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388YE Summer Solstice Military Council orders

2026-07-29T21:37:22Z

Noserenda: /* Drakes */

==Overview==
The Military Council is the gathering of Imperial [[general|generals]] and [[General#Admiral|admirals]]. Individually, the generals have responsibility for the [[army orders|orders]] given to the [[army]] under their command, while the admirals provide the [[navy orders|orders]] for the [[navy|navies]]. A general commands a single [[army]], drawn from volunteers from their nation. Once a general is given their command, they have sole authority to [[army orders|order]] the army to [[army orders#Movement|move]] or [[army orders#Issuing Orders|attack]] as they choose. After each summit, the Civil Service quickly circulate the orders each general has given among Imperial citizens, allowing [[military unit]] captains to decide if they wish to commit their own force to [[Military_unit#Support_Army|support an army]], and if so which army to support.

During the Summer Solstice 388YE, the following orders were submitted by Imperial generals.
==The Brass Coast==
The Brass Coast have three armies: [[Burning Falcon]], [[Fire of the South]] and [[Red Wind Corsairs]]. They can support three armies.

===Burning Falcon===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BurningFalcon Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Aracelis I Erigo
* '''Orders:''' The Drakes turn south as we turn west. The bonds of Loyalty turn over from nation to nation and through General to General freely given in our actions to another. As an Empire we fight to show the Jotun they cannot take with Impunity and that we answer their threat with standing together whether in Mitwod reclaiming as they quit our lands, or Bregasland where we will face their armies and their Fjorknaw. We are the Burning Falcon, empowered by the might of Summer. Where we tread, Triumph blazes
* '''Action:''' Triumphant Charge in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Ashen Flame and Sunlit Scepter enchanted the Burning Falcon with [[Knights of Glory]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will receive a share of the Guerdon.

===Fire of the South===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=TheFireoftheSouth Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Velasco i Guerra
* '''Orders:''' My Fire, we are to traverse this great Empire. In Loyalty once more we go to the support of the Imperial Orcs in Mareave. As we pass necropolis take heed of Exemplar Ahraz's Courage. When we stand united as an Empire little may stand in our way.
* '''Action:''' Forced March to [[Mareave]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Fountain's Whisper, Spire of the Auric Horizon and Storms End enchanted the Fire of the South with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Red Wind Corsairs===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RedWindCorsairs Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Joaquim i Erigo
* '''Orders:''' Corsairs we trade a swamp for a marsh in helping our Marcher Cousins reclaim Bregasland. The Lasambrians have stolen from our cousins so we commit to a Daring Riad to reclaim their wealth from the Jotun by Proxy. We must be especially vigilant for the stolen Dolmen that means so much to the North Fens. For the Empire! For the Marches!
* '''Action:''' Daring Raid on [[Bregasland]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==Dawn==
Dawn have four armies: [[Eastern Sky]], [[Golden Sun]], [[Gryphon's Pride]] and [[Lions of Adelmar]]. They can support four armies.

===Eastern Sky===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=EasternSky Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Dame Aurum De Castellan
* '''Orders:''' My Sky, It was said that for many years when people looked east they would see only the smog and din of a ruined land. A place that couldn't be home. They said that the hearts & swords of the heroes willing to give their lives would not be enough. They were wrong. Now when they look, these are stars in the sky. Now it is a home once more - a Nova Aurora. It was claimed by each of you, points of light, hope inextinguishable. I'm glad the Beacon sees fit to recognise us now. These are my Final orders to you, my kin, my loves. For my Nation whomst I claim my Truest Love. I will not go far from you. I will be with you til my dying day, as soldier and Captain. But like the constellations I must shift and offer a new glow to guide you. There must always be a star to guide the Sky, after all. From shining the way through Zenith to crushing Druj skulls in the Barrens, I ask you to follow me into the fray one last time. Burn the skies above Mareave so that those beasts fear the stars forevermore. Remind them always that to rear their heads is to look forward to death. For Scout of the Eastern Sky. For Gui of Vexille. Death to the Druj. Long live the Warden Queen. Long live the Eastern Sky.
* '''Action:''' Traverse the Crossroads in [[Mareave]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Coven of Barabbas enchanted the Eastern Sky with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will receive a share of the Guerdon.

===Golden Sun===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenSun Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Lord Daemon Mortére
* '''Orders:''' The Golden Sun stands where the Empire needs it most. Every oath deserves its shield. We will grinding advance into Bregasland. Out of fields of gold, through the Rushes and Ottermire. No enemy can sever what Loyalty has forged. For family, for the Marchers. We stand for the lore of their land. For the Empire. The Golden Sun will be a glorious arrow into the heart of our enemies. Secure the objective sun. For Gui.
* '''Action:''' Grinding Advance into [[Bregasland]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Gryphon's Pride===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GryphonPride Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Sebastián Fawnwood
* '''Orders:''' My glorious pride. You have bided your time, but now is our opportunity for what we were made for. Conquest. The salt flats of Sanath is our destination, for this is the beginning of the end for the Druj. With our warbanner reforged, it has been named the Pride of the Gryphons. It will be raised high enough that the Druj will see who brings their end. Be Vigilant. Be Glorious. Be the pride of Dawn.
* '''Action:''' Push the Line in [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Lions of Adelmar===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LionsAdelmar Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco
* '''Orders:''' Lions, three years ago I first came to Anvil a woman in pain. Like so many, the Druj had taken everything from me. Like so many, they continued to take our past, our present, our future. Our Gui, our Isaac, our Scout. Their ideology of hatred thrives in the dark and they wish to make monsters of us all. They wish to teach us to be scared of the dark. Let us make them fear the light. May we be the flame the innocent are drawn to as a Beacon of Safety. May our banners show that Courage and Loyalty drives us. May the sound of our roar carry far across the Salt Flats. May the Druj know this sound heralds their end, learn those banners mean those hurt will be saved, learn that flame is Ambition to bring glory with Elodian's Hammersmiths and the majesty of the Lion of Summer. Learn the monster they tried to create, became the lioness that will bring a death to the Druj. Whatever it takes. One day, the Druj will be a bedtime story told of our glory. Let us be the authors.
* '''Action:''' Steel Roses on [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Ashen Flame and Sunlit Scepter enchanted the Lions of Adelmar with [[Knights of Glory]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==Highguard==
Highguard have four armies: [[Granite Pillar]], [[Pilgrim's Defiance]], [[Seventh Wave]] and [[Valiant Pegasus]]. They can support four armies.

===Granite Pillar===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GranitePillar Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Sychar
* '''Orders:''' Soldiers of the Pillar - A nation of pirates and reavers seek to conquer our lands. Alongside our siblings, with whom we liberated the Mournwold, the Seventh Wave, we fight once more! Plant your shields in the sands, with your courage hold the line, and with our strategic Defence we shall make the Grendel pay dearly for every mistake they make, and teach them this hard lesson: what the Empire takes, it holds! For the Empire, for Salvation! For the Imperial Orcs who bled to reclaim Reikos! For the Virtuous dead, fight with Courage!
* '''Action:''' Strategic Defence of [[Mareave]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Fountain's Whisper, Spire of the Auric Horizon and Storms End enchanted the Granite Pillar with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Pilgrim's Defiance===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=PilgrimsDefiance Colour.webp|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Eli of the Cenotaph
* '''Orders:''' Pilgrims remember Achilles of Damakan's Forge, exemplar of Prosperity. Achilles built up others so they could stand independent of his work giving them the tools to forge their own path. This season, pilgrimage to Damakan's Forge and the crucible of fate. Reminder of how Prosperity can transform even the most despoiled land and our role in that coming to pass.
* '''Action:''' Give Ground in [[Zenith]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Concordium of Pallas enchanted the Pilgrim's Defiance with [[Brotherhood of Tian]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Seventh Wave===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SeventhWave Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Wildfyre of Balthazar’s Vineyard
* '''Orders:''' Remember why we wear the bell, we can commune with the dead. I want all my front line soldiers ringing as we stand. For when they come we see the faces of the dead. My knives, I send you out, you are my unconquered the greatest scouts of the Empire. Hunt the. I want their names, I want their orders. Sharp knives save lives and we shall save Mareave.
* '''Action:''' Guard the Gates in [[Mareave]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Coven of Barabbas enchanted the Seventh Wave with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Valiant Pegasus===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=ValiantPegasus Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Zadok
* '''Orders:''' Two Years ago I ordered you to begin a crusade of liberation against the Jotun to free those labouring under barbarian yoke, starting in the Mourn. We inspired and aided the Oakleaf rebellion to free themselves. Then Bregasland fell, and our commitment to our crusade was renewed. Diversionary attacks North and South, the Reeds patience tested, a strike to one of the two hearts of their power, Keirheim, just barely thwarted. All this to make possible the conditions of this season, our return to Bregasland. We are fighting for Dominion, for the Liberty of the people of Bregasland; Accept no less than total victory. One day the Tyranny of Queens and Kings shall end and all people will be free to pursue virtue. We fell their rotten oaks one strike at a time.
* '''Action:''' Steady Conquest in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==Imperial Orcs==
Imperial Orcs have three armies: [[Autumn Hammers]], [[Summer Storm]] and [[Winter Sun]]. They can support three armies.

===Autumn Hammers===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AutumnHammers colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Ashborn Vana
* '''Orders:''' Hammers, this is the season we strike the Jotun and bind them. This is the season we invoke the contracts with the City of Lock and Bond. We have seen the Hunters walk among us and now we fight with them. Show the Jotun why the Lictors are known as the Punishers, more than that, show them why WE are The Hammers! Strike the blow, cripple them so they cannot flee from us. Have Pride in your strength.
* '''Action:''' Raise the Glass Labyrinth in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Linkforge Coven and The Eternal Family enchanted the Autumn Hammers with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Summer Storm===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SummerStorm Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Stormsteel Skorr
* '''Orders:''' Legionnaires, we have fought well defend our territory. It is now time to rest and train away from the front. We train so that we remain one of the best fighting forces in this Empire. This is a time to celebrate the wins we have had. If Skywise Rykana comes by, give him as many drinks as he waits. Remember those we have lost and those who have helped us. Let us call on the Ancestors in the pit and share with them our Pride and what we have achieved.
* '''Action:''' Solid Defence of [[Zenith]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Concordium of Pallas enchanted the Summer Storm with [[Brotherhood of Tian]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Winter Sun===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=WinterSun Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Sand Viper Ikk
* '''Orders:''' We return to Mareave. To fall upon the Grendel who try to take our home. Strike from the shadows and fade away. Listen to your ancestors. Wound the Grendel, weaken and make them pay. Mareave is Imperial. We are here to stay.
* '''Action:''' Hit and Run in [[Mareave]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Coven of Barabbas enchanted the Winter Sun with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==The League==
The League have three armies: [[Sparrows Reckoning]], [[Towerjacks]] and [[Wolves of War]]. They can support three armies.

===Sparrows Reckoning===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SparrowsReckoning Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Albrecht Sanguineo
* '''Orders:''' Bravos of Tassato, soldiers of the League, heroes of the Empire we stand ready all swords sharpened, armour new and unblemished. Now we test them and ourselves against Jotun steel. We march to Bregasland at steady conquest to retake the homes of our Marcher siblings. We are named for our Empress, let your Pride in that legacy give you the strength to show the world that when the twin cities march to war no one can stand against us.
* '''Action:''' Steady Conquest in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Towerjacks===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=TowerJacks Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Gabriel Barossa
* '''Orders:''' The magic of Autumn flows amongst us this season. Fire up your forges, repair armour, sharpen blades and restring your bows. We will be ready to march.
* '''Action:''' Solid Defence of [[Zenith]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Concordium of Pallas enchanted the Towerjacks with [[Brotherhood of Tian]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Wolves of War===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=WolvesofWar Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Jean d'Apulian
* '''Orders:''' Let the pale imitations try. Here, loosed, are the world's finest mercenaries to meet such folly. Tell them, tell the Salt Lords, they may cast armies like coin to the four winds. We shall weather them like the tepid waves that they are. Audacity bought is no match for loyalty given. Now, let's be having them.
* '''Action:''' Grinding Advance into [[Mareave]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Coven of Barabbas enchanted the Wolves of War with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==The Marches==
The Marches have four armies: [[Bounders]], [[Drakes]], [[Strong Reeds]] and [[Tusks]]. They can support five armies.

===Bounders===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Bounders Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Fitzwilliam Thorn
* '''Orders:''' Jacks of the Bounders. Look into yourself and find your ambition, for there is work to be done. We go back to Bregasland with our Imperial cousins with us. Even the most impenetrable forest may fall one Jotun at a time
* '''Action:''' Steady Conquest in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Sail and Sight and The Eternal Family enchanted the Bounders with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Drakes===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Drakes Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Alfred Houtman Fella
* '''Orders:''' Drakes, it is my honour to command you for the first time. The folk hero, Guildenstern gives me the strength to lead you and I shall not let him down. We head to Madruga, whilst Bregasland is returned to us by our friends, so too shall we return a home to those we share Loyalty with. Velasco, Aracelis, Joaquim, the Freeborn generals, our friends in Loyalty, have warned us of the magics of this land, be wary and be wise. Alongside Logan and the Starforged we shall perform an overwhelming assault into this land and return it to the Empire. Strength to our friends, strength to the Empire, strength to the Drakes, the first.
* '''Action:''' Overwhelming Assault on [[Madruga]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Coven of Barabbas enchanted the Drakes with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Strong Reeds===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=StrongReeds Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Amberlain P. Black
* '''Orders:''' From the Rushes we rise from the reeds. Heed not the gnashing jaws and grasping hands of the unquiet Grey walkers, we are of the fens and reeds we are much part of the land as the are our rise neighbours. Seek out the Jotun, strike at them and push them back to Ottermire.
* '''Action:''' Rise from the Reeds in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Fountain's Whisper, Spire of the Auric Horizon and Storms End enchanted the Strong Reeds with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Tusks===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tusks Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Jack Ashton
* '''Orders:''' War is a vicious dog on a long chain. Too fucking long has it been let loose in our lands. Our homes. The time has come to chase the beast from our bounds. I say to you what I did before. Kill the invaders. Leave no Jotun Warrior alive to contest the claim. Make Balanced attack and liberate our home. P.S. if you see Stephen he's mine!!!
* '''Action:''' Balanced Attack on [[Bregasland]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Fountain's Whisper, Spire of the Auric Horizon and Storms End enchanted the Tusks with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==Navarr==
Navarr have three armies: [[Black Thorns]], [[Quiet Step]] and [[Star Forged]]. They can support four armies.

===Black Thorns===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BlackThorns Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Cadwell Waystone
* '''Orders:''' Navarr will serve the Empire in Loyalty, regardless of the theatre of war. The Druj are broken, a scorpion backed into a corner, but their story is still a danger. The Buruk Tepel will fall, their armies laid low by the virtue of Imperial steel and we will free the slaves of the Mallum. Act in loyalty, fight with courage and serve with pride.
* '''Action:''' Steady Conquest in [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Quiet Step===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=QuietStep Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Mercia Questor's View
* '''Orders:''' Navarr, now is the time to hit the Druj where it hurts. We march on Lower Sanath. I may not be who you expected in command but I will see Neve's ambition for this army fulfilled. Whatever it takes. Our cousins in Varushka will take care of our home. Let the citizens of Therunin look to this beacon and away from the arms of Agramant. For those who came before. For those who come after.
* '''Action:''' Whatever it Takes in [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Star Forged===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=StarForged Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Logan Dusklight
* '''Orders:''' Soldiers of the Starforged, the time has come for you to take your place amongst the Proud armies of the Empire. You stand as a testament to the hard work of the brokers and artisans of our nation. as well as the support, kinship and sacrifice of the Imperial orcs, Varushka, Dawn and the Marches. Your ears must be ringing with the sounds of hammers, working day and night. But the work of making is not over yet. Parts of Madruga remain unworked, like metal drawn from a furnace. We must descend like a hammer from the heights of Hercynia to bring the wild lands into the embrace of the Empire. And it is in the crucible that we will truly be forged. As Star stood with Navarr and Thorn, so too will you stand with the Drakes, Tom Drakes ever-resourceful army. You are no stranger to the magic of Spring but beware the influence of Night. The land may shift or change or your eyes may deceive you. But if you trust in your allies and the Dance, you will not go astray. So I implore you, march forward, stand strong and show the Empire the strength you bring. Strength to the Empire. Strength to Navarr.
* '''Action:''' Overwhelming Assault on [[Madruga]]
* '''Enchantment:''' The Amber Forge and Twilight Forge enchanted the Star Forged with [[Find the Best Path]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==Urizen==
Urizen have two armies: [[Argent Sword]] and [[Citadel Guard]]. They can support a single army.

===Argent Sword===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=ArgentSword Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Orders:''' By the grace of Conclave, this season we train our new recruits! A mortal army would rest and recover, tell the stories of their actions and their virtue, and prepare for the seasons to come. Virtue is the Ambition of the soul, the currency of the exemplar, and the eternity of the the paragon. A season of virtuous discussion would see me well fed - but children of the Autumn realm, you are not like me! This season, while we are not fighting, we will be doing something you will enjoy. Under Mount Polus, the great mountain we call Kaspoena's Reach, there are riches to be found! This season let us sniff out the value beneath the mountain, within the crevasse at its feets. My foxes, lead the way! My minotaurs bring your picks! My spiders, be ready to evaluate what we find! We are bound by common cause - to seek the unspent coin of our mountain, to rejoice in the Prosperity of our industry, to enrich our tomorrows with the work of today.
* '''Action:''' Solid Defence of [[Zenith]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Concordium of Pallas enchanted the Argent Sword with [[Bound by Common Cause]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Citadel Guard===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=CitadelGuard Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was
* '''Orders:''' Sentinels, Consider the Drowned Man. There comes a point in some fights when you are so much better than your opponent that victory seems inevitable. Your foe does not comprehend that they have lost, for they still stand, still fight. They lack your foresight, your arete, and you must simply walk them through the dance steps of their demise. In that moment it can be tempting to show mercy, even pity your foe. Worse, one can lose focus, looking to the next conflict. The Empire has made this mistake before. This is how the Druj still blight the world. Mercy is weakness - The task is not done until it is done. We begin the end. Make for Lower Saarnath. With Spring's might and Summer knights we soften Leen, bringing ruin to the Beacon of Iskrid. We must not relent until the last of the Buruk-Tepel are marched through Anvil and relieved of the burden of their vile, poisonous heads.
* '''Action:''' Onrushing Storm in [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Ashen Flame and Sunlit Scepter enchanted the Citadel Guard with [[Knights of Glory]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will receive a share of the Guerdon.

==Varushka==
Varushka have three armies: [[Boyar's Hasta]], [[Golden Axe]] and [[Northern Eagle]]. They can support four armies.

===Boyar's Hasta===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BoyarsHasta Colour.webp|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Serafina Semenov
* '''Orders:''' My Hasta! Rest your boots - it's time to drink. Sit by the hearth, tell tales of your Courage. The Kracken. The Tower of the Skink. Thwarting the Druj. Enjoy the fruits of your labour. Enjoy the Boyarina's festival of Pride. But in the morning... I need your eyes sharp. This summit, Varushka lost one of the finest generals of our time. On her deathbed I told Alderei we would see out a final bequest. The Hasta will be spilling Thule blood when the time is right. We have words for those who mistake someone else's war as their opportunity. For those trying to push their boots on Varushkan land. And let it be known that when the time comes we will have spears for them too. Let us follow the footsteps left by Virtuous cousins that came before us.
* '''Action:''' Hospitality of the Boyars in [[Ossium]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Cabal Lyktan, Kaischa, The Brazen Tree and Unsettled Scales enchanted the Boyar's Hasta with [[Brotherhood of Tian]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Golden Axe===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenAxe Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Vojsuli Cherenkov
* '''Orders:''' Warriors of the Axe, this season we march to Therunin. We march to where the Iron Helms & Isaella's Dance paid the ultimate price. To where the bonds of Loyalty between Varushka and Navarr were deepened. For too long have the people of Therunin been cut off from our Empire. The dread gaze of Blood-on-the-Snow has turned to the people of Therunin offering false hope. We reject the lies of this Eternal! We march to show the people of Therunin that they are not forgotten. To the Navarr of Therunin, look to the east. We are coming.
* '''Action:''' Overwhelming Assault on [[Therunin]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Coven of Barabbas enchanted the Golden Axe with [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Northern Eagle===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NorthernEagle Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Jaromir Ostrovyn Kostka
* '''Orders:''' Eagle of the North, I return to you now to guide our path to the last conquest of the Druj. We go to the Sydathian Fens, striding unseen as we hunt for our foe's weakness. To you, Surut, Schlacta of the Roaring Hearth, I present my curiosity to your bargain and welcome your wisdom in bringing bright ruin to old and rotten things. Before us stand wicked effigies and twisted monuments to a dying power, symbols of a strength that has left the heart and limbs of this sickened beast of a nation. We shall make a beacon of them, a sign to our embattled cousins and fearful foes alike that soon all here will be changed by Imperial will. Forward now, into this depthless dark, for herein we shall raise the torches that shall light the way to a better world.
* '''Action:''' Infiltrate in [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

==Wintermark==
Wintermark have three armies: [[Bloodcloaks]], [[Green Shield]] and [[Narwhal's Spear]]. They can support four armies.

===Bloodcloaks===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=BloodCloak Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Tager Defender of the Fallen Tyrshalt
* '''Orders:''' Bloodcloaks, we go to Bregasland to recover those we have lost and will lose reclaiming the homes of the Marchers. Find the trinkets on the limbs of the trees that sprung up on this blood-soaked beachhead. We collect them to return them to the families of these heroes so their stories can be told and their memories shall survive the cold of night. We are Winterborn and the cold doesn't compromise. All heroes have a name, no matter which nation.
* '''Action:''' Recover the Lost in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Green Shield===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GreenShields Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Iron Osric
* '''Orders:''' A red sky after battle day, Bleeds broad beyond the brae; What fields, what fallen friends are they, What fires fade o'er far away? What spears stood stout in storm and shout, What banners broke and burned? What voices, valiant, call me out, To rounds from which we turned? That was the ground of gathered might, Of kin in clash and cry, The steadfast shields, a woman bright, Whose blade sang swift and high. O iron hours and embered eve, O dust and drum and flame, The hands I held, that I've had to leave, Yet thrill to speak their name. Good battle days 'neath shining star, Are loath to lose their lustre, Naught after else their joy can mar, Nor break the band we muster.
* '''Action:''' Fight with Honour in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Enchantment:''' Ashen Flame and Sunlit Scepter enchanted the Green Shield with [[Knights of Glory]].
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.

===Narwhal's Spear===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Narwhal's Spear.webp|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''General:''' Determination of Ice Kaisa
* '''Orders:''' We are to be a dance of cunning to claim what is before us. Let us weave our way through the lines carrying messages between our many allies. Be the Vigilant eyes and ears that inform every step forward. Seek the flanks and guide the Jotun's path into our Imperial victory.
* '''Action:''' Seek the Foe in [[Bregasland]]
* '''Guerdon:''' Military units supporting this army will not be rewarded by the Imperial Senate.
==Summary==
<table class='wikitable sortable BourseTable'>
<tr><th class='headersort' tabindex='0' role='columnheader button' title='Sort ascending'>Army</th><th class='headerSort' tabindex='0' role='columnheader button' title='Sort ascending'>Nation</th><th class='headerSort' tabindex='0' role='columnheader button' title='Sort ascending'>Start</th><th class='headerSort' tabindex='0' role='columnheader button' title='Sort ascending'>Destination</th><th class='headerSort' tabindex='0' role='columnheader button' title='Sort ascending'>Action</th></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Golden Sun|Golden Sun]]</td><td>Dawn</td><td>Mitwold</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Grinding Advance</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Valiant Pegasus|Valiant Pegasus]]</td><td>Highguard</td><td>Mitwold</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Steady Conquest</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Autumn Hammers|Autumn Hammers]]</td><td>Imperial Orcs</td><td>Mitwold</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Raise the Glass Labyrinth</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Burning Falcon|Burning Falcon]]</td><td>The Brass Coast</td><td>Upwold</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Triumphant Charge</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Red Wind Corsairs|Red Wind Corsairs]]</td><td>The Brass Coast</td><td>Madruga</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Daring Raid</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Sparrows Reckoning|Sparrows Reckoning]]</td><td>The League</td><td>Tassato</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Steady Conquest</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Bounders|Bounders]]</td><td>The Marches</td><td>Mournwold</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Steady Conquest</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Strong Reeds|Strong Reeds]]</td><td>The Marches</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Rise from the Reeds</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Tusks|Tusks]]</td><td>The Marches</td><td>Kallavesa</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Balanced Attack</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Bloodcloaks|Bloodcloaks]]</td><td>Wintermark</td><td>Mitwold</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Recover the Lost</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Green Shield|Green Shield]]</td><td>Wintermark</td><td>Mitwold</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Fight with Honour</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Narwhal's Spear|Narwhal's Spear]]</td><td>Wintermark</td><td>Kallavesa</td><td>Bregasland</td><td>Seek the Foe</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Star Forged|Star Forged]]</td><td>Navarr</td><td>Hercynia</td><td>Madruga</td><td>Overwhelming Assault</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Drakes|Drakes]]</td><td>The Marches</td><td>Mitwold</td><td>Madruga</td><td>Overwhelming Assault</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Eastern Sky|Eastern Sky]]</td><td>Dawn</td><td>Semmerholm</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Traverse the Crossroads</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Granite Pillar|Granite Pillar]]</td><td>Highguard</td><td>Sarangrave</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Strategic Defence</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Seventh Wave|Seventh Wave]]</td><td>Highguard</td><td>Zenith</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Guard the Gates</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Winter Sun|Winter Sun]]</td><td>Imperial Orcs</td><td>Zenith</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Hit and Run</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Fire of the South|Fire of the South]]</td><td>The Brass Coast</td><td>Madruga</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Forced March</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Wolves of War|Wolves of War]]</td><td>The League</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Grinding Advance</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Boyar's Hasta|Boyar's Hasta]]</td><td>Varushka</td><td>Sarangrave</td><td>Ossium</td><td>Hospitality of the Boyars</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Gryphon's Pride|Gryphon's Pride]]</td><td>Dawn</td><td>Ossium</td><td>Salt Flats of Sanath</td><td>Push the Line</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Lions of Adelmar|Lions of Adelmar]]</td><td>Dawn</td><td>Semmerholm</td><td>Salt Flats of Sanath</td><td>Steel Roses</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Black Thorns|Black Thorns]]</td><td>Navarr</td><td>Sarangrave</td><td>Salt Flats of Sanath</td><td>Steady Conquest</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Quiet Step|Quiet Step]]</td><td>Navarr</td><td>Zenith</td><td>Salt Flats of Sanath</td><td>Whatever it Takes</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Citadel Guard|Citadel Guard]]</td><td>Urizen</td><td>Sarangrave</td><td>Salt Flats of Sanath</td><td>Onrushing Storm</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Northern Eagle|Northern Eagle]]</td><td>Varushka</td><td>Salt Flats of Sanath</td><td>Salt Flats of Sanath</td><td>Infiltrate</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Golden Axe|Golden Axe]]</td><td>Varushka</td><td>Sarangrave</td><td>Therunin</td><td>Overwhelming Assault</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Pilgrim's Defiance|Pilgrim's Defiance]]</td><td>Highguard</td><td>Bastion</td><td>Zenith</td><td>Give Ground</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Summer Storm|Summer Storm]]</td><td>Imperial Orcs</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Zenith</td><td>Solid Defence</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Towerjacks|Towerjacks]]</td><td>The League</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Zenith</td><td>Solid Defence</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[#Argent Sword|Argent Sword]]</td><td>Urizen</td><td>Mareave</td><td>Zenith</td><td>Solid Defence</td></tr>
</table>

[[Category:Military Council]]
[[Category:Recent History]]
[[Category:388YE Summer]]

Warriors' Gate

2026-07-22T21:22:21Z

Noserenda: /* Securing Allies */

<ic>Vladimir shaded his eyes, and watched as the Suaq tried again to show the half a dozen orcs how to slide their feet in such a way that their wooden skies slid across the surface of the snow. One of the warriors made such a hash of it they actually managed to snap the ski somehow. The Varushkan shook his head ruefully, and went back to strapping his much more practical snowshoes to his sturdy boots. Skiing was fine for getting from a high place to a low place, but he had no patience for cross-country skiing and did not envy the Wintermark hunter their job of trying to teach a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs from the arid plains of Mareave the best way to do so.

His cousin Estragon was still talking, annoyingly. Vladimir had been trying to tune him out, with only minimal success. He loved his cousin, most likely, but his voice could cut wood when he started off on one of his drawn-out tirades about something he was passionate about. Right now he was complaining about the decision the leader of their band had made to come and look at Tsirku. Illyana had been quite fired up when she'd heard the call to arms from Rosanna Vtrachenich and immediately insisted they bring their wagons to the arse-end of the Empire.

"... and its not even as if there are any sovereigns here!" Estragon finished, as if that was his trump card.

Vladimir finished strapping himself up, stood, and whacked his cousin around the back of the head.

"What was that for!", demanded Estragon, outraged.

"If you don't know I'm not going to tell you," said Vladimir, making sure the wooden snow-goggles he'd bought during their visit to Hunter's Hall were tied securely in place. "There may not be sovereigns, you dolt, but what there ''probably'' is, is a thousand years of untouched wealth buried under all this snow just waiting for someone to rip it up and take it home."

He glanced over at Estragon, who was rubbing the back of his head with a surly expression on his face.

