Terror of a Thousand Years==
The vallorn rises, writhing out across Nesustak Forest. The first sign of its coming is that the vegetation all along the river begins the thicken, to grow with supernatural speed and fecundity, forcing the waters that flow down toward the lake to slow to a snails pace. Across this surface sprout the roots of the Bendol trees, the body of the vallorn itself, creating a bridge across which the creatures of the deep woods can pour unchecked into Nesustak (and an observer might see this and shudder as to what this same process might have done in Bloodwater Marsh had it been free to spread there as well).

There is a mercy; the vallorn is expanding so swiftly that the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] that hangs heavy over the places it claims is left behind. Not so the vallornspawn, the aberrant creatures that dwell within the heart of darkness, trapped in an eternal cycle of life and death, hunting and hunted in turn, warped by exposure to the chaos of Spring, compounded by the folly of Terunael.

It would take too long to enumerate the abhorrent things that pour out of Bendol. There are the [[vallornspawn husks]] of course. Although it is rare to encounter them outside the mists of the miasma, this season at least they are on the move into Nesustak. Perhaps it is a consequence of the great tide of power flowing out of the vallorn that drives them before it, heralds of its coming. The first husks are perhaps the most tragic; they are former human folk, many with the [[briar]] lineage. Most look so fresh they might be mistaken for living beings were it not for the way they move. These are the [[Into_Béantal_Dol#The_Grynbor|Grynbor]], that sept of human slaves that lived on the very edge of the Nesustak Forest across the river from the vallorn. The children of Irra Harah grimly recount their attempts to get them to flee the advance of the vallorn, and how they refused to leave. As Béantal Dol began to rise they bedecked themselves in their finery, adorned themselves in flowers, and crossed the river en masse to join with their ancestors.

The heralds were barely able to save a handful of children from this madness. For the rest, they really ''did'' join their ancestors - as creatures of the vallorn caught perpetually between life and death. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of the former Grynbor seem to have made particularly strong hosts, even those without briar lineage. Many of them exhibit the powers of the so-called ''[[Vallornspawn_husk#Vallornspawn_Husks_and_Briars|dryads]]'', husks that channel Spring magic directly to empower and support the other husks around them and can by themselves keep a mob moving forward even in the face of concerted resistance.

There are also orc bodies moving at the forefront of the husks, but they are significantly less tragic. Many are magicians of the Tainted Basilisk, those overwhelmed by the vallorn when they broke the warding stones. Their living-death has washed away their magic, their spite and bitterness, leaving them no more potent than any other vallornspawn. Some do still wear remnants of the [[Weapons_%26_armour#Mage_Armour|mage armour]] that protected them in life, and some [[magic items|magic]] still clings to it, but it is fading fast. The Tainted Basilisk have reaped their reward for their wickedness, and paid the price for their attempt at [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Vengeance|retribution]].

The husks are only part of it, though, and alongside them come all the twisted abominations of the vallorn. The scouts who [[Into_Béantal_Dol#Within_Bendol|pressed into the depths of the vallorn]] spoke of monstrous hunting lizards whose jaws split open like flowers revealing hundreds of hooked teeth, and of serpentine creatures with spider-like legs that skittered through the trees, leaping at their prey and tearing them apart with their barbed claws before swallowing them whole. These are but the tip of the iceberg, however. Bear-like horrors with living vines growing in their hide that snap out and entangle enemies. Trees that shamble and stumble, shrieking with human voices and gushing red blood rather than sap when they are injured. Orbs of plant matter that drift unnaturally against the wind and explode with venomous spores when they take the slightest damage. Awful humanoid things, part flesh and part plant, each one twice the size of orc or human, lumpen and misshapen as the half-sculpted mockery of thinking beings that they are. There is at least one sighting of an infested [[marshwalker]], a natural creature twisted into a being of rampant destruction that moans and howls in constant agony. A creature that looks like nothing so much as a great ball of humanoid arms, rolling and dragging itself through the trees, before opening dozens of dripping maws in the palms of its "hands" with which it can suck all the blood from an unfortunate victim in a matter of moments. This and more, creatures from nightmare, all driven forward by the instinct of the vallorn, to devour, to consume, to contain.

Of all the spawn of the vallorn, only the [[ettercap]] are absent. As the scouts revealed, there seem to be none in Bendol. If there is a reason for this conspicuous absence, it is not any more apparent than it was when the Navarr first slipped into the ruins of Béantal Dol.

They come, and the Empire holds against them, and then things begin to go wrong.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">[[file:IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=300]]</div>

==The Wooden Fastness==
Shortly after the Spring equinox, a magical ward settles over the Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wooden fastness]], forged from the power of Ira Harrah himself. Thickets of thorn and briar form; masses of branch and root mesh together to create veritable walls of living vegetation to help hold back the surging vallorn. The marsh forest itself acts to hinder enemies, while parting to allow the swift passage of allies. Even some of the beasts of Nesustak themselves fight the vallorn, in keeping with their natures, although this rarely ends well for them. And, while the region belongs to the rebels, the magic treats the Imperial defenders as allies and offers them safety in the wild places of the woodlands.

At the same time, the servants of Irra Harah slip into the woodlands in numbers hitherto unseen. Their primary focus is to protect the rebels, but they are prepared to cooperate with the Empire toward their shared goal. Bright-eyed heralds appear from nowhere to warn a cohort of the Granite Pillar of the approach of vallornspawn that might otherwise have caught them in a pincer. Quick rabbit-like creatures the size of a great dane lead a lost patrol of the Boyar's Hasta to safety at a rebel village, echoing the stories of magical beasts familiar to all [[Varushka|Varushkans]] (it is just as well, perhaps, that it is ''this'' army that is in Sarangrave for Irra Harah has little love for certain ''other'' Varushkan armies). The whispered words of the ''Golden Hare'' himself are brought on the wind to the Black Thorns, offering guidance as to where their strength might be best employed.

The friends of Irra Harah - the mortals who aid the eternal and have come to Nesustak to work with the rebels - say that in part this response from the eternal is due to the petition of the [[Archmage of Spring]] who has entreated ''Shacklebreaker'' for aid in Nesustak. The aid is for the most part subtle, but it is aid nonetheless. Many who would have died survive their encounters with the vallorn, and those who might have been overwhelmed are brought succour when it is most needful.

However... this very ward that protects so many proves to be a two-edged sword. The vallorn is drawn to [[Spring magic]], and the Wooden Fastness is a powerful expression of that realm's arts. At first the ward is only beneficial, helping the defenders hold back the vallorn. Unfortunately, the further the vallornspawn press, the deeper its tendrils penetrate, the wilder they become. The mechanism is unclear but they ''glut'' themselves somehow on the magic flowing around them. The vallorn itself seems to batten onto the magic, feeding on it, drawing strength from it. The husks drive forward, pressing further ahead of the tendrils of the vallorn itself. The abominations often seem driven into a frenzy when they come into contact with elements of the ward, attacking with berserk fury. Worse, the power of the ward serves to invigorate and revitalise the vallornspawn; where the ward is most potent they seem to heal almost immediately from all save the most terrible wounds. While they cannot endure [[venom]], the vallornspawn husks seem almost impossible to destroy except by literally rending them limb from limb.

While the ward slows the attackers, while it protects the weak and the strong, it does so by making the vallornspawn more vicious, and blood beings to flow in rivers through the forests of Nesustak.

It is of course at this exact moment that the Druj choose to return to Sarangrave.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj1.jpg|align=right|width=350}}
==Fang and Feather==
The Tainted Basilisk are no more, but there are two other armies that still call Sarangrave home. The [[Druj_armies#Poison_Crane|Poison Crane]] are the warriors of the Marshlizard who once dominated [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]] and [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]]. Likewise, the [[Druj_armies#Hidden_Snake|Hidden Snake]] are drawn from the Banded Snake sept who ruled over Nesustak Forest and the Turan Flats. Their homelands have been conquered by the Empire. Those Druj who ruled the septs have been forced to flee, either north into the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]] or into the wild places of Sarangrave. Either way they are in no position to support their warriors any more. It comes as no surprise then that a couple of weeks after the Spring Equinox, these two armies launch an attack against Sarangrave. It is perhaps more of a surprise that there are no ''other'' Druj armies with them. They do not come alone, however, when they pour across the border from [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Lower_Saarnath|Lower Saarnath]] into Turan Flats.

It is common for Druj armies to bear potent [[enchantment|enchantments]] but usually they draw on the lore of [[Spring magic]]. Sometimes, though, it can be easy to forget that the wicked magicians of the Druj are versed in other realms as well. It has been a long time since the Empire has seen the warriors of the Mallum fighting alongside the dead but when the two battered armies come into the Sarangrave, thousands of shambling horrors come with them. If they were Imperial armies, the [[Unfettered Mind]] would say they are subject to [[Quickening Cold Meat]] but this is not any dubious gift of [[Wise Rangara]] - it is something altogether worse.

The dead - predominantly but not solely orcs - are absolutely consumed with hunger for living blood and meat. The spirits inside them are not quite the same as those drawn by the Imperial enchantment; they are as cunning as they are savage. While they cannot speak, they display the ability to work together in a way Winter husks rarely evidence. They move quickly, lean and athirst, hunting ahead of the Druj armies in packs that hurl themselves at any who try to fight, and relentlessly chase down anyone who tries to flee like wild dogs. A few seem to be possessed of more potent spirits, that unleash occasional howls of terrifying intensity that can [[Weakness|drive the strength]] from a warrior and make them easy prey for the pack.

They are similar to the traditional spirits called by Imperial magic in one particular way, however. When they are defeated - when their stolen bodies can no longer house the creature of the Winter realm housed within - they move swiftly to find another body and rouse it to wakefulness ready to enact the same horrible dance of hunt, murder, and feasting all over again. As the season draws on, then, there are more former humans among their number than orcs, making them all the more horrible.

As well as Winter spirits, the Hidden Snake is accompanied by a cohort of the creatures known as [[Druj_lore#Tortured_souls|tortured souls]]. Former Imperial heroes and champions, captured by the Druj and transformed through torment and vile ceremonies into relentless warriors of death who harbour an unending hatred for those they see as having abandoned them. The general of the Hidden Snake, [[Druj_champion#Het|Het]] Trakaa, is known to have an obsession with creating these things and it seems he has brought his entire "collection" with him in this last-ditch, desperate attack.

Perhaps they believe that the Empire's attention is focused elsewhere, fighting the vallorn, and they will have the opportunity to claim the [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]]. Perhaps they are just desperate. Either way, the two armies erupt across the border, launching an [[Army_orders#Overwhelming_Assault|overwhelming assault]] against what were once the holdings of the Banded Snakes in Turaan. They must be hoping to claim the region before the Empire realises they are there, and seize another season from the jaws of death.
<div {{float}}>
<quote by="Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was, General of the Citadel Guard">Sentinels, Consider the Drowned Man. There were three Druj armies that Tyranised the people of the Sarangrave. As I write this, there are two. Under my command, the Basilisk was Broken by the Heroes of Anvil. Now the Snake and Crane will break on your discipline. We are their end.</quote>
<quote by="Vojsuli Cherenkov, General of the Golden Axe">Axe, we have fought to take Sarangrave. Now we fight to hold it. The Druj seek to take what we have claimed and in vigilance we shall deny them in this. We shall be a shield for our comrades fighting the Vallorn. We shall break the Druj with our axes. We deny them this day and for all days to come. Their empire shall fall, their armies shall break. Axe, with me, we Stand!</quote></div>

==Battle of the Flats==
Fortunately, the Empire is entirely prepared for the attack from the north. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are already in position to meet the onslaught from the Salt Flats, and when the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane launch their attack they break themselves against a solid wall of Imperial soldiers.

If it were possible to feel pity for the Druj, now might be the time. Even with Winter husks fighting with them they are outnumbered nearly three to one by the Urizen and Varushkan troops. There is no subtlety here, no skirmish and retreat, no traps to lure the unsuspecting into, no opportunities to terrorise the weak. There is only a face-to-face fight between two Druj armies that are on the verge of exhausted collapse, and two fresh, well-rested Imperial armies. Druj desperation is no match for the resolve of those that stand against them.

The Snake and the Crane are bent on reaching Turan but they do not come close. The battle of Turan Flats takes place miles from Trakaa's capital, from the Banded Snake's old centre of power. Indeed, the Druj have barely crossed the border before the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are upon them. At first, the armies fall back a little, giving the impression perhaps that they are overwhelmed and ready to give ground. But they are merely testing the forces that have come against them, wisely waiting to see if this is just the advance guard and if a more potent force follows behind. As soon as it becomes clear that the two armies are by themselves, the trap snaps shut around them.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was.jpg|caption='''Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was''', General of the Citadel Guard|align=left|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GeneralGoldenAxe.jpg|caption='''Vojsuli Cherenkov''' (right), General of the Golden Axe|align=left|width=250}}
</div>
Thrusting forward towards Turan means that they are far enough from the border for the plentiful forces of the Golden Axe to flank them on either side while the Citadel Guard plant their standards in the soft marsh soil and simply refuse to fall back any further. The fighting is vicious, bloody, savage as only a war against the Druj can be. Stripped of their tricks they have only their martial force to rely on, and even with their unliving auxiliaries it is just... not enough.

Oh, the Empire does not emerge unscathed. Some five hundred Imperial soldiers fall to the Druj, to their howling Winter war-dogs, to the tortured spirits of champions taken by the enemy and twisted into something unspeakable. At the same time, however, the Druj lose nearly twice that many of their own troops - losses they cannot hope to recover from while the Empire holds Sarangrave and their septs are broken and scattered.

The Druj have been driven back, but the encounter is far from decisive. The invaders are left with no option but to fall back to the Salt Flats, perhaps to make one last attempt on reclaiming their lands next season. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe give chase, but they are unable to catch the fleeing Druj. The same Imperial magic that serves to help the folk of Nesustak Forest escape the vallorn proves an unexpected ally to the orcs of the Mallum. The bulk of their two armies easily escape their pursuers back toward the border with Sanath.