"Honestly," sighed the big wagon raider. "Sometimes I wonder if you are even a Varushkan, cousin" </ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Snowy wastes.jpg|align=left|caption=Tsirku is a cold and desolate wasteland.|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The first steps have been taken to explore the wilderness of Tsirku'''
The frozen wasteland of Tsirku to the north of Sermersuaq is truly ''terra incognita'' as the old [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]] would have it. [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil|Last season]] a bold endeavour was set in motion to explore the unknown land, to learn more of what lies in its trackless tundra and ice fields, and if possible to make it part of Wintermark.

The first preliminary steps into Tsirku have been a resounding success. A large number of [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], and a single band of [[Navarr]], challenged the Northern Lights, the eternal storm of Sydanjaa, and the dangers of the wastes. Slowly they have begun to build a picture of this enigmatic, vast stretch of land that lies between the Empire, the [[Jotun]], the [[Thule]], and who-knows-what else. Meanwhile a large number of Winterfolk and some [[Dawn|Dawnish]] adventurers pushed into Tsirku, [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku is Enticing|seeking adventure]], and seeing what treasures might lie in the boundless wastes.

==Warriors Gate==
* '''Scouts and adventurers have explored the region of Warriors Gate
* '''They have identified several landmarks but the region is mostly snow-blown tundra
<div {{float}}>
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><th>Citizen</th><th>Banner</th><th>Nation</th></tr>
<tr><td>Powell Open-Skies</td><td>Open Skies</td><td>Navarr</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aaro</td><td>Bloodforge Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aelson Dunhearth</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aengel Dunn</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ailfryn Issigsbarn</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ailsa</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Alwyn Croft</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Arja Riftweaver</td><td>House Gerís</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Artic</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Blaidd Sinan</td><td>House Gerís</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bronn Dunwolf</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Calvayne</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ceolmund Dreth</td><td>End’s Hearth</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ciara</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Dart Orias</td><td>Hall Stonesworn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Duwana</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Eahlstan Yarricson</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elgar Angusson Krakenring</td><td>Kraken's Vanguard</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Eodin Swiftstride</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Finn ulson</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gerrick Wind Ward's Guardian</td><td>Kraken's Vanguard</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ghelwyn</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Guthelm Fleetfoot</td><td>Eira Spire</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Guthrum Bjorning</td><td>Bjornholt</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Hazen Marking</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kaisa</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kara</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kraxis Asherson</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Loki</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Miguel Oakshotte</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nerian Hererinc</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Oona</td><td>Stormspire</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Quintaras Halivor</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rek Martinez Dunqueza</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Reu'Hrokr</td><td>Corvenhal</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rolf Boarson</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Runik Frostborn</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Seht Ravenson of Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sylvi</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tarn Myreson</td><td>Hall Stonesworn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Theomere Swiftstride</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tostig</td><td>Corvenhal</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tyburn Natkysset</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ulfric Ursine</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ulric Baersonling</td><td>Corvenhal</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Utread Broadmeadow</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Utred Tiberiuson</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Vidor Broadmeadow</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Witgast Dunning</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Yorrick</td><td>Kraken's Vanguard</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Yrsir</td><td>Stormspire</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
</table></div>
Tsirku isn't impossible to map, as such, but there are a large number of challenges that need to be overcome. One is that [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Big|Tsirku is big]] - meaning that unlike a traditional [[spy network]] scouts cannot hope to explore the entire place in a single season. With the Summer Solstice approaching, then, the Winterfolk (and their Navarr ally) have mostly explored a single region, which is named ''Warriors Gate''.

Warriors Gate lies north of Suaq Fount and takes its name from the fact that it is the gateway to Tsirku, and that the path of those who walk into Sydanjaa passes through it. It is cold - even with Summer approaching it is significantly colder than northern Sermersuaq. Snowfalls are not uncommon, and water regularly freezes overnight. Yet it is by no means barren. In the south particularly there are areas of scrubby grass, heather, and hardy thornbushes. A few bent trees grow here, and where their roots spread there are oases of life. Pale hares, equally pale foxes, wolves, and even the occasional massive snow bear are found here. There are also huddles of the massive white [[Mundane_beasts#Dire_Beasts|dire penguins]] native to the north-west of the Empire here, in numbers hitherto unknown. They provide good eating for those brave enough to hunt them.

The place is also a cornucopia of unfamiliar plants and berries growing here - treasures of Tsirku that are unfamiliar to southern explorers. It's not that the place is ''lush'' precisely, more that the plants that survive here are hardy and perhaps possessed of some additional virtue. A few magicians speculate that the threads of mana here, left to flow freely without tampering by human or orc, infuse the landscape. Others point to the baleful influence of the Northern Lights, while still others note that this wasteland may be touched by the magic of the [[realms]] in ways that settled lands are not. Finally, a few suggest that it is just that the most dangerous locations tend to be the most rich - they point to [[Varushka]] and [[Otkodov]] as examples of this and the wealth of the wild [[the Barrens|Barrens]].

Warriors Gate is flat, and has comparatively few significant geographical features. There is a frozen lake here in the northern part of the region called the ''Lake of Sighs'', which is frozen solid nine months of the year. The "pilgrims' trail" to Sydanjaa passes over the ice of the lake. There is also a scrubby forest in the east of the region dubbed ''Courtier's Wood'' because the hardy trees that make it up are bent over like bowing diplomats. Beggarwood is found in profusion here, along with patches of [[bladeroot]], but there are also reports of odd creatures like furred spiders the size of wolves that move around in the place. They scurry away from explorers, and nobody gets more than a glimpse of them, but they may prove to be a danger.

There is no Jotun or Thule presence here. The sole sign that anyone other than Winterfolk pilgrims has ever been here is only a short distance across the border of Sermersuaq - a trilithon of white stone carved with stylised depictions of mammoths, hares, penguins, and deer as well as symbols of Summer. It puts the Navarr who see it immediately in mind of the [[Hercynia#The_Gate_of_Summer|Gate of Summer]] in [[Hercynia]]. The monument is dubbed the ''Gate of Winter'', and like the structure in the south it has absolutely no magic associated with it.

The only other common feature are cairns - four of them - that mark a kind of trail that wends north through Warriors Gate. Most of the stones that mark these cairns come from the local area, but a few have been carried from further afield. Many are marked with [[runes]], and in amongst them are odd relics such as long-rusted blades, animals of carved bone, scraps of fabric hung as flags, and the like. These are pilgrim cairns, created over the centuries by those taking the long walk from Sermersuaq to Sydanjaa. Even the beasts of Agramant do not interfere with these monuments.
===Claiming Warriors Gate===
* '''Warriors Gate has been explored but is too inhospitable for an army to claim it for the Empire'''
* '''The Citadel of the Warm Hearth would anchor the exploration and an Imperial claim to the region'''

[[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Trackless|Tsirku is trackless]], barren, and vast. Armies cannot conquer regions of this wasteland, and attempting to do so would result in significant casualties just due to the cold. However, the explorers identify several locations in the region where the ''Citadel of the Warm Hearth'' proposed by ''Firebird Eorling'' could be built. All that is required is a [[commission]], and a massive investment of [[white granite]] and [[mithril]]. If the citadel were completed, there would be an opportunity to "conquer" Warriors Gate and begin the ultimate ambition of bringing the wasteland under control of Wintermark.

Previously, there was insufficient knowledge about the region to allow such a castle - or indeed anything else - to be built. Now sites have been found, and the shape of the region is known, the [[opportunity]] is there to establish an anchor for Wintermark's expansion and further exploration.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ArchmageSummer.jpg|caption='''Mirella of the Twisted Rose''', Archmage of Summer|align=right|width=300}}
The citadel is a serious endeavour in and of itself, but some [[runesmith|runesmiths]] suggest that it might be possible to secure assistance from the spirits of the realms. Both [[Cathan Canae]] and [[Adamant]] would have reasons to offer their aid - the former because the citadel represents a profound test of fortitude and the beginning of a glorious conquest, the latter because a massive castle of white granite in an impossible location is just the kind of thing the ''King Under the Mountain'' likes.

Of course eternals rarely offer their aid without a cost, and given the current attitudes of the [[Synod]] to trafficking with the eternals it ''might'' be better to go it alone. But perhaps the [[Archmage of Summer]] '''Mirella of the Twisted Rose''' could be persuaded to use their power of [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] to help Wintermark engage with the eternals?

==Summer in Tsirku==
* '''There are three regions that might be explored next'''
* '''The Imperial Spymaster determines which region to explore next'''
From Warriors Gate there are three ways the exploration could proceed.
* Westward, toward [[Tromsa]], lies a region that preliminary exploration identifies as "''barren, windswept, with wide and unsettling skies''". It's likely that Lake Nutjuitoq extends into this area, and there may be a connection to the [[Sea of Snow]] given that there must be ''some'' way for the great sea beasts to reach the [[Sermersuaq#The_Grave_of_the_Giants|Grave of the Giants]]. The ''hylje'' have [[Beneath_a_moonless_sky#As_Semersuaq_strode|offered aid]] in exploring this region, should Wintermark wish to avail themselves of it.
* Eastward, towards [[Otkodov#Urdur|Urdur]] lies a region described as "''rocky, with scattered trees, that feels ominous''". It's possible that the region actually abuts Urdur and if it does that increases the likelihood of some kind of Thule presence there.
* Northward, towards [[Sermersuaq#Sydanjaa|Sydanjaa]] is a region described as "''icy, covered in snow, with vicious looking chasms''". It doesn't seem that Sydanjaa extends ''into'' this region, but it is one that those walking that way would pass through.
The decision on where to focus exploration after the Summer Solstice lies with the [[Imperial Spymaster]], although they may receive counsel from the people of Wintermark. At the very least, the Imperial Spymaster should let the Wintermark people know which direction to head in, and the best way to do that would be to address their muster during the Summer Solstice. The Wintermark egregores should be able to arrange such an opportunity for them.

Notably, the season of exploration following the Summer Solstice will be the last before the weather [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Barren|begins to turn]]. After the Autumn Equinox, until the Spring Equinox, the strength required to gain any information from the Tsirku spy network is doubled (something that might make the aid offered by the hylje particularly valuable).

==Dangers and Hunters==
* '''Creatures of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' threaten explorers in Warriors Gate
Warriors Gate is indeed dangerous. Explorers here are passing through a [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_the_Wasteland|wasteland]] unprotected by the [[alignment#enmity|wards of the Conclave]]. Specifically, every warband has a story of encountering what can only be beasts or [[inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] from the demesne of [[Agramant|Blood-on-the-Snow]]. They include black-eyed, emaciated white bears, skin hanging like damp cloth over their twisted bones, that speak with human voices; viciously grinning snaggle-toothed humans and orcs garbed in suspicious leather and blood-soaked fur who offer aid to lost or hungry travellers; and at least one massive creature combining the worse elements of forest ape, wolverine, and stag that simply stands a short distance away from an encampment and watches the explorers with cold, dead eyes.

Fortunately, steps have been taken to mitigate the risks of the creatures of the [[Realms#Winter|eternal Wasteland]]. Following the advice of the [[Wintermark_military_concerns#Banner-bearers|banner-bearers]] of Wintermark, the [[Senate]] has [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq|expanded]] the [[Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq#Responsibilities|responsibilities]] of the [[Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq]]. They now contribute their expertise, and the support of the [[Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq#Hall_of_the_Hunters|Hall of the Hunters]] towards protecting the explorers of Tsirku from the threat of Agramant's beasts.

One of the first "points of interest" in Warriors Gate discovered by the explorers are a pair of [[regio]] in different parts of the region that are clearly claimed by ''Blood-on-the-Snow''. Both sites are marked by rocks and ice protrusions that weep a horrible, thick, blood-like substance familiar to those who remember the [[Anyone_but_you#The_Bleeding_Ice|Bleeding Ice]] discovered in [[Sermersuaq#Tanikipari|Tanikipari]] by the [[Shuttered Lantern]] three years ago. These powerful Winter regio are guarded by dozens of servants of the ''Wastewalker'', and are clearly the "staging posts" for the creatures that he sends south to bedevil northern Sermersuaq.

There's also reports of the fallen [[thane]], [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba the Bloody]], whose spirit snapped when the Jotun claimed his hall in Atalaq. Now a cannibal who has sworn to eat only the flesh of his defeated enemies, he and his warband are clearly using these regio to commune with Agramant and receive his boons. The two sites are dubbed the ''Bloody Teeth'' and the ''Treachers Dagger'' by scouts. The explorers aren't able to get close to them, but they're able to mark their locations.

The new responsibilities of the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq provide a possible way to try and deal with the two regio. Bands of heroes use the Hall of Hunters as their base from which to [[Venture#Hunt_the_Suaq_Wastes|Hunt the Suaq Wastes]]. The [[venture]] is only available to Wintermark and bold [[Dawn|Dawnish]] captains, and there are fewer and fewer beasts actually ''in'' Sermersuaq to hunt. However, this presents an opportunity.

{{Mandate|mandate=The servants of Agramant gather in Warriors Gate and must be dealt with. We send the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq with 25 doses of liao to lead heroes and glory-seekers alike to face the dangers of (the Bloody Teeth/Treachers Dagger) and drive them back from whence they came.|assembly=Wintermark National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, it will focus the efforts of the ''Hunt the Suaq Wastes'' [[venture]] on taking the fight to the servants of Agramant at the named regio. Provided at least 5,000 strength supports the venture after the Summer solstice, the servants of Agramant there will be scattered and an opportunity to permanently sever the regio will be provided.

The Bloody Teeth is clearly a source of [[Vis#Heart's Blood|Heart's Blood]], similar to the Bleeding Stone. If this target is chosen, a standard military unit will receive three pawns of Winter vis in place of the rewards they would usually get, with [[military unit#upgraded|upgraded]] or [[enchantment|enchanted]] resources gaining more.

''Treachers Dagger'' however is where Wemba the Bloody and their entourage were last seen, and is where the mortal servants of the eternal seem to be congregated. In this case, military units will each receive a ribbon for an enchanted item seized from the slain enemies in place of the standard rewards for the venture.

If the mandate is enacted this season, and the raid is successful, an opportunity to attack the other regio may be presented at the Autumn Equinox, along with an opportunity to use the [[Sentinel Gate]] to deal with the regio permanently.

The only people not ''entirely'' enthused about this are a handful of [[maggot|maggots]] who point out that if the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq is successful at destroying the two regio, they'll be basically putting themselves out of a job. The ''Feast of Famine'' will still be a threat to folk exploring the north - these are surely far from the only regio that are available to the eternal - but there'll be no more monsters coming south to attack Sermersuaq. Which will spell the end for the venture to ''Hunt the Suaq Wastes'' and potentially the entire purpose of the Banner-bearer.

==Securing Allies==
* '''Wintermark has begun sharing their expertise in surviving arctic conditions with the rest of the Empire
* '''The Smokehouse of Atalaq is providing food to explorers in the wasteland
The task of mastering Tsirku is [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Comprehensible|truly ambitious]], and Wintermark is unlikely to achieve it on its own. During the Spring Equinox, the Wintermark Assembly sought allies from the other Imperial nations. They [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_48|sent]] '''Thritt''', themselves a banner-bearer, to encourage those familiar with the cold and the arctic conditions of Tsirku to share their knowledge with the rest of the Empire. Captains, explorers, trappers, trackers, and travellers have all begun to take advantage of this offer, learning how to deal with the frigid conditions north of Sermersuaq.

At the same time '''Hildelith Kaukosdottir''' [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_126|arranged further support]] by encouraging the farmers of Wintermark to provide [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Comprehensible|surplus provisions]], suitable for use in Tsirku, to those scouting the wastes. As such, each season a strength of 500 will be committed to the scouting network. It isn't enough to operate the network by itself, but it will bolster efforts in the north. More importantly for some, though, it means that anyone taking part in the endeavour has a ready supply of compact, easy to carry, nutritious food that can give them the strength to push through the hostile landscape. This comes at the cost, however, of removing the usual benefits provided by the [[Write_the_lines#Hunt_of_the_North|Smokehouse of Atalaq]] - it will no longer provide additional production to the [[farm|farms]] of Sermersuaq.

==Siglings and Guides==
{{SOP|statement=We in Varushka understand the importance of building roads into the unknown. In this regard we in the Varushkan National Assembly support our little siblings in Wintermark and their exploration of the unknown wastes of Tsirku.|by=Rosanna Vtrachenich, Varushkan Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 208-30|when=Spring Equinox 388YE|size=small}}
{{SOP|statement=The Imperial Orc nation accepts the wisdom of the northern folk. Teach us the ways of snow and climb, let us learn from those who came before us. Varushka and Wintermark be our guide as we share your journey into Tsirku.|by=Skywise Gralka, Imperial Orcs Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 60-0|when=Spring Equinox 388YE|size=small}}
* '''The Imperial Orcs and Varushka passed statements of principle pledging support for Wintermark
* '''Champions from both nations can take part in the Adventure in Tsirku venture
* '''The Varushkan has an opportunity to contribute by helping explore and exploit the wastes
* '''The Imperial Orcs are focused on their highest calling
Two nations responded with [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] - [[Varushka]] and the [[Imperial Orcs]]. The main consequence at the moment is that the opportunity to ''Adventure in Tsirku'' is now available to [[military unit|captains and champions]] of those two nations, alongside the Winterfolk and the people of Dawn. The Varushkans are already experienced in the kind of conditions they might find in Tsirku, and the expertise shared by Wintermark mean that the Imperial Orcs can embrace this adventure nearly as effectively as the more practiced explorers.

While the aid of the Unshackled is appreciated, the efforts of the Imperial Orcs are currently focused on their [[All_I_ask_of_you|highest calling]] - to explore the ancestors and spiritual beliefs of other septs who are not part of the Empire. There is some hope that once they have finished their own ambitious undertaking, they will still be enthusiastic about helping in the north. It's likely that the endeavour will not be complete any time soon, after all.

Varushka on the other hand does not ''have'' a highest calling. Like Wintermark, it rejects the idea of such things, and so it is free to encourage virtue where it wishes. The words of Rosanna Vtrachenich strike a chord with many who learn of them. The statement refers to the historical connection between Wintermark and Varushka - as [[People of the North]] lays out, the Suaq, Kallavesi, and ancient Ushkan folk likely are branches of the same family, and the Vard are the elder siblings to the Steinr. Their history has not always been peaceful, but perhaps more than any other Imperial nations there is a connection between the two. Indeed, before the recent arrival of the Imperial Orcs and the Thule, they even shared a border (for good and ill).

{{Mandate|mandate=There are old ties between the people of Varushka and those of Wintermark; we are cousins to Suaq and Kallavesa and siblings to the Steinr. They seek to master Tsirku, and we are wise in the ways of taming dangerous lands. We send (named priest) with 100 doses of liao to urge the folk of Varushka to remember our old bonds, and to help our cousins secure their future.|assembly=Varushkan National Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will inspire the people of Varushka to offer their help to the people of Wintermark in their exploration of Tsirku. There will be an [[opportunity]] at the Autumn Equinox for members of the nation to support the exploration with a particular eye towards sharing expertise with supernatural threats, and locating resources to exploit. However, the mandate also holds within it an assertion that [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Wintermark|Tsirku is Wintermark]] - recognising their claim to the land. Should it ever be necessary to do so, the people of Varushka will expect their assembly to support that claim.

However, for the next year, the idea of mastering the wasteland and its resources, exploring its dangers, and working beside Wintermark will excite and inspire the people of the nation. Any further attempt to move the people of the nation to support some other grand endeavour will have no effect until a full year has passed.

==Whispered Opposition==
* '''The Whisper Gallery offers an opportunity for those who wish to interfere in the exploration of Tsirku'''
* '''The ''Snap rope and foil explorers'' scouting venture allows military units to oppose the exploration'''
* '''In return they receive treasures and potentially wonders of the wasteland and Night vis'''
* '''Taking this action is a crime, should an individual be found out, but evidence will be difficult to find'''
* '''Only those who have made themselves known to the Whisper Gallery will be invited to snap rope and foil explorers'''
* '''Any military unit that takes this action will be listed alongside the other explorers'''

Nothing is ever easy, of course. [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Secret|Tsirku is secret]], full of things unknown in the Empire. Arguably, full of things no living mortal has ''ever'' laid eyes on. The warnings of ''[[Sung|Night Singer]]'' and the ''[[Sadogua|Brother of Wizards]]'' last season spoke of opposition from the ''[[Whisper Gallery|Stewards of the Shadowed Throne]]'' who are apparently ''very'' unhappy to see Imperial scouts exploring Tsirku. It seems that with the first explorers penetrating the secrets of Tsirku, the ''Concilium of the Perjured Throne'' is prepared to take action.

Normally the [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] of the [[Conclave]] would keep the agents of the ''Cavalcade of Masks'' at bay but that protection does not extend to Tsirku. Fortunately, the baroque creature is attempting some over-complicated method of recruiting suitable allies which thus far is restricting its appeal. Perhaps to compensate for that, the eternal is increasing the rewards on offer.

Following the Summer Solstice select military units can participate in the ''Snap ropes and foil explorers'' [[Military_unit#Scouting|scouting ]][[venture]]. This venture is aimed at causing trouble for the explorers supporting the Imperial [[spy network]] in Tsirku.
Any military unit that takes it will be listed alongside those military units who are sincerely supporting efforts to understand Tsirku, but their effective strength will be ''subtracted'' from the amount achieved rather than added to it.

No military unit may take advantage of this opportunity unless they have made themselves known to the Whisper Gallery. If they do that, then they will be invited to take part.

Any military unit that takes part will receive a little guidance from the Whisper Gallery - they can offer aid to find secret things after all - meaning they will receive three ''treasures of the wasteland'' (consumables representing unique resources found in Tsirku) and three pawns of [[Vis#Crystal_Fire|crystal fire]] as a direct gift from the ''Ministers of the Chiaroscuran Palace''. A military unit that has an effective rank of at least 8 (counting enchantment and upgrades) will also receive assistance in finding a ''wonder of the wasteland'', a much rarer consumable.

It's notable that any military units taking the ''Snap ropes and foil explorers'' action will still suffer the same penalty to do so they would suffer when taking any ''other'' action in Tsirku - and in a way Wintermark's enthusiasm for securing allies has played a little into the hands of the Whisper Gallery by reducing those difficulties.

There is unfortunately no way to tell whether someone supporting the spy network is doing so honestly, or with nefarious intent. The civil service will continue to publish the list of who is working on the spy network, but everyone taking the ''Snap ropes and foil explorers'' action will appear alongside their less treacherous compatriots.

Obviously, taking boons from the Whisper Gallery in this fashion is a crime.

Warriors' Gate

2026-07-22T21:13:30Z

Noserenda: /* Warriors Gate */

<ic>Vladimir shaded his eyes, and watched as the Suaq tried again to show the half a dozen orcs how to slide their feet in such a way that their wooden skies slid across the surface of the snow. One of the warriors made such a hash of it they actually managed to snap the ski somehow. The Varushkan shook his head ruefully, and went back to strapping his much more practical snowshoes to his sturdy boots. Skiing was fine for getting from a high place to a low place, but he had no patience for cross-country skiing and did not envy the Wintermark hunter their job of trying to teach a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs from the arid plains of Mareave the best way to do so.

His cousin Estragon was still talking, annoyingly. Vladimir had been trying to tune him out, with only minimal success. He loved his cousin, most likely, but his voice could cut wood when he started off on one of his drawn-out tirades about something he was passionate about. Right now he was complaining about the decision the leader of their band had made to come and look at Tsirku. Illyana had been quite fired up when she'd heard the call to arms from Rosanna Vtrachenich and immediately insisted they bring their wagons to the arse-end of the Empire.

"... and its not even as if there are any sovereigns here!" Estragon finished, as if that was his trump card.

Vladimir finished strapping himself up, stood, and whacked his cousin around the back of the head.

"What was that for!", demanded Estragon, outraged.

"If you don't know I'm not going to tell you," said Vladimir, making sure the wooden snow-goggles he'd bought during their visit to Hunter's Hall were tied securely in place. "There may not be sovereigns, you dolt, but what there ''probably'' is, is a thousand years of untouched wealth buried under all this snow just waiting for someone to rip it up and take it home."

He glanced over at Estragon, who was rubbing the back of his head with a surly expression on his face.

"Honestly," sighed the big wagon raider. "Sometimes I wonder if you are even a Varushkan, cousin" </ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Snowy wastes.jpg|align=left|caption=Tsirku is a cold and desolate wasteland.|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The first steps have been taken to explore the wilderness of Tsirku'''
The frozen wasteland of Tsirku to the north of Sermersuaq is truly ''terra incognita'' as the old [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]] would have it. [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil|Last season]] a bold endeavour was set in motion to explore the unknown land, to learn more of what lies in its trackless tundra and ice fields, and if possible to make it part of Wintermark.

The first preliminary steps into Tsirku have been a resounding success. A large number of [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], and a single band of [[Navarr]], challenged the Northern Lights, the eternal storm of Sydanjaa, and the dangers of the wastes. Slowly they have begun to build a picture of this enigmatic, vast stretch of land that lies between the Empire, the [[Jotun]], the [[Thule]], and who-knows-what else. Meanwhile a large number of Winterfolk and some [[Dawn|Dawnish]] adventurers pushed into Tsirku, [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku is Enticing|seeking adventure]], and seeing what treasures might lie in the boundless wastes.

==Warriors Gate==
* '''Scouts and adventurers have explored the region of Warriors Gate
* '''They have identified several landmarks but the region is mostly snow-blown tundra
<div {{float}}>
<table class='wikitable mw-collapsed mw-collapsible sortable'><tr><th>Citizen</th><th>Banner</th><th>Nation</th></tr>
<tr><td>Powell Open-Skies</td><td>Open Skies</td><td>Navarr</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aaro</td><td>Bloodforge Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aelson Dunhearth</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Aengel Dunn</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ailfryn Issigsbarn</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ailsa</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Alwyn Croft</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Arja Riftweaver</td><td>House Gerís</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Artic</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Blaidd Sinan</td><td>House Gerís</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Bronn Dunwolf</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Calvayne</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ceolmund Dreth</td><td>End’s Hearth</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ciara</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Dart Orias</td><td>Hall Stonesworn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Duwana</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Eahlstan Yarricson</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Elgar Angusson Krakenring</td><td>Kraken's Vanguard</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Eodin Swiftstride</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Finn ulson</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Gerrick Wind Ward's Guardian</td><td>Kraken's Vanguard</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ghelwyn</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Guthelm Fleetfoot</td><td>Eira Spire</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Guthrum Bjorning</td><td>Bjornholt</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Hazen Marking</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kaisa</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kara</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Kraxis Asherson</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Loki</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Miguel Oakshotte</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nerian Hererinc</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Oona</td><td>Stormspire</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Quintaras Halivor</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rek Martinez Dunqueza</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Reu'Hrokr</td><td>Corvenhal</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Rolf Boarson</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Runik Frostborn</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Seht Ravenson of Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Sylvi</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tarn Myreson</td><td>Hall Stonesworn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Theomere Swiftstride</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tostig</td><td>Corvenhal</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Tyburn Natkysset</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ulfric Ursine</td><td></td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Ulric Baersonling</td><td>Corvenhal</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Utread Broadmeadow</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Utred Tiberiuson</td><td>Shield Wolves</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Vidor Broadmeadow</td><td>The Winter Wolfborn</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Witgast Dunning</td><td>Dunhearth Hall</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Yorrick</td><td>Kraken's Vanguard</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
<tr><td>Yrsir</td><td>Stormspire</td><td>Wintermark</td></tr>
</table></div>
Tsirku isn't impossible to map, as such, but there are a large number of challenges that need to be overcome. One is that [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Big|Tsirku is big]] - meaning that unlike a traditional [[spy network]] scouts cannot hope to explore the entire place in a single season. With the Summer Solstice approaching, then, the Winterfolk (and their Navarr ally) have mostly explored a single region, which is named ''Warriors Gate''.

Warriors Gate lies north of Suaq Fount and takes its name from the fact that it is the gateway to Tsirku, and that the path of those who walk into Sydanjaa passes through it. It is cold - even with Summer approaching it is significantly colder than northern Sermersuaq. Snowfalls are not uncommon, and water regularly freezes overnight. Yet it is by no means barren. In the south particularly there are areas of scrubby grass, heather, and hardy thornbushes. A few bent trees grow here, and where their roots spread there are oases of life. Pale hares, equally pale foxes, wolves, and even the occasional massive snow bear are found here. There are also huddles of the massive white [[Mundane_beasts#Dire_Beasts|dire penguins]] native to the north-west of the Empire here, in numbers hitherto unknown. They provide good eating for those brave enough to hunt them.

The place is also a cornucopia of unfamiliar plants and berries growing here - treasures of Tsirku that are unfamiliar to southern explorers. It's not that the place is ''lush'' precisely, more that the plants that survive here are hardy and perhaps possessed of some additional virtue. A few magicians speculate that the threads of mana here, left to flow freely without tampering by human or orc, infuse the landscape. Others point to the baleful influence of the Northern Lights, while still others note that this wasteland may be touched by the magic of the [[realms]] in ways that settled lands are not. Finally, a few suggest that it is just that the most dangerous locations tend to be the most rich - they point to [[Varushka]] and [[Otkodov]] as examples of this and the wealth of the wild [[the Barrens|Barrens]].

Warriors Gate is flat, and has comparatively few significant geographical features. There is a frozen lake here in the northern part of the region called the ''Lake of Sighs'', which is frozen solid nine months of the year. The "pilgrims' trail" to Sydanjaa passes over the ice of the lake. There is also a scrubby forest in the east of the region dubbed ''Courtier's Wood'' because the hardy trees that make it up are bent over like bowing diplomats. Beggarwood is found in profusion here, along with patches of [[bladeroot]], but there are also reports of odd creatures like furred spiders the size of wolves that move around in the place. They scurry away from explorers, and nobody gets more than a glimpse of them, but they may prove to be a danger.