==An End to Waiting==
While the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe battle the Druj in Turan Flats, the rest of the Imperial forces fight alongside the Nesustak rebels against a seemingly endless tide of vallornspawn empowered and invigorated by that same Spring magic meant to protect the people of the forest. It is a paradox, almost. Those sites where the enchantment is focused are the best place to hold the vallorn, but the savagery of the spawn means it is also where the most blood is spilled.

As the vallorn draws power from Spring magic, the defenders are thrown into disarray and it seems clear the vallornspawn are going to overwhelm them. First one step back, then another. The trees of eastern Nesustak begin to twist, as the tendrils of the vallorn begin to take root, begin to plant the seeds that will begin the final infestation of the forest. A desperate council of war is held; perhaps it is time to accept the inevitable, to save what can be saved and to abandon the rest. The sorrow that hangs over that discussion is palpable; the heralds of Irra Harah prepare to help those rebels and Imperials prepared to flee the woodlands to make their escape if they think the day is lost.

In the end, though, the Black Thorns refuse point blank to accept defeat. "''Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe''", said the General, and those words resonate like never before. Whatever the other Imperial forces may do, the Black Thorns will not retreat before the vallorn. In the face of such commitment, the Granite Pillar and the Boyar's Hasta will not abandon their allies. The rebels of the Nesustak Forest will not abandon their homes, while there is any chance of holding even a portion of the woodlands.

From there, the push back begins in earnest. The price is grim indeed; the vallornspawn attack in a frenzy but the Imperial forces will not allow them to claim any more land here. They lost Eastring to the malice of the Tainted Basilisk; the Navarr will not allow the Nesustak Forest to share that fate. The vallornspawn are not just held, but they are forced back, back toward the river over which they swarmed, back to the ruins of Béantal Dol. It is slow going at first, and gets harder the closer the vallornspawn get to being driven out of the woodlands. By the time the fighting reaches the banks of the river, the magic of the Wooden Fastness has been so drained the enchantment is beginning to fall apart. Yet it holds long enough to provide a measure of succor to those fighting the vallornspawn, moments of respite in the terrible fighting that create a space to recover from the violence, to rest, to sleep safely.

In the end, as the Summer Solstice approaches, the last of the vallornspawn are cut down. Vates and magisters and cabalists, versed in the lore of Spring and Winter, work quickly to uproot the seeds of the vallorn before they can take root. Without the relentless attacks of the vallorn, it is relatively easy to work the rituals to deal with the contagion left in their wake. While the vallorn still exists the Nesustak Forest will be in danger - but ultimately no more so than [[Hercynia#Northpines|Northpines]] or the [[Hercynia#Glen of Shadows|Glen of Shadows]]. Even the vegetative bridge that stretches across the river, that thick matt of plant matter that allowed abominations to pour into the western woods, begins to decay and fall apart as the vallorn of Béantal Dol slips back into uneasy restfulness. An old story; the vallorn rises and the resolve of humans and orcs drives it back. Inspirational, perhaps.

==An Old Story==
In the north, in the Turan Flats, another old story is unfolding. The Poison Crane and the Hidden Snake have escaped the wrath of the Golden Axe and the Citadel Guard, seeking to flee back over the border into the Salt Flats of Sanath, guided by Autumn magic. Yet, at the last moment, something goes wrong. Perhaps those who remember the Druj retreat from Holberg all those years ago might have guessed what is coming but it seems the armies of the Mallum have short memories.

When they try to leave Turan Flats, the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane are met with a tempest of arrows. Druj arrows. Warriors from the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#The_Witness|Witness]], the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Spires_of_Rarckan|Spires of Rarckan]], and the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Beacon_of_Iskrid|Beacon of Iskrid]] are arrayed along the border, and will not let the defeated armies cross out of Sarangrave. Those who try are remoreselessly cut down. A few might make it across, but without the protection of the Autumn magic that has protected them thus far they will not escape the patrols for long.

Left with no choice, the armies turn on the very edge of Turan Flats and prepare to make their final stand. One way or another, this is the end for the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane; the end for the Banded Snake and Marshlizard; the end for Het Trakaa and his terrible crimes. Some will escape, no doubt, to join the Druj in hiding throughout the Mallum. The Autumn enchantment will see to that, but their numbers are only a fraction of those warriors who fled the fall of the Tower of the Skink. How dangerous can they be, these last few thousand Druj?

But that is not the only danger here, and this is not just the cruelty of the Druj made manifest. The Citadel Guard have made a close enough study of the magic wrapped around the two armies; it portends something bad that is to come. The bonds of Winter magic that coil around the Hidden Snake and Poison Crane hold hundreds and hundreds of Winter spirits in thrall to the commanders of the army. When those two armies fail - and fail they will - those spirits will be unleashed into the Sarangrave to begin an [[Quickening_Cold_Meat#Description|unliving rampage]].

==Game Information==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Regions of Sarangrave.png|caption=Sarangrave is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
===Sarangrave===
* '''The vallorn has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest
* '''It has returned to (relative) quiesence by the start of the Summer Solstice
* '''The Druj armies that invaded Sarangrave have been defeated but escaped Imperial pursuit
* '''They have been prevented from leaving the territory by Druj forces in Sarangrave
The vallorn of Bendol has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] enchantment both served to protect the region, and imperil its defenders. It's strength both served to increase the defence of the Imperial armies, and inflict casualties on the vallorn (inasmuch as that is irrelevant with an empowered vallorn but it still happened). Unfortunately, in line with warnings given about the danger of Spring magic and the vallorn, the vallornspawn who encountered the enchantment were ultimately empowered by it. They did not gain strength to conquer the region - which would have been counterproductive - but instead the number of casualties they inflicted on the defenders was significantly increased. For now though, the immediate threat of the vallorn is over. It is no longer contained by the warding stones of Terunael - their power has been expended protecting the rest of the territory - and it is still a very powerful example of a vallorn. But it is quiescent, at least for the moment.

The Druj armies that invaded Turan Flats were defeated by the Urizen and Varushkan armies. They are still in the territory, however, trapped between the Salt Flats of Sanath (who will not allow them to enter) and the Empire's soldiers. Their strength is greatly depleted, and they are on the verge of collapse. Following the Summer Solstice, whatever else happens these two armies will disband. They are hanging on by a thread, partially due to the impact of the Autumn magic enchantment laid on the territory.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|align=right|width=250}}</div>

===Thornfen===
* '''Axos has finished claiming the region of Thornfen'''
Finally, the Axou forces of Ipotavo have finished claiming the region of Thornfen, with the [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Acknowledge_Axou_claim_to_Thornfen|approval of the Senate]]. The region is now part of Axos. The fortification itself has been assimilated, but has no garrison. At the moment the Axou forces in Sarangrave are allied to the Empire and Imperial armies can move through the region freely. If that were to change, any Imperial army trying to move through Thornfen would be forced to stop and deal with any Axou forces stationed there.

True to their intent, the Axou consolidation of Thornfen has seen the existing population there exiled to [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]] and [[Sarangrave#Whisperwood|Whisperwood]]. Only those former slaves of the Mallum who can demonstrate a clear connection to the citadels of Axos have been permitted to remain in Thornfen. Further details of the sitaution in Thornfen will be presented in the '''[[Diplomatic]]''' winds of fortune.
===Escape Path===
* '''The arcane projection used in Sarangrave represents an effect that would no longer be allowed with Autumn magic
This season the Sarangrave was under the effect of Autumn magic that helped reduce casualties suffered by armies, as well as helping people find the best route to safety. This is an old [[arcane projection]], that wouldn't be passed today. Helping people find safety, such as with [[Hand of the Dhomiro]] is an entirely appropriate use of [[Autumn magic]], but the ability to reduce all casualties on a territory level isn't something we'd allow today. There are of course plenty of arcane projections from previous years in the game, and there is no problem with making use of them, but the older an arcane projection is the more likely it represents some peculiar aberration of magic.

The in-character explanation is that the arcane projection represents the result of a conjunction at the time it was created. The ongoing magical chaos caused by the stars supported the ritual, but the effect of the ritual could not be duplicated going forward.

Thorn and bone

2026-07-14T12:26:08Z

GuiltyConscience: /* An End to Waiting */

[[Category:Winds of War]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Thorns.png|caption=The vallorn rises in Sarangrave, and the Nesustak Forest will fall before it.|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Of Sword and Shield==
Five Imperial armies are in Sarangrave this season. The [[Black Thorns]], [[Boyar's Hasta]], and [[Granite Pillar]] stand ready to face the vallorn as it comes pouring out of Bendol into the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak Forest|Nesustak Forest]]. The [[Citadel Guard]] and the [[Golden Axe]] focus their efforts on the reamining threat of the [[Druj]], whose desperation becomes more and more pronounced as each season passes. There is also the Axos army of ''Ipotavo'', but they are concerned with claiming the Thornfen and protecting it from any errant vallornspawn.

Likewise, the limited military forces of the Nesustak rebels - the warriors of the Marsh Striders and the Bloodwater Spears and the other former slaves of the Mallum - are focued entirely on protecting their homes from the vallorn, fighting alongside the Empire's armies. Also fighting with the Imperial armies warbands lead by Imperial captains, easily another two whole armies worth of heroes and champions. Most fight alongside the [[Black Thorns]], with a healthy contingent standing with the [[Boyar's Hasta]], but there are warriors from across the Empire fighting in Sarangrave this season and every army has its supporters.

There is also something in the air; [[Autumn magic]] floods the territory bringing with it an intuitive sense of the presence of danger that allows folk to avoid nearby enemies and hazards. Those affected by this power find themselves drawn by chance to safe locations, and possessed of an uncanny awareness of the paths to take to help them avoid capture or death. While its usefulness to those fighting the vallorn is obvious, it also provides a measure of protection to the armies fighting in Sarangrave this season.
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<quote by="Cadwell Waystone, General of the Black Thorns">Few words are needed for me to explain what is about to fall upon Nesustak Forest and the spets of the Mallum that live within it. The Greentide of the Vallorn will descend across the land, but we will be there to meet them. Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe. We will deploy a solid defence to buy time for the soldiers of the Granite Pillar to protect the spts. We will show these septs the light of virtue and the strength it provides. Leave the word of the desparate Druj to our siblings the Citadel Guard and Golden Axe.</quote>
<quote by="Serafina Semenov, General of the Boyar's Hasta">My Hasta! You make our quartermaster weep. A family of raiders, sapscallions, you are loud, opinionated and at least two of you owe me money. But to the Druj? To our foes? Yiu are the ghost in the wind. The nightmare at the edges of their Tunnel vision. But the job is not finished. The hand does not leave the door while the dark is moving. The Vallorn made the mistake of waking up while we're here. Make it a rude one. Hold the Vallornguards wisdom in one hand and the emperors steel in another. Our eyes saved the Sarangrave, now let our spears defend those who cannot defend themselves.</quote>
<quote by="Sychar of Ebon's Hall, general of the Granite Pillar">We love the sword not for its sharpness, but for what it protects. We are soldiers; we are trained to fight, because if we do not, there are those who will tear virtue down. And so, alongside our allies in Varushka, Urizen and Navarr, we shall engage the Vallorn and in doing so protect the septs with a Solid Defence. We come as liberators, not conquorers, to bring the light of the Way. Where we go, virues follow! You are the light in the darkness, and I could not be prouder of you my beloved siblings.</quote>
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==The Doom of Béantal Dol==
The last act of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted_Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] was to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#End_of_All_Songs|rouse the vallorn]] of [[Sarangrave#Béantal Dol|Béantal Dol]] to devour Sarangrave, just as they raised the vallorn of [[Therunin|Tharunind]] to lay waste to [[Therunin]]. Using the [[Sentinel Gate]], Imperial heroes managed to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Bloodwater_Marsh|stem the tide]] of the vallorn in [[Sarangrave#Bloodwater Marsh|Bloodwater Marsh]], and in the process [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Objective:_Shatter_the_Bilious_Breath|shatter]] the corrupt army of the Tainted Basilisk once and for all. Nothing can save the warding stones that once kept the vallorn contained in [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]], but thanks in part to the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Game_Information_:_Béantal_Dol|vigilance of the Boyar's Hasta]], the worst of the damage has been contained...

All except for the Nesustak Forest. The Tainted Basilisk directed their malice against the Forest and the Marshes, against the rebels and the Empire. Even as heroes are fighting in the Bloodwater Marsh, the vallorn is beginning to surge forth across the woodlands claimed by the former slaves of the Sarangrave Druj.

Almost since the moment it was first unleashed, since it brought about the ruin of Béantal Dol, the vallorn in Bendol has been contained. That last desperate act of the Terunael magicians meant that a thousand years of growth, of the fecund magic of the [[Realms#Spring|Spring realm]] pouring into the mortal world, had nowhere to go. The warnings were plentiful; if the warding stones were removed the vallorn would explode outwards like a mechanism under tension that has finally been released. And explode it does. An eruption of greenery that spreads in all directions. It is weakened in Turan Flats, in Thornfen, and in Whisperwood. It has been held back in Bloodwater Marsh. Now it seeks to overwhelm Nesustak and the people who live there, a terrible tendril of destruction whipping out from the dark heart of Bendol.

The people of Nesustak Forest will fight - but they stand no chance against the unleashed vallorn. Even the aid of the ''[[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Fores]]'' won't be enough to save them. The [[inhabitants of the realms#heralds|heralds]] and mortal "friends" of the Spring [[eternal]] will do their best but this is not a corrupt overseer, a tyrant, an oppressive conqueror that they can face down, nor is it a force that they can rally the oppressed to rise up against. It is a force of nature, utterly wild and completely savage, incapable of fear, remorse, or pity. A sea of life that will consume everything in its path, transforming everything over which it washes into part of itself.

So it falls to the Imperial armies to face the vallorn of Bendol, to stand against the tide, to turn back the sea. There are degrees of victory, of course, but anything short of total triumph will see Nesustak Forest tainted, wounded by the vallorn in a way that cannot be healed until that day where mortals finally face the wrath of the vallorn united, and achieve its destruction. Just as with [[Therunin#East Ashes|East Ashes]], where the [[Pilgrim's Defiance]] fought bravely against Tharunind, if any part of the vallorn makes it through the defenders the land will be [[A_bright_cerulean_flame|infested]] with the power of chaos.