There is no Jotun or Thule presence here. The sole sign that anyone other than Winterfolk pilgrims has ever been here is only a short distance across the border of Sermersuaq - a trilithon of white stone carved with stylised depictions of mammoths, hares, penguins, and deer as well as symbols of Summer. It puts the Navarr who see it immediately in mind of the [[Hercynia#The_Gate_of_Summer|Gate of Summer]] in [[Hercynia]]. The monument is dubbed the ''Gate of Winter'', and like the structure in the south it has absolutely no magic associated with it.

The only other common feature are cairns - four of them - that mark a kind of trail that wends north through Warriors Gate. Most of the stones that mark these cairns come from the local area, but a few have been carried from further afield. Many are marked with [[runes]], and in amongst them are odd relics such as long-rusted blades, animals of carved bone, scraps of fabric hung as flags, and the like. These are pilgrim cairns, created over the centuries by those taking the long walk from Sermersuaq to Sydanjaa. Even the beasts of Agramant do not interfere with these monuments.
===Claiming Warriors Gate===
* '''Warriors Gate has been explored but is too inhospitable for an army to claim it for the Empire'''
* '''The Citadel of the Warm Hearth would anchor the exploration and an Imperial claim to the region'''

[[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Trackless|Tsirku is trackless]], barren, and vast. Armies cannot conquer regions of this wasteland, and attempting to do so would result in significant casualties just due to the cold. However, the explorers identify several locations in the region where the ''Citadel of the Warm Hearth'' proposed by ''Firebird Eorling'' could be built. All that is required is a [[commission]], and a massive investment of [[white granite]] and [[mithril]]. If the citadel were completed, there would be an opportunity to "conquer" Warriors Gate and begin the ultimate ambition of bringing the wasteland under control of Wintermark.

Previously, there was insufficient knowledge about the region to allow such a castle - or indeed anything else - to be built. Now sites have been found, and the shape of the region is known, the [[opportunity]] is there to establish an anchor for Wintermark's expansion and further exploration.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ArchmageSummer.jpg|caption='''Mirella of the Twisted Rose''', Archmage of Summer|align=right|width=300}}
The citadel is a serious endeavour in and of itself, but some [[runesmith|runesmiths]] suggest that it might be possible to secure assistance from the spirits of the realms. Both [[Cathan Canae]] and [[Adamant]] would have reasons to offer their aid - the former because the citadel represents a profound test of fortitude and the beginning of a glorious conquest, the latter because a massive castle of white granite in an impossible location is just the kind of thing the ''King Under the Mountain'' likes.

Of course eternals rarely offer their aid without a cost, and given the current attitudes of the [[Synod]] to trafficking with the eternals it ''might'' be better to go it alone. But perhaps the [[Archmage of Summer]] '''Mirella of the Twisted Rose''' could be persuaded to use their power of [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] to help Wintermark engage with the eternals?

==Summer in Tsirku==
* '''There are three regions that might be explored next'''
* '''The Imperial Spymaster determines which region to explore next'''
From Warriors Gate there are three ways the exploration could proceed.
* Westward, toward [[Tromsa]], lies a region that preliminary exploration identifies as "''barren, windswept, with wide and unsettling skies''". It's likely that Lake Nutjuitoq extends into this area, and there may be a connection to the [[Sea of Snow]] given that there must be ''some'' way for the great sea beasts to reach the [[Sermersuaq#The_Grave_of_the_Giants|Grave of the Giants]]. The ''hylje'' have [[Beneath_a_moonless_sky#As_Semersuaq_strode|offered aid]] in exploring this region, should Wintermark wish to avail themselves of it.
* Eastward, towards [[Otkodov#Urdur|Urdur]] lies a region described as "''rocky, with scattered trees, that feels ominous''". It's possible that the region actually abuts Urdur and if it does that increases the likelihood of some kind of Thule presence there.
* Northward, towards [[Sermersuaq#Sydanjaa|Sydanjaa]] is a region described as "''icy, covered in snow, with vicious looking chasms''". It doesn't seem that Sydanjaa extends ''into'' this region, but it is one that those walking that way would pass through.
The decision on where to focus exploration after the Summer Solstice lies with the [[Imperial Spymaster]], although they may receive counsel from the people of Wintermark. At the very least, the Imperial Spymaster should let the Wintermark people know which direction to head in, and the best way to do that would be to address their muster during the Summer Solstice. The Wintermark egregores should be able to arrange such an opportunity for them.

Notably, the season of exploration following the Summer Solstice will be the last before the weather [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Barren|begins to turn]]. After the Autumn Equinox, until the Spring Equinox, the strength required to gain any information from the Tsirku spy network is doubled (something that might make the aid offered by the hylje particularly valuable).

==Dangers and Hunters==
* '''Creatures of ''Blood-on-the-Snow'' threaten explorers in Warriors Gate
Warriors Gate is indeed dangerous. Explorers here are passing through a [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_the_Wasteland|wasteland]] unprotected by the [[alignment#enmity|wards of the Conclave]]. Specifically, every warband has a story of encountering what can only be beasts or [[inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] from the demesne of [[Agramant|Blood-on-the-Snow]]. They include black-eyed, emaciated white bears, skin hanging like damp cloth over their twisted bones, that speak with human voices; viciously grinning snaggle-toothed humans and orcs garbed in suspicious leather and blood-soaked fur who offer aid to lost or hungry travellers; and at least one massive creature combining the worse elements of forest ape, wolverine, and stag that simply stands a short distance away from an encampment and watches the explorers with cold, dead eyes.

Fortunately, steps have been taken to mitigate the risks of the creatures of the [[Realms#Winter|eternal Wasteland]]. Following the advice of the [[Wintermark_military_concerns#Banner-bearers|banner-bearers]] of Wintermark, the [[Senate]] has [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Amend_Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq|expanded]] the [[Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq#Responsibilities|responsibilities]] of the [[Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq]]. They now contribute their expertise, and the support of the [[Banner-bearer_of_Atkonaroq#Hall_of_the_Hunters|Hall of the Hunters]] towards protecting the explorers of Tsirku from the threat of Agramant's beasts.

One of the first "points of interest" in Warriors Gate discovered by the explorers are a pair of [[regio]] in different parts of the region that are clearly claimed by ''Blood-on-the-Snow''. Both sites are marked by rocks and ice protrusions that weep a horrible, thick, blood-like substance familiar to those who remember the [[Anyone_but_you#The_Bleeding_Ice|Bleeding Ice]] discovered in [[Sermersuaq#Tanikipari|Tanikipari]] by the [[Shuttered Lantern]] three years ago. These powerful Winter regio are guarded by dozens of servants of the ''Wastewalker'', and are clearly the "staging posts" for the creatures that he sends south to bedevil northern Sermersuaq.

There's also reports of the fallen [[thane]], [[Anyone_but_you#Wemba_the_Bloody|Wemba the Bloody]], whose spirit snapped when the Jotun claimed his hall in Atalaq. Now a cannibal who has sworn to eat only the flesh of his defeated enemies, he and his warband are clearly using these regio to commune with Agramant and receive his boons. The two sites are dubbed the ''Bloody Teeth'' and the ''Treachers Dagger'' by scouts. The explorers aren't able to get close to them, but they're able to mark their locations.

The new responsibilities of the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq provide a possible way to try and deal with the two regio. Bands of heroes use the Hall of Hunters as their base from which to [[Venture#Hunt_the_Suaq_Wastes|Hunt the Suaq Wastes]]. The [[venture]] is only available to Wintermark and bold [[Dawn|Dawnish]] captains, and there are fewer and fewer beasts actually ''in'' Sermersuaq to hunt. However, this presents an opportunity.

{{Mandate|mandate=The servants of Agramant gather in Warriors Gate and must be dealt with. We send the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq with 25 doses of liao to lead heroes and glory-seekers alike to face the dangers of (the Bloody Teeth/Treachers Dagger) and drive them back from whence they came.|assembly=Wintermark National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, it will focus the efforts of the ''Hunt the Suaq Wastes'' [[venture]] on taking the fight to the servants of Agramant at the named regio. Provided at least 5,000 strength supports the venture after the Summer solstice, the servants of Agramant there will be scattered and an opportunity to permanently sever the regio will be provided.

The Bloody Teeth is clearly a source of [[Vis#Heart's Blood|Heart's Blood]], similar to the Bleeding Stone. If this target is chosen, a standard military unit will receive three pawns of Winter vis in place of the rewards they would usually get, with [[military unit#upgraded|upgraded]] or [[enchantment|enchanted]] resources gaining more.

''Treachers Dagger'' however is where Wemba the Bloody and their entourage were last seen, and is where the mortal servants of the eternal seem to be congregated. In this case, military units will each receive a ribbon for an enchanted item seized from the slain enemies in place of the standard rewards for the venture.

If the mandate is enacted this season, and the raid is successful, an opportunity to attack the other regio may be presented at the Autumn Equinox, along with an opportunity to use the [[Sentinel Gate]] to deal with the regio permanently.

The only people not ''entirely'' enthused about this are a handful of [[maggot|maggots]] who point out that if the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq is successful at destroying the two regio, they'll be basically putting themselves out of a job. The ''Feast of Famine'' will still be a threat to folk exploring the north - these are surely far from the only regio that are available to the eternal - but there'll be no more monsters coming south to attack Sermersuaq. Which will spell the end for the venture to ''Hunt the Suaq Wastes'' and potentially the entire purpose of the Banner-bearer.

==Securing Allies==
* '''Wintermark has begun sharing their expertise in surviving arctic conditions with the rest of the Empire
* '''The Smokehouse of Atalaq is providing food to explorers in the wasteland
The task of mastering Tsirku is [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Comprehensible|truly ambitious]], and Wintermark is unlikely to achieve it on its own. During the Spring Equinox, the Wintermark Assembly sought allies from the other Imperial nations. They [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_48|sent]] '''Thritt''', themselvs a banner-bearer, to encourage those familiar with the cold and the arctic conditions of Tsirku to share their knowledge with the rest of the Empire. Captains, explorers, trappers, trackers, and travellers have all begun to take advantage of this offer, learning how to deal with the frigid conditions north of Sermersuaq.

At the same time '''Hildelith Kaukosdottir''' [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_126|arranged further support]] by encouraging the farmers of Wintermark to provide [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Comprehensible|surplus provisions]], suitable for use in Tsirku, to those scouting the wastes. As such, each season a strength of 500 will be commited to the scouting network. It isn't enough to operate the network by itself, but it will bolster efforts in the north. More importantly for some, though, it means that anyone taking part in the endeavour has a ready supply of compact, easy to carry, nutritious food that can give them the strength to push through the hostile landscape. This comes at the cost, however, of removing the usual benefits provided by the [[Write_the_lines#Hunt_of_the_North|Smokehouse of Atalaq]] - it will no longer provide additional production to the [[farm|farms]] of Sermersuaq.

==Siglings and Guides==
{{SOP|statement=We in Varushka understand the importance of building roads into the unknown. In this regard we in the Varushkan National Assembly support our little siblings in Wintermark and their exploration of the unknown wastes of Tsirku.|by=Rosanna Vtrachenich, Varushkan Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 208-30|when=Spring Equinox 388YE|size=small}}
{{SOP|statement=The Imperial Orc nation accepts the wisdom of the northern folk. Teach us the ways of snow and climb, let us learn from those who came before us. Varushka and Wintermark be our guide as we share your journey into Tsirku.|by=Skywise Gralka, Imperial Orcs Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 60-0|when=Spring Equinox 388YE|size=small}}
* '''The Imperial Orcs and Varushka passed statements of principle pledging support for Wintermark
* '''Champions from both nations can take part in the Adventure in Tsirku venture
* '''The Varushkan has an opportunity to contribute by helping explore and exploit the wastes
* '''The Imperial Orcs are focused on their highest calling
Two nations responded with [[statement of principle|statements of principle]] - [[Varushka]] and the [[Imperial Orcs]]. The main consequence at the moment is that the opportunity to ''Adventure in Tsirku'' is now available to [[military unit|captains and champions]] of those two nations, alongside the Winterfolk and the people of Dawn. The Varushkans are already experienced in the kind of conditions they might find in Tsirku, and the expertise shared by Wintermark mean that the Imperial Orcs can embrace this adventure nearly as effectively as the more practiced explorers.

While the aid of the Unshackled is appreciated, the efforts of the Imperial Orcs are currently focused on their [[All_I_ask_of_you|highest calling]] - to explore the ancestors and spiritual beliefs of other septs who are not part of the Empire. There is some hope that once they have finished their own ambitious undertaking, they will still be enthusiastic about helping in the north. It's likely that the endeavour will not be complete any time soon, after all.

Varushka on the other hand does not ''have'' a highest calling. Like Wintermark, it rejects the idea of such things, and so it is free to encourage virtue where it wishes. The words of Rosanna Vtrachenich strike a chord with many who learn of them. The statement refers to the historical connection between Wintermark and Varushka - as [[People of the North]] lays out, the Suaq, Kallavesi, and ancient Ushkan folk likely are branches of the same family, and the Vard are the elder siblings to the Steinr. Their history has not always been peaceful, but perhaps more than any other Imperial nations there is a connection between the two. Indeed, before the recent arrival of the Imperial Orcs and the Thule, they even shared a border (for good and ill).

{{Mandate|mandate=There are old ties between the people of Varushka and those of Wintermark; we are cousins to Suaq and Kallavesa and siblings to the Steinr. They seek to master Tsirku, and we are wise in the ways of taming dangerous lands. We send (named priest) with 100 doses of liao to urge the folk of Varushka to remember our old bonds, and to help our cousins secure their future.|assembly=Varushkan National Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will inspire the people of Varushka to offer their help to the people of Wintermark in their exploration of Tsirku. There will be an [[opportunity]] at the Autumn Equinox for members of the nation to support the exploration with a particular eye towards sharing expertise with supernatural threats, and locating resources to exploit. However, the mandate also holds within it an assertion that [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Wintermark|Tsirku is Wintermark]] - recognising their claim to the land. Should it ever be necessary to do so, the people of Varushka will expect their assembly to support that claim.

However, for the next year, the idea of mastering the wasteland and its resources, exploring its dangers, and working beside Wintermark will excite and inspire the people of the nation. Any further attempt to move the people of the nation to support some other grand endeavour will have no effect until a full year has passed.

==Whispered Opposition==
* '''The Whisper Gallery offers an opportunity for those who wish to interfere in the exploration of Tsirku'''
* '''The ''Snap rope and foil explorers'' scouting venture allows military units to oppose the exploration'''
* '''In return they receive treasures and potentially wonders of the wasteland and Night vis'''
* '''Taking this action is a crime, should an individual be found out, but evidence will be difficult to find'''
* '''Only those who have made themselves known to the Whisper Gallery will be invited to snap rope and foil explorers'''
* '''Any military unit that takes this action will be listed alongside the other explorers'''

Nothing is ever easy, of course. [[Snap_rope_and_pass_foil#Tsirku_is_Secret|Tsirku is secret]], full of things unknown in the Empire. Arguably, full of things no living mortal has ''ever'' laid eyes on. The warnings of ''[[Sung|Night Singer]]'' and the ''[[Sadogua|Brother of Wizards]]'' last season spoke of opposition from the ''[[Whisper Gallery|Stewards of the Shadowed Throne]]'' who are apparently ''very'' unhappy to see Imperial scouts exploring Tsirku. It seems that with the first explorers penetrating the secrets of Tsirku, the ''Concilium of the Perjured Throne'' is prepared to take action.

Normally the [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]] of the [[Conclave]] would keep the agents of the ''Cavalcade of Masks'' at bay but that protection does not extend to Tsirku. Fortunately, the baroque creature is attempting some over-complicated method of recruiting suitable allies which thus far is restricting its appeal. Perhaps to compensate for that, the eternal is increasing the rewards on offer.

Following the Summer Solstice select military units can participate in the ''Snap ropes and foil explorers'' [[Military_unit#Scouting|scouting ]][[venture]]. This venture is aimed at causing trouble for the explorers supporting the Imperial [[spy network]] in Tsirku.
Any military unit that takes it will be listed alongside those military units who are sincerely supporting efforts to understand Tsirku, but their effective strength will be ''subtracted'' from the amount achieved rather than added to it.

No military unit may take advantage of this opportunity unless they have made themselves known to the Whisper Gallery. If they do that, then they will be invited to take part.

Any military unit that takes part will receive a little guidance from the Whisper Gallery - they can offer aid to find secret things after all - meaning they will receive three ''treasures of the wasteland'' (consumables representing unique resources found in Tsirku) and three pawns of [[Vis#Crystal_Fire|crystal fire]] as a direct gift from the ''Ministers of the Chiaroscuran Palace''. A military unit that has an effective rank of at least 8 (counting enchantment and upgrades) will also receive assistance in finding a ''wonder of the wasteland'', a much rarer consumable.

It's notable that any military units taking the ''Snap ropes and foil explorers'' action will still suffer the same penalty to do so they would suffer when taking any ''other'' action in Tsirku - and in a way Wintermark's enthusiasm for securing allies has played a little into the hands of the Whisper Gallery by reducing those difficulties.

There is unfortunately no way to tell whether someone supporting the spy network is doing so honestly, or with nefarious intent. The civil service will continue to publish the list of who is working on the spy network, but everyone taking the ''Snap ropes and foil explorers'' action will appear alongside their less treacherous compatriots.

Obviously, taking boons from the Whisper Gallery in this fashion is a crime.

Survival

2026-07-21T22:12:28Z

Noserenda: /* Ritual Magic */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>
"On your left!" shouted Fan, locked in battle with an orc with sunflowers for eyes. Gav dodged, pivoted and counter-thrusted into the remains of one he had dispatched earlier and thought neutralised, before freeing Fan from the orc's clutches. "Cheers!" They took a moment to dust themselves off, before signalling to the herald of Irra Harah and the Waterwalkers they were escorting that it was safe to continue along the path away from the main fight.

"You'd think it'd get easier after all these years"

"Are you calling me difficult?"

"The vallorn, Fan! The vallorn! On your right!"

Fan leant backwards, as a jagged branch as thick as one of the pillars that held up her house back in Hercynia sailed within a hair's breadth of her face, fully cleaving one of the braids from her hair off. She responded with a javelin that made a satisfying ''crunch'' as it sank deep into the chest of the humongous vallornspawn that threw it.

"Yes, well, I suspect that this might in fact ''be'' the easy part Gav. The Tainted Basilisk have just given us the smallest taste of the battle that is to come."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sun Chamber colour.png|align=right|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[Sun Chamber]] is the [[Imperial sodality]] formed of the Empire's newest citizens, those who represent the Empire's future. With them come fresh faces to Imperial politics, fresh ideas, and fresh opportunities. Last season, they chose to use their power to appraise an issue facing the Empire to look into how to protect the various vital pieces of Imperial infrastructure from the expansion of the [[vallorn]]. Joining them was [[Appraisal#Available_Prognosticators|Vainakoma Dawnstongue]] of the Prognosticator's office, who volunteered help co-ordinate their efforts.
<div {{float}}>
<quote by="Sun Chamber">When the vallorn expands it destroys all it touches. How might we protect resources, constructions and infrastructure in regions threatened by the vallorn? Perhaps using living weirwood, ritual magic or learning from our international neighbours, but go wild!</quote></div>
==The Known Unknowns==
The research is difficult, not because there is a shortage of options - but for the opposite reason. There are already a sea of resources available to those who wish to defend against the Vallorn. The Navarr have been working on this problem for a long, long time after all. Ultimately, there are few good solutions that do not require the heavy investment of the armies of the [[Military Council]], supplemented by well-placed [[Fortification|fortifications]] to hold back the ''Green Tide'' from being able to reach Imperial Infrastructure in the first place.

While a great deal is [[A thousand years of longing|already known about the vallorn]], there are also some questions that may well remain unanswered until the hearts are connected. The Empire has never seen a fully roused vallorn at full strength in the way that it will be when the final war truly begins; each one is likely to be qualitatively different. The extent to which they have been drained by the trods, the natural geography and the resources it will consume and weaponise in its wake will all make each one potentially slightly different in the way each Imperial Army is slightly different. It would be invaluable to know what the definitive strength of the vallorn was going to be, what qualities each heart might possess, but at present there is no way to find that out.

Perhaps the most dangerous unanswered question is whether, once a vallornheart has expanded and enveloped every region in a territory, it can then expand beyond the natural borders to threaten adjacent lands? There are two possible answers to that question which is distinctly unhelpful. In Axos, in Visokuma, the vallorn has expanded to fill the territory but has since become largely quiescent. There are occasional forays and attacks from the vallorn, but it doesn't surge out the way Imperial vallornhearts do when provoked or attacked. Perhaps when the vallorn is roused they will do likewise?

On the other hand the Visokuma vallorn does still try to expand - and that is before the vallorn has been roused. That rather suggests that it will become a lot more active once it is joined to the others - and that implies that the vallorn will expand beyond its starting territories. It would be good to know one way or the other what the actual answer is.

The problem is that there is simply no good way to answer these questions. The vallorn is a singular problem, unique to the Empire and the surrounding lands. There has never been a time when the vallorn was fully roused, not since the fall of Terunael at least. As a result, there is no obvious way to give definitive answers to such questions until it happens.

==Living Weirwood==
* '''The vallorn is known to avoid stands of weirwood trees'''
* '''The Empire could build a single civilian commission in size inside each weirwood grove'''
* '''Doing so would double the labour costs'''
* '''A commission would not function if the region was overrun by the vallorn, but it would not be destroyed'''
* '''A great work cannot be built inside a weirwood grove'''

From the studies the Sun Chamber have made, everyone agrees that stands of weirwood trees are unaffected by the vallorn. As it spreads, it grows round them, but they remain free of the miasma, and the growth never infests the ground where the weirwood trees take root.
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood Commission'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Any civilian commission except a great work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Any single weirwood grove (bourse resource)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' All regular labour costs are doubled</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' No change</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' If the region containing the commission is conquered by the vallorn the commission will be deactivated but not destroyed</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Freely available from now on</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Only a single commission can be built in each weirwood grove
</td></tr>
</table></div>
Nobody has ever found a way to use this as a weapon, not yet at least. As soon as you cut the weirwood down to use it, it appears to lose the properties that make it resistant to the corruption of the vallorn. Crucially commissions built using weirwood are just as vulnerable to the vallorn as any other.

"But what if we build a commission in the grove?" asks one of the more enterprising members of the sodality. Nobody has ever tried such a thing before, probably because it would be too expensive, but it's possible. And in theory it would work - the weirwood trees would keep the vallorn at bay and whatever was enclosed by the grove would be safe.

Vainakoma confirms that it ''could'' be done. You can't put a fortification inside a weirwood grove, but the Empire could build a single [[Commission#Civilian_Commissions|civilian commission]] inside each substantial weirwood grove. Each weirwood bourse seat could be used to protect a single commission from the approaching menace.

There are two significant drawbacks. The first is cost - people don't build inside weirwood groves normally because of the costs. All the extra work involved, working round the existing trees and roots would double the labour cost of the construction from 3 crowns per wain to 6 crowns per wain.

The other issue is that the commission would be unlikely to continue to function if the region it was in was conquered by the vallorn. The building would not be destroyed, but if nobody can easily reach it, if it is literally surrounded by the vallorn, most commissions will still be inactive. But it wouldn't be destroyed and people could shelter there until they could be rescued.

Almost any civilian commission could be protected in this way with the exception of a [[great work]]. These structures traditionally stretch over the region and beyond, so they could not be built inside a grove of trees. The other limitation would be that only one commission per grove could be protected in this way.

==Ritual Magic==
* '''There are dozens of rituals that could be useful against the vallorn'''
* '''There are unlikely to be any new rituals that could help'''
* '''The Conclave could interdict the creation of new arcane projections'''
* '''The Summer Archmage could use plenipotentiary to ask Adamant to empower the Master of the Koboldi'''

There are dozens of rituals that will be essential when the vallorn is roused. Wards like [[Ward of the Black Waste]] and [[Wardens of the Black Waste]]. The recently codified [[Pillars of Adamant]] looks particularly useful for this. Rituals that [[Army#Rituals|enhance the strength of armies]] like [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]], [[Knights of Glory]] or [[Brotherhood of Tian]] will be incredibly important in the coming war. Rituals that [[Fortification#Rituals|enhance fortifications]] like [[Ramparts of Ashlar]] will be just as important as will rituals that summon fortifications like [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae]]

In theory it might be possible to create an [[arcane projection]] for a new ritual, but Vainakoma recommends against this approach in the ''strongest possible terms''. The problem is that every arcane projection requires 10 mana to create, and the majority of them fail. That is a massive cost in mana, resources that could have been spent attacking and defending against the vallorn with the tools the Empire already has. In the words of the notoriously cynic [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|''Leontes the Scribe'']] - "If every mana crystal wasted on an arcane projection were piled up in front of me, we'd have enough mana to defeat the vallorn twice over." Trying to find a new arcane projection that will defeat the vallorn is like wishing on a star - the odds of finding anything new that is worth the cost are vanishingly small.

<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Interdict Arcane Projections'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Declaration Type:''' Interdiction</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Ban the creation of all new arcane projections until the vallorn is destroyed so that the mana is available for the war against the enemy.</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Makes it illegal for Imperial magicians to create arcane projections.</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Constitution:''' The Court have confirmed this declaration would be constitutional.</td></tr>
</table></div>

That does present one opportunity that might help - albeit it, one that would be very difficult politically. The Sun Chamber could try to get the [[Conclave]] to [[interdiction|interdict]] the creation of new arcane projections. If magicians were forbidden from expending mana chasing new discoveries, they could instead devote all those resources to fighting the enemy. There will be plenty of time to wish on stars ''after'' the vallorn is defeated after all.
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Request access to adamant'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Plenipotentiary:''' Adamant</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Request negotiations with the King under the Mountain to provide supplies of adamant, the unbreakable stone, for the Master of the Koboldi</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Open-ended</td></tr>
</table></div>
While it isn't ritual magic exactly, there is one other option that could be useful. The [[Master of the Koboldi]] is able to construct impressive buildings with the support of the [[Adamant|King under the Mountain]] - but those buildings are constructed with a mix of white granite and regular stone. If the Master were able to employ adamant, the almost-unbreakable stone found in the Summer realm, they could build fortifications and other commissions that were all but resistant to the destructive power of the vallorn. The garrison could be destroyed, the area could be captured, but the fortification would still be standing.

Could ''Deep Dragon'' be persuaded to give the Master of the Koboldi access to supplies of adamant? The Summer Archmage would need to use a plenipotentiary to try to negotiate it, but there is no doubt the eternal ''could'' do it, if he could be persuaded.

==Neighbours==
* '''The Empire knows vastly more than all its neighbours about the vallorn and how to fight it'''

While it is an excellent idea to seek the counsel of the Empire's neighbours, it is important to be realistic about what might be achieved. The Empire knows considerably more about the vallorn than all its neighbours. Have the [[Grendel]] or the [[Iron Confederacy]] have ever even encountered the vallorn? It is clear the Druj only recently started to probe the menace and everything they know about it, they stole from Urizeni spires.

Still it is worth considering the approaches neighbours do use, just in case they reveal new ideas. After a quick consultation with Naomi of Virtue's Rest, the Sun Chamber summarises the current situation.

*'''Jotun''': The Jotun hold [[Ashvale]] (formerly Liathaven) in the West, and it seems that their natural military strength means they have little issue managing the occasional bursts of Vallornspawn that might emanate from Liath's Heart. It is reported that they secured a boon from [[Surut]] of [[the Thrice-cursed Court]] shortly after acquiring the territory. It remains unclear whether that was specifically to combat a threat from the vallorn or to merely to engage in more expedient deforestation.

*'''Thule''': The Thule have long-held [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], and use a version of [[Wither the Seed]] (though they claim theirs is "more efficient" compared to the "crude" imperial version) to keep the vallornheart of Emrys quiescent.

*'''Druj''': The heart of Bendol in the [[Sarangrave]] came to the Druj pre-contained with wards fashioned by the Terun (with a little help from [[Sadogua]]), and simply maintained the ancient wards (until recently).

*'''Axos''': Possibly inspired by the designs of the wards in the [[Sarangrave]], the Axou's methods of dealing with the vallorn of Cavan are [[Terunael_in_Axos#Part_One|well documented]] thanks to the [[Historical research|Department of Historical Research]] and the work of the [[Advisor on the Vallorn]] at the time, '''Siân Eternal'''.

Naomi is quick to point out that if the Empire can generate or maintain good relations with these powers (if not, perhaps, the Druj), treaties might be signed for mutual efforts to quell any damage that can be avoided. The Thule seem confident in their capabilities of containing the northernmost vallornheart, but having the garrison of the [[Sarangrave#Tower_of_the_Skink|Tower of the Skink]] provide aid in future entanglements with the vallorn of Bendol would undoubtedly be of great value.

After much consideration of the situation with their near neighbours, two things occur to the bright young minds of the Sun Chamber; both are regarding the strategy of containment employed by the Axos.

The Axos have allowed the vallorn to expand to fill the territory of [[Terunael_in_Axos#Venturing_into_Visokuma|Visokuma]], then surrounded the area with fortifications. This approach seems to work remarkably well for the Axos - albeit at great cost. It means they can't access the wealth and resources of the territory - but in return they suffer very little in the ways of attacks and what does occur is easily defeated by the fortifications they have built to ring the territory.

The problem that the sodality has spotted is that that strategy is going to fail badly if Visokuma is joined to the other vallornhearts. If that happens, the vallorn will come flooding out of the territory in force, quickly overrun the Axos fortifications, which are nothing like big enough to repel that kind of attack, wash over their completely insignificant military force, and every single one of them will be killed and eaten within a matter of a year or so at most. That will be a problem for the Empire, who will then have to deal with the Visokuma vallorn after it has devoured Axos, but it might be a problem for the Axou as well?

On the other hand, it does suggest an alternative strategy that might be employed. It's a bit controversial - a bit out of the ordinary, but isn't that what the Empire expects of the Sun Chamber after all? The sodality manifesto instructs them to ''"approach existing problems in new ways"''.

What if, instead of provoking the vallorn, instead of fighting it, instead of prodding it... the Empire adopted the Axou strategy. [[Miaren]] is fine, but the Empire could abandon [[Hercynia]], [[Brocéliande]], [[Sarangrave]], [[Liathaven]] and [[Therunin]]. Let the vallorn slowly expand to fill the territory, then build a few small fortifications around it to keep it contained, the way Axos do, then just... throw away the key?

It sounds a bit outré, but consider what could be achieved if the Empire wasn't constantly fighting the vallorn? Wasn't constantly preparing for an apocalyptic war against this enemy. Yes, they would lose some territory, but it would save thousands and thousands and thousands of lives. The Empire could focus on fighting the barbarians and securing its borders. Sceptics will argue it won't work, but the Axos have ''proved'' it works - it has worked just fine for them for close to a thousand years.
<div {{float}}>
<box>'''Tathenon's Blessing against the Spawn of Chaos'''<br>
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
'''Day; Magnitude 4/2;'''<br>
''Grants a character protection against vallorn miasma for the duration of a conjunction''<br>
At the completion of this ritual, the target is refreshed and purified by a light infusion of energies from the Day realm. They are protected from the worst effects of vallorn miasma. The target is not subject to the venomous effects of the vallorn miasma. They will not contract green lung, nor will they become a vallornspawn husk if they die while under this enchantment.

The target will experience a powerful roleplaying effect: they are more capable of clear, rational thought and working in an organised fashion with others to achieve their goals. They are also keenly aware of any imperfections or stains on their garments and feel an urge to keep them clean and well-presented.
</div>
</box>
</div>
Vainakoma confirms that such an approach would be theoretically possible, although he is not persuaded that it would be politically acceptable. Still, the appraisal did say to go wild. And the idea would remove the threat of the vallorn for good.

One less outrageous suggestion is to negotiate with the Thule to see if they might have some magic that could aid the Empire. The dragons have always been exceptionally cagey when discussing the vallorn with the Empire, but it turns out that two members of the sodality have become firm friends with a young warlock called ''Helgrindur of the Shining Eye'' and they happen to let slip that Tathenon has a ritual that provides the recipient with magical protection from the vallorn miasma. Apparently it is some kind of enchantment from the Day realm that stops the miasma from poisoning the target.

Of course Tathenon won't part with the ritual text for free, but it's not a powerful enchantment, so the Empire could just create their own. And the dragon will ''know'' that, so they'll have some idea of what it is worth. Presumably they would rather get something for a copy of the ritual text than nothing? Perhaps someone could speak with the Thule and enquire?

==From Theory to Practice==
Ultimately, it is clear that there will never be a "one size fits all" solution, other than that of the focused might of armies and fortifications. Instead, the acolytes of the Sun Chamber have compiled a list of extant opportunities to better prepare to defend from the malice of ''Terunael's Folly'' when it rears, as it did this season in the Sarangrave. Thanks to the ongoing [[Every path you know|highest calling]] of the Navarr, there is already much that could be done.

===Brocéliande===
This very season, the joint efforts of Navarr and the engineers of [[Holberg]] have resulted in a [[Viridian_nemesis#Holberg|plan]] to improve the defensibility of [[Brocéliande]], attracting the chaotoc energies of the Vallorn to a chosen battleground by nature will save other key infrastructure from damage.

===Sarangrave===
Similarly, the Navarr's [[Cup_of_choices|recent work with Urizen]] has resulted in a spate of opportunities that will help supplement the defence of key sites in the Territory. As mentioned previously in this report, the future relationship with the people of [[Axos]] will be pivotal to the eventual damage wrought in the east.

===Hercynia===
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fortify the Heartwood'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Boar's Dell, Brocéliande</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 [[weirwood]], 240 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 4 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
Beyond building the [[Every_path_you_know#Beware_of_Dog|Grim Pyramid]], [[Hercynia]] remains somewhat undefended. While not a problem in recent years, the coming final battle against the Vallorn and the potential end of the [[Ratify_Thule_Treaty_Spring_387YE|Thule peace treaty]] in four years means that now may be a better time than ever to invest in preventative measures. The [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]] would be a significant loss if overrun by the Vallorn; while the seat would not be destroyed, losing access to its income would still be terrible. Some keen architectural students among the Sun Chamber put together a proposal to grow the weirwood of the place into a more natural fortification. If (and it is very much an if) the heart of Deer's Folly were to rouse, it is ''possible'' that a fortification constructed in this way ''might'' be more resistant to the Vallorn's horrifying embrace. In any case, it might be easier to find the weirwood than more white granite given the [[A_lasting_commitment|renewed fervour]] in completing the Grand Inspiration of the Way.

The Great Forest Orcs are masters at manipulating the growth and use of weirwood, and are no friends of the Vallorn. They have offered to help out if the Sun Chamber will agree to help them with a matter, which would reduce the construction costs by X weirwood and 3X crowns. Specifically, they are concerned about the alleged intent of the Navarr and the wider Empire to seek out the boons of the [[Surut|Ancestor Slayer]] as part of their war against the Vallorn and in doing so cause unspeakable desecration to the Great Forest. The Great FOrest Orcs trust the [[Navarr]] however, and if they are willing to [[Navarr_culture_and_customs#Tattoos_and_Vows|swear an oath]] via their national assembly that they will not engage in themselves, and will oppose Imperial use of the ''Hated One'' to deforest any regions with his fire.

Pride in the Marches

2026-07-21T18:49:33Z

Noserenda: /* Loyalty and Heresy */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"So William Guidenstern's a folk hero now. Like Tom Drake and Jonah Gold and what have you."

Pike stared at his rod but it obstinately refused to move. He'd readily agreed to come with Bridge for the day but he was starting to regret that decision. Bridget Fisher had three fat yellow perch in her basket while his looked like he'd spent the morning straightening daisies. It was always the same when the two went fishing, but it was still grating on him. "Says Who?" he demanded tersely.

"Says the Assembly. You know all the priests and everything, down at Anvil."

Bridget Fisher had an unremittingly sunny disposition. It was one of the things everyone liked about her. It was one of the things Pike liked about her. Still it was easy to be sunny when you'd caught your tea before the first rays of sun had appeared. It was midday now and he had a nagging feeling he was going hungry tonight. "What sort of folk hero goes around putting on airs and graces?" he groused.

"Airs and graces? Have you ever met our William? He wouldn't know a grace if it kicked 'im in the 'ead."

"Well, why dun't he call himself Bill then?" Pike demanded. It was a cheap jibe, but it suited his mood right now. "A proper Marcher name. Should be Bill Guildenstern shouldn't it? Anyway - what's he dun to be so impressive? Why's he a folk hero?"

"Star fell on him. Apparently."

Pike never could catch fish, but he could sense an opening at fifty paces. Bridget was on weak ground, time to press the attack. "Right, so ''Bill'' Guildenstern is up there with ''Thomas'' Drake who killed Alderei the Bleeding Fair and ''Jonathan'' Gold who didn't let dying stop him fighting for the Mourn because a star fell on his head? A bottle of dark ale fell on Drew Miller's head last week when that wonky shelf he put up collapsed on him. They gonna make him a folk hero?"

"It was his chest I think. And Jonah ain't short for Jonathan so that doesn't work. You're being ratty and you know it. ''William'' Guildenstern has done loads of other stuff. Loads of stuff. Oh shit." Bridget jumped to grab her rod before she could explain exactly what the loads of stuff were. It was jerking around like a frit pig.

"Unbelievable." was all Pike could say as he watched his best friend reel in a fish the length of her forearm.

"Nah it's true. He has. He's dun loads of stuff." Bridget knew perfectly well what Pike was unhappy about but she seemed to genuinely want to talk about Guildenstern for some reason.

"Well they should have told us what he's done then shouldn't they? And it better not turn out to be a shopping list of titles he's had. It'd better be things he'd dun, not things he's been. The point of saying someone is a folk hero is so everyone knows what being a hero looks like. It's so they know who to look up to. Who to help. Who to emulate. For that we got to know what they done. Or what they're doing."

"Who to emulate? Pike Bailer! Are you putting on airs and graces?" Bridget grinned at her old friend. She never won their arguments, but a chance to needle him was too good to pass up.

"I'm serious Bridge! If there's an honest to goodness folk hero around the place then it's a bloody good idea to let everyone know about it. Folk need a bit of good news right now, with Jotun in the marshes and everything else. That's the sort of thing gets people fired up. But we ain't got owt to be fired up about, if they don't tell us what he's a folk hero for."

Bridget dropped the large yellow fish into the empty basket. "You'll have to take this one," she apologised, "there's no room in my basket. C'mon lets get back. I'll tell you what William Guildenstern has done, and you can tell me what you're gonna do to "emulate" that."

It was just bloody typical of Bridget Fisher. This was why everyone liked her. Pike contemplated saying no but this was one argument he was not going to win. Not against the hero of Pike's Pond.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBMarches.jpg|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Pride]] in small things, [[Loyalty]] to great ones. That's what they always say when people talk about [[the Marches]]. But Pride in what? And Loyalty to what? That's the sort of thing [[The_Marches_history#The_Cousin's_War|people go to war over]] if you're not careful. There's a lot going on in the Marches on the way to the Summer Solstice, a lot to be proud of but also a lot to worry about. The reward for a good job is more work, and if you want a job done give it to someone who's busy, as they say.

It's time to take stock. Of the situation in [[Mitwold]]; worrisome developments in the Gullet; questions of folk heroes new and especially old; hauntings in [[Bregasland]]; and the overwhelming question of the large number of [[heresy|heretics]] in the Marches (also know as the Marcher [[orc]] population); and the scions of Red Walder who have apparently failed to get the message that ''now is not the time'', who are engaging in peculiarly targeted rowdiness that needs nipping in the bud before it spirals out of hand.

So let's start at the beginning, then, with the war in Mitwold...
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofMitwold.png|caption=The households of Mitwold engage in feuding and bitter rivalry.|title=Regions of Mitwold|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Mitwold Triumph==
* '''The Jotun have abandoned Mitwold in the face of the concerted counter-attack by the Empire'''
At the end of last year the [[Jotun]] barbarians [[Rose grow the rushes o'|broke into]] the territory of [[Mitwold]], seizing both [[Mitwold#Oddmire|Oddmire]] and [[Mitwold#Meade March|Meade March]] and pressing into [[Mitwold#The Meadows|The Meadows]]. At the end of last year, five Imperial armies fought to take back what had been conquered, culminating in the [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#The_Battle_of_Wayford|Battle of Wayford]] and the magical chaos that accompanied it. They reclaimed the Meadows, and drove the Lasambrian armies back across Meade March, but it was clear that the orcs intended to fight to keep what they had taken. Only the absence of the Jotun armies that had withdrawn north to [[Skallahn]] allowed the Empire their hard-fought victory. It was clear that if the Jotun contributed more of their forces to defend Mitwold - or to press east - Imperial armies would have a major fight on their hands.

The [[Military Council]] doubled down, with the [[Drakes]] (of course) at the forefront, supported by the [[Autumn Hammers]], the [[Bloodcloaks]], the [[Green Shield]], the [[Valiant Pegasus]], and the [[Golden Sun]]. More than ten thousand force of strength joined the Drakes, who also marched with the sungold banners of the [[Knights of Glory]] at their side, as did the Green Shield. With the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] of [[Mitwold#Forte Fidelis|Forte Fidelis]] and the [[beater|beaters]] of [[the Marches]] beside them, they enacted a split strategy. While the Autumn Hammers and the Bloodcloaks took a defensive stance, the remaining four armies thrust into the heart of the Jotun held territory, seeking to force them back and reclaim the city of Meade and Odd's End.

They discovered the Lasambrian Jotun in full retreat. They had already abandoned their defence of Meade, and forced-marched westward back into Bregasland. From there, they swiftly withdrew south into [[Liathaven]] and there Imperial scouts lost track of them. The folk of the Marches might characterise their withdrawal as a cowardly rout, claiming they fled with their tails between their legs, but this is far from the truth. ''Abott Matilda'' of [[Old_ways#The_Ambition_of_Margaret_of_Meade|Becktunn Monastary]] told a different story. It was, she said, not as if the Lasambrians were running ''from'' something, but as if they were desperately running ''toward'' something. The most logical assumption is that news of the Iron Confederacy invasion of Reinos had reached them and they were returning to protect their homes.

Not every Jotun fled; some warbands stayed behind intentionally to seek out "a ruck" as the Marchers put it. Others were a little slow to get back across the borders with their ill-gotten loot. Yet the victory of the Empire was bought with a few skirmishes, rather than anything approaching a full-scale battle. On the one hand, few lives lost. A victory is a victory for the Marchers, land is land after-all - but some of their allies grumble that a triumph because the other side ran away is hardly heroic or glorious.
<gallery heights=175 mode="packed">
File:Drakes_Colour.png|link=388YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Drakes
File:GoldenSun_Colour.png|link=388YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Golden Sun
File:GreenShields_Colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Green Shields
File:AutumnHammers colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Autumn Hammers
File:BloodCloak Colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Bloodcloaks
File:ValiantPegasus_Colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Valiant Pegasus
</gallery>
===Tom Drake's Pride===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Walls and Statue'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Meade March, Mitwold</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, and 75 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Repairs the walls of Meade and creates a statue of Tom Drake in the heart of the city
* Improves the ''Drum Up Support'' order available to the Drakes
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year. Until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE, or until the general of the Drakes breaks their oath</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' This commission can be undertaken by the Mistress of Monuments despite the amount of white granite needed</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The people of Meade are Proud that their army and their allies have defeated the Jotun and liberated Meade'''
* '''An opportunity exists for the people of Meade to show their appreciation for the Drakes'''
* '''Investing in swift repair of the walls, and a statue of Tom Drake, will improve the ''Drum up Support'' order available to the Drakes'''
The ''Corazón'' and the Jotun champions between them have looted the heart and soul of the Marches, the city of Meade. They haven't gone out of their way to harm the city, or the people, because that isn't the Jotun way. But they haven't been shy about taking anything of value they can get their hands on. They raided the markets and the warehouses, tore open vaults, took any jewels they could find. They didn't go out of their way to steal old relics or documents - again not the Jotun way - and they've been scrupulous about avoiding anything that might be a burial ground. But the wealth of the city has been decimated. But not ruined.

The people of Meade are angry because they've been robbed and burgled, at swordpoint. But they are overjoyed to see the Imperial armies, with the Drakes marching before them. Tom Drake's beloved army, marching to free Meade from occupation, causes folk to put aside their cares and come out to line the walls and cheer, an inverse rough music. The soldiers that come to Meade, Marcher and otherwise, are showered not with rose petals but with food and drink and comfortable beds. They've lost almost everything valuable, but they've kept what is most precious to them - the Marcher spirit that no bandit can ever steal and no thief ever take from them.

The walls of Meade are broken in places, the gates destroyed, and the scars of the fight to defend the city from the Jotun are still visible. But walls, and gates, can be rebuilt, just as Prosperity can. Because the free people of the Marches can recover from any setback - especially when they have an example like Tom Drake's army to fill them with Pride. As in the Mournwold, as in Bregasland, the people of Mitwold take great Pride in the Loyalty shown them by the general of "their" army, and they are not shy about showing it.

The [[alder|alders]] of Meade don't come out and say it, but this is a great opportunity for the general of the Drakes to make a mark in history. Assessing the damage to the walls, it will require 16 wains of white granite to repair them; yet the alders also suggest that it is about time that someone built a proper statue commemorating the Drakes in Meade, or more specifically its founder Tom Drake. Nothing too extravagant - 9 wains ought to be enough to make a nice sculpture you could take the kiddies to see. The repairs and the statue represent a single [[commission]] that costs 25 white granite, and 75 crowns in labour, and would take three months to complete.

Despite the amount of white granite, the commission ''could'' be overseen by the [[Mistress of Monuments]], '''Ada Droon Drifting Bough'''. The actual statue of Tom Drake is the heart of the commission, the repairs to the city are vital but easily done once the materials are on hand. If the Mistress were to commission the repairs and the statue, the grateful folk of Meade would provide all the labour needed for the entire project - removing the requirement to provide any crowns.

Once the statue and repairs were complete, it would also stand as a monument to the Pride and Loyalty the people of the Marches feel towards their armies. As long as the statue stood, and remained in Imperial hands, the ''Drum Up Support'' order available to the Drakes would be significantly enhanced, providing a total of 500 natural resupply whenever they took the order in Marcher territory.

===The Taken Cup===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Appraise foot-the-ball league'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Appraisal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Appraise ways to implement some kind of foot-the-ball league</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year, until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Empire could appraise the creation of a foot-the-ball league to restore the sport's prestige'''
Meade was looted, but the Jotun had a purpose for that wealth beyond mere theft. Last season there was a report of a [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#Battle_Opportunity:_Plundered_Gold|treasure train]] full of stolen treasures from Meade and Wayford including [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#Objective:_Recover_the_Trophy|Beater trophy]], a symbol of Marcher pride. It's doubtful the Lasambrians realised what they had - it was just a shiny cup to them - but it's struck to the heart of what foot-the-ball means to people of Mitwold (and Upwold, truth be told). The foot-the-ball season has been cut short; even with the Jotun gone there's less enthusiasm for the game than there has been in a while. "''We were robbed,''" as one of the Wayford [[alder|alders]] put it, "''and we can make more coin. But we can't make another Beater's cup.''"

Which is fine as a sentiment if it were ''true''. The Marchers certainly can't replace the history and legacy of the Beater's cup, but they surely could order a new trophy. Truth be told the old one was widely regarded as somewhat cheap and tawdry in appearance. But what can be done about the enthusiasm for the foot-the-ball? Would some kind of grand league help? The League have their great game after all, but the problem with that, as one Marcher points out, is that all that messing around doing politics is neither ''great'' nor a ''game''. Maybe an appraisal is the answer.
{{CaptionedImage|file=FjorknaeSymbol.png|align=right|width=250}}
==Worrisome Gullet==
* '''The Jotun gave the stolen loot as tribute to the Fjorknae orcs
* '''Orc warships have turned up in the Gullet
* '''They are interfering with Marcher and Wintermark fleets
While sporting matters are a concern for the Marches, a bigger concern are the reports of exactly what the Corazón ''did'' with the treasure. There weren't many eyewitnesses, but it seems that the reason they were [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#Objective:_Return_the_Bounty_of_Meade|dragging it on a sled]] to make some formal gift to the folk of [[Sea_of_Snow#Fjorknae|Fjorknae]]. They met an honest-to-goodness fleet of ships at [[By_fountains,_by_fishes#Steward's_Landing|Steward's Landing]] and handed over the [[Technology#Runeboxes_and_Runebound_Chains|runebox]] full of stolen loot to what are described as "very nasty looking orcs in scale and chain". Marchers aren't great at judging such things in general, but the witnesses are confident that these orcs had ''ships'' and not ''boats''. Jotun with ships? Is such a thing even possible?

Not long before the Summer Solstice, it becomes clear that such a thing is indeed possible. Marcher captains engaged in [[Voyage#Raid_Kalsea's_Coastline|raiding Kalsea's coast]], and Winterfolk providing an [[Voyage#Escort_the_Fisherfolk_of_Westerhal|escort to the fisherfolk of Westerhal]] report fast moving ships with uniformly blood-red sails, crewed by armed and armoured orcs. Orcs who are definitely ''not'' Jotun thralls. The assumption is that they are Jotun, but the mere fact they seem to be at home on the sea raises questions as to whether they are true Jotun or represent some other sept the orcs have drawn on. They attack Marcher raiders, and engage with the Winterfolk escort, with clear enthusiasm for the fray that suggests a Jotun connection but they are utterly fearless of the sea of the Gullet. They even give the crews of captured or surrendered ships a version of "the Choice" - they can either lay down their weapons and become thralls, to be carried back to wherever the ships came from, or they can "fight the sea" - they're given a weapon and thrown overboard. These ships at least seem disinterested in making warriors of their defeated human foes, and there are disturbing reports of ''akhlut'' in the Gullet trailing behind the Fjorknae vessels that give the Winterfolk in particular pause.

Following the Summer Solstice, every Wintermark or Marcher fleet suffers a -2 rank penalty to ''Raid Kalsea's Coastline'', ''Escort the Fisherfolk of Westerhal'', or to [[fleet#trading|trade]] with the [[Faraden]] port of [[Foreign_ports#Caitun|Caitun]]. At the moment the presence of these ships is focused in the Gullet and the northern Sea of Snow - Marcher and Wintermark ships who sail fast and don't stop for anything are able to outrun the raiders.

These orcs on ships are also an unknown quality. A little over a year ago, the Senate commissioned [[Appraisal#Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] to look into ways that the [[Skallahn#The_Kongegőr|Kongegőr]] could [[A_bridge_too_far|be neutralized]]. The [[opportunity|opportunities]] she identified had a limited shelf-life anyway, but the addition of this new factor renders them moot. The attack on Skallahn brought the Empire within a hair's breadth of claiming [[Skallahn#Bjarkey|Bjarkey]], and the northern end of the Kongegőr. The Jotun are now awake to the very real threat of Imperial armies permanently separating their northern and southern Jarldoms.

Controlling either [[Skallahn#Bjarkey|Bjarkey]] or [[Hordalant#Alsterbo|Alsterbo]] is no longer a guarantee that the Kongegőr can be severed. It would certainly be possible to damage it, or to create a bottle-neck where Jotun forces trying to cross it would need to recover Imperial controlled region at either end, but to be sure of destroying the bridge permanently the Empire would need to control ''both'' ends. And if the Fjorknae are as comfortable fighting at sea as they appear to be, even that might not be enough.
===Fear the Unknown===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Appraise Fjorknae intelligence'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Appraisal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Appraise ways to find out more about the Fjorknae</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year, until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Appraise response in the Gullet'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Appraisal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Appraise ways to respond to the Fjorknae threat in the Gullet</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year, until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Empire knows nothing about the Fjorknae
* '''There are concerns that fighting on the Gullet will make the ''coral husk'' problem worse
The biggest obstacle to assessing the threat posed by the Fjorknae is that the Empire knows next to nothing about them. During their efforts to map the Sea of Snow, Imperial fleets did not cross the Blood Straits between Bryadvik and Fjorknae. The Empire knows there is what looks to be a huge island on the other side, and the assumption is that it is Jotun held. No landfall was made, although a handful of small settlements were visible from aboard ship, but they looked rough and primitive - crude buildings with slate walls and turf rooves. There were signs of industry, though, and vivid red flags that matched the colour of the ships' sails. Of course the banners also bore the image of a monstrous sea-beast of some kind, and so far that hasn't been seen on the ships in the Gullet.

There's also the worry raised by some of the gloomier sorts about the ''other'' problem the Gullet is having at the moment. Weird coral husks, that rise in the depths and come ashore to drag helpless victims into the surf. The Fjorknae are churning up the waters with violence and blood in a way that it has not been disturbed for centuries, if ever. Even the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] attempt to [[Harvest of infamy|destroy Meade]] was mostly fought on land or in the immediate vicinity of the city. Is it possible that the Fjorknae are going to rile up the coral horrors even more? They have been conspicuous by their absence for a little while now, and nobody is so addled by [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Hope|hope]] that they can imagine the problem has just... gone away.

At the moment, the Empire seems to have limited ability to find out more about what is going on in the Gullet and the threat the new orcs represent. A [[spy network]] or [[smugglers cove]] needs a certain proximity to the [[territory]] where it will be built that means Fjorknae is out of reach of the [[Imperial Spymaster]]. The [[Regario Dossier]] has no agents that could be assigned there - it's hard to imagine what they might look like - and the [[Shuttered Lantern]] would have no idea where to start.

The best suggestion as to what ''could'' be done is an appraisal. Either one to find out more about the Fjorknae, or to deal with the ships in the Gullet. These are two very different appraisals, in the opinion of the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticator's Office]], and to do ''both'' would take two appraisals.

The other possibility lies with [[archmage#plenipotenatiry|plenipotentiary]] either from an [[archmage]] or given Autumn is coming up, from the [[Stone Smith]]. The challenge would be working out which [[eternal]] to ask about the orcs of Fjorknae and the ships in the Gullet. In the past, the [[Archmage of Night]] might have been able to invoke the [[Lashonar#Caucus_Forum|Caucus Forum]] to arrange a meeting with someone from the island, but that option is [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Closed_Caucus_(Lashonar)|no longer available]]. Any other eternal will want something of value in exchange for their aid, assuming they have any to offer in the first place.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Haunted Fen.png|caption=Some regions of Bregasland are spookier than others.|align=right|width=400}}</div>

==Bregasland==
* '''The Jotun remain in Bregasland
* '''The Strong Reeds are lying low in the territory, building their strength for a counterattack
* '''The Grey Walkers are spreading through Grey Fens to the chagrin of the invading orcs
Last season saw serious fighting in [[Bregasland]], with the Empire ultimately victorious and [[Bregasland#Graven_Rock|Graven Rock]] recovered from the Jotun. In the wake of their victory, the Empire pulled their troops out. All save the [[Strong Reeds]], who have slipped back into the fens and the rushes, and now [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Strong_Reeds|lie low]] waiting for another opportunity to strike. The assumption must have been that the Jotun would immediately move to recover Gravenmarch, but in the end... they don't.

There are still Jotun armies here, but they are braced for further Imperial efforts to reclaim Bregasland. In the absence of such attacks, the barbarians simply continue to consolidate their hold over the marshy territory. Although in the process they encounter problems they themselves have created. At the Spring Equinox, news reached the [[Military Council]] of ''Sunne Astar'' and a [[Old_blue_banners_dancing#Battle_Opportunity:_A_Broken_Rock|quixotic plan]] to drag one of the stones that make up the Ullsmere Rock [[The_Marches_hearth_magic#Dolmens|dolmen]] back to Hordalant to inspire the Howling Night. The Jotun achieved their plan, and as near as the Strong Reeds can tell, the left leg of the dolmen has already left Bregasland and is presumably being installed in the ''kirkje'' of the Howling Night.
{{CaptionedImage|file=StrongReeds_Colour.png|align=right|width=300}}
===Horror at Ullsmere Rock===
* '''The Grey Walkers haunt Grey Fens and seek to drive out all trespassers
* '''They are treating the Jotun as trespassers
* '''Unfortunately they are also treating everyone ''else'' as trespassers
What's unfortunate is that what it has left in its wake are a large number of [[Old_blue_banners_dancing#Objective:_Dismiss_the_Grey_Walkers|Grey Walkers]]. Shadow figures, clearly Marchers, wearing garb common in the fens hundreds of year ago, are draped in the tatters of funeral bindings. They slowly and silently seek out "trespassers" and drive them away. Hitting them with weapons causes them to dissipate... but a few minutes later they simple coalesce again a short distance away. They can be [[exorcism|exorcised]] individually, but there are a ''lot'' of them. Worse, some of them are clad for battle, deliver potent [[curse|curses]], and are much harder to deal with than the "lesser" spirits.

The good news is that right now, they are causing serious issues for the Jotun in [[Bregasland#Grey Fen|Grey Fen]]. The entire region has become [[Region_qualities#Haunted|haunted]] as the Grey Walkers have spread. The Jotun are no stranger to ghosts, but the ability of their warriors and ''godhi'' to deal with them is significantly lower than that of the Empire. The Grey Walkers are treating the orcs as intruders and trespassers, and slowly eroding the barbarian's control over the entire region. They don't seem to be extending beyond the Grey Fens themselves, at least, but that covers a very large area of marsh. There are Marcher households there, and they are likewise reporting harassment by these spectral creatures. True to form, the Jotun are actively ''protecting'' the households - just as they would any other thralls - but it's clear that they're struggling to keep a firm grasp on the Fens.
{{CaptionedImage|file=trilithon.png|align=right|width=250}}
===Get Off My Fen===
* '''The Jotun are slowly losing their grip on Grey Fen
* '''While this is causing problems for the Jotun, it will also be a problem for the Empire should they retake Bregasland
Something clearly needs to be done, but Grey Fens is currently a Jotun problem. If the Empire retakes Bregasland, however, it's going to become a Marcher problem pretty quickly. While Grey Fens remains under Jotun control, the Grey Walkers are a tenth of the way towards taking the region themselves. What this will mean is impossible to say - but if the region does fall under control of these spectral walkers the one thing it ''won't'' be is under Imperial control, making it that much harder for anyone to control the territory.

There is an effective force of 1,000 strength in Grey Fens - each season it will attempt to take control of the region. ''Any'' army that issues an appropriate [[Army_orders#Defending|defending]] order in the territory can prevent the ghosts gaining any headway, and an attacking order will drive the ghosts back and reassert control over the region (as long as it achieves sufficient victory points). But while the ''haunted'' quality remains, the ghosts will simply come back next season, and the season after, and keep trying to drive everyone out of Grey Fens. They don't take casualties (although they do inflict them), and anyone actively trying to stop them claiming Grey Fens will not be able to resupply that season.

Notably, the presence of these Grey Walkers is even messing with the magical elements of the territory. For some reason, any magical ward created in Grey Fens - [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] for example - will not impede the ghosts at all. They will continue to slowly but inexorably try to usurp control of the region, even as the enchantment has its normal effects for everyone else.