A tall order.
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{{CaptionedImage|file=Cadwell Waystone.png|caption='''Cadwell Waystone''', General of the Black Thorns|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Serafina Semenov.jpg|caption='''Serafina Semenov''', General of the Boyar's Hasta|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sychar of Ebon's Hall.jpg|caption='''Sychar of Ebon's Hall''', General of the Granite Pillar|align=right|width=250}}
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All three armies are [[enchantment|enchanted]] with the [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]]. This is not a struggle to kill the opponent - right now there is no way to kill the vallorn in any way that matters - but to face its wrath and endure it. In the wild woods of Nesustak, the preternatural strategic awareness granted by [[Day magic]] will prove invaluable, allowing for soldiers spread across the region to coordinate their efforts toward the shared goal. The Black Thorns take the lead, appropriately enough, forming the first line of defence against the horror boiling out of Bendol. The Granite Pillar see to the defence of the septs of the Mallum, to those newly established settlements across Nesustak that house those who broke free of Druj dominance. The Boyar's Hasta stand between the two, ready to turn their spears to the defence of the former slaves or to plunge them into the heart of the vallornspawn, whichever is most needed.

The rebels of Nesustak are not defenceless; all those who can fight prepare to do so. The heralds of ''Unshackled'' are everywhere, offering counsel and support. There is no hiding from the vallorn; it devours all hiding places. There is no yielding; it is incapable of mercy. There is only flight, or fight. Those who cannot fight flee westward, under the protection of Highguard. Those who can fight take up spear and bow and ready themselves to battle the End of the World alongside Imperial soldiers. There is some suspicion, of course, but the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#The_Defence_of_Nesustak|example]] of the [[Gryphon's Pride]], and the clear commitment of the Empire to defend them, mean that it is put, for the moment at least. Even the children of the ''Ward of the Young'' urge the people of Nesustak to take the aid of Imperial armies at face value, at least for now. There may be a time when the septs of the Mallum and the Empire must fight one another, but for now they are united in a single cause.

There is barely enough time to prepare, though, before the first tendrils of the vallorn stretch out from the heart of Sarangrave into the forest, and chaos flows in their wake.

==Terror of a Thousand Years==
The vallorn rises, writhing out across Nesustak Forest. The first sign of its coming is that the vegetation all along the river begins the thicken, to grow with supernatural speed and fecundity, forcing the waters that flow down toward the lake to slow to a snails pace. Across this surface sprout the roots of the Bendol trees, the body of the vallorn itself, creating a bridge across which the creatures of the deep woods can pour unchecked into Nesustak (and an observer might see this and shudder as to what this same process might have done in Bloodwater Marsh had it been free to spread there as well).

There is a mercy; the vallorn is expanding so swiftly that the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] that hangs heavy over the places it claims is left behind. Not so the vallornspawn, the aberrant creatures that dwell within the heart of darkness, trapped in an eternal cycle of life and death, hunting and hunted in turn, warped by exposure to the chaos of Spring, compounded by the folly of Terunael.

It would take too long to enumerate the abhorrent things that pour out of Bendol. There are the [[vallornspawn husks]] of course. Although it is rare to encounter them outside the mists of the miasma, this season at least they are on the move into Nesustak. Perhaps it is a consequence of the great tide of power flowing out of the vallorn that drives them before it, heralds of its coming. The first husks are perhaps the most tragic; they are former human folk, many with the [[briar]] lineage. Most look so fresh they might be mistaken for living beings were it not for the way they move. These are the [[Into_Béantal_Dol#The_Grynbor|Grynbor]], that sept of human slaves that lived on the very edge of the Nesustak Forest across the river from the vallorn. The children of Irra Harah grimly recount their attempts to get them to flee the advance of the vallorn, and how they refused to leave. As Béantal Dol began to rise they bedecked themselves in their finery, adorned themselves in flowers, and crossed the river en masse to join with their ancestors.

The heralds were barely able to save a handful of children from this madness. For the rest, they really ''did'' join their ancestors - as creatures of the vallorn caught perpetually between life and death. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of the former Grynbor seem to have made particularly strong hosts, even those without briar lineage. Many of them exhibit the powers of the so-called ''[[Vallornspawn_husk#Vallornspawn_Husks_and_Briars|dryads]]'', husks that channel Spring magic directly to empower and support the other husks around them and can by themselves keep a mob moving forward even in the face of concerted resistance.

There are also orc bodies moving at the forefront of the husks, but they are significantly less tragic. Many are magicians of the Tainted Basilisk, those overwhelmed by the vallorn when they broke the warding stones. Their living-death has washed away their magic, their spite and bitterness, leaving them no more potent than any other vallornspawn. Some do still wear remnants of the [[Weapons_%26_armour#Mage_Armour|mage armour]] that protected them in life, and some [[magic items|magic]] still clings to it, but it is fading fast. The Tainted Basilisk have reaped their reward for their wickedness, and paid the price for their attempt at [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Vengeance|retribution]].

The husks are only part of it, though, and alongside them come all the twisted abominations of the vallorn. The scouts who [[Into_Béantal_Dol#Within_Bendol|pressed into the depths of the vallorn]] spoke of monstrous hunting lizards whose jaws split open like flowers revealing hundreds of hooked teeth, and of serpentine creatures with spider-like legs that skittered through the trees, leaping at their prey and tearing them apart with their barbed claws before swallowing them whole. These are but the tip of the iceberg, however. Bear-like horrors with living vines growing in their hide that snap out and entangle enemies. Trees that shamble and stumble, shrieking with human voices and gushing red blood rather than sap when they are injured. Orbs of plant matter that drift unnaturally against the wind and explode with venomous spores when they take the slightest damage. Awful humanoid things, part flesh and part plant, each one twice the size of orc or human, lumpen and misshapen as the half-sculpted mockery of thinking beings that they are. There is at least one sighting of an infested [[marshwalker]], a natural creature twisted into a being of rampant destruction that moans and howls in constant agony. A creature that looks like nothing so much as a great ball of humanoid arms, rolling and dragging itself through the trees, before opening dozens of dripping maws in the palms of its "hands" with which it can suck all the blood from an unfortunate victim in a matter of moments. This and more, creatures from nightmare, all driven forward by the instinct of the vallorn, to devour, to consume, to contain.

Of all the spawn of the vallorn, only the [[ettercap]] are absent. As the scouts revealed, there seem to be none in Bendol. If there is a reason for this conspicuous absence, it is not any more apparent than it was when the Navarr first slipped into the ruins of Béantal Dol.

They come, and the Empire holds against them, and then things begin to go wrong.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">[[file:IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=300]]</div>

==The Wooden Fastness==
Shortly after the Spring equinox, a magical ward settles over the Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wooden fastness]], forged from the power of Ira Harrah himself. Thickets of thorn and briar form; masses of branch and root mesh together to create veritable walls of living vegetation to help hold back the surging vallorn. The marsh forest itself acts to hinder enemies, while parting to allow the swift passage of allies. Even some of the beasts of Nesustak themselves fight the vallorn, in keeping with their natures, although this rarely ends well for them. And, while the region belongs to the rebels, the magic treats the Imperial defenders as allies and offers them safety in the wild places of the woodlands.

At the same time, the servants of Irra Harah slip into the woodlands in numbers hitherto unseen. Their primary focus is to protect the rebels, but they are prepared to cooperate with the Empire toward their shared goal. Bright-eyed heralds appear from nowhere to warn a cohort of the Granite Pillar of the approach of vallornspawn that might otherwise have caught them in a pincer. Quick rabbit-like creatures the size of a great dane lead a lost patrol of the Boyar's Hasta to safety at a rebel village, echoing the stories of magical beasts familiar to all [[Varushka|Varushkans]] (it is just as well, perhaps, that it is ''this'' army that is in Sarangrave for Irra Harah has little love for certain ''other'' Varushkan armies). The whispered words of the ''Golden Hare'' himself are brought on the wind to the Black Thorns, offering guidance as to where their strength might be best employed.

The friends of Irra Harah - the mortals who aid the eternal and have come to Nesustak to work with the rebels - say that in part this response from the eternal is due to the petition of the [[Archmage of Spring]] who has entreated ''Shacklebreaker'' for aid in Nesustak. The aid is for the most part subtle, but it is aid nonetheless. Many who would have died survive their encounters with the vallorn, and those who might have been overwhelmed are brought succour when it is most needful.

However... this very ward that protects so many proves to be a two-edged sword. The vallorn is drawn to [[Spring magic]], and the Wooden Fastness is a powerful expression of that realm's arts. At first the ward is only beneficial, helping the defenders hold back the vallorn. Unfortunately, the further the vallornspawn press, the deeper its tendrils penetrate, the wilder they become. The mechanism is unclear but they ''glut'' themselves somehow on the magic flowing around them. The vallorn itself seems to batten onto the magic, feeding on it, drawing strength from it. The husks drive forward, pressing further ahead of the tendrils of the vallorn itself. The abominations often seem driven into a frenzy when they come into contact with elements of the ward, attacking with berserk fury. Worse, the power of the ward serves to invigorate and revitalise the vallornspawn; where the ward is most potent they seem to heal almost immediately from all save the most terrible wounds. While they cannot endure [[venom]], the vallornspawn husks seem almost impossible to destroy except by literally rending them limb from limb.

While the ward slows the attackers, while it protects the weak and the strong, it does so by making the vallornspawn more vicious, and blood beings to flow in rivers through the forests of Nesustak.

It is of course at this exact moment that the Druj choose to return to Sarangrave.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj1.jpg|align=right|width=350}}
==Fang and Feather==
The Tainted Basilisk are no more, but there are two other armies that still call Sarangrave home. The [[Druj_armies#Poison_Crane|Poison Crane]] are the warriors of the Marshlizard who once dominated [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]] and [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]]. Likewise, the [[Druj_armies#Hidden_Snake|Hidden Snake]] are drawn from the Banded Snake sept who ruled over Nesustak Forest and the Turan Flats. Their homelands have been conquered by the Empire. Those Druj who ruled the septs have been forced to flee, either north into the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]] or into the wild places of Sarangrave. Either way they are in no position to support their warriors any more. It comes as no surprise then that a couple of weeks after the Spring Equinox, these two armies launch an attack against Sarangrave. It is perhaps more of a surprise that there are no ''other'' Druj armies with them. They do not come alone, however, when they pour across the border from [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Lower_Saarnath|Lower Saarnath]] into Turan Flats.

It is common for Druj armies to bear potent [[enchantment|enchantments]] but usually they draw on the lore of [[Spring magic]]. Sometimes, though, it can be easy to forget that the wicked magicians of the Druj are versed in other realms as well. It has been a long time since the Empire has seen the warriors of the Mallum fighting alongside the dead but when the two battered armies come into the Sarangrave, thousands of shambling horrors come with them. If they were Imperial armies, the [[Unfettered Mind]] would say they are subject to [[Quickening Cold Meat]] but this is not any dubious gift of [[Wise Rangara]] - it is something altogether worse.

The dead - predominantly but not solely orcs - are absolutely consumed with hunger for living blood and meat. The spirits inside them are not quite the same as those drawn by the Imperial enchantment; they are as cunning as they are savage. While they cannot speak, they display the ability to work together in a way Winter husks rarely evidence. They move quickly, lean and athirst, hunting ahead of the Druj armies in packs that hurl themselves at any who try to fight, and relentlessly chase down anyone who tries to flee like wild dogs. A few seem to be possessed of more potent spirits, that unleash occasional howls of terrifying intensity that can [[Weakness|drive the strength]] from a warrior and make them easy prey for the pack.

They are similar to the traditional spirits called by Imperial magic in one particular way, however. When they are defeated - when their stolen bodies can no longer house the creature of the Winter realm housed within - they move swiftly to find another body and rouse it to wakefulness ready to enact the same horrible dance of hunt, murder, and feasting all over again. As the season draws on, then, there are more former humans among their number than orcs, making them all the more horrible.

As well as Winter spirits, the Hidden Snake is accompanied by a cohort of the creatures known as [[Druj_lore#Tortured_souls|tortured souls]]. Former Imperial heroes and champions, captured by the Druj and transformed through torment and vile ceremonies into relentless warriors of death who harbour an unending hatred for those they see as having abandoned them. The general of the Hidden Snake, [[Druj_champion#Het|Het]] Trakaa, is known to have an obsession with creating these things and it seems he has brought his entire "collection" with him in this last-ditch, desperate attack.

Perhaps they believe that the Empire's attention is focused elsewhere, fighting the vallorn, and they will have the opportunity to claim the [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]]. Perhaps they are just desperate. Either way, the two armies erupt across the border, launching an [[Army_orders#Overwhelming_Assault|overwhelming assault]] against what were once the holdings of the Banded Snakes in Turaan. They must be hoping to claim the region before the Empire realises they are there, and seize another season from the jaws of death.
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<quote by="Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was, General of the Citadel Guard">Sentinels, Consider the Drowned Man. There were three Druj armies that Tyranised the people of the Sarangrave. As I write this, there are two. Under my command, the Basilisk was Broken by the Heroes of Anvil. Now the Snake and Crane will break on your discipline. We are their end.</quote>
<quote by="Vojsuli Cherenkov, General of the Golden Axe">Axe, we have fought to take Sarangrave. Now we fight to hold it. The Druj seek to take what we have claimed and in vigilance we shall deny them in this. We shall be a shield for our comrades fighting the Vallorn. We shall break the Druj with our axes. We deny them this day and for all days to come. Their empire shall fall, their armies shall break. Axe, with me, we Stand!</quote></div>

==Battle of the Flats==
Fortunately, the Empire is entirely prepared for the attack from the north. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are already in position to meet the onslaught from the Salt Flats, and when the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane launch their attack they break themselves against a solid wall of Imperial soldiers.

If it were possible to feel pity for the Druj, now might be the time. Even with Winter husks fighting with them they are outnumbered nearly three to one by the Urizen and Varushkan troops. There is no subtlety here, no skirmish and retreat, no traps to lure the unsuspecting into, no opportunities to terrorise the weak. There is only a face-to-face fight between two Druj armies that are on the verge of exhausted collapse, and two fresh, well-rested Imperial armies. Druj desperation is no match for the resolve of those that stand against them.

The Snake and the Crane are bent on reaching Turan but they do not come close. The battle of Turan Flats takes place miles from Trakaa's capital, from the Banded Snake's old centre of power. Indeed, the Druj have barely crossed the border before the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are upon them. At first, the armies fall back a little, giving the impression perhaps that they are overwhelmed and ready to give ground. But they are merely testing the forces that have come against them, wisely waiting to see if this is just the advance guard and if a more potent force follows behind. As soon as it becomes clear that the two armies are by themselves, the trap snaps shut around them.
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{{CaptionedImage|file=Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was.jpg|caption='''Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was''', General of the Citadel Guard|align=left|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GeneralGoldenAxe.jpg|caption='''Vojsuli Cherenkov''' (right), General of the Golden Axe|align=left|width=250}}
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Thrusting forward towards Turan means that they are far enough from the border for the plentiful forces of the Golden Axe to flank them on either side while the Citadel Guard plant their standards in the soft marsh soil and simply refuse to fall back any further. The fighting is vicious, bloody, savage as only a war against the Druj can be. Stripped of their tricks they have only their martial force to rely on, and even with their unliving auxiliaries it is just... not enough.

Oh, the Empire does not emerge unscathed. Some five hundred Imperial soldiers fall to the Druj, to their howling Winter war-dogs, to the tortured spirits of champions taken by the enemy and twisted into something unspeakable. At the same time, however, the Druj lose nearly twice that many of their own troops - losses they cannot hope to recover from while the Empire holds Sarangrave and their septs are broken and scattered.

The Druj have been driven back, but the encounter is far from decisive. The invaders are left with no option but to fall back to the Salt Flats, perhaps to make one last attempt on reclaiming their lands next season. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe give chase, but they are unable to catch the fleeing Druj. The same Imperial magic that serves to help the folk of Nesustak Forest escape the vallorn proves an unexpected ally to the orcs of the Mallum. The bulk of their two armies easily escape their pursuers back toward the border with Sanath.

==An End to Waiting==
While the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe battle the Druj in Turan Flats, the rest of the Imperial forces fight alongside the Nesustak rebels against a seemingly endless tide of vallornspawn empowered and invigorated by that same Spring magic meant to protect the people of the forest. It is a paradox, almost. Those sites where the enchantment is focused are the best place to hold the vallorn, but the savagery of the spawn means it is also where the most blood is spilled.

As the vallorn draws power from Spring magic, the defenders are thrown into disarray and it seems clear the vallornspawn are going to overwhelm them. First one step back, then another. The trees of eastern Nesustak begin to twist, as the tendrils of the vallorn begin to take root, begin to plant the seeds that will begin the final infestation of the forest. A desperate council of war is held; perhaps it is time to accept the inevitable, to save what can be saved and to abandon the rest. The sorrow that hangs over that discussion is palpable; the heralds of Irra Harah prepare to help those rebels and Imperials prepared to flee the woodlands to make their escape if they think the day is lost.

In the end, though, the Black Thorns refuse point blank to accept defeat. "''Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe''", said the General, and those words resonate like never before. Whatever the other Imperial forces may do, the Black Thorns will not retreat before the vallorn. In the face of such commitment, the Granite Pillar and the Boyar's Hasta will not abandon their allies. The rebels of the Nesustak Forest will not abandon their homes, while there is any chance of holding even a portion of the woodlands.

From there, the push back begins in earnest. The price is grim indeed; the vallornspawn attack in a frenzy but the Imperial forces will not allow them to claim any more land here. They lost Eastring to the malice of the Tainted Basilisk; the Navarr will not allow the Nesustak Forest to share that fate. The vallornspawn are not just held, but they are forced back, back toward the river over which they swarmed, back to the ruins of Béantal Dol. It is slow going at first, and gets harder the closer the vallornspawn get to being driven out of the woodlands. By the time the fighting reaches the banks of the river, the magic of the Wooden Fastness has been so drained the enchantment is beginning to fall apart. Yet it holds long enough to provide a measure of succor to those fighting the vallornspawn, moments of respite in the terrible fighting that create a space to recover from the violence, to rest, to sleep safely.

In the end, as the Summer Solstice approaches, the last of the vallornspawn are cut down. Vates and magisters and cabalists, versed in the lore of Spring and Winter, work quickly to uproot the seeds of the vallorn before they can take root. Without the relentless attacks of the vallorn, it is relatively easy to work the rituals to deal with the contagion left in their wake. While the vallorn still exists the Nesustak Forest will be in danger - but ultimately no more so than [[Hercynia#Northpines|Northpines]] or the [[Hercynia#Glen of Shadows|Glen of Shadows]]. Even the vegetative bridge that stretches across the river, that thick matt of plant matter that allowed abominations to pour into the western woods, begins to decay and fall apart as the vallorn of Béantal Dol slips back into uneasy restfulness. An old story; the vallorn rises and the resolve of humans and orcs drives it back. Inspirational, perhaps.

==An Old Story==
In the north, in the Turan Flats, another old story is unfolding. The Poison Crane and the Hidden Snake have escaped the wrath of the Golden Axe and the Citadel Guard, seeking to flee back over the border into the Salt Flats of Sanath, guided by Autumn magic. Yet, at the last moment, something goes wrong. Perhaps those who remember the Druj retreat from Holberg all those years ago might have guessed what is coming but it seems the armies of the Mallum have short memories.

When they try to leave Turan Flats, the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane are met with a tempest of arrows. Druj arrows. Warriors from the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#The_Witness|Witness]], the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Spires_of_Rarckan|Spires of Rarckan]], and the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Beacon_of_Iskrid|Beacon of Iskrid]] are arrayed along the border, and will not let the defeated armies cross out of Sarangrave. Those who try are remoreselessly cut down. A few might make it across, but without the protection of the Autumn magic that has protected them thus far they will not escape the patrols for long.

Left with no choice, the armies turn on the very edge of Turan Flats and prepare to make their final stand. One way or another, this is the end for the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane; the end for the Banded Snake and Marshlizard; the end for Het Trakaa and his terrible crimes. Some will escape, no doubt, to join the Druj in hiding throughout the Mallum. The Autumn enchantment will see to that, but their numbers are only a fraction of those warriors who fled the fall of the Tower of the Skink. How dangerous can they be, these last few thousand Druj?

But that is not the only danger here, and this is not just the cruelty of the Druj made manifest. The Citadel Guard have made a close enough study of the magic wrapped around the two armies; it portends something bad that is to come. The bonds of Winter magic that coil around the Hidden Snake and Poison Crane hold hundreds and hundreds of Winter spirits in thrall to the commanders of the army. When those two armies fail - and fail they will - those spirits will be unleashed into the Sarangrave to begin an [[Quickening_Cold_Meat#Description|unliving rampage]].

==Game Information==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Regions of Sarangrave.png|caption=Sarangrave is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
===Sarangrave===
* '''The vallorn has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest
* '''It has returned to (relative) quiesence by the start of the Summer Solstice
* '''The Druj armies that invaded Sarangrave have been defeated but escaped Imperial pursuit
* '''They have been prevented from leaving the territory by Druj forces in Sarangrave
The vallorn of Bendol has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] enchantment both served to protect the region, and imperil its defenders. It's strength both served to increase the defence of the Imperial armies, and inflict casualties on the vallorn (inasmuch as that is irrelevant with an empowered vallorn but it still happened). Unfortunately, in line with warnings given about the danger of Spring magic and the vallorn, the vallornspawn who encountered the enchantment were ultimately empowered by it. They did not gain strength to conquer the region - which would have been counterproductive - but instead the number of casualties they inflicted on the defenders was significantly increased. For now though, the immediate threat of the vallorn is over. It is no longer contained by the warding stones of Terunael - their power has been expended protecting the rest of the territory - and it is still a very powerful example of a vallorn. But it is quiescent, at least for the moment.

The Druj armies that invaded Turn Flats were defeated by the Urizen and Varushkan armies. They are still in the territory, however, trapped between the Salt Flats of Sanath (who will not allow them to enter) and the Empire's soldiers. Their strength is greatly depleted, and they are on the verge of collapse. Following the Summer Solstice, whatever else happens these two armies will disband. They are hanging on by a thread, partially due to the impact of the Autumn magic enchantment laid on the territory.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|align=right|width=250}}</div>
===Thornfen===
* '''Axos has finished claiming the region of Thornfen'''
Finally, the Axou forces of Ipotavo have finished claiming the region of Thornfen, with the [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Acknowledge_Axou_claim_to_Thornfen|approval of the Senate]]. The region is now part of Axos. The fortification itself has been assimilated, but has no garrison. At the moment the Axou forces in Sarangrave are allied to the Empire and Imperial armies can move through the region freely. If that were to change, any Imperial army trying to move through Thornfen would be forced to stop and deal with any Axou forces stationed there.

True to their intent, the Axou consolidation of Thornfen has seen the existing population there exiled to [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]] and [[Sarangrave#Whisperwood|Whisperwood]]. Only those former slaves of the Mallum who can demonstrate a clear connection to the citadels of Axos have been permitted to remain in Thornfen. Further details of the sitaution in Thornfen will be presented in the '''[[Diplomatic]]''' winds of fortune.
===Escape Path===
* '''The arcane projection used in Sarangrave represents an effect that would no longer be allowed with Autumn magic
This season the Sarangrave was under the effect of Autumn magic that helped reduce casualties suffered by armies, as well as helping people find the best route to safety. This is an old [[arcane projection]], that wouldn't be passed today. Helping people find safety, such as with [[Hand of the Dhomiro]] is an entirely appropriate use of [[Autumn magic]], but the ability to reduce all casualties on a territory level isn't something we'd allow today. There are of course plenty of arcane projections from previous years in the game, and there is no problem with making use of them, but the older an arcane projection is the more likely it represents some peculiar aberration of magic.

The in-character explanation is that the arcane projection represents the result of a conjunction at the time it was created. The ongoing magical chaos caused by the stars supported the ritual, but the effect of the ritual could not be duplicated going forward.

Thorn and bone

2026-07-14T12:25:06Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Battle of the Flats */

[[Category:Winds of War]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Thorns.png|caption=The vallorn rises in Sarangrave, and the Nesustak Forest will fall before it.|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Of Sword and Shield==
Five Imperial armies are in Sarangrave this season. The [[Black Thorns]], [[Boyar's Hasta]], and [[Granite Pillar]] stand ready to face the vallorn as it comes pouring out of Bendol into the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak Forest|Nesustak Forest]]. The [[Citadel Guard]] and the [[Golden Axe]] focus their efforts on the reamining threat of the [[Druj]], whose desperation becomes more and more pronounced as each season passes. There is also the Axos army of ''Ipotavo'', but they are concerned with claiming the Thornfen and protecting it from any errant vallornspawn.

Likewise, the limited military forces of the Nesustak rebels - the warriors of the Marsh Striders and the Bloodwater Spears and the other former slaves of the Mallum - are focued entirely on protecting their homes from the vallorn, fighting alongside the Empire's armies. Also fighting with the Imperial armies warbands lead by Imperial captains, easily another two whole armies worth of heroes and champions. Most fight alongside the [[Black Thorns]], with a healthy contingent standing with the [[Boyar's Hasta]], but there are warriors from across the Empire fighting in Sarangrave this season and every army has its supporters.

There is also something in the air; [[Autumn magic]] floods the territory bringing with it an intuitive sense of the presence of danger that allows folk to avoid nearby enemies and hazards. Those affected by this power find themselves drawn by chance to safe locations, and possessed of an uncanny awareness of the paths to take to help them avoid capture or death. While its usefulness to those fighting the vallorn is obvious, it also provides a measure of protection to the armies fighting in Sarangrave this season.
<div {{float}}>
<quote by="Cadwell Waystone, General of the Black Thorns">Few words are needed for me to explain what is about to fall upon Nesustak Forest and the spets of the Mallum that live within it. The Greentide of the Vallorn will descend across the land, but we will be there to meet them. Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe. We will deploy a solid defence to buy time for the soldiers of the Granite Pillar to protect the spts. We will show these septs the light of virtue and the strength it provides. Leave the word of the desparate Druj to our siblings the Citadel Guard and Golden Axe.</quote>
<quote by="Serafina Semenov, General of the Boyar's Hasta">My Hasta! You make our quartermaster weep. A family of raiders, sapscallions, you are loud, opinionated and at least two of you owe me money. But to the Druj? To our foes? Yiu are the ghost in the wind. The nightmare at the edges of their Tunnel vision. But the job is not finished. The hand does not leave the door while the dark is moving. The Vallorn made the mistake of waking up while we're here. Make it a rude one. Hold the Vallornguards wisdom in one hand and the emperors steel in another. Our eyes saved the Sarangrave, now let our spears defend those who cannot defend themselves.</quote>
<quote by="Sychar of Ebon's Hall, general of the Granite Pillar">We love the sword not for its sharpness, but for what it protects. We are soldiers; we are trained to fight, because if we do not, there are those who will tear virtue down. And so, alongside our allies in Varushka, Urizen and Navarr, we shall engage the Vallorn and in doing so protect the septs with a Solid Defence. We come as liberators, not conquorers, to bring the light of the Way. Where we go, virues follow! You are the light in the darkness, and I could not be prouder of you my beloved siblings.</quote>
</div>
==The Doom of Béantal Dol==
The last act of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted_Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] was to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#End_of_All_Songs|rouse the vallorn]] of [[Sarangrave#Béantal Dol|Béantal Dol]] to devour Sarangrave, just as they raised the vallorn of [[Therunin|Tharunind]] to lay waste to [[Therunin]]. Using the [[Sentinel Gate]], Imperial heroes managed to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Bloodwater_Marsh|stem the tide]] of the vallorn in [[Sarangrave#Bloodwater Marsh|Bloodwater Marsh]], and in the process [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Objective:_Shatter_the_Bilious_Breath|shatter]] the corrupt army of the Tainted Basilisk once and for all. Nothing can save the warding stones that once kept the vallorn contained in [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]], but thanks in part to the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Game_Information_:_Béantal_Dol|vigilance of the Boyar's Hasta]], the worst of the damage has been contained...