==Pride and Politics==
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=William Guildenstern.jpg|caption='''William Guildenstern''', General of the Drakes|align=left|width=400}}</div>
* '''Two judgements of the Marcher assembly related to Pride in a way that resonates with the Marchers
Recently the Marcher Assembly passed two big judgements. The first was about Pride, celebrating a folk hero. It's received a broad welcome across the nation, a bit of good news in dark times. But people can't be Proud of someone unless they know what they're Proud of them ''for''. So they want to know what this folk hero has done to be singled out like that.

The second judgement is also a matter of Pride. Nearly two years ago now the [[Pride]] Assembly [[recognition|recognised]] the leaders of [[the Ore Hills Rebellion]] and then the [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_5|General Assembly narrowly agreed]]. Now it's down to the Pride Assembly to see if they want to consecrate Rebellion's Ridge the new monument they've just built to remember folks by.

If that happens, it will be a lit match in a dry field. All the arguments about just who should be appointing senators will come boiling back to the surface.
===Holding Out For a Hero===
{{SOP|statement=William Guildenstern was recognised as a Marcher Folk Hero in 384YE. As my cousin Pipit Boon called out to our people in 385YE; "Let us sing his story for generations to come, across our territories." There is no better time than these - our homes under siege and our territories dividing - to draw Marchers to great Marcher deeds. As a Folk Hero walks among us as General of the Drakes, remember: Jonah Gold made weapons so fierce it turned a war's tide. Odd of Odd's End drained the Oddmire against the Marshwalker threat. Tom Drake struck down Alderei the Fair. William Guildenstern caught a falling star in his chest. All are Marchers, all fought our battles, all did deeds of great renown, all had rivals who would see them fail, and all are remembered in song.|by=Jedediah Boon, Marcher National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 152-20|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}
* '''William Guildenstern has been recognised as a folk hero by the Marcher Assembly'''
* '''The Marches are eager to hear what act or acts he has done to be inspired by'''
* '''It is unclear what being recognised as a folk hero will actually ''do'', it will depend on what the act is'''
Most Marchers hold three things close to them: a favourite [[proverbs|proverb]], a patch of land they call home, and someone they look up to. Proverbs are important and an apt demonstration of [[Wisdom]]; they allow an important idea to be communicated with as few words as possible. A patch of land to call home is the foundation of every [[Marcher household]], the starting place for [[Loyalty]]. But someone to look up to can be important too; it lets people take [[Pride]] in the actions of their fellow Marchers, and inspires them to do great deeds themselves.

Last season, the Marcher Assembly upheld a [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_81|judgement]] raised by '''Jedediah Boon''' which echoed the [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_115|call]] from '''Pipit Boon''' that '''William Guildenstern''', General of the [[Drakes]] and former Senator for [[Mournwold]], was a folk hero. The statement of principle called out several other folk heroes from the history of the Marches and the inspirational acts they had done. People are keen to hear more about this folk hero - and Friar Alyn asks that the Marcher Assembly use the coming summit to recognise the thing William Guildenstern has done that is most inspiring. Something that has been done that the Marchers can be inspired by and rally behind. When tales of Jonah Gold were spread of making weapons, it inspired the blacksmiths to focus on making blades for soldiers; when stories of Odd of Odd's End were spread, it led to beaters tracking marshwalkers and protecting settlements from them. If Guildenstern has done something that people be Proud of and rally behind it just [[opportunity|do some good]].
<quote by='Friar Alyn of Hay'>Inspirations are a lot like wheat. You need to harvest them when you can, and be aware that they might turn rotten.</quote>
Some nations have annals or chronicles to record their inspirations. Some assemblies have rolls or walls to mark theirs. ''Friar Alyn of Hay'' pours scorn on that idea. Marchers don't need to keep records of their folk heroes - what's the bloody point? If you have to write their name down to know who they are, then they're not much of a bloody hero are they? In the opinion of the friar, the best inspirations are fleeting. They represent the zeitgeist of the Marches at the height of summer, when the sun is high and there is time to have the proper chats without worrying about the weather.
===Rebellion's Ridge===
<div {{float}}>
{{SOP|statement=Three years ago, Meri stated on my behalf that we knew the importance of all Marchers working the land, that the Nation must consider the plight simmering over Mourn hillsides. The Pride Assembly agreed. The miners of the Mourn have worked their land for us. They have battled the Jotun, fought off the Howling Bear. They raised rebellions against tyranny twice, were the last ones standing against recent invaders. They work tirelessly to supply our armies, to build our Great Works, braving the Singing Caves and tearing its bounty from enemy hands. They have stood with our Nation since Marcher boots first met Mourn soil. So we too stand with them - we will not turn our backs another year not take their Loyalty to the Marchers, the Pride in their work for granted. We recognise their right to a voice in the leadership of the Mournwold, where the ore runs deep and so many of us have fought together, shoulder to shoulder.|by=Jedediah Boon, Marcher National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 208-22|when=Autumn 387YE|size=small}}</div>
* '''Rebellion's Ridge has been completed in the Mournwold'''
* '''A writ of consecration for the Leaders of the Ore Hills Rebellion on the great work would have consequences'''
* '''It would breathe new life into old arguments, long since buried, about who runs the Mournwold'''
During the Autumn Equinox 387YE, '''Alfred Aewulfson-Boon''', as the [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave]], commissioned the [[Construct_Rebellion%27s_Ridge|construction]] of Rebellion's Ridge. A [[great work]] in [[Mournwold#Ore Hills|Ore Hills]] dedicated to the [[Known_exemplars#Leaders_of_the_Ore_Hills_Rebellion|leaders of the Ore Hills Rebellion]]. These exemplars of [[Pride]] were [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_5|recognised]] during the Winter Solstice 386YE as a group, in much the same way as [[the Marked]]. The exemplars were instrumental in [[the Ore Hills Rebellion|the Ore Hills Uprising]], and were identified as ringleaders and executed by the magistrates for their role in inciting, and in most cases participating in, the violence that marred Mournwold.

Now, [[Mournwold#Rebellion's_Ridge|Rebellion's Ridge]] stands completed. The finishing touches have been made, and the [[congregation|congregations]] of the Mourn will receive their first doses of [[liao]] at the Autumn Equinox. But what next? During the Autumn Equinox 387YE, the Marcher Assembly voted to uphold a [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_98|judgement]] raised by '''Jedediah Boon''' which drew attention to the plight of the miners of the Mourn.
<div {{float}}>{{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>
If the Assembly chooses to pass a [[writ of consecration]] for Rebellion's Ridge, then it would inevitably reopen those old wounds. Miners work every bit as hard as farmers, nobody denies that, but they have no say in who speaks for them. That's what the Orehills Rebellion was all about. Power, who has it, and who doesn't. The miners demanded that the yeofolk share their power. When the yeofolk refused to let their power be diluted and their traditions lost, it ultimately resulted in bloodshed.

Folks are full of fond memories for the Rebellion now, but it was the most bitter fight imaginable at the time. Any move to consecrate Rebellion's Ridge will force the Mournwold to reckon with that struggle. You simply cannot draw inspiration from a bunch of Marchers who died fighting for something they believed in, without making everyone ask ''what were they fighting for?''. It'll fire up every single mine owner in the Mournwold with fresh demands for a change in how the the territory appoints its senator. And it won't just be the yeofolk who are worried - it'll make every Marcher who thinks traditions are important, worried about where all this is going.

Seriously contemplating a change in how the Mournwold elects its senator is ''absolutely guaranteed'' to open a sack full of angry kittens.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Loyalty.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Pride.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>

==Loyalty and Heresy==
{{SOP|statement=The scars of Whittle run deep. A people massacred due to zealotry. The Marchers know too well the risks of following your traditions. While the Marchers have no intent of undermining the Synod’s spiritual authority, the fact of the matter remains; A Marcher, A Marcher. Should the Synod proscribe the beliefs of the Marcher Orcs as heretical, the Marches as a whole will defend their neighbours as they would any other Marcher unduly persecuted. To echo the words of the First Empress: “You will take all of us, or none of us.” The Synod may make it’s choice.|by=Statement of Principle, Brother Luke, Marcher Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 146-50|when=Winter Solstice 388YE|size=small}}
* '''The priests of the Marches preach of Pride, inspiring both human and orc
* '''The folk of the Marches are mostly united - the Marcher orcs are Marchers
And talking of lit matches... At the Spring Equinox, the Marcher Assembly voted to uphold a [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_13|judgement]] raised by '''Brother Luke''' with a [[greater majority]]. It called on the Marches to defend the [[Mournwold Orcs|Marcher orcs]] if things came to a head with the [[Synod]]. After the Summer Solstice, inspired by the statement, more than half the [[congregation|congregations]] in the Marches preached the importance of supporting the Marcher Orcs, and that any attack on them was the same as an attack on anyone else in the nation. "''Pride in small things,''" as the saying goes. The congregations who took this action used their liao to create suitable [[aura|auras]], but in return received gifts of recognition and support from Marcher Orcs and their allies.

It's been less direct than a mandate, but it's had the desired effect. If there was any doubt as to whether the Marcher Orcs are Marchers or not, it's been dispelled. If the Empire sends anyone to attack the Marcher Orcs for their beliefs, whether that be armies or magistrates, the folk of the Marches will resist. The argument that their beliefs mark them as heretics butters no mustard in Mournwold or elsewhere. The nation ''knew'' they believed in reincarnation when they embraced them; the [[egregore]] ''knew'' their beliefs were at odds with doctrine when they recognised them as Marchers. They are Marcher folk, and the general consensus in the Marches is that their belief in reincarnation is not a problem in a nation that firmly believes humans can be reincarnated as trees, or vermin.

When the Generals of the Marches swore their oaths to protect their territories, there was no equivocation about whether they would protect some Marchers and not others. If the Synod moves against the Marcher Orcs, the Marches will resist. With weapons to protect those who won't take them up themselves, if need be. And they will expect the generals to honour their oaths, and if need be fight the armies of the Empire to defend an attack against their own.

Not everyone is on board, but those who are not have the good sense to keep quiet about it. When challenged to explain how the beliefs of the Marcher Orcs can be reconciled with doctrine, one pugnacious Abbott turns the question around, and demands to know why nobody ever asks how Doctrine can be reconciled with the beliefs of the Marcher orcs? The ''only'' thing that brands the Marcher Orcs as heretics is the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] that was created less than a decade ago based solely on the spiritual beliefs of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]] - and a belief that is challenged by septs of orcs all over the world.
===The Tom Drake Revelation===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hazelelponi.jpg|align=right|caption=Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]] is the controversial [[Lepidean Librarian]] who commissioned the investigation into the life of Tom Drake.|width=400}}</div>
* '''Recent revelations regarding Tom Drake incline the folk of the Marches to view the state bodies of the Empire with scepticism
* '''Inspired by Pride and Loyalty, the human Marchers will defend the orc Marchers
The Marchers as a whole have no patience for people who give themselves airs and graces, but they take a quiet Pride in a number of folk from [[The Marches history|history]]. Among those they are proudest of is [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], the original general of the Drakes who helped put the Military Council together. Recently, the [[Lepidean Librarian]] undertook an examination of [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom's life]], and the truths contained within were [[Life_of_Tom_Drake#Unacceptable_History|at odds]] with the popular historical version. Tom Drake fought ''against'' Brigit of Dourfell, and led the rebels. He was rightly recognised as an exemplar of [[Loyalty]], always willing to show it to those who deserved it, to the Marches, and to its people.

It's been quiet, but these historical revelations have spread quietly across the Marches and increased Marcher scepticism of what some see as "Imperial excesses". It's nothing like as dramatic as the problems in [[Bregasland]] in the wake of the Fishers - but there is a quiet, grass-roots belief that the Marcher dislike of people putting themselves above their peers extends to ''everyone''. Including, arguably, the Senate and the Synod. When push comes to shove, they ask themselves what Tom Drake would do, and the answer is usually some variation of "stand up and be counted", "be Proud and Loyal", and "tell the Empire to go... take itself away... if it comes to it."

===What This Means===
* '''The Empire risks a second Cousin's War if they persecute the Marcher Orcs for their beliefs
With these two key factors in mind, the only predictable outcome is that Marchers will defend their orc citizens against the Synod, the magistrates, or Imperial armies. What form this will take is not clear, it will depend on exactly what is tried. There are tens of thousands of Marcher orcs. Their willingness to pitch in, the fact they are never slow to contribute when there's a big project on, and their sheer ''enthusiasm'' for the Marches has won them a lot of friends even before the priests of the Marches spoke of the Pride of having them among their number. Then there's the lessons of Tom Drake, exemplar of Loyalty, who would ''never'' stand by and let the Empire declare war on his neighbours (or at least that's the current feeling).

This is obviously a problem. For an Imperial nation to reject the rule of law in this fashion - the Synod has the power to declare something heresy, which is a crime. The magistrates are expected to deal with criminals under the law.

What seems clear is that any move to condemn the Marcher Orcs as heretics is likely to trigger a conflict along the lines of the [[The_Marches_history#The_Cousin's_War|Cousin's War]], albeit with most of the Marches lining up against the rest of the Empire, and with those Marchers who regularly visit [[Anvil]] to represent their nation potentially caught in the middle.
===Pragmatism===
* '''Some Mournwold priests have proposed a "solution" to the problem
So far only one positive proposal has come out, and that's from the Marcher Orc spiritual leader and a couple of his old friends among the priests of the Mournwold. He proposes that while the Synod determines what is a crime, it's the Senate and the magistrates who decide what the punishment is. There are basically two punishments - death and fines. "So fine us," say the Mournwold priests. "Fine the orcs for their heretical beliefs. How about 5 Thrones a season that the Marcher Orcs continue to believe in reincarnation, and then maybe we can all get back on with sorting the harvest?" Obviously this is an outrage and the magistrates will do their nut. But a Senate motion to this effect would see 5 Thrones a season into the Imperial treasury, and its likely the Marcher Orcs might go higher if they had to especially if their human neighbours pitched in.

While this proposal seem ludicrous, it does highlight at least one potential avenue to try and deal with the problem represented by tens of thousands of Marchers that the Synod seem to deem to be heretics. Ultimately, the Synod does not operate in isolation within the Empire. Nobody is suggesting that the Senate alone can solve this problem, but at the end of the day it is the Senate that has the power to define the laws, and guide the magistrates as to the punishments that arise when those laws are broken. Perhaps some compromise can be reached?

==Rowdy Bandits (Conjunctions)==
* '''The scions of Red Walder are causing trouble in Mitwold
* '''Jyll Longleys is interfering with the Maiden Stone
* '''Dusty Cobb leads a gang to burn the Golden Fields of Hay
And finally ... the [[Rose_grow_the_rushes_o%27#Objective:_Kill_Red_Walder's_Descendants|scions of Red Walder]] are following in their forbear's footsteps and causing a brace of difficulties in Mitwold. Armed by Stephen of Sarcobe (and many Marchers spit when they say his name these days), there's rumours doing the rounds that they've ''also'' been empowered by the terrible Jack-in-Chains, the horror buried at the bottom of a well near [[Mitwold#Wayford|Wayford]]. Probably expecting the Empire to be busy fighting Marcher armies, two of them have collected rowdy mobs around themselves and set about causing trouble.

Something needs to be done, and fortunately the [[Sentinel Gate]] provides an opportunity for response to immediate problems. Frankly, it might be a bit of a relief to have problems that can be dealt with directly by sticking the boot into some wrong'uns.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Glistering.jpg|caption=The Champion of Prosperity fights for virtue.|align=right|width=350}}
===Apples First (Mitwold)===
* '''A gaggle of rowdy Marcher rebels are travelling to curse the Maiden Stone'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Champion of Prosperity'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for stopping Jyll Longleys from cursing the Maiden Stone'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}
''Jyll Longleys'', daughter of the wicked old bandit Red Walder and former flax farmer, has been spotted [[Things_go_awry#Mitwold|once again]] in Mitwold. This time, in the [[Mitwold#Maiden Downs|Maiden Downs]], moving towards the Maiden Stone with fire in her eyes and plagued with tremendously bad luck, if rumours are to be believed. Jyll and her unruly band are travelling with purpose and are - according to hearsay, rumour, and the best guesses - going to "''fuck up''" the Maiden Stone. Whether this is by some unknown curse, malicious use of hearth magic, or they're just going to find some hammers on the way there, it will be bad if they aren't stopped.

The [[Champion of Prosperity]], '''Tom Appleseed''', is responsible for stopping Jyll Longleys before they reach the Maiden Stone. If they cannot be stopped, then it will have, at minimum, consequences for farms across the territory. The farms will be able to cope, but it will eat up the profits from the [[Keeper of the Breadbasket|Breadbasket]] in the territory for at least six months.
{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenFields.jpg|caption=The golden fields of Hay are watched over by a [[#The Silent Giant|Silent Giant]].|align=right|width=350}}
===The Right Thing (Mitwold)===
* '''A gaggle of rowdy Marcher rebels are travelling to burn the Golden Fields of Hay'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Keeper of the Golden Fields'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for stopping Dusty Cobb from setting Golden Fields alight'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}
''Dusty Cobb'', the old soldier turned monk who has once again taken up the mantle of bandit, has been spotted in the [[Mitwold#Golden_Downs|Golden Downs]], travelling towards Hay and its golden fields. Though frustrated by bad luck, the shriver of Red Walder has gathered a gaggle of Marcher rebels to them and is travelling with the intent of setting the Golden Fields of Hay alight with good old-fashioned flint and tinder.

The [[Keeper of the Golden Fields]], '''Nicolas Reaper''', is responsible for stopping Dusty Cobb from setting the Golden Fields alight. If they are not stopped, the [[Keeper_of_the_Golden_Fields#The_Silent_Giant|Silent Giant]] will no doubt suffer damage from the flames, significantly reducing its production of mana crystals until repaired.

Pride in the Marches

2026-07-21T18:43:28Z

Noserenda: /* Bregasland */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"So William Guidenstern's a folk hero now. Like Tom Drake and Jonah Gold and what have you."

Pike stared at his rod but it obstinately refused to move. He'd readily agreed to come with Bridge for the day but he was starting to regret that decision. Bridget Fisher had three fat yellow perch in her basket while his looked like he'd spent the morning straightening daisies. It was always the same when the two went fishing, but it was still grating on him. "Says Who?" he demanded tersely.

"Says the Assembly. You know all the priests and everything, down at Anvil."

Bridget Fisher had an unremittingly sunny disposition. It was one of the things everyone liked about her. It was one of the things Pike liked about her. Still it was easy to be sunny when you'd caught your tea before the first rays of sun had appeared. It was midday now and he had a nagging feeling he was going hungry tonight. "What sort of folk hero goes around putting on airs and graces?" he groused.

"Airs and graces? Have you ever met our William? He wouldn't know a grace if it kicked 'im in the 'ead."

"Well, why dun't he call himself Bill then?" Pike demanded. It was a cheap jibe, but it suited his mood right now. "A proper Marcher name. Should be Bill Guildenstern shouldn't it? Anyway - what's he dun to be so impressive? Why's he a folk hero?"

"Star fell on him. Apparently."

Pike never could catch fish, but he could sense an opening at fifty paces. Bridget was on weak ground, time to press the attack. "Right, so ''Bill'' Guildenstern is up there with ''Thomas'' Drake who killed Alderei the Bleeding Fair and ''Jonathan'' Gold who didn't let dying stop him fighting for the Mourn because a star fell on his head? A bottle of dark ale fell on Drew Miller's head last week when that wonky shelf he put up collapsed on him. They gonna make him a folk hero?"

"It was his chest I think. And Jonah ain't short for Jonathan so that doesn't work. You're being ratty and you know it. ''William'' Guildenstern has done loads of other stuff. Loads of stuff. Oh shit." Bridget jumped to grab her rod before she could explain exactly what the loads of stuff were. It was jerking around like a frit pig.

"Unbelievable." was all Pike could say as he watched his best friend reel in a fish the length of her forearm.

"Nah it's true. He has. He's dun loads of stuff." Bridget knew perfectly well what Pike was unhappy about but she seemed to genuinely want to talk about Guildenstern for some reason.

"Well they should have told us what he's done then shouldn't they? And it better not turn out to be a shopping list of titles he's had. It'd better be things he'd dun, not things he's been. The point of saying someone is a folk hero is so everyone knows what being a hero looks like. It's so they know who to look up to. Who to help. Who to emulate. For that we got to know what they done. Or what they're doing."

"Who to emulate? Pike Bailer! Are you putting on airs and graces?" Bridget grinned at her old friend. She never won their arguments, but a chance to needle him was too good to pass up.

"I'm serious Bridge! If there's an honest to goodness folk hero around the place then it's a bloody good idea to let everyone know about it. Folk need a bit of good news right now, with Jotun in the marshes and everything else. That's the sort of thing gets people fired up. But we ain't got owt to be fired up about, if they don't tell us what he's a folk hero for."

Bridget dropped the large yellow fish into the empty basket. "You'll have to take this one," she apologised, "there's no room in my basket. C'mon lets get back. I'll tell you what William Guildenstern has done, and you can tell me what you're gonna do to "emulate" that."

It was just bloody typical of Bridget Fisher. This was why everyone liked her. Pike contemplated saying no but this was one argument he was not going to win. Not against the hero of Pike's Pond.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBMarches.jpg|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
[[Pride]] in small things, [[Loyalty]] to great ones. That's what they always say when people talk about [[the Marches]]. But Pride in what? And Loyalty to what? That's the sort of thing [[The_Marches_history#The_Cousin's_War|people go to war over]] if you're not careful. There's a lot going on in the Marches on the way to the Summer Solstice, a lot to be proud of but also a lot to worry about. The reward for a good job is more work, and if you want a job done give it to someone who's busy, as they say.

It's time to take stock. Of the situation in [[Mitwold]]; worrisome developments in the Gullet; questions of folk heroes new and especially old; hauntings in [[Bregasland]]; and the overwhelming question of the large number of [[heresy|heretics]] in the Marches (also know as the Marcher [[orc]] population); and the scions of Red Walder who have apparently failed to get the message that ''now is not the time'', who are engaging in peculiarly targeted rowdiness that needs nipping in the bud before it spirals out of hand.

So let's start at the beginning, then, with the war in Mitwold...
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofMitwold.png|caption=The households of Mitwold engage in feuding and bitter rivalry.|title=Regions of Mitwold|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Mitwold Triumph==
* '''The Jotun have abandoned Mitwold in the face of the concerted counter-attack by the Empire'''
At the end of last year the [[Jotun]] barbarians [[Rose grow the rushes o'|broke into]] the territory of [[Mitwold]], seizing both [[Mitwold#Oddmire|Oddmire]] and [[Mitwold#Meade March|Meade March]] and pressing into [[Mitwold#The Meadows|The Meadows]]. At the end of last year, five Imperial armies fought to take back what had been conquered, culminating in the [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#The_Battle_of_Wayford|Battle of Wayford]] and the magical chaos that accompanied it. They reclaimed the Meadows, and drove the Lasambrian armies back across Meade March, but it was clear that the orcs intended to fight to keep what they had taken. Only the absence of the Jotun armies that had withdrawn north to [[Skallahn]] allowed the Empire their hard-fought victory. It was clear that if the Jotun contributed more of their forces to defend Mitwold - or to press east - Imperial armies would have a major fight on their hands.

The [[Military Council]] doubled down, with the [[Drakes]] (of course) at the forefront, supported by the [[Autumn Hammers]], the [[Bloodcloaks]], the [[Green Shield]], the [[Valiant Pegasus]], and the [[Golden Sun]]. More than ten thousand force of strength joined the Drakes, who also marched with the sungold banners of the [[Knights of Glory]] at their side, as did the Green Shield. With the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] of [[Mitwold#Forte Fidelis|Forte Fidelis]] and the [[beater|beaters]] of [[the Marches]] beside them, they enacted a split strategy. While the Autumn Hammers and the Bloodcloaks took a defensive stance, the remaining four armies thrust into the heart of the Jotun held territory, seeking to force them back and reclaim the city of Meade and Odd's End.

They discovered the Lasambrian Jotun in full retreat. They had already abandoned their defence of Meade, and forced-marched westward back into Bregasland. From there, they swiftly withdrew south into [[Liathaven]] and there Imperial scouts lost track of them. The folk of the Marches might characterise their withdrawal as a cowardly rout, claiming they fled with their tails between their legs, but this is far from the truth. ''Abott Matilda'' of [[Old_ways#The_Ambition_of_Margaret_of_Meade|Becktunn Monastary]] told a different story. It was, she said, not as if the Lasambrians were running ''from'' something, but as if they were desperately running ''toward'' something. The most logical assumption is that news of the Iron Confederacy invasion of Reinos had reached them and they were returning to protect their homes.

Not every Jotun fled; some warbands stayed behind intentionally to seek out "a ruck" as the Marchers put it. Others were a little slow to get back across the borders with their ill-gotten loot. Yet the victory of the Empire was bought with a few skirmishes, rather than anything approaching a full-scale battle. On the one hand, few lives lost. A victory is a victory for the Marchers, land is land after-all - but some of their allies grumble that a triumph because the other side ran away is hardly heroic or glorious.
<gallery heights=175 mode="packed">
File:Drakes_Colour.png|link=388YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Drakes
File:GoldenSun_Colour.png|link=388YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Golden Sun
File:GreenShields_Colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Green Shields
File:AutumnHammers colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Autumn Hammers
File:BloodCloak Colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Bloodcloaks
File:ValiantPegasus_Colour.png|link=387YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Valiant Pegasus
</gallery>
===Tom Drake's Pride===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Walls and Statue'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Meade March, Mitwold</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, and 75 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Repairs the walls of Meade and creates a statue of Tom Drake in the heart of the city
* Improves the ''Drum Up Support'' order available to the Drakes
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year. Until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE, or until the general of the Drakes breaks their oath</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' This commission can be undertaken by the Mistress of Monuments despite the amount of white granite needed</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The people of Meade are Proud that their army and their allies have defeated the Jotun and liberated Meade'''
* '''An opportunity exists for the people of Meade to show their appreciation for the Drakes'''
* '''Investing in swift repair of the walls, and a statue of Tom Drake, will improve the ''Drum up Support'' order available to the Drakes'''
The ''Corazón'' and the Jotun champions between them have looted the heart and soul of the Marches, the city of Meade. They haven't gone out of their way to harm the city, or the people, because that isn't the Jotun way. But they haven't been shy about taking anything of value they can get their hands on. They raided the markets and the warehouses, tore open vaults, took any jewels they could find. They didn't go out of their way to steal old relics or documents - again not the Jotun way - and they've been scrupulous about avoiding anything that might be a burial ground. But the wealth of the city has been decimated. But not ruined.

The people of Meade are angry because they've been robbed and burgled, at swordpoint. But they are overjoyed to see the Imperial armies, with the Drakes marching before them. Tom Drake's beloved army, marching to free Meade from occupation, causes folk to put aside their cares and come out to line the walls and cheer, an inverse rough music. The soldiers that come to Meade, Marcher and otherwise, are showered not with rose petals but with food and drink and comfortable beds. They've lost almost everything valuable, but they've kept what is most precious to them - the Marcher spirit that no bandit can ever steal and no thief ever take from them.

The walls of Meade are broken in places, the gates destroyed, and the scars of the fight to defend the city from the Jotun are still visible. But walls, and gates, can be rebuilt, just as Prosperity can. Because the free people of the Marches can recover from any setback - especially when they have an example like Tom Drake's army to fill them with Pride. As in the Mournwold, as in Bregasland, the people of Mitwold take great Pride in the Loyalty shown them by the general of "their" army, and they are not shy about showing it.

The [[alder|alders]] of Meade don't come out and say it, but this is a great opportunity for the general of the Drakes to make a mark in history. Assessing the damage to the walls, it will require 16 wains of white granite to repair them; yet the alders also suggest that it is about time that someone built a proper statue commemorating the Drakes in Meade, or more specifically its founder Tom Drake. Nothing too extravagant - 9 wains ought to be enough to make a nice sculpture you could take the kiddies to see. The repairs and the statue represent a single [[commission]] that costs 25 white granite, and 75 crowns in labour, and would take three months to complete.

Despite the amount of white granite, the commission ''could'' be overseen by the [[Mistress of Monuments]], '''Ada Droon Drifting Bough'''. The actual statue of Tom Drake is the heart of the commission, the repairs to the city are vital but easily done once the materials are on hand. If the Mistress were to commission the repairs and the statue, the grateful folk of Meade would provide all the labour needed for the entire project - removing the requirement to provide any crowns.

Once the statue and repairs were complete, it would also stand as a monument to the Pride and Loyalty the people of the Marches feel towards their armies. As long as the statue stood, and remained in Imperial hands, the ''Drum Up Support'' order available to the Drakes would be significantly enhanced, providing a total of 500 natural resupply whenever they took the order in Marcher territory.

===The Taken Cup===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Appraise foot-the-ball league'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Appraisal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Appraise ways to implement some kind of foot-the-ball league</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year, until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Empire could appraise the creation of a foot-the-ball league to restore the sport's prestige'''
Meade was looted, but the Jotun had a purpose for that wealth beyond mere theft. Last season there was a report of a [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#Battle_Opportunity:_Plundered_Gold|treasure train]] full of stolen treasures from Meade and Wayford including [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#Objective:_Recover_the_Trophy|Beater trophy]], a symbol of Marcher pride. It's doubtful the Lasambrians realised what they had - it was just a shiny cup to them - but it's struck to the heart of what foot-the-ball means to people of Mitwold (and Upwold, truth be told). The foot-the-ball season has been cut short; even with the Jotun gone there's less enthusiasm for the game than there has been in a while. "''We were robbed,''" as one of the Wayford [[alder|alders]] put it, "''and we can make more coin. But we can't make another Beater's cup.''"

Which is fine as a sentiment if it were ''true''. The Marchers certainly can't replace the history and legacy of the Beater's cup, but they surely could order a new trophy. Truth be told the old one was widely regarded as somewhat cheap and tawdry in appearance. But what can be done about the enthusiasm for the foot-the-ball? Would some kind of grand league help? The League have their great game after all, but the problem with that, as one Marcher points out, is that all that messing around doing politics is neither ''great'' nor a ''game''. Maybe an appraisal is the answer.
{{CaptionedImage|file=FjorknaeSymbol.png|align=right|width=250}}
==Worrisome Gullet==
* '''The Jotun gave the stolen loot as tribute to the Fjorknae orcs
* '''Orc warships have turned up in the Gullet
* '''They are interfering with Marcher and Wintermark fleets
While sporting matters are a concern for the Marches, a bigger concern are the reports of exactly what the Corazón ''did'' with the treasure. There weren't many eyewitnesses, but it seems that the reason they were [[Where_the_slow_river_flows#Objective:_Return_the_Bounty_of_Meade|dragging it on a sled]] to make some formal gift to the folk of [[Sea_of_Snow#Fjorknae|Fjorknae]]. They met an honest-to-goodness fleet of ships at [[By_fountains,_by_fishes#Steward's_Landing|Steward's Landing]] and handed over the [[Technology#Runeboxes_and_Runebound_Chains|runebox]] full of stolen loot to what are described as "very nasty looking orcs in scale and chain". Marchers aren't great at judging such things in general, but the witnesses are confident that these orcs had ''ships'' and not ''boats''. Jotun with ships? Is such a thing even possible?

Not long before the Summer Solstice, it becomes clear that such a thing is indeed possible. Marcher captains engaged in [[Voyage#Raid_Kalsea's_Coastline|raiding Kalsea's coast]], and Winterfolk providing an [[Voyage#Escort_the_Fisherfolk_of_Westerhal|escort to the fisherfolk of Westerhal]] report fast moving ships with uniformly blood-red sails, crewed by armed and armoured orcs. Orcs who are definitely ''not'' Jotun thralls. The assumption is that they are Jotun, but the mere fact they seem to be at home on the sea raises questions as to whether they are true Jotun or represent some other sept the orcs have drawn on. They attack Marcher raiders, and engage with the Winterfolk escort, with clear enthusiasm for the fray that suggests a Jotun connection but they are utterly fearless of the sea of the Gullet. They even give the crews of captured or surrendered ships a version of "the Choice" - they can either lay down their weapons and become thralls, to be carried back to wherever the ships came from, or they can "fight the sea" - they're given a weapon and thrown overboard. These ships at least seem disinterested in making warriors of their defeated human foes, and there are disturbing reports of ''akhlut'' in the Gullet trailing behind the Fjorknae vessels that give the Winterfolk in particular pause.

Following the Summer Solstice, every Wintermark or Marcher fleet suffers a -2 rank penalty to ''Raid Kalsea's Coastline'', ''Escort the Fisherfolk of Westerhal'', or to [[fleet#trading|trade]] with the [[Faraden]] port of [[Foreign_ports#Caitun|Caitun]]. At the moment the presence of these ships is focused in the Gullet and the northern Sea of Snow - Marcher and Wintermark ships who sail fast and don't stop for anything are able to outrun the raiders.

These orcs on ships are also an unknown quality. A little over a year ago, the Senate commissioned [[Appraisal#Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] to look into ways that the [[Skallahn#The_Kongegőr|Kongegőr]] could [[A_bridge_too_far|be neutralized]]. The [[opportunity|opportunities]] she identified had a limited shelf-life anyway, but the addition of this new factor renders them moot. The attack on Skallahn brought the Empire within a hair's breadth of claiming [[Skallahn#Bjarkey|Bjarkey]], and the northern end of the Kongegőr. The Jotun are now awake to the very real threat of Imperial armies permanently separating their northern and southern Jarldoms.

Controlling either [[Skallahn#Bjarkey|Bjarkey]] or [[Hordalant#Alsterbo|Alsterbo]] is no longer a guarantee that the Kongegőr can be severed. It would certainly be possible to damage it, or to create a bottle-neck where Jotun forces trying to cross it would need to recover Imperial controlled region at either end, but to be sure of destroying the bridge permanently the Empire would need to control ''both'' ends. And if the Fjorknae are as comfortable fighting at sea as they appear to be, even that might not be enough.
===Fear the Unknown===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Appraise Fjorknae intelligence'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Appraisal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Appraise ways to find out more about the Fjorknae</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year, until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Appraise response in the Gullet'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Appraisal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Appraise ways to respond to the Fjorknae threat in the Gullet</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year, until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Empire knows nothing about the Fjorknae
* '''There are concerns that fighting on the Gullet will make the ''coral husk'' problem worse
The biggest obstacle to assessing the threat posed by the Fjorknae is that the Empire knows next to nothing about them. During their efforts to map the Sea of Snow, Imperial fleets did not cross the Blood Straits between Bryadvik and Fjorknae. The Empire knows there is what looks to be a huge island on the other side, and the assumption is that it is Jotun held. No landfall was made, although a handful of small settlements were visible from aboard ship, but they looked rough and primitive - crude buildings with slate walls and turf rooves. There were signs of industry, though, and vivid red flags that matched the colour of the ships' sails. Of course the banners also bore the image of a monstrous sea-beast of some kind, and so far that hasn't been seen on the ships in the Gullet.

There's also the worry raised by some of the gloomier sorts about the ''other'' problem the Gullet is having at the moment. Weird coral husks, that rise in the depths and come ashore to drag helpless victims into the surf. The Fjorknae are churning up the waters with violence and blood in a way that it has not been disturbed for centuries, if ever. Even the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] attempt to [[Harvest of infamy|destroy Meade]] was mostly fought on land or in the immediate vicinity of the city. Is it possible that the Fjorknae are going to rile up the coral horrors even more? They have been conspicuous by their absence for a little while now, and nobody is so addled by [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Hope|hope]] that they can imagine the problem has just... gone away.

At the moment, the Empire seems to have limited ability to find out more about what is going on in the Gullet and the threat the new orcs represent. A [[spy network]] or [[smugglers cove]] needs a certain proximity to the [[territory]] where it will be built that means Fjorknae is out of reach of the [[Imperial Spymaster]]. The [[Regario Dossier]] has no agents that could be assigned there - it's hard to imagine what they might look like - and the [[Shuttered Lantern]] would have no idea where to start.

The best suggestion as to what ''could'' be done is an appraisal. Either one to find out more about the Fjorknae, or to deal with the ships in the Gullet. These are two very different appraisals, in the opinion of the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticator's Office]], and to do ''both'' would take two appraisals.

The other possibility lies with [[archmage#plenipotenatiry|plenipotentiary]] either from an [[archmage]] or given Autumn is coming up, from the [[Stone Smith]]. The challenge would be working out which [[eternal]] to ask about the orcs of Fjorknae and the ships in the Gullet. In the past, the [[Archmage of Night]] might have been able to invoke the [[Lashonar#Caucus_Forum|Caucus Forum]] to arrange a meeting with someone from the island, but that option is [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Closed_Caucus_(Lashonar)|no longer available]]. Any other eternal will want something of value in exchange for their aid, assuming they have any to offer in the first place.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Haunted Fen.png|caption=Some regions of Bregasland are spookier than others.|align=right|width=400}}</div>

==Bregasland==
* '''The Jotun remain in Bregasland
* '''The Strong Reeds are lying low in the territory, building their strength for a counterattack
* '''The Grey Walkers are spreading through Grey Fens to the chagrin of the invading orcs
Last season saw serious fighting in [[Bregasland]], with the Empire ultimately victorious and [[Bregasland#Graven_Rock|Graven Rock]] recovered from the Jotun. In the wake of their victory, the Empire pulled their troops out. All save the [[Strong Reeds]], who have slipped back into the fens and the rushes, and now [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Military_Council_orders#Strong_Reeds|lie low]] waiting for another opportunity to strike. The assumption must have been that the Jotun would immediately move to recover Gravenmarch, but in the end... they don't.

There are still Jotun armies here, but they are braced for further Imperial efforts to reclaim Bregasland. In the absence of such attacks, the barbarians simply continue to consolidate their hold over the marshy territory. Although in the process they encounter problems they themselves have created. At the Spring Equinox, news reached the [[Military Council]] of ''Sunne Astar'' and a [[Old_blue_banners_dancing#Battle_Opportunity:_A_Broken_Rock|quixotic plan]] to drag one of the stones that make up the Ullsmere Rock [[The_Marches_hearth_magic#Dolmens|dolmen]] back to Hordalant to inspire the Howling Night. The Jotun achieved their plan, and as near as the Strong Reeds can tell, the left leg of the dolmen has already left Bregasland and is presumably being installed in the ''kirkje'' of the Howling Night.
{{CaptionedImage|file=StrongReeds_Colour.png|align=right|width=300}}
===Horror at Ullsmere Rock===
* '''The Grey Walkers haunt Grey Fens and seek to drive out all trespassers
* '''They are treating the Jotun as trespassers
* '''Unfortunately they are also treating everyone ''else'' as trespassers
What's unfortunate is that what it has left in its wake are a large number of [[Old_blue_banners_dancing#Objective:_Dismiss_the_Grey_Walkers|Grey Walkers]]. Shadow figures, clearly Marchers, wearing garb common in the fens hundreds of year ago, are draped in the tatters of funeral bindings. They slowly and silently seek out "trespassers" and drive them away. Hitting them with weapons causes them to dissipate... but a few minutes later they simple coalesce again a short distance away. They can be [[exorcism|exorcised]] individually, but there are a ''lot'' of them. Worse, some of them are clad for battle, deliver potent [[curse|curses]], and are much harder to deal with than the "lesser" spirits.

The good news is that right now, they are causing serious issues for the Jotun in [[Bregasland#Grey Fen|Grey Fen]]. The entire region has become [[Region_qualities#Haunted|haunted]] as the Grey Walkers have spread. The Jotun are no stranger to ghosts, but the ability of their warriors and ''godhi'' to deal with them is significantly lower than that of the Empire. The Grey Walkers are treating the orcs as intruders and trespassers, and slowly eroding the barbarian's control over the entire region. They don't seem to be extending beyond the Grey Fens themselves, at least, but that covers a very large area of marsh. There are Marcher households there, and they are likewise reporting harassment by these spectral creatures. True to form, the Jotun are actively ''protecting'' the households - just as they would any other thralls - but it's clear that they're struggling to keep a firm grasp on the Fens.
{{CaptionedImage|file=trilithon.png|align=right|width=250}}
===Get Off My Fen===
* '''The Jotun are slowly losing their grip on Grey Fen
* '''While this is causing problems for the Jotun, it will also be a problem for the Empire should they retake Bregasland
Something clearly needs to be done, but Grey Fens is currently a Jotun problem. If the Empire retakes Bregasland, however, it's going to become a Marcher problem pretty quickly. While Grey Fens remains under Jotun control, the Grey Walkers are a tenth of the way towards taking the region themselves. What this will mean is impossible to say - but if the region does fall under control of these spectral walkers the one thing it ''won't'' be is under Imperial control, making it that much harder for anyone to control the territory.

There is an effective force of 1,000 strength in Grey Fens - each season it will attempt to take control of the region. ''Any'' army that issues an appropriate [[Army_orders#Defending|defending]] order in the territory can prevent the ghosts gaining any headway, and an attacking order will drive the ghosts back and reassert control over the region (as long as it achieves sufficient victory points). But while the ''haunted'' quality remains, the ghosts will simply come back next season, and the season after, and keep trying to drive everyone out of Grey Fens. They don't take casualties (although they do inflict them), and anyone actively trying to stop them claiming Grey Fens will not be able to resupply that season.

Notably, the presence of these Grey Walkers is even messing with the magical elements of the territory. For some reason, any magical ward created in Grey Fens - [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] for example - will not impede the ghosts at all. They will continue to slowly but inexorably try to usurp control of the region, even as the enchantment has its normal effects for everyone else.

==Pride and Politics==
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=William Guildenstern.jpg|caption='''William Guildenstern''', General of the Drakes|align=left|width=400}}</div>
* '''Two judgements of the Marcher assembly related to Pride in a way that resonates with the Marchers
Recently the Marcher Assembly passed two big judgements. The first was about Pride, celebrating a folk hero. It's received a broad welcome across the nation, a bit of good news in dark times. But people can't be Proud of someone unless they know what they're Proud of them ''for''. So they want to know what this folk hero has done to be singled out like that.

The second judgement is also a matter of Pride. Nearly two years ago now the [[Pride]] Assembly [[recognition|recognised]] the leaders of [[the Ore Hills Rebellion]] and then the [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_5|General Assembly narrowly agreed]]. Now it's down to the Pride Assembly to see if they want to consecrate Rebellion's Ridge the new monument they've just built to remember folks by.

If that happens, it will be a lit match in a dry field. All the arguments about just who should be appointing senators will come boiling back to the surface.
===Holding Out For a Hero===
{{SOP|statement=William Guildenstern was recognised as a Marcher Folk Hero in 384YE. As my cousin Pipit Boon called out to our people in 385YE; "Let us sing his story for generations to come, across our territories." There is no better time than these - our homes under siege and our territories dividing - to draw Marchers to great Marcher deeds. As a Folk Hero walks among us as General of the Drakes, remember: Jonah Gold made weapons so fierce it turned a war's tide. Odd of Odd's End drained the Oddmire against the Marshwalker threat. Tom Drake struck down Alderei the Fair. William Guildenstern caught a falling star in his chest. All are Marchers, all fought our battles, all did deeds of great renown, all had rivals who would see them fail, and all are remembered in song.|by=Jedediah Boon, Marcher National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 152-20|when=Spring 388YE|size=small}}
* '''William Guildenstern has been recognised as a folk hero by the Marcher Assembly'''
* '''The Marches are eager to hear what act or acts he has done to be inspired by'''
* '''It is unclear what being recognised as a folk hero will actually ''do'', it will depend on what the act is'''
Most Marchers hold three things close to them: a favourite [[proverbs|proverb]], a patch of land they call home, and someone they look up to. Proverbs are important and an apt demonstration of [[Wisdom]]; they allow an important idea to be communicated with as few words as possible. A patch of land to call home is the foundation of every [[Marcher household]], the starting place for [[Loyalty]]. But someone to look up to can be important too; it lets people take [[Pride]] in the actions of their fellow Marchers, and inspires them to do great deeds themselves.

Last season, the Marcher Assembly upheld a [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_81|judgement]] raised by '''Jedediah Boon''' which echoed the [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_115|call]] from '''Pipit Boon''' that '''William Guildenstern''', General of the [[Drakes]] and former Senator for [[Mournwold]], was a folk hero. The statement of principle called out several other folk heroes from the history of the Marches and the inspirational acts they had done. People are keen to hear more about this folk hero - and Friar Alyn asks that the Marcher Assembly use the coming summit to recognise the thing William Guildenstern has done that is most inspiring. Something that has been done that the Marchers can be inspired by and rally behind. When tales of Jonah Gold were spread of making weapons, it inspired the blacksmiths to focus on making blades for soldiers; when stories of Odd of Odd's End were spread, it led to beaters tracking marshwalkers and protecting settlements from them. If Guildenstern has done something that people be Proud of and rally behind it just [[opportunity|do some good]].
<quote by='Friar Alyn of Hay'>Inspirations are a lot like wheat. You need to harvest them when you can, and be aware that they might turn rotten.</quote>
Some nations have annals or chronicles to record their inspirations. Some assemblies have rolls or walls to mark theirs. ''Friar Alyn of Hay'' pours scorn on that idea. Marchers don't need to keep records of their folk heroes - what's the bloody point? If you have to write their name down to know who they are, then they're not much of a bloody hero are they? In the opinion of the friar, the best inspirations are fleeting. They represent the zeitgeist of the Marches at the height of summer, when the sun is high and there is time to have the proper chats without worrying about the weather.
===Rebellion's Ridge===
<div {{float}}>
{{SOP|statement=Three years ago, Meri stated on my behalf that we knew the importance of all Marchers working the land, that the Nation must consider the plight simmering over Mourn hillsides. The Pride Assembly agreed. The miners of the Mourn have worked their land for us. They have battled the Jotun, fought off the Howling Bear. They raised rebellions against tyranny twice, were the last ones standing against recent invaders. They work tirelessly to supply our armies, to build our Great Works, braving the Singing Caves and tearing its bounty from enemy hands. They have stood with our Nation since Marcher boots first met Mourn soil. So we too stand with them - we will not turn our backs another year not take their Loyalty to the Marchers, the Pride in their work for granted. We recognise their right to a voice in the leadership of the Mournwold, where the ore runs deep and so many of us have fought together, shoulder to shoulder.|by=Jedediah Boon, Marcher National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 208-22|when=Autumn 387YE|size=small}}</div>
* '''Rebellion's Ridge has been completed in the Mournwold'''
* '''A writ of consecration for the Leaders of the Ore Hills Rebellion on the great work would have consequences'''
* '''It would breathe new life into old arguments, long since buried, about who runs the Mournwold'''
During the Autumn Equinox 387YE, '''Alfred Aewulfson-Boon''', as the [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave]], commissioned the [[Construct_Rebellion%27s_Ridge|construction]] of Rebellion's Ridge. A [[great work]] in [[Mournwold#Ore Hills|Ore Hills]] dedicated to the [[Known_exemplars#Leaders_of_the_Ore_Hills_Rebellion|leaders of the Ore Hills Rebellion]]. These exemplars of [[Pride]] were [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_5|recognised]] during the Winter Solstice 386YE as a group, in much the same way as [[the Marked]]. The exemplars were instrumental in [[the Ore Hills Rebellion|the Ore Hills Uprising]], and were identified as ringleaders and executed by the magistrates for their role in inciting, and in most cases participating in, the violence that marred Mournwold.

Now, [[Mournwold#Rebellion's_Ridge|Rebellion's Ridge]] stands completed. The finishing touches have been made, and the [[congregation|congregations]] of the Mourn will receive their first doses of [[liao]] at the Autumn Equinox. But what next? During the Autumn Equinox 387YE, the Marcher Assembly voted to uphold a [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_98|judgement]] raised by '''Jedediah Boon''' which drew attention to the plight of the miners of the Mourn.
<div {{float}}>{{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>
If the Assembly chooses to pass a [[writ of consecration]] for Rebellion's Ridge, then it would inevitably reopen those old wounds. Miners work every bit as hard as farmers, nobody denies that, but they have no say in who speaks for them. That's what the Orehills Rebellion was all about. Power, who has it, and who doesn't. The miners demanded that the yeofolk share their power. When the yeofolk refused to let their power be diluted and their traditions lost, it ultimately resulted in bloodshed.

Folks are full of fond memories for the Rebellion now, but it was the most bitter fight imaginable at the time. Any move to consecrate Rebellion's Ridge will force the Mournwold to reckon with that struggle. You simply cannot draw inspiration from a bunch of Marchers who died fighting for something they believed in, without making everyone ask ''what were they fighting for?''. It'll fire up every single mine owner in the Mournwold with fresh demands for a change in how the the territory appoints its senator. And it won't just be the yeofolk who are worried - it'll make every Marcher who thinks traditions are important, worried about where all this is going.

Seriously contemplating a change in how the Mournwold elects its senator is ''absolutely guaranteed'' to open a sack full of angry kittens.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Loyalty.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Pride.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>

==Loyalty and Heresy==
{{SOP|statement=The scars of Whittle run deep. A people massacred due to zealotry. The Marchers know too well the risks of following your traditions. While the Marchers have no intent of undermining the Synod’s spiritual authority, the fact of the matter remains; A Marcher, A Marcher. Should the Synod proscribe the beliefs of the Marcher Orcs as heretical, the Marches as a whole will defend their neighbours as they would any other Marcher unduly persecuted. To echo the words of the First Empress: “You will take all of us, or none of us.” The Synod may make it’s choice.|by=Statement of Principle, Brother Luke, Marcher Assembly|vote=Greater Majority 146-50|when=Winter Solstice 388YE|size=small}}
* '''The priests of the Marches preach of Pride, inspiring both human and orc
* '''The folk of the Marches are mostly united - the Marcher orcs are Marchers
And talking of lit matches... At the Spring Equinox, the Marcher Assembly voted to uphold a [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_13|judgement]] raised by '''Brother Luke''' with a [[greater majority]]. It called on the Marches to defend the [[Mournwold Orcs|Marcher orcs]] if things came to a head with the [[Synod]]. After the Summer Solstice, inspired by the statement, more than half the [[congregation|congregations]] in the Marches preached the importance of supporting the Marcher Orcs, and that any attack on them was the same as an attack on anyone else in the nation. "''Pride in small things,''" as the saying goes. The congregations who took this action used their liao to create suitable [[aura|auras]], but in return received gifts of recognition and support from Marcher Orcs and their allies.

It's been less direct than a mandate, but it's had the desired effect. If there was any doubt as to whether the Marcher Orcs are Marchers or not, it's been dispelled. If the Empire sends anyone to attack the Marcher Orcs for their beliefs, whether that be armies or magistrates, the folk of the Marches will resist. The argument that their beleifs mark them as heretics butters no mustard in Mournwold or elsewhere. The nation ''knew'' they believed in reincarnation when they embraced them; the [[egregore]] ''knew'' their beliefs were at odds with doctrine when they recognised them as Marchers. They are Marcher folk, and the general consensus in the Marches is that their belief in reincarnation is not a problem in a nation that firmly believes humans can be reincarnated as trees, or vermin.

When the Generals of the Marches swore their oaths to protect their territories, there was no equivocation about whether they would protect some Marchers and not others. If the Synod moves against the Marcher Orcs, the Marches will resist. With weapons to protect those who won't take them up themselves, if need be. And they will expect the generals to honour their oaths, and if need be fight the armies of the Empire to defend an attack against their own.

Not everyone is on board, but those who are not have the good sense to keep quiet about it. When challenged to explain how the beleifs of the Marcher Orcs can be reconciled with doctrine, one pugnacious Abbott turns the question around, and demands to know why nobody ever asks how Doctrine can be reconciled with the beliefs of the Marcher orcs? The ''only'' thing that brands the Marcher Orcs as heretics is the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] that was created less than a decade ago based solely on the spiritual beliefs of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]] - and a belief that is challenged by septs of orcs all over the world.
===The Tom Drake Revelation===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hazelelponi.jpg|align=right|caption=Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]] is the controversial [[Lepidean Librarian]] who commissioned the investigation into the life of Tom Drake.|width=400}}</div>
* '''Recent revelations regarding Tom Drake incline the folk of the Marches to view the state bodies of the Empire with skepticism
* '''Inspired by Pride and Loyalty, the human Marchers will defend the orc Marchers
The Marchers as a whole have no patience for people who give themselves airs and graces, but they take a quiet Pride in a number of folk from [[The Marches history|history]]. Among those they are proudest of is [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], the original general of the Drakes who helped put the Military Council together. Recently, the [[Lepidean Librarian]] undertook an examination of [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom's life]], and the truths contained within were [[Life_of_Tom_Drake#Unacceptable_History|at odds]] with the popular historical version. Tom Drake fought ''against'' Brigit of Dourfell, and led the rebels. He was rightly recognised as an exemplar of [[Loyalty]], always willing to show it to those who deserved it, to the Marches, and to its people.

It's been quiet, but these historical revelations have spread quietly across the Marches and increased Marcher skepticism of what some see as "Imperial excesses". It's nothing like as dramatic as the problems in [[Bregasland]] in the wake of the Fishers - but there is a quiet, grass-roots belief that the Marcher dislike of people putting themselves above their peers extends to ''everyone''. Including, arguably, the Senate and the Synod. When push comes to shove, they ask themselves what Tom Drake would do, and the answer is usually some variation of "stand up and be counted", "be Proud and Loyal", and "tell the Empire to go... take itself away... if it comes to it."

===What This Means===
* '''The Empire risks a second Cousin's War if they persecute the Marcher Orcs for their beliefs
With these two key factors in mind, the only predictable outcome is that Marchers will defend their orc citizens against the Synod, the magistrates, or Imperial armies. What form this will take is not clear, it will depend on exactly what is tried. There are tens of thousands of Marcher orcs. Their willingness to pitch in, the fact they are never slow to contribute when there's a big project on, and their sheer ''enthusiasm'' for the Marches has won them a lot of friends even before the priests of the Marches spoke of the Pride of having them among their number. Then there's the lessons of Tom Drake, exemplar of Loyalty, who would ''never'' stand by and let the Empire declare war on his neighbours (or at least that's the current feeling).

This is obviously a problem. For an Imperial nation to reject the rule of law in this fashion - the Synod has the power to declare something heresy, which is a crime. The magistrates are expected to deal with criminals under the law.

What seems clear is that any move to condemn the Marcher Orcs as heretics is likely to trigger a conflict along the lines of the [[The_Marches_history#The_Cousin's_War|Cousin's War]], albeit with most of the Marches lining up against the rest of the Empire, and with those Marchers who regularly visit [[Anvil]] to represent their nation potentially caught in the middle.
===Pragmatism===
* '''Some Mournwold priests have proposed a "solution" to the problem
So far only one positive proposal has come out, and that's from the Marcher Orc spiritual leader and a couple of his old friends among the priests of the Mournwold. He proposes that while the Synod determines what is a crime, it's the Senate and the magistrates who decide what the punishment is. There are basically two punishments - death and fines. "So fine us," say the Mournwold priests. "Fine the orcs for their heretical beliefs. How about 5 Thrones a season that the Marcher Orcs continue to believe in reincarnation, and then maybe we can all get back on with sorting the harvest?" Obviously this is an outrage and the magistrates will do their nut. But a Senate motion to this effect would see 5 Thrones a season into the Imperial treasury, and its likely the Marcher Orcs might go higher if they had to especially if their human neighbours pitched in.

While this proposal seem ludicrous, it does highlight at least one potential avenue to try and deal with the problem represented by tens of thousands of Marchers that the Synod seem to deem to be heretics. Ultimately, the Synod does not operate in isolation within the Empire. Nobody is suggesting that the Senate alone can solve this problem, but at the end of the day it is the Senate that has the power to define the laws, and guide the magistrates as to the punishments that arise when those laws are broken. Perhaps some compromise can be reached?

==Rowdy Bandits (Conjunctions)==
* '''The scions of Red Walder are causing trouble in Mitwold
* '''Jyll Longleys is interfering with the Maiden Stone
* '''Dusty Cobb leads a gang to burn the Golden Fields of Hay
And finally ... the [[Rose_grow_the_rushes_o%27#Objective:_Kill_Red_Walder's_Descendants|scions of Red Walder]] are following in their forbear's footsteps and causing a brace of difficulties in Mitwold. Armed by Stephen of Sarcobe (and many Marchers spit when they say his name these days), there's rumours doing the rounds that they've ''also'' been empowered by the terrible Jack-in-Chains, the horror buried at the bottom of a well near [[Mitwold#Wayford|Wayford]]. Probably expecting the Empire to be busy fighting Marcher armies, two of them have collected rowdy mobs around themselves and set about causing trouble.

Something needs to be done, and fortunately the [[Sentinel Gate]] provides an opportunity for response to immediate problems. Frankly, it might be a bit of a relief to have problems that can be dealt with directly by sticking the boot into some wrong'uns.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Glistering.jpg|caption=The Champion of Prosperity fights for virtue.|align=right|width=350}}
===Apples First (Mitwold)===
* '''A gaggle of rowdy Marcher rebels are travelling to curse the Maiden Stone'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Champion of Prosperity'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for stopping Jyll Longleys from cursing the Maiden Stone'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}
''Jyll Longleys'', daughter of the wicked old bandit Red Walder and former flax farmer, has been spotted [[Things_go_awry#Mitwold|once again]] in Mitwold. This time, in the [[Mitwold#Maiden Downs|Maiden Downs]], moving towards the Maiden Stone with fire in her eyes and plagued with tremendously bad luck, if rumours are to be believed. Jyll and her unruly band are travelling with purpose and are - according to hearsay, rumour, and the best guesses - going to "''fuck up''" the Maiden Stone. Whether this is by some unknown curse, malicious use of hearth magic, or they're just going to find some hammers on the way there, it will be bad if they aren't stopped.

The [[Champion of Prosperity]], '''Tom Appleseed''', is responsible for stopping Jyll Longleys before they reach the Maiden Stone. If they cannot be stopped, then it will have, at minimum, consequences for farms across the territory. The farms will be able to cope, but it will eat up the profits from the [[Keeper of the Breadbasket|Breadbasket]] in the territory for at least six months.
{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenFields.jpg|caption=The golden fields of Hay are watched over by a [[#The Silent Giant|Silent Giant]].|align=right|width=350}}
===The Right Thing (Mitwold)===
* '''A gaggle of rowdy Marcher rebels are travelling to burn the Golden Fields of Hay'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Keeper of the Golden Fields'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for stopping Dusty Cobb from setting Golden Fields alight'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}
''Dusty Cobb'', the old soldier turned monk who has once again taken up the mantle of bandit, has been spotted in the [[Mitwold#Golden_Downs|Golden Downs]], travelling towards Hay and its golden fields. Though frustrated by bad luck, the shriver of Red Walder has gathered a gaggle of Marcher rebels to them and is travelling with the intent of setting the Golden Fields of Hay alight with good old-fashioned flint and tinder.

The [[Keeper of the Golden Fields]], '''Nicolas Reaper''', is responsible for stopping Dusty Cobb from setting the Golden Fields alight. If they are not stopped, the [[Keeper_of_the_Golden_Fields#The_Silent_Giant|Silent Giant]] will no doubt suffer damage from the flames, significantly reducing its production of mana crystals until repaired.