All except for the Nesustak Forest. The Tainted Basilisk directed their malice against the Forest and the Marshes, against the rebels and the Empire. Even as heroes are fighting in the Bloodwater Marsh, the vallorn is beginning to surge forth across the woodlands claimed by the former slaves of the Sarangrave Druj.

Almost since the moment it was first unleashed, since it brought about the ruin of Béantal Dol, the vallorn in Bendol has been contained. That last desperate act of the Terunael magicians meant that a thousand years of growth, of the fecund magic of the [[Realms#Spring|Spring realm]] pouring into the mortal world, had nowhere to go. The warnings were plentiful; if the warding stones were removed the vallorn would explode outwards like a mechanism under tension that has finally been released. And explode it does. An eruption of greenery that spreads in all directions. It is weakened in Turan Flats, in Thornfen, and in Whisperwood. It has been held back in Bloodwater Marsh. Now it seeks to overwhelm Nesustak and the people who live there, a terrible tendril of destruction whipping out from the dark heart of Bendol.

The people of Nesustak Forest will fight - but they stand no chance against the unleashed vallorn. Even the aid of the ''[[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Fores]]'' won't be enough to save them. The [[inhabitants of the realms#heralds|heralds]] and mortal "friends" of the Spring [[eternal]] will do their best but this is not a corrupt overseer, a tyrant, an oppressive conqueror that they can face down, nor is it a force that they can rally the oppressed to rise up against. It is a force of nature, utterly wild and completely savage, incapable of fear, remorse, or pity. A sea of life that will consume everything in its path, transforming everything over which it washes into part of itself.

So it falls to the Imperial armies to face the vallorn of Bendol, to stand against the tide, to turn back the sea. There are degrees of victory, of course, but anything short of total triumph will see Nesustak Forest tainted, wounded by the vallorn in a way that cannot be healed until that day where mortals finally face the wrath of the vallorn united, and achieve its destruction. Just as with [[Therunin#East Ashes|East Ashes]], where the [[Pilgrim's Defiance]] fought bravely against Tharunind, if any part of the vallorn makes it through the defenders the land will be [[A_bright_cerulean_flame|infested]] with the power of chaos.

A tall order.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Cadwell Waystone.png|caption='''Cadwell Waystone''', General of the Black Thorns|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Serafina Semenov.jpg|caption='''Serafina Semenov''', General of the Boyar's Hasta|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sychar of Ebon's Hall.jpg|caption='''Sychar of Ebon's Hall''', General of the Granite Pillar|align=right|width=250}}
</div>
All three armies are [[enchantment|enchanted]] with the [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]]. This is not a struggle to kill the opponent - right now there is no way to kill the vallorn in any way that matters - but to face its wrath and endure it. In the wild woods of Nesustak, the preternatural strategic awareness granted by [[Day magic]] will prove invaluable, allowing for soldiers spread across the region to coordinate their efforts toward the shared goal. The Black Thorns take the lead, appropriately enough, forming the first line of defence against the horror boiling out of Bendol. The Granite Pillar see to the defence of the septs of the Mallum, to those newly established settlements across Nesustak that house those who broke free of Druj dominance. The Boyar's Hasta stand between the two, ready to turn their spears to the defence of the former slaves or to plunge them into the heart of the vallornspawn, whichever is most needed.

The rebels of Nesustak are not defenceless; all those who can fight prepare to do so. The heralds of ''Unshackled'' are everywhere, offering counsel and support. There is no hiding from the vallorn; it devours all hiding places. There is no yielding; it is incapable of mercy. There is only flight, or fight. Those who cannot fight flee westward, under the protection of Highguard. Those who can fight take up spear and bow and ready themselves to battle the End of the World alongside Imperial soldiers. There is some suspicion, of course, but the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#The_Defence_of_Nesustak|example]] of the [[Gryphon's Pride]], and the clear commitment of the Empire to defend them, mean that it is put, for the moment at least. Even the children of the ''Ward of the Young'' urge the people of Nesustak to take the aid of Imperial armies at face value, at least for now. There may be a time when the septs of the Mallum and the Empire must fight one another, but for now they are united in a single cause.

There is barely enough time to prepare, though, before the first tendrils of the vallorn stretch out from the heart of Sarangrave into the forest, and chaos flows in their wake.

==Terror of a Thousand Years==
The vallorn rises, writhing out across Nesustak Forest. The first sign of its coming is that the vegetation all along the river begins the thicken, to grow with supernatural speed and fecundity, forcing the waters that flow down toward the lake to slow to a snails pace. Across this surface sprout the roots of the Bendol trees, the body of the vallorn itself, creating a bridge across which the creatures of the deep woods can pour unchecked into Nesustak (and an observer might see this and shudder as to what this same process might have done in Bloodwater Marsh had it been free to spread there as well).

There is a mercy; the vallorn is expanding so swiftly that the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] that hangs heavy over the places it claims is left behind. Not so the vallornspawn, the aberrant creatures that dwell within the heart of darkness, trapped in an eternal cycle of life and death, hunting and hunted in turn, warped by exposure to the chaos of Spring, compounded by the folly of Terunael.

It would take too long to enumerate the abhorrent things that pour out of Bendol. There are the [[vallornspawn husks]] of course. Although it is rare to encounter them outside the mists of the miasma, this season at least they are on the move into Nesustak. Perhaps it is a consequence of the great tide of power flowing out of the vallorn that drives them before it, heralds of its coming. The first husks are perhaps the most tragic; they are former human folk, many with the [[briar]] lineage. Most look so fresh they might be mistaken for living beings were it not for the way they move. These are the [[Into_Béantal_Dol#The_Grynbor|Grynbor]], that sept of human slaves that lived on the very edge of the Nesustak Forest across the river from the vallorn. The children of Irra Harah grimly recount their attempts to get them to flee the advance of the vallorn, and how they refused to leave. As Béantal Dol began to rise they bedecked themselves in their finery, adorned themselves in flowers, and crossed the river en masse to join with their ancestors.

The heralds were barely able to save a handful of children from this madness. For the rest, they really ''did'' join their ancestors - as creatures of the vallorn caught perpetually between life and death. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of the former Grynbor seem to have made particularly strong hosts, even those without briar lineage. Many of them exhibit the powers of the so-called ''[[Vallornspawn_husk#Vallornspawn_Husks_and_Briars|dryads]]'', husks that channel Spring magic directly to empower and support the other husks around them and can by themselves keep a mob moving forward even in the face of concerted resistance.

There are also orc bodies moving at the forefront of the husks, but they are significantly less tragic. Many are magicians of the Tainted Basilisk, those overwhelmed by the vallorn when they broke the warding stones. Their living-death has washed away their magic, their spite and bitterness, leaving them no more potent than any other vallornspawn. Some do still wear remnants of the [[Weapons_%26_armour#Mage_Armour|mage armour]] that protected them in life, and some [[magic items|magic]] still clings to it, but it is fading fast. The Tainted Basilisk have reaped their reward for their wickedness, and paid the price for their attempt at [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Vengeance|retribution]].

The husks are only part of it, though, and alongside them come all the twisted abominations of the vallorn. The scouts who [[Into_Béantal_Dol#Within_Bendol|pressed into the depths of the vallorn]] spoke of monstrous hunting lizards whose jaws split open like flowers revealing hundreds of hooked teeth, and of serpentine creatures with spider-like legs that skittered through the trees, leaping at their prey and tearing them apart with their barbed claws before swallowing them whole. These are but the tip of the iceberg, however. Bear-like horrors with living vines growing in their hide that snap out and entangle enemies. Trees that shamble and stumble, shrieking with human voices and gushing red blood rather than sap when they are injured. Orbs of plant matter that drift unnaturally against the wind and explode with venomous spores when they take the slightest damage. Awful humanoid things, part flesh and part plant, each one twice the size of orc or human, lumpen and misshapen as the half-sculpted mockery of thinking beings that they are. There is at least one sighting of an infested [[marshwalker]], a natural creature twisted into a being of rampant destruction that moans and howls in constant agony. A creature that looks like nothing so much as a great ball of humanoid arms, rolling and dragging itself through the trees, before opening dozens of dripping maws in the palms of its "hands" with which it can suck all the blood from an unfortunate victim in a matter of moments. This and more, creatures from nightmare, all driven forward by the instinct of the vallorn, to devour, to consume, to contain.

Of all the spawn of the vallorn, only the [[ettercap]] are absent. As the scouts revealed, there seem to be none in Bendol. If there is a reason for this conspicuous absence, it is not any more apparent than it was when the Navarr first slipped into the ruins of Béantal Dol.

They come, and the Empire holds against them, and then things begin to go wrong.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">[[file:IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=300]]</div>

==The Wooden Fastness==
Shortly after the Spring equinox, a magical ward settles over the Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wooden fastness]], forged from the power of Ira Harrah himself. Thickets of thorn and briar form; masses of branch and root mesh together to create veritable walls of living vegetation to help hold back the surging vallorn. The marsh forest itself acts to hinder enemies, while parting to allow the swift passage of allies. Even some of the beasts of Nesustak themselves fight the vallorn, in keeping with their natures, although this rarely ends well for them. And, while the region belongs to the rebels, the magic treats the Imperial defenders as allies and offers them safety in the wild places of the woodlands.

At the same time, the servants of Irra Harah slip into the woodlands in numbers hitherto unseen. Their primary focus is to protect the rebels, but they are prepared to cooperate with the Empire toward their shared goal. Bright-eyed heralds appear from nowhere to warn a cohort of the Granite Pillar of the approach of vallornspawn that might otherwise have caught them in a pincer. Quick rabbit-like creatures the size of a great dane lead a lost patrol of the Boyar's Hasta to safety at a rebel village, echoing the stories of magical beasts familiar to all [[Varushka|Varushkans]] (it is just as well, perhaps, that it is ''this'' army that is in Sarangrave for Irra Harah has little love for certain ''other'' Varushkan armies). The whispered words of the ''Golden Hare'' himself are brought on the wind to the Black Thorns, offering guidance as to where their strength might be best employed.

The friends of Irra Harah - the mortals who aid the eternal and have come to Nesustak to work with the rebels - say that in part this response from the eternal is due to the petition of the [[Archmage of Spring]] who has entreated ''Shacklebreaker'' for aid in Nesustak. The aid is for the most part subtle, but it is aid nonetheless. Many who would have died survive their encounters with the vallorn, and those who might have been overwhelmed are brought succour when it is most needful.

However... this very ward that protects so many proves to be a two-edged sword. The vallorn is drawn to [[Spring magic]], and the Wooden Fastness is a powerful expression of that realm's arts. At first the ward is only beneficial, helping the defenders hold back the vallorn. Unfortunately, the further the vallornspawn press, the deeper its tendrils penetrate, the wilder they become. The mechanism is unclear but they ''glut'' themselves somehow on the magic flowing around them. The vallorn itself seems to batten onto the magic, feeding on it, drawing strength from it. The husks drive forward, pressing further ahead of the tendrils of the vallorn itself. The abominations often seem driven into a frenzy when they come into contact with elements of the ward, attacking with berserk fury. Worse, the power of the ward serves to invigorate and revitalise the vallornspawn; where the ward is most potent they seem to heal almost immediately from all save the most terrible wounds. While they cannot endure [[venom]], the vallornspawn husks seem almost impossible to destroy except by literally rending them limb from limb.

While the ward slows the attackers, while it protects the weak and the strong, it does so by making the vallornspawn more vicious, and blood beings to flow in rivers through the forests of Nesustak.

It is of course at this exact moment that the Druj choose to return to Sarangrave.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj1.jpg|align=right|width=350}}
==Fang and Feather==
The Tainted Basilisk are no more, but there are two other armies that still call Sarangrave home. The [[Druj_armies#Poison_Crane|Poison Crane]] are the warriors of the Marshlizard who once dominated [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]] and [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]]. Likewise, the [[Druj_armies#Hidden_Snake|Hidden Snake]] are drawn from the Banded Snake sept who ruled over Nesustak Forest and the Turan Flats. Their homelands have been conquered by the Empire. Those Druj who ruled the septs have been forced to flee, either north into the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]] or into the wild places of Sarangrave. Either way they are in no position to support their warriors any more. It comes as no surprise then that a couple of weeks after the Spring Equinox, these two armies launch an attack against Sarangrave. It is perhaps more of a surprise that there are no ''other'' Druj armies with them. They do not come alone, however, when they pour across the border from [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Lower_Saarnath|Lower Saarnath]] into Turan Flats.

It is common for Druj armies to bear potent [[enchantment|enchantments]] but usually they draw on the lore of [[Spring magic]]. Sometimes, though, it can be easy to forget that the wicked magicians of the Druj are versed in other realms as well. It has been a long time since the Empire has seen the warriors of the Mallum fighting alongside the dead but when the two battered armies come into the Sarangrave, thousands of shambling horrors come with them. If they were Imperial armies, the [[Unfettered Mind]] would say they are subject to [[Quickening Cold Meat]] but this is not any dubious gift of [[Wise Rangara]] - it is something altogether worse.

The dead - predominantly but not solely orcs - are absolutely consumed with hunger for living blood and meat. The spirits inside them are not quite the same as those drawn by the Imperial enchantment; they are as cunning as they are savage. While they cannot speak, they display the ability to work together in a way Winter husks rarely evidence. They move quickly, lean and athirst, hunting ahead of the Druj armies in packs that hurl themselves at any who try to fight, and relentlessly chase down anyone who tries to flee like wild dogs. A few seem to be possessed of more potent spirits, that unleash occasional howls of terrifying intensity that can [[Weakness|drive the strength]] from a warrior and make them easy prey for the pack.

They are similar to the traditional spirits called by Imperial magic in one particular way, however. When they are defeated - when their stolen bodies can no longer house the creature of the Winter realm housed within - they move swiftly to find another body and rouse it to wakefulness ready to enact the same horrible dance of hunt, murder, and feasting all over again. As the season draws on, then, there are more former humans among their number than orcs, making them all the more horrible.

As well as Winter spirits, the Hidden Snake is accompanied by a cohort of the creatures known as [[Druj_lore#Tortured_souls|tortured souls]]. Former Imperial heroes and champions, captured by the Druj and transformed through torment and vile ceremonies into relentless warriors of death who harbour an unending hatred for those they see as having abandoned them. The general of the Hidden Snake, [[Druj_champion#Het|Het]] Trakaa, is known to have an obsession with creating these things and it seems he has brought his entire "collection" with him in this last-ditch, desperate attack.