A horn blast of victory

2026-07-21T12:45:53Z

Noserenda: /* A Hearty Meal (Conjunction) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Imperial Address]]
<ic>Cousins,

The Manticore was a sovereign - but no king, a mere monster of the twisted woods. He sought to drag Dawn from her siblings, from the warmth of the Imperial hearth.

He looked me in the eye, offered me his hand and said; “We could rule the ashes together.”

There is but one thing to say to monsters.

There is no welcome here.

On field that day shone armour and sword, rod and staff, their numbers untold. Among them we sing the songs of De Rondell, De Coeurderfer, Du Meravon, Griffinsong, De Ordraig. D’Fauntine, Cordraco, Mortere, Castellan, du Beste, the Twisted Rose, de Lagriffe, Fools, Reynauld, Brightwing, Charlatan, Lysander, Sepulchre, de Vere, Angleburr, Meliora, de Carsenere, Gildaryn, de Courtenay Wyldrose, de Licorne, de Coeurvelant, Orzel, Tallstag, du Lac, Ganderly, De Maur, du Froste, Summerstrong, de Jeunepen, and all others who stood for me on the list field. You have won your glory. And with it, mine. A horn blast of victory to shake the pillars of the earth.

To my cousins I say, these are not just my champions but yours. Champions of the Empire all. May their heraldry be raised upon the battlements of the Castle of Thorns for all to see and envy, that it may light the fire of Ambition and Courage in all who look upon it. Here are the knights who fought for Dawn’s place in the Empire, here are the knights who fought for you. And to those who cheered and yelled, to the physicks, and to those no longer with us who laid the path for us to walk, your efforts, your words, your memory will not be forgotten.

I also speak to the challengers. The black knights who sought to honour your nation’s tradition in Pride. Whatever your reasons may be, Virtuous and glorious the cause - your duty as challenger is done. You fought well and I commend you. I pledge to always meet the glorious standard you have held me to.

Dawn’s Queens hold a responsibility to their people. An oath that has echoed throughout the centuries, since before the First Empress took breath. An oath that your enemies will fall and your homes will be prosperous. Your nobles will know glory and your yeofolk will know good lives.

The Manticore promised the destruction of Dawn's foes but failed to understand what we already know. That when the Druj lie awake at night in their beds it is me whom they fear. It is our Empire.

I am your Emperor and the Queen of Dawn, and I will fulfil this oath. We will do what the pretender, that would-be-King, never could, because we stand as one Empire, with all ten nations behind us. We are strong because we are inextricable.

A newly affirmed Imperial Dawn has bent the knee. I implore you now, stand, Proud Dawnish. I call you to my side as we defeat our ancient enemy, to pen this final chapter in the story they have told since your predecessors drove the Ulvenkin from Semmerholm.

This war ends with us. The Druj empire will fall. Be my sword and shield, my banner, my gleaming lance, my magician’s art and troubadour’s horn. Shine as only the Dawnish can.

This season I would like to commend:<br>
Arsenio Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato for his years of exceptional service to the Conclave as Grandmaster of the Golden Pyramid.<br>
Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was for his monumental victory in Bloodwater Marsh and ongoing contribution to the Eastern Front.<br>
Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum for his peerless contributions to the Imperial Synod and the pride of lineaged citizens.<br>
Ingrid, Talon of the Mark, Atte Arrowtongue, Iron Osric, Avisena i Kharizmi i Guerra, Eva Siivarsdottir, Velasco i Guerra, Amberlain P Black, Orrick, Stormsteel Skorr, Redhand Frith, Florina i Sol-Devorador i Erigo and Vossk for taking the first successful steps on the path to diplomacy with the Jotun.

Inextricable. Indefatigable. Inevitable.<br>
Emperor Vesna<br>
Empress of the Hearth, Crowned in Thunder. <br>
Warden Queen of Dawn
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Warden Queen of Dawn.jpg|align=right|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
[[The Throne]] has the power to [[The_Throne#Address%20the%20Empire|nominate a single Imperial citizen who can deliver a message to the people of the Empire]] at each summit. [[Emperor Vesna]] has used their power to [[The_Throne#Address_the_Empire|address the Empire]], sending a message to all Imperial citizens.

The civil service ensure the message is heard by citizens across the Empire and beyond. Following their glorious victory and crowning as monarch of Dawn, the people of Dawn are [[The_matter_will_be_done#Victory_and_Defeat|eager to hear]] the words of their new queen. Word has spread far and wide of the extraordinary events of the Spring Equinox, the defeat and downfall of the manticore of the Untrod Groves and the grand force of black knights that took the field that day to fight for Dawn's glory.

Troubadours will sing of these events for a hundred years. People are hungry to hear more, so when the words of the Empress of the Hearth are carried to the Dawnish they take the message to their heart. It helps that she speaks to the longing the Dawnish have for finally ending the threat of the [[Druj]] once and for all. The glorious victory of the nobles who fought for the Queen of Dawn has stoked the [[Pride]] of the nation; now they are ready to fight her and finally bring about the end of the Druj.

==Charge!==
<div {{float}}>{{CaptionedImage|file=Call of the Queen.jpg|align=right|width=600}}</div>
* '''All Dawnish armies can take the ''triumphant charge'' order for the next year against the Druj'''
* '''No Dawnish armies can take the ''steady conquest'' order for the next year against the Druj'''
The call of the new monarch of Dawn is clear: the Druj must be defeated, once and for all. With Ossium, the Barrens, and now Sarangrave wrested from their control, the Mallum is smaller than it has ever been. Even now, the Thule push into the [[Forest of Ulnak]] is supported by Imperial mercenaries. All that remains is the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]. A vast territory, where the miasma lies heavy over the land and its people. Where ancient fortifications with elite garrisons rise above the muck and filth of the territory. It is a foreboding land, twisted by centuries of Druj rule. But, as any herald of [[Kaela]] would be quick to point out, ''everything ends''.

The [[Northern Eagle]] has spent the last three months readying the territory, working to isolate [[Salt_Flats_of_Sanath#Lower_Saarnath|Lower Saarnath]] from the garrisons so that an Imperial beachhead can be claimed with little in the way of resistance. Now, with the victory of Emperor Vesna the Hearthkeeper fresh in their hearts, the soldiers of Dawn are ready to charge into the Druj.

The soldiers of the [[Eastern Sky]], [[Golden Sun]], [[Gryphon's Pride]], and the [[Lions of Adelmar]] have been inspired by the glorious victory of those supporting the new Queen of Dawn. As a result of the epic triumph of Dawn's knights on the field of glory, Dawnish generals can all issue the order to make a [[Army_qualities#Glorious|triumphant charge]] in any region controlled by the Druj - all of the Salt Flats of Sanath; Deathsgate, The Bonewall, Ghul'thak Forest, Gloomsea, Grimfen Mire, and Shifting Basin in the [[Forest of Ulnak]]; and East Ashes, Lower Tarn Valley, Peakedge Song, and Upper Tarn Valley in [[Therunin]] - until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE. This order is only available against a region held by the Druj; if a general issues an order for a triumphant charge against another enemy, it will default to a [[Army_orders#Balanced_Attack|balanced attack]].

Unfortunately, this inspiration to bring about the final destruction of the detestable Druj has also had an adverse consequence. Dawnish armies will be unable to take a [[Army_orders#Steady_Conquest|steady conquest]] against a region held by the Druj for the coming year - Dawnish soldiers eager to win glory in the Emperor's name simply cannot be held back this way. Their soldiers will fight normally against other enemies, but if a Dawnish general issues an order for a steady conquest against a Druj region, it will default to an [[Army_orders#Overwhelming_Assault|overwhelming assault]].

Of course, the Dawnish Assembly have made clear that the highest calling of the nation is the [[Love and monsters|fight against the vallorn]]. The idea of fighting two different foes at once is a challenging one, but for some, that only makes it more glorious.

==The Manse==
* '''The manse of the manticore could be given to ''Temperance of the Groves'' or any single Dawnish title'''
* '''It is available to be assigned by a simple majority vote of the Earl's Council at the coming summit'''

The great victory won by the nobles sworn to Empress Vesna has also seen the grand manse of the Earl of the Groves claimed by the Empire. The manor is an ancient pile, a sprawling, moss-clad construction that squats in the clearing at the centre of the woods. There are strong regio nearby, which certain eternals are rumoured to lay claims to - supposedly the same eternals who once held the Earl's favours. The work of the [[knight-protector|knights-protector]] saw these recovered by trials of endurance, strength, wit, and cunning. Those few yeofolk who served under the manticore have remained, tending to the manor and its extensive estate. Alyss Retainer, one of the first to pledge herself to the Earl and a loyal supporter of the vision of Dawn that he espoused, has worked hard over the last year to see that the manor was restored to some semblance of comfort.

It isn't clear, particularly, who ''owns'' this manor. There are rumours that the manticore may have named an heir as he lay dying, one '''Temperance of the Groves'''. Now styling themselves as Earl Temperance of the Groves, they may be the manticore's heir apparent, but Imperial law does not recognise the property rights of monsters. Lacking any definitive owner, the magistrates have determined that the manor is considered to be the property of Dawn. As such, it is for the Earl's Council to vote on what to do with the Manor of the Groves and the estate surrounding it.

There are countless options for the earls to choose from. The manor could be awarded to the [[Senator]] for the Barrens, granting them a prestigious estate in the centre of the territory. The manse is big enough to create luxurious apartments for the Senator and their guests, with rooms to spare for future [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|expansion]].

A [[knight-protector]] could be granted the manor to serve as a place to rest, recuperate, and ready themselves for defending the nation against the inhabitants of the realms. Or a [[general]] could make use of the estate and the accompanying buildings for the planning of grand strategy and the minutiae of warfare. In fact, any single Dawnish title could be granted the rights to dwell in the manse while they hold their position.

The alternative would be for the Earl's Council to recognise a claim by Temperance to be the new Earl of the Groves, by granting them the ownership of the manse. It would be a [[Resource#Campaign_Resource|wealthy estate]] for an earl to take control of, but it may allow the Earl to form a powerful new noble house in the Barrens. It will be a valuable asset for the nation, whoever ends up with it.

Of course, the choice could be made to do nothing with it. To turn away from the tale of the manticore and allow the wilds to reclaim the manse as it did in the long years of the Earl's slumber.

==Oaths==
* '''Empress Vesna's oath of office has been inscribed on the walls of the Forge of Bonds'''
During the Spring Equinox, the Loyalty Assembly voted to uphold a [[388YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_50|judgement]] raised by '''Veikko Bondforger''', as the [[Keeper of Oaths]], that made note of the oath given by Empress Vesna. The oath has been engraved on the high walls of the [[Keeper_of_Oaths#Forge_of_Bonds|Forge of Bonds]].

<quote by="Oath of Office of Emperor Vesna">
I vow to stand side-by-side with my subjects and uphold what it means to be Imperial. I will recognise the virtue in struggle, service, and in hard choices made for the good of all. I will honour our oaths and treaties, act with virtue to all peoples, and extend the hand of friendship to those who would walk beside us. I will offer the hospitality of the hearth to the vulnerable, the disillusioned, and those who turn from us, and ensure that there is a place for all within the Empire. I vow to stand steadfast in the pursuit of strengthening this Empire, to place the needs of the Empire before my own, and to act with Courage, Wisdom, and Loyalty in all things so long as I am Emperor.
</quote>

Oaths are [[Winter_magic#Oaths_and_Wards|a powerful magic]], especially significant oaths that are sworn in front of witnesses. Misfortune and curses often follow those who break a solemn oath. Few understand this [[Varushka_hearth_magic#Oaths|better than the Varushkans]], so the Emperor will know the consequences of their action. It is a lengthy list, which is a danger in itself, but experienced magicians point out one element in particular. The oath not to break any treaties is one that could easily come back to haunt the Throne, and perhaps the whole Empire, if it were broken.

==Don't cry for me==
The death of the so-called "Earl" of the Groves has raised spirits across Dawn. Those who were outraged that this monster claimed to be Dawnish are delighted to see it get a fitting end, while those appalled by its monstrous nature are relieved it is dead. Even some of the manticore's followers are pleased by the glorious end to the story. Yet there is always a twist in the tail...

The manticore's sting is said to have possessed a dreadful quality - it sapped the living spirit from those affected by it, until all that was mortal in them died and their bodies became merely instruments of the manticore's will. Those poor unfortunates who fell victim in this manner were known as its ''vassals''. Now that the manticore is dead, one might have expected these vassals to perish but it seems that some bestial instinct still animates them. A horde of them began rampaging at the heart of the Untrod Groves shortly after the Spring Equinox. They're a dangerous threat but would have remained relatively contained to the Groves, but the manticore still has a few die-hard supporters and they have found a way to corral some of the vassals.

===Fangs for the Memories (Conjunction)===
* '''Vassals of the manticore have attacked the Rahvin trade outpost and stolen the mithril'''
* '''The conjunction offers a chance to slay the beast allowing the mithril to be reclaimed'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Merchant of the Fangs'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for recovering the mithril'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}

Not everyone in the Gryphon's Pride has been happy with the efforts by Ser Guy, the outgoing general, to restore the reputation of the army in the wake of the attack on the [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]]. A number of bitter deserters - some who left the army after Archaivion Wolfborne met his end, and some last season when they were asked to defend Nesustak Forest - have gathered in the Barrens. They've decided to take matters into their own hands, and have corralled some of the vassals in order to slay a group of Rahvin bringing mithril to trade with the Merchant of the Fangs.

General Utmar of the Rahvin has sent word of the threat, imploring the Empire to do something. They will reward the Merchant of the Fangs with four wains of mithril if the vassals can be dealt with. If the vassals aren't dealt with then the Rahvin will have no mithril to sell in the coming season.

===Taste of Mettle (Conjunction)===
* '''Brutal supporters of the manticore have attacked Karass settlements in the Untrod Groves'''
* '''Earl Valerie Courcillon has denounced their actions and declared that they have failed their tests'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''''Rhydian de Rondell'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for defeating the would-be knights'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}

House Courcillon was foremost amongst the brutal supporters of the manticore. Earl Valerie Courcillon has made it clear that she stands proudly for a Dawn that is red in tooth and claw. Notoriously, the Earl has recently been setting her knights-errant tests of mettle designed to test their martial prowess and cunning. She charged them with using tactics of baiting and harassment to provoke the members of the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]] into attacking them. There's no sign that she's sorry about this, but it seems a group of these knights-errant, having found the line, have now stepped firmly over it. Three of them, Ser Perrivale, Ser Lissa, and Ser Richard have embraced the effects of the ritual [[Glory to the Sovereign]] and openly attacked and killed three members of the Karass.

They and their allies have driven off magistrates sent to arrest them and are threatening more attacks on the orcs of the Barrens. They, too, have managed to corral some of the ''vassals'' of the Earl to this wicked end. Earl Valerie appears to be outraged. This misses the point of her test ''entirely'' in her view; it is as much about outwitting the brutish orc as it is about seeing them attacked. She has publicly decried these errant knights and declared that they have failed her test.

There is a conjunction to Trading Way in the Carmine Fields. Earl Valerie has made a personal request that Rhydian de Rondell handle the matter. She was impressed by their steel at the Tourney for Dawn at Dusk and knows that they will share her contempt for these failed knights. Rhydian or their proxy, will need to arrange for a group of people to go through, attempt to reason with the knights and get them to lay down their arms. If they refuse to submit to Imperial justice, then lethal force is permissible to deal with the threat. Obviously the vassals need killing either way as they are a supernatural threat to all who dwell in the Barrens.

===A Hearty Meal (Conjunction)===
* '''Ser Gawain Amboise has stolen the heart of the manticore'''
* '''He intends to consume the heart on the grounds of the manse to invoke a powerful curse on the Barrens'''
* '''The curse will open the regio of the territory to heralds of Agramant'''
* '''This skirmish is a [[Accessibility#Combat_Highly_Likely|combat highly likely]] encounter'''
* '''The ''Knight-Protector of Winter'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for defeating the would-be knights'''
{{NoInnocentsPresent}}

One of the manticore's supporters, Ser Gawain Amboise, behaved quite strangely on his death. According to the reports of witnesses, when the manticore fell, Ser Gawain lept upon the corpse and cut out its heart. It was a highly suspicious act - by all accounts, he was clearly ''prepared'' for this eventuality. Ser Gawain and his weaver cabal, the Friends of the Good Knight, have been linked in rumour before to the [[Agramant|Horned Manticore]] himself, but there was little proof. The Knight-Protector of Winter had Gawain arrested at the summit, but lacked evidence that would definitively link him to the ''Abominable One''. The law that bans the disbursement, trade, sale, and consumption of the flesh of the sapient denizens of the mortal realm does ''not'' prohibit its harvesting and regrettably, the militia were forced to let him go.

In any event, Ser Gawain and his band of rogues appear to have decided to make things simple for their adversaries. Alyss Retainer, the erstwhile servant of the Manticore, reports that Ser Gawain came to her to try to enlist her aid. He plans to lay a curse on the Barrens with the aid of the power of the Manticore's heart. While she was sympathetic to the manticore's aims, she refuses to serve the Horned Manticore, and told Ser Gawain as much.

It seems Ser Gawain is pressing ahead with his plan. He intends to use the Winter regio in the grounds of the manor of the Earl of the Groves to take vengeance for the Manticore. By consuming its heart at the regio, he will unleash a powerful curse on the Barrens that will allow Agramant heralds to enter the territory freely, thwarting the [[Alignment#Enmity|wards]] of the [[Conclave]]. If he is not stopped, then more trouble is sure to follow. It is the responsibility of the [[Knight-protector|Knight-Protector of Winter]] to ensure this threat from ''the Whisperer'' is dealt with. Ser Gawain is protected by knights pledged to his weaver cabal, the Friends of the Good Knight, as well as the remainder of the Earl's errant ''vassals''.

<ic>
"It's over, then." Tristan spoke, breaking the silence of Alyss's thoughts. "What will we do now?" She turned to look at her brother, her eyes filled with sad resolve. "We bear his memory, Tristan. His memory, and that of King Penni. But... in the end, is this not what we wanted? Dawn's pride is restored to it. We face a new tomorrow with our brilliant Monarch." She smiled. "He was a monster, Tristan. A glorious monster. Yet monsters never succeed in the troubadour's tales. We have played our part, in this story that will last long after we are dead. Is that not enough? Is that not what it means to be a yeofolk bound to the Rose Throne? It is our duty to set the stage and ensure that our nobility have their entrances and their exits, their hour when it comes. We did that."

Her brother frowned. "You didn't answer my question, really. Practically speaking, what will we do now? Will you serve the Lady Temperance?" He gestured to the table of their cottage, where a piece of parchment lay. She glanced at it, then looked back to her brother, eyes wet. "Anka Karass still lives, does she not? I do not know that she can truly call herself noble while that is true... but she wishes to bear the manticore's legacy. I ''want'' to serve her..." Alyss shook her head. "It's not ours to accept her as a noble or not. That's - well. I don't know. But not for the likes of us. I'll keep the lights on at the manor, though, whatever happens. Stop those ne'er-do-wells like Ser Gawain mucking about. I'm Proud, Tristan. I won't apologise: not for any of it. Serving the manticore - that was real. It was true. It was - he was glorious. And I'll tell people that 'til I'm dead."
</ic>

{{Imperial Addresses}}

Keys of Enlightenment

2026-07-20T12:30:31Z

Noserenda: /* Sjördeyr */

[[Category:Wind of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>"Have they given any context for their query?"

Tipoa and the Cardinal had taken cover from the sun under a rainbow canopy in one of the gardens that spilled over the side of the High House of Wisdom. It was the hottest part of the day and even the jewelled hummingbirds were silent, resting beneath broad leaves. Only the raptors were active, playing their inscrutable lizard games and hunting beetles among the foliage.

"The Censor of Wood, Stone and Metal said it was a request from the Senator of Bastion. They say they are keen to learn more about the exemplar."

The Cardinal pondered for several moments, her attention apparently focused on the task of tending to one of her beast companions. Jormga as a snake easily as long as Tipoa was tall, and she had always disliked it. The serpent was lazy with age, six eyes closed contentedly as the Cardinal carefully rubbed its head and body with coarse sand. His only movement was to flicker his long forked tongue occasionally. In the wild the beasts were deadly hunters, but the Cardinal had hatched him herself, and he doted on her as much as any serpent could dote on anyone.

"To be fair," mused the Cardinal, "it is the nature of inspirational figures to inspire, so there is no reason not to share our stories with the Empire. I wonder if it has to do with a vision of past lives?"

"Would you like me to ask Oxtitocszin to enquire?" One of the smaller raptors had run up and stood staring curiously at her, flicking its blue and green feathers. She flicked a morsel of meat toward it, and it was quickly the centre of attention for three of its siblings.

"No need, I don't think. Traditionally the Imperial Synod is always very excited when someone experiences a vision of having been Sumaash, and cannot wait to tell us. So patience will tell us one way or another."

The Cardinal smiled, humourlessly.

"I do wonder sometimes why they seem to be so constantly surprised when they discover that their people have souls older than the Empire, or from another part of the world? Despite that revelation being the foundation of their entire Empire. And still it is an uncommon Imperial priest that asks about our ''own'' visions, and how they relate to folk from their history."

Tipoa nodded.

"I'll put something together but it will be challenging to know quite how much detail to go into."

"Ah!" said the Cardinal, eye twinkling. "I have a suggestion there. I was speaking to the Cardinal of Vigilance only this morning, and this enquiry comes at just the right time. How long has it been since you last visited the Empire, Utredare Tipoa?"

Tipoa felt her heart sink slightly. She could see the shape of the future and was not sure she was especially excited about it. Travelling to the Empire, especially at this time of year when the weather would be turning inhospitable, was not how she had planned to end the year. Especially with this apparent non-sequitur about the Cardinal of Vigilance.

"To talk about Sjördeyr, Cardinal? Or were you thinking of sending me in an more official capacity?"

The Cardinal didn't reply immediately, but a slow smile spread across her face as she continued to stroke the somnolent serpent in her lap.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sumaah_Raptors.jpg|align=left|caption=it's common for Sumaah citizens to keep small drakes as companions.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''The Sumaah Republic is an empire devoted to an orthodox interpretation of the Way'''
* '''The Sumaah Republic remain allies of the Empire in the Liberty Pact
The [[Sumaah Republic]] are simultaneously allies of, and rivals to, the Empire. Their shared practice of the Way both provide them with common ground, and divides them over questions of orthodoxy. As founding members of the [[Liberty Pact]], their ties to the Empire have been strengthened, and they have been closely involved in bringing ruin to those involved in the abhorrent practice of slavery. At the moment they are focused on their [[Guide_the_spirit#Virtuous_War|war]] with the [[Asavean Archipelago]], but they remain committed to spreading the Way through the entire world. In gratitude for [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|major aid]] from the Empire in repulsing an Asavean assault against the port of [[Foreign_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]], the Sumaah have committed to sharing a dose of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] with the Empire every season "''until the Plenum falls and the Way is spread to the Archipelago''." Relations with the grateful Sumaash, which have been bumpy in the past, are now better than ever.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sumaah Republic]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]]|ambassador=Accalon of [[Highguard]]}}
The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is ''Oxtitocszin'', who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah ''präster'', but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.
==Mithril and White Granite==
* '''Sumaah is interested in the proposal the Empire might be able to provide resources to fight the Asaveans
* '''They are interested in mithril and weirwood
* '''The High House of Prosperity has arranged a boon from the City of Salt and Sail that can help transport significant numbers of wains
* '''Ambassador Oxtitocszin asks for Accalon to give them an idea of what kind of price will be required
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Accalon5901.jpg|caption='''Accalon of Felix's Watch''', Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|align=right|width=350}}</div>
Ambassaor Accalon has mentioned the possibility of providing assistance in the Sumaah war with the Plenum, and that the Empire may be able to send resources that would assist their efforts. Ambassador Oxtitocszin has taken counsel with the High Houses of Courage and Prosperity, and spoken to the Plenum, and suggests that if there is interest in helping Sumaah in their fight against the Asaveans, they would be interested in supplies of mithril and weirwood to supplement their own stocks of these precious materials. While the bulk of the materials would be used to reinforce and strengthen the armies of Sumaah, a portion would be provided to Sumaah allies in the Asavean Archipelago to help support their efforts to spread the Way and bring down the Plenum.

The High House of Prosperity understands that the Empire is rich in both materials, and that there is a considerable surplus available to purchase. The challenge however will be transporting the material - as the [[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|Stone Fleet]] indicated the risk of transporting such valuable and bulky materials over great distances is considerable.

However, partially inspired by the [[Satraps_of_the_Abyss|ongoing visit]] of Imperial prognosticator [[Appraisal#Lisane_de_Terresford|Lisane de Terresford]], a coven of magician-präster of the House of Prosperity have sought a slightly less risky solution. The ''Wandering Port'' - the ''Great Turtle'' also known as the ''City of Salt and Sail'' - is prepared to aid in the transportation of at least one hundred wains of weirwood and mithril - either or both - between the Empire and the Republic. There is theoretically no upper limit to how much they can help transport in this way. The offer has been negotiated until the end of the Winter Solstice 388YE; after that the opportunity will be gone.

However, before they can be taken anywhere, the wains must be secured. The Sarcophan do not imagine the Ambassador means to provide them with a gift, and the Censor of Wood and Stone wants to hear from their opposite number what kind of price will be required and what volume of wains would be available. Accalon has indicated they have contacts in the [[Bourse]]; presumably these can be leveraged to arrange a straightforward and Prosperous agreement?

==Sjördeyr==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''The Life of Sjördeyr'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' Historical Research</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Should clearly indicate it is an invitation to the High House of Prosperity to send scholars to teach about the paragon Sjördeyr</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' None additional</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Produces a historical research document relating to the paragon Sjördeyr</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One yer; until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Dependant on the Empire remaining on good terms with the Sumaah Republic</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hazelelponi.jpg|align=right|caption=Hazelelponi of the [[Highguard_groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]] raised the final peerless kinship mandate.|width=300}}{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|caption='''Watt of Lambrook''', Minister of Historical Research|align=left|width=300}}</div>
* '''A short essay about the Sumaah paragon Sjördeyrhas been provided by Ambassador Oxtitocszin
* '''Either the Lepidean Library or the Department of Historical Research could host scholars from the Sumaah Republic if they wished to know more
Ambassador Oxtitocszin is a little surprised to be asked about the ''Sjördeyr'', but provides some information in the form of a short essay copied from a book of Sumaah inspirations.

In short, Sjördeyr is a Paragon and not an Exemplar as the Ambassador seems to believe. He is primarily known for inspiration around the importance of celebrating one's labours at least as hard as one worked to achieve them. One of the leaders of the Sumaah rebellion against the Asavean Satraps, he was a loud and persistent voice in opposition to slavery in general, and the wickedness of the Plenum, rather than just the plight of the Sumaah themselves. No great warrior himself, he strove to acquire the resources his people needed to cast off the yoke of the Satraps. In the process he dealt with many unsavoury folk, including some of the corrupt and venal Asaveans. According to the stories, however, so affable and charismatic was he that stories claim he was adept at recruiting others to aid the Sumaah cause, and allegedly he convinced a few of the Asaveans to secretly support the rebels against their own people.

After the Sumaah won their freedom, the flamboyant and passionate Sjördeyr was one of the visionaries who encouraged the people not to lose themselves in endless warfare but to build a Republic from the ashes of their oppression. His enduring inspiration meant that he was one of the first historical paragons recognised by the Sumaah when they embraced the Way and the path of Virtue, .

If the Empire wishes to know more, the ambassador is certain some Sumaah scholars can be convinced to travel to the Empire and spend time working with the [[Lepidean_Librarian#Lepidean_University|Lepidean University]] or the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]]. Obviously, this would require either the [[Lepidean Librarian]] or the [[Minister of Historical Research]] (or the [[Senate]]) to commission the appropriate [[historical research]].

==Siblings in Spirit==
* '''The House of the People is discussing the Liberty Pact in light of the Commonwealth concerns'''
* '''Oxtitocszin advises that Sumaah fear their interests will suffer if the Empire and the Axiou can form a majority voting block'''
As the Summer Solstice approaches, the news that the [[Commonwealth]] is [[War_games#Commonwealth_Fury|considering leaving]] the [[Liberty Pact]] has reached Sumaah. Oxtitocszin restates part of the speech given by the präst ''[[Guide_the_spirit#Ripped_Away_(Necropolis)|Kauitalic]]'' after Imperial ship captains helped [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|defend Zemeh]] against the Asaveans. "The Empire and the Republic are siblings - they may squabble and argue but they are united by bonds of Virtue that the Asaveans can never understand much less sever." Whatever happens in the coming months, that will not change, no matter how aggrieved the Commonwealth is.

But the Sumaah Ambassador also confirms that [[Forging_links#Pact_of_Broken_Chains|as mentioned last season]], the Republic is not sure what the point of the Liberty Pact is now. The House of People continues to discuss the matter, as do the High Houses of Virtue. They are broadly in agreement though that a Liberty Pact without the Commonwealth will not survive. No decision has been taken yet; the Houses take their time to consider such matters carefully and avoid rushing as the Empire well knows. However, there are clear concerns around the influence of the Axou should the pact be comprised of only three members able to vote. The ambassador doesn't come directly out and say it, but the fact that the Empire and the Axou could form a majority voting block and decide the issues between them is clearly an issue. Eventually they will take act but the Ambassador stresses that whatever happens, it should not be seen as a failure of the Pact, but rather as further proof that it has fulfilled its Ambition. For now though, they will continue to hold to the Liberty Pact as it stands.
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Pride.png|align=right|width=150}}{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_General.png|align=right|width=150}}</div>
==Honour and War==
* '''The Sumaah will continue to send a dose of true liao to the Empire regardless of what happens
One final matter brought up by Oxtitocszin concerns the dose of [[liao#true liao|true liao]] the Council of Eight [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#The_Just_Rewards_of_Your_Labours|set aside for the Empire]] each season. Until the Way is spread to the whole of the Asavean Archipelago, it will continue to be delivered to the [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]] "''to bestow as they see fit on the virtuous of the Empire, in the name of that bond, forged in blood and salt, by the captains of the Empire''." Unless for some reason a state of war erupts again between the two great powers, the Sumaah gift to the Empire will continue.