Perhaps they believe that the Empire's attention is focused elsewhere, fighting the vallorn, and they will have the opportunity to claim the [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]]. Perhaps they are just desperate. Either way, the two armies erupt across the border, launching an [[Army_orders#Overwhelming_Assault|overwhelming assault]] against what were once the holdings of the Banded Snakes in Turaan. They must be hoping to claim the region before the Empire realises they are there, and seize another season from the jaws of death.
<div {{float}}>
<quote by="Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was, General of the Citadel Guard">Sentinels, Consider the Drowned Man. There were three Druj armies that Tyranised the people of the Sarangrave. As I write this, there are two. Under my command, the Basilisk was Broken by the Heroes of Anvil. Now the Snake and Crane will break on your discipline. We are their end.</quote>
<quote by="Vojsuli Cherenkov, General of the Golden Axe">Axe, we have fought to take Sarangrave. Now we fight to hold it. The Druj seek to take what we have claimed and in vigilance we shall deny them in this. We shall be a shield for our comrades fighting the Vallorn. We shall break the Druj with our axes. We deny them this day and for all days to come. Their empire shall fall, their armies shall break. Axe, with me, we Stand!</quote></div>

==Battle of the Flats==
Fortunately, the Empire is entirely prepared for the attack from the north. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are already in position to meet the onslaught from the Salt Flats, and when the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane launch their attack they break themselves against a solid wall of Imperial soldiers.

If it were possible to feel pity for the Druj, now might be the time. Even with Winter husks fighting with them they are outnumbered nearly three to one by the Urizen and Varushkan troops. There is no subtlety here, no skirmish and retreat, no traps to lure the unsuspecting into, no opportunities to terrorise the weak. There is only a face-to-face fight between two Druj armies that are on the verge of exhausted collapse, and two fresh, well-rested Imperial armies. Druj desperation is no match for the resolve of those that stand against them.

The Snake and the Crane are bent on reaching Turan but they do not come close. The battle of Turan Flats takes place miles from Trakaa's capital, from the Banded Snake's old centre of power. Indeed, the Druj have barely crossed the border before the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are upon them. At first, the armies fall back a little, giving the impression perhaps that they are overwhelmed and ready to give ground. But they are merely testing the forces that have come against them, wisely waiting to see if this is just the advance guard and if a more potent force follows behind. As soon as it becomes clear that the two armies are by themselves, the trap snaps shut around them.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was.jpg|caption='''Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was''', General of the Citadel Guard|align=left|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GeneralGoldenAxe.jpg|caption='''Vojsuli Cherenkov''' (right), General of the Golden Axe|align=left|width=250}}
</div>
Thrusting forward towards Turan means that they are far enough from the border for the plentiful forces of the Golden Axe to flank them on either side while the Citadel Guard plant their standards in the soft marsh soil and simply refuse to fall back any further. The fighting is vicious, bloody, savage as only a war against the Druj can be. Stripped of their tricks they have only their martial force to rely on, and even with their unliving auxiliaries it is just... not enough.

Oh, the Empire does not emerge unscathed. Some five hundred Imperial soldiers fall to the Druj, to their howling Winter war-dogs, to the tortured spirits of champions taken by the enemy and twisted into something unspeakable. At the same time, however, the Druj lose nearly twice that many of their own troops - losses they cannot hope to recover from while the Empire holds Sarangrave and their septs are broken and scattered.

The Druj have been driven back, but the encounter is far from decisive. The invaders are left with no option but to fall back to the Salt Flats, perhaps to make one last attempt on reclaiming their lands next season. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe give chase, but they are unable to catch the fleeing Druj. The same Imperial magic that serves to help the folk of Nesustak Forest escape the vallorn proves an unexpected ally to the orcs of the Mallum. The bulk of their two armies easily escape their pursuers back toward the border with Sanath.

==An End to Waiting==
While the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe battle the Druj in Turan Flats, the rest of the Imperial forces fight alongside the Nesustak rebels against a seemingly endless tide of vallornspawn empowered and invigorated by that same Spring magic meant to protect the people of the forest. It is a paradox, almost. Those sites where the enchantment is focused are the best place to hold the vallorn, but the savagery of the spawn means it is also where the most blood is spilled.

As the vallorn draws power from Spring magic, the defenders are thrown into disarray and it seems clear the vallornspawn are going to overwhelm them. First one step back, then another. The trees of western Nesustak begin to twist, as the tendrils of the vallorn begin to take root, begin to plant the seeds that will begin the final infestation of the forest. A desperate council of war is held; perhaps it is time to accept the inevitable, to save what can be saved and to abandon the rest. The sorrow that hangs over that discussion is palpable; the heralds of Irra Harah prepare to help those rebels and Imperials prepared to flee the woodlands to make their escape if they think the day is lost.

In the end, though, the Black Thorns refuse point blank to accept defeat. "''Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe''", said the General, and those words resonate like never before. Whatever the other Imperial forces may do, the Black Thorns will not retreat before the vallorn. In the face of such commitment, the Granite Pillar and the Boyar's Hasta will not abandon their allies. The rebels of the Nesustak Forest will not abandon their homes, while there is any chance of holding even a portion of the woodlands.

From there, the push back begins in earnest. The price is grim indeed; the vallornspawn attack in a frenzy but the Imperial forces will not allow them to claim any more land here. They lost Eastring to the malice of the Tainted Basilisk; the Navarr will not allow the Nesustak Forest to share that fate. The vallornspawn are not just held, but they are forced back, back toward the river over which they swarmed, back to the ruins of Béantal Dol. It is slow going at first, and gets harder the closer the vallornspawn get to being driven out of the woodlands. By the time the fighting reaches the banks of the river, the magic of the Wooden Fastness has been so drained the enchantment is beginning to fall apart. Yet it holds long enough to provide a measure of succor to those fighting the vallornspawn, moments of respite in the terrible fighting that create a space to recover from the violence, to rest, to sleep safely.

In the end, as the Summer Solstice approaches, the last of the vallornspawn are cut down. Vates and magisters and cabalists, versed in the lore of Spring and Winter, work quickly to uproot the seeds of the vallorn before they can take root. Without the relentless attacks of the vallorn, it is relatively easy to work the rituals to deal with the contagion left in their wake. While the vallorn still exists the Nesustak Forest will be in danger - but ultimately no more so than [[Hercynia#Northpines|Northpines]] or the [[Hercynia#Glen of Shadows|Glen of Shadows]]. Even the vegetative bridge that stretches across the river, that thick matt of plant matter that allowed abominations to pour into the western woods, begins to decay and fall apart as the vallorn of Béantal Dol slips back into uneasy restfulness. An old story; the vallorn rises and the resolve of humans and orcs drives it back. Inspirational, perhaps.
==An Old Story==
In the north, in the Turan Flats, another old story is unfolding. The Poison Crane and the Hidden Snake have escaped the wrath of the Golden Axe and the Citadel Guard, seeking to flee back over the border into the Salt Flats of Sanath, guided by Autumn magic. Yet, at the last moment, something goes wrong. Perhaps those who remember the Druj retreat from Holberg all those years ago might have guessed what is coming but it seems the armies of the Mallum have short memories.

When they try to leave Turan Flats, the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane are met with a tempest of arrows. Druj arrows. Warriors from the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#The_Witness|Witness]], the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Spires_of_Rarckan|Spires of Rarckan]], and the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Beacon_of_Iskrid|Beacon of Iskrid]] are arrayed along the border, and will not let the defeated armies cross out of Sarangrave. Those who try are remoreselessly cut down. A few might make it across, but without the protection of the Autumn magic that has protected them thus far they will not escape the patrols for long.

Left with no choice, the armies turn on the very edge of Turan Flats and prepare to make their final stand. One way or another, this is the end for the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane; the end for the Banded Snake and Marshlizard; the end for Het Trakaa and his terrible crimes. Some will escape, no doubt, to join the Druj in hiding throughout the Mallum. The Autumn enchantment will see to that, but their numbers are only a fraction of those warriors who fled the fall of the Tower of the Skink. How dangerous can they be, these last few thousand Druj?

But that is not the only danger here, and this is not just the cruelty of the Druj made manifest. The Citadel Guard have made a close enough study of the magic wrapped around the two armies; it portends something bad that is to come. The bonds of Winter magic that coil around the Hidden Snake and Poison Crane hold hundreds and hundreds of Winter spirits in thrall to the commanders of the army. When those two armies fail - and fail they will - those spirits will be unleashed into the Sarangrave to begin an [[Quickening_Cold_Meat#Description|unliving rampage]].

==Game Information==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Regions of Sarangrave.png|caption=Sarangrave is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
===Sarangrave===
* '''The vallorn has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest
* '''It has returned to (relative) quiesence by the start of the Summer Solstice
* '''The Druj armies that invaded Sarangrave have been defeated but escaped Imperial pursuit
* '''They have been prevented from leaving the territory by Druj forces in Sarangrave
The vallorn of Bendol has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] enchantment both served to protect the region, and imperil its defenders. It's strength both served to increase the defence of the Imperial armies, and inflict casualties on the vallorn (inasmuch as that is irrelevant with an empowered vallorn but it still happened). Unfortunately, in line with warnings given about the danger of Spring magic and the vallorn, the vallornspawn who encountered the enchantment were ultimately empowered by it. They did not gain strength to conquer the region - which would have been counterproductive - but instead the number of casualties they inflicted on the defenders was significantly increased. For now though, the immediate threat of the vallorn is over. It is no longer contained by the warding stones of Terunael - their power has been expended protecting the rest of the territory - and it is still a very powerful example of a vallorn. But it is quiescent, at least for the moment.

The Druj armies that invaded Turn Flats were defeated by the Urizen and Varushkan armies. They are still in the territory, however, trapped between the Salt Flats of Sanath (who will not allow them to enter) and the Empire's soldiers. Their strength is greatly depleted, and they are on the verge of collapse. Following the Summer Solstice, whatever else happens these two armies will disband. They are hanging on by a thread, partially due to the impact of the Autumn magic enchantment laid on the territory.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|align=right|width=250}}</div>
===Thornfen===
* '''Axos has finished claiming the region of Thornfen'''
Finally, the Axou forces of Ipotavo have finished claiming the region of Thornfen, with the [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Acknowledge_Axou_claim_to_Thornfen|approval of the Senate]]. The region is now part of Axos. The fortification itself has been assimilated, but has no garrison. At the moment the Axou forces in Sarangrave are allied to the Empire and Imperial armies can move through the region freely. If that were to change, any Imperial army trying to move through Thornfen would be forced to stop and deal with any Axou forces stationed there.

True to their intent, the Axou consolidation of Thornfen has seen the existing population there exiled to [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]] and [[Sarangrave#Whisperwood|Whisperwood]]. Only those former slaves of the Mallum who can demonstrate a clear connection to the citadels of Axos have been permitted to remain in Thornfen. Further details of the sitaution in Thornfen will be presented in the '''[[Diplomatic]]''' winds of fortune.
===Escape Path===
* '''The arcane projection used in Sarangrave represents an effect that would no longer be allowed with Autumn magic
This season the Sarangrave was under the effect of Autumn magic that helped reduce casualties suffered by armies, as well as helping people find the best route to safety. This is an old [[arcane projection]], that wouldn't be passed today. Helping people find safety, such as with [[Hand of the Dhomiro]] is an entirely appropriate use of [[Autumn magic]], but the ability to reduce all casualties on a territory level isn't something we'd allow today. There are of course plenty of arcane projections from previous years in the game, and there is no problem with making use of them, but the older an arcane projection is the more likely it represents some peculiar aberration of magic.

The in-character explanation is that the arcane projection represents the result of a conjunction at the time it was created. The ongoing magical chaos caused by the stars supported the ritual, but the effect of the ritual could not be duplicated going forward.

Thorn and bone

2026-07-14T12:23:39Z

GuiltyConscience: /* Battle of the Flats */

[[Category:Winds of War]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Thorns.png|caption=The vallorn rises in Sarangrave, and the Nesustak Forest will fall before it.|align=left|width=500}}</div>
==Of Sword and Shield==
Five Imperial armies are in Sarangrave this season. The [[Black Thorns]], [[Boyar's Hasta]], and [[Granite Pillar]] stand ready to face the vallorn as it comes pouring out of Bendol into the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak Forest|Nesustak Forest]]. The [[Citadel Guard]] and the [[Golden Axe]] focus their efforts on the reamining threat of the [[Druj]], whose desperation becomes more and more pronounced as each season passes. There is also the Axos army of ''Ipotavo'', but they are concerned with claiming the Thornfen and protecting it from any errant vallornspawn.

Likewise, the limited military forces of the Nesustak rebels - the warriors of the Marsh Striders and the Bloodwater Spears and the other former slaves of the Mallum - are focued entirely on protecting their homes from the vallorn, fighting alongside the Empire's armies. Also fighting with the Imperial armies warbands lead by Imperial captains, easily another two whole armies worth of heroes and champions. Most fight alongside the [[Black Thorns]], with a healthy contingent standing with the [[Boyar's Hasta]], but there are warriors from across the Empire fighting in Sarangrave this season and every army has its supporters.

There is also something in the air; [[Autumn magic]] floods the territory bringing with it an intuitive sense of the presence of danger that allows folk to avoid nearby enemies and hazards. Those affected by this power find themselves drawn by chance to safe locations, and possessed of an uncanny awareness of the paths to take to help them avoid capture or death. While its usefulness to those fighting the vallorn is obvious, it also provides a measure of protection to the armies fighting in Sarangrave this season.
<div {{float}}>
<quote by="Cadwell Waystone, General of the Black Thorns">Few words are needed for me to explain what is about to fall upon Nesustak Forest and the spets of the Mallum that live within it. The Greentide of the Vallorn will descend across the land, but we will be there to meet them. Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe. We will deploy a solid defence to buy time for the soldiers of the Granite Pillar to protect the spts. We will show these septs the light of virtue and the strength it provides. Leave the word of the desparate Druj to our siblings the Citadel Guard and Golden Axe.</quote>
<quote by="Serafina Semenov, General of the Boyar's Hasta">My Hasta! You make our quartermaster weep. A family of raiders, sapscallions, you are loud, opinionated and at least two of you owe me money. But to the Druj? To our foes? Yiu are the ghost in the wind. The nightmare at the edges of their Tunnel vision. But the job is not finished. The hand does not leave the door while the dark is moving. The Vallorn made the mistake of waking up while we're here. Make it a rude one. Hold the Vallornguards wisdom in one hand and the emperors steel in another. Our eyes saved the Sarangrave, now let our spears defend those who cannot defend themselves.</quote>
<quote by="Sychar of Ebon's Hall, general of the Granite Pillar">We love the sword not for its sharpness, but for what it protects. We are soldiers; we are trained to fight, because if we do not, there are those who will tear virtue down. And so, alongside our allies in Varushka, Urizen and Navarr, we shall engage the Vallorn and in doing so protect the septs with a Solid Defence. We come as liberators, not conquorers, to bring the light of the Way. Where we go, virues follow! You are the light in the darkness, and I could not be prouder of you my beloved siblings.</quote>
</div>
==The Doom of Béantal Dol==
The last act of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted_Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] was to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#End_of_All_Songs|rouse the vallorn]] of [[Sarangrave#Béantal Dol|Béantal Dol]] to devour Sarangrave, just as they raised the vallorn of [[Therunin|Tharunind]] to lay waste to [[Therunin]]. Using the [[Sentinel Gate]], Imperial heroes managed to [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Bloodwater_Marsh|stem the tide]] of the vallorn in [[Sarangrave#Bloodwater Marsh|Bloodwater Marsh]], and in the process [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Objective:_Shatter_the_Bilious_Breath|shatter]] the corrupt army of the Tainted Basilisk once and for all. Nothing can save the warding stones that once kept the vallorn contained in [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]], but thanks in part to the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Game_Information_:_Béantal_Dol|vigilance of the Boyar's Hasta]], the worst of the damage has been contained...

All except for the Nesustak Forest. The Tainted Basilisk directed their malice against the Forest and the Marshes, against the rebels and the Empire. Even as heroes are fighting in the Bloodwater Marsh, the vallorn is beginning to surge forth across the woodlands claimed by the former slaves of the Sarangrave Druj.

Almost since the moment it was first unleashed, since it brought about the ruin of Béantal Dol, the vallorn in Bendol has been contained. That last desperate act of the Terunael magicians meant that a thousand years of growth, of the fecund magic of the [[Realms#Spring|Spring realm]] pouring into the mortal world, had nowhere to go. The warnings were plentiful; if the warding stones were removed the vallorn would explode outwards like a mechanism under tension that has finally been released. And explode it does. An eruption of greenery that spreads in all directions. It is weakened in Turan Flats, in Thornfen, and in Whisperwood. It has been held back in Bloodwater Marsh. Now it seeks to overwhelm Nesustak and the people who live there, a terrible tendril of destruction whipping out from the dark heart of Bendol.

The people of Nesustak Forest will fight - but they stand no chance against the unleashed vallorn. Even the aid of the ''[[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Fores]]'' won't be enough to save them. The [[inhabitants of the realms#heralds|heralds]] and mortal "friends" of the Spring [[eternal]] will do their best but this is not a corrupt overseer, a tyrant, an oppressive conqueror that they can face down, nor is it a force that they can rally the oppressed to rise up against. It is a force of nature, utterly wild and completely savage, incapable of fear, remorse, or pity. A sea of life that will consume everything in its path, transforming everything over which it washes into part of itself.

So it falls to the Imperial armies to face the vallorn of Bendol, to stand against the tide, to turn back the sea. There are degrees of victory, of course, but anything short of total triumph will see Nesustak Forest tainted, wounded by the vallorn in a way that cannot be healed until that day where mortals finally face the wrath of the vallorn united, and achieve its destruction. Just as with [[Therunin#East Ashes|East Ashes]], where the [[Pilgrim's Defiance]] fought bravely against Tharunind, if any part of the vallorn makes it through the defenders the land will be [[A_bright_cerulean_flame|infested]] with the power of chaos.

A tall order.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Cadwell Waystone.png|caption='''Cadwell Waystone''', General of the Black Thorns|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Serafina Semenov.jpg|caption='''Serafina Semenov''', General of the Boyar's Hasta|align=right|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sychar of Ebon's Hall.jpg|caption='''Sychar of Ebon's Hall''', General of the Granite Pillar|align=right|width=250}}
</div>
All three armies are [[enchantment|enchanted]] with the [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]]. This is not a struggle to kill the opponent - right now there is no way to kill the vallorn in any way that matters - but to face its wrath and endure it. In the wild woods of Nesustak, the preternatural strategic awareness granted by [[Day magic]] will prove invaluable, allowing for soldiers spread across the region to coordinate their efforts toward the shared goal. The Black Thorns take the lead, appropriately enough, forming the first line of defence against the horror boiling out of Bendol. The Granite Pillar see to the defence of the septs of the Mallum, to those newly established settlements across Nesustak that house those who broke free of Druj dominance. The Boyar's Hasta stand between the two, ready to turn their spears to the defence of the former slaves or to plunge them into the heart of the vallornspawn, whichever is most needed.

The rebels of Nesustak are not defenceless; all those who can fight prepare to do so. The heralds of ''Unshackled'' are everywhere, offering counsel and support. There is no hiding from the vallorn; it devours all hiding places. There is no yielding; it is incapable of mercy. There is only flight, or fight. Those who cannot fight flee westward, under the protection of Highguard. Those who can fight take up spear and bow and ready themselves to battle the End of the World alongside Imperial soldiers. There is some suspicion, of course, but the [[Other_monstrous_geographies#The_Defence_of_Nesustak|example]] of the [[Gryphon's Pride]], and the clear commitment of the Empire to defend them, mean that it is put, for the moment at least. Even the children of the ''Ward of the Young'' urge the people of Nesustak to take the aid of Imperial armies at face value, at least for now. There may be a time when the septs of the Mallum and the Empire must fight one another, but for now they are united in a single cause.

There is barely enough time to prepare, though, before the first tendrils of the vallorn stretch out from the heart of Sarangrave into the forest, and chaos flows in their wake.

==Terror of a Thousand Years==
The vallorn rises, writhing out across Nesustak Forest. The first sign of its coming is that the vegetation all along the river begins the thicken, to grow with supernatural speed and fecundity, forcing the waters that flow down toward the lake to slow to a snails pace. Across this surface sprout the roots of the Bendol trees, the body of the vallorn itself, creating a bridge across which the creatures of the deep woods can pour unchecked into Nesustak (and an observer might see this and shudder as to what this same process might have done in Bloodwater Marsh had it been free to spread there as well).

There is a mercy; the vallorn is expanding so swiftly that the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] that hangs heavy over the places it claims is left behind. Not so the vallornspawn, the aberrant creatures that dwell within the heart of darkness, trapped in an eternal cycle of life and death, hunting and hunted in turn, warped by exposure to the chaos of Spring, compounded by the folly of Terunael.

It would take too long to enumerate the abhorrent things that pour out of Bendol. There are the [[vallornspawn husks]] of course. Although it is rare to encounter them outside the mists of the miasma, this season at least they are on the move into Nesustak. Perhaps it is a consequence of the great tide of power flowing out of the vallorn that drives them before it, heralds of its coming. The first husks are perhaps the most tragic; they are former human folk, many with the [[briar]] lineage. Most look so fresh they might be mistaken for living beings were it not for the way they move. These are the [[Into_Béantal_Dol#The_Grynbor|Grynbor]], that sept of human slaves that lived on the very edge of the Nesustak Forest across the river from the vallorn. The children of Irra Harah grimly recount their attempts to get them to flee the advance of the vallorn, and how they refused to leave. As Béantal Dol began to rise they bedecked themselves in their finery, adorned themselves in flowers, and crossed the river en masse to join with their ancestors.

The heralds were barely able to save a handful of children from this madness. For the rest, they really ''did'' join their ancestors - as creatures of the vallorn caught perpetually between life and death. Unfortunately, a disproportionate number of the former Grynbor seem to have made particularly strong hosts, even those without briar lineage. Many of them exhibit the powers of the so-called ''[[Vallornspawn_husk#Vallornspawn_Husks_and_Briars|dryads]]'', husks that channel Spring magic directly to empower and support the other husks around them and can by themselves keep a mob moving forward even in the face of concerted resistance.

There are also orc bodies moving at the forefront of the husks, but they are significantly less tragic. Many are magicians of the Tainted Basilisk, those overwhelmed by the vallorn when they broke the warding stones. Their living-death has washed away their magic, their spite and bitterness, leaving them no more potent than any other vallornspawn. Some do still wear remnants of the [[Weapons_%26_armour#Mage_Armour|mage armour]] that protected them in life, and some [[magic items|magic]] still clings to it, but it is fading fast. The Tainted Basilisk have reaped their reward for their wickedness, and paid the price for their attempt at [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Vengeance|retribution]].

The husks are only part of it, though, and alongside them come all the twisted abominations of the vallorn. The scouts who [[Into_Béantal_Dol#Within_Bendol|pressed into the depths of the vallorn]] spoke of monstrous hunting lizards whose jaws split open like flowers revealing hundreds of hooked teeth, and of serpentine creatures with spider-like legs that skittered through the trees, leaping at their prey and tearing them apart with their barbed claws before swallowing them whole. These are but the tip of the iceberg, however. Bear-like horrors with living vines growing in their hide that snap out and entangle enemies. Trees that shamble and stumble, shrieking with human voices and gushing red blood rather than sap when they are injured. Orbs of plant matter that drift unnaturally against the wind and explode with venomous spores when they take the slightest damage. Awful humanoid things, part flesh and part plant, each one twice the size of orc or human, lumpen and misshapen as the half-sculpted mockery of thinking beings that they are. There is at least one sighting of an infested [[marshwalker]], a natural creature twisted into a being of rampant destruction that moans and howls in constant agony. A creature that looks like nothing so much as a great ball of humanoid arms, rolling and dragging itself through the trees, before opening dozens of dripping maws in the palms of its "hands" with which it can suck all the blood from an unfortunate victim in a matter of moments. This and more, creatures from nightmare, all driven forward by the instinct of the vallorn, to devour, to consume, to contain.

Of all the spawn of the vallorn, only the [[ettercap]] are absent. As the scouts revealed, there seem to be none in Bendol. If there is a reason for this conspicuous absence, it is not any more apparent than it was when the Navarr first slipped into the ruins of Béantal Dol.

They come, and the Empire holds against them, and then things begin to go wrong.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">[[file:IrrahHurrah002.png|align=right|width=300]]</div>

==The Wooden Fastness==
Shortly after the Spring equinox, a magical ward settles over the Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness|wooden fastness]], forged from the power of Ira Harrah himself. Thickets of thorn and briar form; masses of branch and root mesh together to create veritable walls of living vegetation to help hold back the surging vallorn. The marsh forest itself acts to hinder enemies, while parting to allow the swift passage of allies. Even some of the beasts of Nesustak themselves fight the vallorn, in keeping with their natures, although this rarely ends well for them. And, while the region belongs to the rebels, the magic treats the Imperial defenders as allies and offers them safety in the wild places of the woodlands.

At the same time, the servants of Irra Harah slip into the woodlands in numbers hitherto unseen. Their primary focus is to protect the rebels, but they are prepared to cooperate with the Empire toward their shared goal. Bright-eyed heralds appear from nowhere to warn a cohort of the Granite Pillar of the approach of vallornspawn that might otherwise have caught them in a pincer. Quick rabbit-like creatures the size of a great dane lead a lost patrol of the Boyar's Hasta to safety at a rebel village, echoing the stories of magical beasts familiar to all [[Varushka|Varushkans]] (it is just as well, perhaps, that it is ''this'' army that is in Sarangrave for Irra Harah has little love for certain ''other'' Varushkan armies). The whispered words of the ''Golden Hare'' himself are brought on the wind to the Black Thorns, offering guidance as to where their strength might be best employed.

The friends of Irra Harah - the mortals who aid the eternal and have come to Nesustak to work with the rebels - say that in part this response from the eternal is due to the petition of the [[Archmage of Spring]] who has entreated ''Shacklebreaker'' for aid in Nesustak. The aid is for the most part subtle, but it is aid nonetheless. Many who would have died survive their encounters with the vallorn, and those who might have been overwhelmed are brought succour when it is most needful.

However... this very ward that protects so many proves to be a two-edged sword. The vallorn is drawn to [[Spring magic]], and the Wooden Fastness is a powerful expression of that realm's arts. At first the ward is only beneficial, helping the defenders hold back the vallorn. Unfortunately, the further the vallornspawn press, the deeper its tendrils penetrate, the wilder they become. The mechanism is unclear but they ''glut'' themselves somehow on the magic flowing around them. The vallorn itself seems to batten onto the magic, feeding on it, drawing strength from it. The husks drive forward, pressing further ahead of the tendrils of the vallorn itself. The abominations often seem driven into a frenzy when they come into contact with elements of the ward, attacking with berserk fury. Worse, the power of the ward serves to invigorate and revitalise the vallornspawn; where the ward is most potent they seem to heal almost immediately from all save the most terrible wounds. While they cannot endure [[venom]], the vallornspawn husks seem almost impossible to destroy except by literally rending them limb from limb.

While the ward slows the attackers, while it protects the weak and the strong, it does so by making the vallornspawn more vicious, and blood beings to flow in rivers through the forests of Nesustak.

It is of course at this exact moment that the Druj choose to return to Sarangrave.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj1.jpg|align=right|width=350}}
==Fang and Feather==
The Tainted Basilisk are no more, but there are two other armies that still call Sarangrave home. The [[Druj_armies#Poison_Crane|Poison Crane]] are the warriors of the Marshlizard who once dominated [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]] and [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]]. Likewise, the [[Druj_armies#Hidden_Snake|Hidden Snake]] are drawn from the Banded Snake sept who ruled over Nesustak Forest and the Turan Flats. Their homelands have been conquered by the Empire. Those Druj who ruled the septs have been forced to flee, either north into the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]] or into the wild places of Sarangrave. Either way they are in no position to support their warriors any more. It comes as no surprise then that a couple of weeks after the Spring Equinox, these two armies launch an attack against Sarangrave. It is perhaps more of a surprise that there are no ''other'' Druj armies with them. They do not come alone, however, when they pour across the border from [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Lower_Saarnath|Lower Saarnath]] into Turan Flats.

It is common for Druj armies to bear potent [[enchantment|enchantments]] but usually they draw on the lore of [[Spring magic]]. Sometimes, though, it can be easy to forget that the wicked magicians of the Druj are versed in other realms as well. It has been a long time since the Empire has seen the warriors of the Mallum fighting alongside the dead but when the two battered armies come into the Sarangrave, thousands of shambling horrors come with them. If they were Imperial armies, the [[Unfettered Mind]] would say they are subject to [[Quickening Cold Meat]] but this is not any dubious gift of [[Wise Rangara]] - it is something altogether worse.

The dead - predominantly but not solely orcs - are absolutely consumed with hunger for living blood and meat. The spirits inside them are not quite the same as those drawn by the Imperial enchantment; they are as cunning as they are savage. While they cannot speak, they display the ability to work together in a way Winter husks rarely evidence. They move quickly, lean and athirst, hunting ahead of the Druj armies in packs that hurl themselves at any who try to fight, and relentlessly chase down anyone who tries to flee like wild dogs. A few seem to be possessed of more potent spirits, that unleash occasional howls of terrifying intensity that can [[Weakness|drive the strength]] from a warrior and make them easy prey for the pack.

They are similar to the traditional spirits called by Imperial magic in one particular way, however. When they are defeated - when their stolen bodies can no longer house the creature of the Winter realm housed within - they move swiftly to find another body and rouse it to wakefulness ready to enact the same horrible dance of hunt, murder, and feasting all over again. As the season draws on, then, there are more former humans among their number than orcs, making them all the more horrible.

As well as Winter spirits, the Hidden Snake is accompanied by a cohort of the creatures known as [[Druj_lore#Tortured_souls|tortured souls]]. Former Imperial heroes and champions, captured by the Druj and transformed through torment and vile ceremonies into relentless warriors of death who harbour an unending hatred for those they see as having abandoned them. The general of the Hidden Snake, [[Druj_champion#Het|Het]] Trakaa, is known to have an obsession with creating these things and it seems he has brought his entire "collection" with him in this last-ditch, desperate attack.

Perhaps they believe that the Empire's attention is focused elsewhere, fighting the vallorn, and they will have the opportunity to claim the [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]]. Perhaps they are just desperate. Either way, the two armies erupt across the border, launching an [[Army_orders#Overwhelming_Assault|overwhelming assault]] against what were once the holdings of the Banded Snakes in Turaan. They must be hoping to claim the region before the Empire realises they are there, and seize another season from the jaws of death.
<div {{float}}>
<quote by="Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was, General of the Citadel Guard">Sentinels, Consider the Drowned Man. There were three Druj armies that Tyranised the people of the Sarangrave. As I write this, there are two. Under my command, the Basilisk was Broken by the Heroes of Anvil. Now the Snake and Crane will break on your discipline. We are their end.</quote>
<quote by="Vojsuli Cherenkov, General of the Golden Axe">Axe, we have fought to take Sarangrave. Now we fight to hold it. The Druj seek to take what we have claimed and in vigilance we shall deny them in this. We shall be a shield for our comrades fighting the Vallorn. We shall break the Druj with our axes. We deny them this day and for all days to come. Their empire shall fall, their armies shall break. Axe, with me, we Stand!</quote></div>

==Battle of the Flats==
Fortunately, the Empire is entirely prepared for the attack from the north. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are already in position to meet the onslaught from the Salt Flats, and when the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane launch their attack they break themselves against a solid wall of Imperial soldiers.

If it were possible to feel pity for the Druj, now might be the time. Even with Winter husks fighting with them they are outnumbered nearly three to one by the Urizen and Varushkan troops. There is no subtlety here, no skirmish and retreat, no traps to lure the unsuspecting into, no opportunities to terrorise the weak. There is only a face-to-face fight between two Druj armies that are on the verge of exhausted collapse, and two fresh, well-rested Imperial armies. Druj desperation is no match for the resolve of those that stand against them.

The Snake and the Crane are bent on reaching Turan but they do not come close. The battle of Turan Flats takes place miles from Trakaa's capital, from the Banded Snake's old centre of power. Indeed, the Druj have barely crossed the border before the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe are upon them. At first, the armies fall back a little, giving the impression perhaps that they are overwhelmed and ready to give ground. But they are merely testing the forces that have come against them, wisely waiting to see if this is just the advance guard and if a more potent force follows behind. As soon as it becomes clear that the two armies are by themselves, the trap snaps shut around them.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was.jpg|caption='''Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was''', General of the Citadel Guard|align=left|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GeneralGoldenAxe.jpg|caption='''Vojsuli Cherenkov''' (right), General of the Golden Axe|align=left|width=250}}
</div>
Thrusting forward towards Turan means that they are far enough from the border for the plentiful forces of the Golden Axe to flank them on either side while the Citadel Guard plant their standards in the soft marsh soil and simply refuse to fall back any further. The fighting is vicious, bloody, savage as only a war against the Druj can be. Stripped of their tricks they have only their martial force to rely on, and even with their unliving auxiliaries it is just... not enough.

Oh, the Empire does not emerge unscathed. Some five hundred Imperial soldiers fall to the Druj, to their howling Winter war-dogs, to the tortured spirits of champions taken by the enemy and twisted into something unspeakable. At the same time, however, the Druj lose nearly twice that many of their own troops - losses they cannot hope to recover from while the Empire holds Sarangrave and their septs are broken and scattered.

The Druj have been driven back, but the encounter is far from decisive. The invaders are left with no option to fall back to the Salt Flats, perhaps to make one last attempt on reclaiming their lands next season. The Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe give chase, but they are unable to catch the fleeing Druj. The same Imperial magic that serves to help the folk of Nesustak Forest escape the vallorn proves an unexpected ally to the orcs of the Mallum. The bulk of their two armies easily escape their pursuers back toward the border with Sanath.

==An End to Waiting==
While the Citadel Guard and the Golden Axe battle the Druj in Turan Flats, the rest of the Imperial forces fight alongside the Nesustak rebels against a seemingly endless tide of vallornspawn empowered and invigorated by that same Spring magic meant to protect the people of the forest. It is a paradox, almost. Those sites where the enchantment is focused are the best place to hold the vallorn, but the savagery of the spawn means it is also where the most blood is spilled.

As the vallorn draws power from Spring magic, the defenders are thrown into disarray and it seems clear the vallornspawn are going to overwhelm them. First one step back, then another. The trees of western Nesustak begin to twist, as the tendrils of the vallorn begin to take root, begin to plant the seeds that will begin the final infestation of the forest. A desperate council of war is held; perhaps it is time to accept the inevitable, to save what can be saved and to abandon the rest. The sorrow that hangs over that discussion is palpable; the heralds of Irra Harah prepare to help those rebels and Imperials prepared to flee the woodlands to make their escape if they think the day is lost.

In the end, though, the Black Thorns refuse point blank to accept defeat. "''Let us show the Empire why we are the first line of defence against this foe''", said the General, and those words resonate like never before. Whatever the other Imperial forces may do, the Black Thorns will not retreat before the vallorn. In the face of such commitment, the Granite Pillar and the Boyar's Hasta will not abandon their allies. The rebels of the Nesustak Forest will not abandon their homes, while there is any chance of holding even a portion of the woodlands.

From there, the push back begins in earnest. The price is grim indeed; the vallornspawn attack in a frenzy but the Imperial forces will not allow them to claim any more land here. They lost Eastring to the malice of the Tainted Basilisk; the Navarr will not allow the Nesustak Forest to share that fate. The vallornspawn are not just held, but they are forced back, back toward the river over which they swarmed, back to the ruins of Béantal Dol. It is slow going at first, and gets harder the closer the vallornspawn get to being driven out of the woodlands. By the time the fighting reaches the banks of the river, the magic of the Wooden Fastness has been so drained the enchantment is beginning to fall apart. Yet it holds long enough to provide a measure of succor to those fighting the vallornspawn, moments of respite in the terrible fighting that create a space to recover from the violence, to rest, to sleep safely.

In the end, as the Summer Solstice approaches, the last of the vallornspawn are cut down. Vates and magisters and cabalists, versed in the lore of Spring and Winter, work quickly to uproot the seeds of the vallorn before they can take root. Without the relentless attacks of the vallorn, it is relatively easy to work the rituals to deal with the contagion left in their wake. While the vallorn still exists the Nesustak Forest will be in danger - but ultimately no more so than [[Hercynia#Northpines|Northpines]] or the [[Hercynia#Glen of Shadows|Glen of Shadows]]. Even the vegetative bridge that stretches across the river, that thick matt of plant matter that allowed abominations to pour into the western woods, begins to decay and fall apart as the vallorn of Béantal Dol slips back into uneasy restfulness. An old story; the vallorn rises and the resolve of humans and orcs drives it back. Inspirational, perhaps.
==An Old Story==
In the north, in the Turan Flats, another old story is unfolding. The Poison Crane and the Hidden Snake have escaped the wrath of the Golden Axe and the Citadel Guard, seeking to flee back over the border into the Salt Flats of Sanath, guided by Autumn magic. Yet, at the last moment, something goes wrong. Perhaps those who remember the Druj retreat from Holberg all those years ago might have guessed what is coming but it seems the armies of the Mallum have short memories.

When they try to leave Turan Flats, the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane are met with a tempest of arrows. Druj arrows. Warriors from the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#The_Witness|Witness]], the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Spires_of_Rarckan|Spires of Rarckan]], and the [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Beacon_of_Iskrid|Beacon of Iskrid]] are arrayed along the border, and will not let the defeated armies cross out of Sarangrave. Those who try are remoreselessly cut down. A few might make it across, but without the protection of the Autumn magic that has protected them thus far they will not escape the patrols for long.

Left with no choice, the armies turn on the very edge of Turan Flats and prepare to make their final stand. One way or another, this is the end for the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane; the end for the Banded Snake and Marshlizard; the end for Het Trakaa and his terrible crimes. Some will escape, no doubt, to join the Druj in hiding throughout the Mallum. The Autumn enchantment will see to that, but their numbers are only a fraction of those warriors who fled the fall of the Tower of the Skink. How dangerous can they be, these last few thousand Druj?

But that is not the only danger here, and this is not just the cruelty of the Druj made manifest. The Citadel Guard have made a close enough study of the magic wrapped around the two armies; it portends something bad that is to come. The bonds of Winter magic that coil around the Hidden Snake and Poison Crane hold hundreds and hundreds of Winter spirits in thrall to the commanders of the army. When those two armies fail - and fail they will - those spirits will be unleashed into the Sarangrave to begin an [[Quickening_Cold_Meat#Description|unliving rampage]].

==Game Information==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Regions of Sarangrave.png|caption=Sarangrave is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
===Sarangrave===
* '''The vallorn has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest
* '''It has returned to (relative) quiesence by the start of the Summer Solstice
* '''The Druj armies that invaded Sarangrave have been defeated but escaped Imperial pursuit
* '''They have been prevented from leaving the territory by Druj forces in Sarangrave
The vallorn of Bendol has been beaten back from Nesustak Forest. The [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] enchantment both served to protect the region, and imperil its defenders. It's strength both served to increase the defence of the Imperial armies, and inflict casualties on the vallorn (inasmuch as that is irrelevant with an empowered vallorn but it still happened). Unfortunately, in line with warnings given about the danger of Spring magic and the vallorn, the vallornspawn who encountered the enchantment were ultimately empowered by it. They did not gain strength to conquer the region - which would have been counterproductive - but instead the number of casualties they inflicted on the defenders was significantly increased. For now though, the immediate threat of the vallorn is over. It is no longer contained by the warding stones of Terunael - their power has been expended protecting the rest of the territory - and it is still a very powerful example of a vallorn. But it is quiescent, at least for the moment.

The Druj armies that invaded Turn Flats were defeated by the Urizen and Varushkan armies. They are still in the territory, however, trapped between the Salt Flats of Sanath (who will not allow them to enter) and the Empire's soldiers. Their strength is greatly depleted, and they are on the verge of collapse. Following the Summer Solstice, whatever else happens these two armies will disband. They are hanging on by a thread, partially due to the impact of the Autumn magic enchantment laid on the territory.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|align=right|width=250}}</div>
===Thornfen===
* '''Axos has finished claiming the region of Thornfen'''
Finally, the Axou forces of Ipotavo have finished claiming the region of Thornfen, with the [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Acknowledge_Axou_claim_to_Thornfen|approval of the Senate]]. The region is now part of Axos. The fortification itself has been assimilated, but has no garrison. At the moment the Axou forces in Sarangrave are allied to the Empire and Imperial armies can move through the region freely. If that were to change, any Imperial army trying to move through Thornfen would be forced to stop and deal with any Axou forces stationed there.

True to their intent, the Axou consolidation of Thornfen has seen the existing population there exiled to [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]] and [[Sarangrave#Whisperwood|Whisperwood]]. Only those former slaves of the Mallum who can demonstrate a clear connection to the citadels of Axos have been permitted to remain in Thornfen. Further details of the sitaution in Thornfen will be presented in the '''[[Diplomatic]]''' winds of fortune.
===Escape Path===
* '''The arcane projection used in Sarangrave represents an effect that would no longer be allowed with Autumn magic
This season the Sarangrave was under the effect of Autumn magic that helped reduce casualties suffered by armies, as well as helping people find the best route to safety. This is an old [[arcane projection]], that wouldn't be passed today. Helping people find safety, such as with [[Hand of the Dhomiro]] is an entirely appropriate use of [[Autumn magic]], but the ability to reduce all casualties on a territory level isn't something we'd allow today. There are of course plenty of arcane projections from previous years in the game, and there is no problem with making use of them, but the older an arcane projection is the more likely it represents some peculiar aberration of magic.

The in-character explanation is that the arcane projection represents the result of a conjunction at the time it was created. The ongoing magical chaos caused by the stars supported the ritual, but the effect of the ritual could not be duplicated going forward.