There have however been concerns raised with Oxtitocszin regarding what might happen if the Gatekeepers were no longer [[Gatekeeper#Responsibilities|responsible]] for determining how true liao is distributed. If that were to happen, the High House of Pride would find another way to ensure their gift reached the Empire to be used in commemoration of the bonds between the two great nations. But as long as the Synod holds the Gatekeepers responsible for distributing the precious spiritual substance, it will continue to be delivered to them each season.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Albrecht von Holberg.jpg|caption='''Albrecht von Holberg''', Custodian of the Regario Dossier|align=left|width=400}}
</div>
==Missing River==
* '''Agent Vassa, who normally oversees the Regario Dossier agents in Sumaah, has gone missing
* '''An urgent message from Zemeh suggests the Imperial espionage network there is being rolled up
* '''The Regario Dossier will ultimately need to decide whether to cooperate with any investigation or not
* '''Re-establishing the Vassa network without knowing what is going on may see more Imperial agents vanish
There is one other matter of concern from Sumaah, but it (probably) doesn't concern the Republic itself. A year ago the [[Regario Dossier]] - which among other things organises the Empire's espionage in foreign nations - [[Talking_to_friends#The_Factions_Listen|reassigned agents]] to investigate factions in the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. Each of the three agents studied a different faction, made a full report during the Spring Equinox [[Regario_Dossier#Annual_Report|as is traditional]]. As far as the Empire knows, three agents were reassigned and those three agents should now be back in their assigned posts.

Unfortunately, one of the agents does not appear to have made it back from Asavea. Agent Vassa normally oversees a small network of agents in [[Foreign_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]] who report on the activities of the Sumaah Republic. Not only has Agent Vassa not resumed their post, but following the Spring Equinox the Imperial espionage network in Sumaah has "gone dark". A single ciphered message was received at the offices in [[Tassato#Tassato_Regario|Tassato Regario]] that appears to be genuine, claiming that several agents had died and several others vanished and that the writer themselves was in fear of their life and "in the wind." Cautious attempts to connect with the Vassa network to see what is up have yielded no response.

It's not unusual for agents to vanish, but for a whole network of agents to go quiet is a cause for alarm. There are three possibilities; the Sumaah Republic [[High House of Vigilance]] may have uncovered the Imperial agents in Zemeh. They have [[Price_of_prosperity#War_with_Sumaah|taken action]] against Imperial agents within their borders before, after all. Alternatively, the Asavean faction the Sumaah agents were involved in investigating might have attacked them, either in Asavea or when they returned to Sumaah. Finally, it the network might have unravelled due to the actions of a third, unknown enemy. That latter is the most worrying, of course.

Investigating what has happened represents something of a challenge. It will also require the cooperation of '''Albrecht von Holberg''' who holds the Regario Dossier. This cooperation is confirmed by the holder of the seat emailing {{plot}} after the event, before the end of downtime, indicating which if any methods of investigating the missing agents they have supported. Any they don't support will fail.
===Ambassadorial Concern===
* '''The Ambassador to the Republic could ask for help investigating the disappearance of Imperial citizens
* '''Doing so would certainly reveal the Vassa network to the High House of Vigilance
Ambassador Accalon could ask the Sumaah to investigate the disappearances, but doing so would certainly reveal that the missing Imperial citizens were spying on the Republic. There's no need to be specific here - there are few enough Imperial citizens going missing in Sumaah that the High House of Vigilance would be able to investigate what has happened. As long Albrecht von Holberg cooperates, the Sumaah will find out what happened... but it will make it impossible to re-establish effective spies in Zemeh for the next three years. If they don't cooperate, the Sumaah will know that there were spies but will have no useful information that could stop new agents being sent in. The holder of the seat can also use an email to ask that new agents be dispatched, once they are comfortable the situation is resolved.
===Asavean Factionalism===
* '''Contacting the faction the Vassa network was investigating may provide leads
* '''Doing so risks revealing to that faction (or factions) that they were being investigated by the Empire
Someone could contact the Asavean faction the agents were investigating, using the [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]] address already supplied, but again that would almost certainly warn that faction that the Empire had been spying on them. Obviously without the aid of Albrecht von Holberg it will be difficult to know which faction the agents were dealing with. Just asking them ''all'' would make them ''all'' think they were being spied on.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo.jpg|caption='''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo''', Imperial Spymaster|align=left|width=400}}</div>
===Spies and Agents===
* '''The Imperial Spymaster could put together an investigation in Zemeh to track down what happened to the Vassa network agents
* '''Doing so needs the Spymaster to use their ability to announce a spy network, and would count as a commission
* '''Such a mission would provide a scouting venture to Imperial fleets - provided they were enchanted with Muffled Oar
* '''A mission will alert the High House of Vigilance that something is happening but as long as the Regario Dossier cooperates will not indicate what
The [[Imperial Spymaster]] and the [[Regario Dossier]] could liase on an operation together. During the Summer Solstice they could use their ability to [[Imperial_Spymaster#Networks_and_Coves|commission networks and coves]] to arrange support for a mission in Zemeh. This would require an [[announcement]], count as a [[commission]], but not require any [[weirwood]] or money. If it were done, following the Summer Solstice any [[the League|League]] [[fleet|ship-captain]] would be able to participate in a special [[Fleet#Scouting|scouting]] [[voyage]] aimed at uncovering events in Zemeh. If at least 3,000 strength were committed to the voyage, the facts about what has happened to Agent Vassa and their network, and who was behind it, would be uncovered. However, unless ''every'' ship that took part was under the effect of [[Muffled Oar]] or a similar [[Night magic]] [[enchantment]], the High House of Vigilance would be aware that ''something'' is going on even if they do not know exactly what. If Albrecht von Holberg doesn't cooperate with this action, it will achieve nothing other than to worry the Sumaah.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=GMShutteredLantern.jpg|caption='''Tyburn Natkysset''' (right), Grandmaster of the Shuttered
Lantern|align=left|width=400}}</div>
===Hooded Lanterns===
* '''The Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern could take advantage of the outstanding invitation for an order to visit Sumaah
* '''If they do this it will use up the Conclave's opportunity, and ''only'' discover details of what is going on with the Vassa network agents
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Roshanwe.png|align=right|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=City of Locks.png|align=right|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Dark_Adapted_Eye_2.png|align=right|width=150}}</div>
There is an opportunity for the [[Shuttered Lantern]] order to [[Satraps_of_the_Abyss#Wisdom_of_the_Conclave|visit Sumaah]] this season, to explore how the Sumaah keep their people safe from dangerous eternals. Instead, when [[Grandmaster#Guiding_an_Order|guiding the order]] the [[grandmaster]] could instruct magicians to investigate the disappearance of the Imperial agents in Sumaah. If this were done, they would not uncover any useful information about Sumaah practices around eternals, but they would discover what had happened to the agents and who was responsible. Doing this would ''not'' attract the attention of the High House of Vigilance. Again, if Albrecht doesn't cooperate with this it will just prove to be a waste of time and the Shuttered Lantern will get ''nothing''.
===Eternal Plenipotential===
* '''The Archmages of Day, Autumn, or Night could enlist the aid of Roshanwe, Basileia Brazen, or the Whisper Gallery to find out more
* '''Doing so would require them to use their plenipotentiary power
Alternatively, there are several [[eternal|eternals]] who might be prevailed upon to offer assistance. While [[Sung]] and [[Leviathan]] might be questioned through ritual magic, it's not clear that would yield anything useful. Sung's answers are always mysterious, and while Leviathan might be able to explain what lead to the Vassa network being rolled up, it's doubtful he will be able to offer any insight into who did it. Among the remaining eternals, [[Roshanwe]], [[Basileia]], and the [[Whisper Gallery]] all have the potential to offer aid. Roshanwe is a seeker, and while it is rarely mentioned, spying and espionage ''are'' a form of seeking. The City of Locks are adept spies, and [[Basileia#The Five Pillars|the Surveyors' Cartel]] in particular has an interest in espionage. The Whisper Gallery are unpredictable, but they enjoy secrets and are generally not as opposed to spies and spying as they are to, say, [[Magpies|hunters of lost artefacts]] or [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|scholars of lost lore]].

A [[Archmage#Plenipotentiary|plenipotentiary]] for any one of the three would be able to either provide an opportunity to learn more, or simply provide answers directly. In both cases, there is likely to be a price however. There's also a chance that the last two on the list might even be ''behind'' the disappearances. On the plus side, if they ''are'' they're unlikely to deny it if asked point-blank to look into it. This is the only approach that doesn't require the aid of Albrecht von Holberg; the eternals asked to look into the matter will work out what is going on as part of their investigation.

===Wheels and Windows===
* '''Re-establishing the Vassa network without knowing what is going on risks the new agents meeting the same fate as the old ones
* '''There is only a narrow window to uncover what has happened to the Vassa network
Regardless of what is done, the Regario Dossier is short of agents in the Sumaah Republic. The civil service advise caution though. If new agents are simply sent in to replace the old ones, there is no guarantee that whatever happened to Agent Vassa and their network will not just happen again, and at that point the Empire is just feeding espionage agents to unknown enemies.

There's also a narrow window to do something; unless wheels are set in motion at the Summer Solstice, the trail will be too cold for any useful information to be uncovered at all. After that, the only way to find anything useful will be to send more agents and hope they aren't killed before their annual report next year.
{{Sumaah Links}}

The brightest flame

2026-07-18T12:43:35Z

Noserenda: /* Participation: Highborn */

[[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 his 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. Building 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 something 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 portray 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.

Full circles

2026-07-17T17:37:52Z

Noserenda: /* Virtuous Friendship */

[[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 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 a Jarmish dialect, 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 investigating 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}}

Love and monsters

2026-07-13T20:51:19Z

Noserenda: /* Sphinges */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>
"Yeah, but the new Queen says we need to stand with the Empire and destroy the Druj!" Isolde thumped the tavern table to emphasize the point.

Mathild did not look convinced. "It's very ''sensible''" he said, the emphasis on the last word revealing how he really felt. "But they're already beaten. We conquered Ossium. Then we conquered the Barrens. Now we've conquered Sarangrave. They're done - where's the glory in defeating a foe who can't fight back?" he asked.

Isolde screwed up her face. It was not the first time they had had this argument and it definitely wouldn't be the last. They'd been chewing this over for the best part of a week now but it was impossible. There was just no way they were going to agree.

"Yeah - that'll definitely be a glorious tale. In 385YE Dawn totally defeated the Druj, but got bored before it was over and went off to do other things leaving the Druj all the time in the world to rebuild. Yeah, it sounds so epic when you say it like that."

Now it was Mathild's turn to look aggrieved. "Ha ha. It's not about being bored of the Druj, it's about ''glory''. The Earl of Fools is calling for us to take the war to the vallorn. New horizons and all that! That's an enemy worth drawing our swords for. Defeating the vallorn - now that's glorious."

Isolde was still not convinced. "Fighting bushes and trees? Hows that glorious? The vallorn is a shit enemy, it just sits in the woods and doesn't do anything. Where's the glory in beating up a group of plants?"

"You should come down the Greenwood and see those "plants" in action. Anyway, they're going do magic on it - get all the vallorn armies to take the field together or something. Then we'll have a proper war on our hands. You wait and see - I promise you it will be glorious. That's what we should be preparing for. It's not like we can do both."

"Wait. What?" demanded a shocked Isolde.

"A proper war?" he responded quizzically, unsure of what he'd said that had caused the confusion.

"No, no, what you just said." She raised her hands to gesture the quote - "It's not like we can do both." That's what you said.

"Right, we'll it's not, is it? We can't fight both. Everyone says so."

Isolde was grinning now. "I've never met everyone, but whoever they are, I bet a gold crown they not Dawnish. Think about it... what would be more glorious than defeating the Druj ''and'' more glorious than defeating the vallorn?" She paused, but it was clearly rhetorical, "Defeating them both at the same time!" she finished.

Mathild roared with laughter and raised his tankard to his old friend. Maybe there was a way to settle this argument after all.
</ic>
<div style="float: left; width: 200px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Dawn.png|caption=The Assembly of Dawn has announced its highest calling; a glorious adventure to destroy the vallorn.|width=200px}}</div>
==Overview==
The Earl of Fools has convinced the Dawnish National Assembly that the fight against the Vallorn is the Highest Calling of Dawn. With the Barrens won and the Druj crumbling beneath the Empire's Anvil and the Thule's hammer, it makes sense to focus on the next threat to their prize. The Vallorn has not one but ''three'' hearts adjacent to the sprawling expanse of the Barrens - defeating it will be a glorious endeavour.

The idea of a great war against the vallorn is more than enough to stir the blood of the glorious.

<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{SOPInner|statement=Barrens won, Dawn looks to Horizons new; And in Wisdom learns from Tales of our Past. Dawn must prepare its next Glorious fight; Aid all nations in fight against Vallorn. With Love, Glory, Virtue, all that Dawn is. Be the shield wall on which this foe shall break. Be the shining sword which the Empire wields. This is our Highest Calling.|by=Earl of Fools, Dawn Assembly|vote={{GM}} 376-166|when=Spring 388YE}}</div>

==Chimera==
* '''Dawn could create a grand monument in the Barrens to inspire citizens to fight the vallorn'''
* '''The edifice would require 75 wains of white granite, 225 crowns and would need a dose of true liao to consecrate it'''
* '''The monument would halve the cost to enlarge Dawnish armies until the vallorn is defeated'''
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Vallorn's Demise'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Murderdale, The Barrens</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 75 [[white granite]], 225 crowns, one dose of true liao and 12 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Senate motion must include an appropriate figure for the statue to be of</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Erects an enormous, inspiring statue
* Until the Vallorn is defeated, the costs to enlarge Dawnish armies are halved to 75 wains of mithril and 225 crowns
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
How to defend the prize that is the Barrens against the threat of aggressive topiary? For Dawn, offence has always been the best defence. A grand monument in [[The_Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], would move and inspire everyone who saw it, rallying them to the cause. To be truly effective it would need to be vast in scale, something with truly impressive grandeur and would need a Writ of Consecration and a precious dose of True Liao in addition to the wains and labour. But once complete it would create an awe-inspiring monument to rival the power and majesty of [[Morrow#The_Three_Watchers|the three watchers]].

Who, it is asked, could inspire such fervour into the hearts of the soldiers of Dawnish Armies? On whom should this grand monument be modelled? Should it be the [[Aspect_magic#Heraldic_Magic|Chimera]], the symbol of battlefield prowess? Adelmar the Lion, martial Exemplar of Ambition born in Dawn? The new Queen of Dawn herself, the Warden-Queen? Should the Senators involved need some advice on the matter, they might consider consulting the newly formed [[Cat's Graces]].

Once complete, the monument would cause of surge in volunteers looking to join Dawnish armies to fight the vallorn. Experienced soldiers who have long since retired from the army would return, looking for the glory of one last war against this ancient enemy. Until the vallorn is defeated and every vallornheart in the Empire knows of is destroyed, Dawnish armies would require half the usual costs to be enlarged - that is 75 mithril and 225 crowns.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Mordrain Sepulchre.jpg|caption='''Mordrain Sepulchre''' (in red), Knight of the Greenwood|align=left|width=250}}</div>
==Unicorns==
* '''The Dawnish Assembly could endorse the Vallornguard's leadership to allow military units of all nations to quest against the vallorn'''
* '''The Assembly could endorse the nation's crusade to claim Brocéliande to increase the rewards available from questing against the vallorn'''

The Highest Calling was not the first sign of Dawn's eagerness to test itself against the ''Folly of Terunael''. The [[Knight of the Greenwood]] was commissioned in Summer 384YE to coordinates and support Dawnish military units that [[Venture#Quest_Against_the_Vallorn|quest against the Vallorn]]. In recent years interest in the fight has fallen off, with around a dozen military units committed to the venture each season. But the clarion call from the Synod has transformed the situation, with interest climbing fivefold. The question is how to maintain or improve that?

The Constitutional Court offers one route. They have judged that the title [[Knight_of_the_Greenwood#Constitutional_Note|ought properly to be appointed by the Vallornguard]]. There is absolutely no requirement to follow the Court's ruling, but the Dawnish Assembly could embrace this decision if they wanted to throw their support behind the [[Imperial sodality]]. Most Dawnish folk understand that the war against the Vallorn will need every witch and warrior in the Empire to take up arms together, Dawn alone cannot defeat this enemy. Navarr have embraced the Vallornguard and given it their support, should Dawn now do likewise?

The Dawnish Assembly could enact the following mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=The Virtuous build up their fellows. We send {named priest} with 75 liao to urge citizens of the Empire to come to Greenwood Manor to venture forth against the enemy. Let the Vallornguard lead us to glory!|assembly=Dawn National Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, the civil service will raise an administrative motion at the next Senate session to amend the title to make it appointed by the Vallornguard. If that motion passes the Senate then the title would still be held by the Dawnish, it would become a national appointment - but it would be elected by vote of the sodality the next time it falls vacant. If the title is amended ''and'' the mandate is enacted, then it will open up Greenwood Manor to citizens of every nation. The venture to quest against the vallorn would become available to all military units.

Of course the Dawnish Assembly could take the opposite view. The new sodality has not yet proven its worth and besides it seems very focussed on victory. It's all well and good defeating the vallorn, but it will be a wasted opportunity if the coming war is not glorious. Who better than the Dawnish Assembly to ensure that whoever holds the title embraces the glory of battle with the vallorn?

The Dawnish Assembly could enact the following mandate:

{{Mandate|mandate=No price is too high to realise your dreams. We send {named priest} with 50 liao to remind the Dawnish that there is no fight more glorious than that against the Vallorn. Let us raise the banner of Dawn over Brocéliande!|assembly=Dawn National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then it will permanently improve the rewards available. Every Dawnish military unit questing against the vallorn will gain rewards as if they are a rank higher and the Greenwood Knight's income will increase to ten measures of natural material and fourteen drams of herbs. Dawnish nobles will surge into Brocéliande and yeofolk will establish settlements in Boar's Dell. Of course it may take many years for the vallornheart to be destroyed, but once it is defeated, why shouldn't Dawn press its claim? Brocéliande has never been part of the Empire, and as the recent example with [[Sarangrave]] demonstrates, a territory can't be seen as Navarr lands just because it contains a vallornheart...

These Dawnish Assembly mandates are [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|competing]].

==Sphinges==
* '''Gardens built for the war witches of Weaving in Astolat would allow Dawn to trade a college of magic for another army'''
* '''The next Dawn army would be formed from war witches trained at the Gardens'''
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Gardens of the Sphinx'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Weaving, Astolat</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 10 mithril and 15 weirwood, 75 crowns, and 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Reduces Dawn's supply for colleges of magic by one
* Increases Dawn's supply for armies by one for an army
* Dawnish war witches would form the core of the next army Dawn raised
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
The honest truth of the matter is that the roused Vallorn is going to be a fight unlike anything the Empire has ever seen. Titles, incomes, statues, inspiration, everything else helps; but at the end of the day there will need to be a marshalling of every person who can fight, to fight. Unlike their cousins in the west, Dawn is currently unable to support a fifth army, but the nation of Dawn is a place where nothing is impossible, a place of glory where dreams are given form.

The [[Dawn_magical_traditions#War_witches|war-witches]] of the nation have long looked at the [[Citadel Guard]] as an aspirational challenge. The Urizen are the only people who can rival their ability to apply devastating uses of magic to the battlefield in a focused manner. Currently, many of Dawns magical minds are keen to look at building a [[college of magic]], but if this capacity was sacrificed, aspiring magicians could be encouraged to become war witches and join the efforts against the vallorn

The Garden of the Sphinx would be an elaborate series of serene gardens built in Weaving, Astolat; both the centre of magical learning in Dawn and the birthplace of [[Adelmar the Lion]]. Named for the [[legendary beasts]] association with magic, it is a happy coincidence that sphinxes are traditionally mortal enemies of manticores. It would encourage the study and practice of war magic and incorporate a set of duelling arenas to allow war witches to test their skills against one another.

Once complete, Dawn would be able to raise an army capable of unleashing the power of magic on the battlefield. It would ensure that a cohort of capable war witches formed the core of the army. It would ''not'' be a [[Army_qualities#Magic|Magic]] army, but over time it could develop its own unique quality that reflected the prowess of the war witches.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=EleonarisArt.jpg|align=left|width=250}}</div>

==Lions==
* '''A herald offers recommendations on the grandeur of a monument to the beneficence of the Queen of the Fields of Glory'''
* '''The Queen has summoned Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco to appear before her, with an entourage of troubadours, to her exploits and her plans'''
* '''If the meeting goes well, the Lion of Summer will offer the general her aid in the fight against the vallorn'''
Last season, [[Monarchs_and_outcasts#Gilded_Bouquet_(Eleonaris)|Elodian visited Anvil]] on business both personal and for his liege-lady. She was disappointed to hear about the doubt that has manifested itself in the hearts of the previously proud Highborn. But [[Eleonaris]] is apparently pleased to hear of plans to erect a grand triumph to celebrate their joint victory in the [[Sarangrave]]. A glorious [[edifice|frieze]] showing victorious Imperials fighting alongside elfin knights is entirely satisfactory. Of course anything raised in honour of a queen, should have the appropriate [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandeur]], a small statue is fine for a glorious yeofolk completing their [[Dawn_culture_and_customs#The_Test_of_Mettle|test of mettle]], but the ''Queen of the Fields of Glory'' will expect something in keeping with her status. Something the size of a tower would be adequate, but it would need to be bigger if the Empire want to impress on the Queen how grateful they are for her aid.

In any case, the denizens of the Summer Realm pay are pleased to hear that the next great campaign is to be led against the Vallorn. Elodian returned singing the praises of ''the greatest general in the Empire'', '''Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco''' of the [[Lions of Adelmar]]. So intrigued was she by the words of Elodian that she wishes to meet this great general ''in person'' at the coming solstice. At 14:00 on Saturday the ''Lady of Pennants'' will send one of her court to the Hall of Worlds to collect General Katelyn to escort her and half a dozen troubadours to engage in a discussion on the plans for this new war. After an exchange of gifts, the troubadours should regale the ''Sovereign in Scarlet and Gold'' of the great deeds of General Katelyn, and if the ''Lion of Summer'' is suitably impressed she will offer her aid in the coming fight against the ''Folly of Terunael''.

==Further Reading==
* [[The highest calling]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune introducing the highest calling

* [[Vallorn]]
* [[Vallornguard]]

User:Noserenda

2026-07-13T18:39:18Z

Noserenda:

Scott Anderson, SPAG, Sentinels Tower Mook #1 and Redcap with toilets to fill
{{CaptionedImage|file=Wayfinder.jpg |caption=Metal armour can be so slimming|width=200}}

Viridian nemesis

2026-07-06T12:42:51Z

Noserenda: /* Sarvos */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"Trade is the lifeblood of the Jewelled City. Ships dock here from all over the world. The Grendel like to think of themselves as masters of the Bay of Catazar, but the markets of Dubhtraig are barely twice the size of Trivento! Everything is for sale here. Everything the virtuous soul might desire and a little more besides."

"I don't see how that is going to help us." responded Gwyn, careful not to offend his host. He'd been warned that the Merchant Prince of the Amber Signets was given to self-aggrandisement, but he'd been advised that he held sway over a significant number of local merchants who would be good to have on hand. "The vallorn has no trade interests, no valuables. It has no interest in markets or trade, any more than it does in any other facet of civilisation."

Afredo blinked and then forced a smile back to his face. "You miss my point my friend. The point is that whatever you need for this war of yours, is available here. Materials, wains, mana, herbs, weapons, armour, even soldiers are for sale here. Well their swords at least. Tell me what the Vallornguard need to fight the enemy and we'll ensure it's available - for the right price."

Gwyn shrugged his shoulders a little bemused by the question. "I mean... everything... we need everything." Herbs to heal soldiers, crystals for magic, ingots and measures for magic items, there was no material in this or any realm that the Navarri have not found a way to use to fight their ancient foe.

The Merchant Prince smirked, though this time the smile was at least an honest one. "Very well" he replied, "everything it is then..."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Navarr.png|align=left|caption=The garden long-tended by the Navarr begins to bear fruit.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[The highest calling|highest calling]] of the the [[Navarr]] is to share their long experience fighting the [[vallorn]] with other nations. Last season, they [[Cup_of_choices|chose to work]] with the people of [[Urizen]]; now the Navarr National Assembly has urged their people to embrace the citizens of [[the League]] to arm and armour then for the upcoming battle with the Doom of Terunael. Once again, the [[Loyalty]] Assembly has supported the cause, calling upon those whose heart drives them towards the destruction of ''Terun's Folly''.

The aid was welcomed by the League Assembly and so the Navarr find the cities of the League no less enthusiastic than the spires of Urizen. In conjunction with their guests, each city has come up with its own plan how best to prepare to fight the Vallorn.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Teleri Thornweaver with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Teleri Thornweaver, Navarr National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 252-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, with 25 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, Loyalty Assembly|vote=190-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=We welcome and recognise the judgement by Navarr (54). We recognise their highest calling and we welcome their aid.|by=Francesca di Spiral, League National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 328-10|when=Spring 388YE}}</div>

==Holberg==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Boar's Hide'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:'''[[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Boar's Dell, Broceliande</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 120 [[white granite]], 60 Mithril, 540 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 6 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 20 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Creates a level two fortification in Boar's Dell
* Increases the level of investment in mana sites in Broceliande by one while there is a vallorn heart in the territory
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Holberg engineers propose the construction of a grand fortification in Broceliande that could take advantage of the trods to boost mana sites in the territory'''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=right|width=250}}</div>
[[The_greatest_city_in_the_world|The Greatest City in the League]] lies to the north-east of [[Brocéliande|Broceliande]], and south of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], two territories both infested with the vallorn. Initial proposals by some ambitious engineers has a [[weirwood]] and [[ilium]] causeway cutting across the Barrens to channel the Vallorn of [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] itself into their territory, that they might fight in the shade of the monstrous [[Walls of Holberg]]. This plan was quickly abandoned as infeasible; fine in theory, ''way'' too expensive in practice.

If the vallorn won't go to Holberg, then Holberg will go to the vallorn. The engineers have a proposal for an enormous bastion built on the foundation's of Greenstead in [[Brocéliande#Boar's_Dell|Boar's Dell]]. Once roused, the vallorn by its nature will tend to be drawn to any substantial fortification, sending its full chaotic wroth at the structure until it is entirely subsumed in vines. Knowing that the vallorn is likely to attack any fortification first means the engineers can expect any substantial defences to become a focal point of the campaign as well as a place for Imperial [[military unit]] captains to assign their forces in the absence of an Imperial [[army]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Regarding the Broch'''</big><br>While [[Brocéliande#the Broch|the Broch]] is already [[Construct Defence of the Broch|fortified]], the work was specifically done in such a way as to ''not'' rouse the ire of the vallorn. After all, [[Brocéliande#Black_Boughs|Black Boughs]] lies within the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] itself and in a region utterly dominated by the ''Doom of Terunael''.</box></div>
There are some important consequences to consider. Firstly, the [[steading|steadings]] of Boar's Dell would face the brunt of the assault. They are Navarri, they have signed up to this, they have sworn oaths that they are committed to this, but one's home is one's home, nevertheless. Secondly, it is eye-wateringly expensive to create such a structure: even with the help of Holberg's finest engineers, they can't materialise wains out of the ether, as much as other nations may accuse the League of this from time to time.

With the collaboration of Holberg's engineers, the fortification could be completed in six seasons (barring the use of magic or other opportunities). Working closely with Navarr [[vate|vates]] provides a second advantage. By incorporating a significant amount of [[mithril]] into the design, it would harness also some of the chaotic energies being drawn out of the vallorn by the [[trods|trod network]] and channel it into local [[mana site|mana sites]]. That would provide a small but important benefit, providing more mana for the coming war, at least until the vallorn heart in [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] is destroyed.

==Sarvos==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of Everything'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains, 48 crowns, 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a Ministry for the Vallornguard
* Creates the title of ''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League national position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives support from Sarvoisi traders to acquire material to fight the Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To help the Vallornguard acquire the materials needed to fight the vallorn</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''A Little Bit of Everything'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 rings</td><td>4 random materials, 6 random herbs, 3 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>370 rings</td><td>8 random materials, 12 random herbs, 6 mana crystals, </td></tr>
<tr><td>650 rings</td><td>12 random materials, 18 random herbs, 9 mana crystals,</td></tr>
<tr><td>1000 rings</td><td>16 random materials, 24 random herbs, 12 mana crystals, </td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Sarvosi merchants propose commissioning a market of everything to help supply the Vallornguard with the resources to fight the vallorn'''
While Holberg claims to be the Greatest City in the League, their indignant rivals in [[Sarvos]] argue their city is the oldest and still the richest in the Empire. Trade flows across down the Gancio until it meets the [[Bay of Catazar]] at the docks of [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Ships put to port here that dock nowhere else in the Empire, buying and selling; rare metals from [[Varushka]], fine wines from [[Dawn]], or exotic goods from overseas. The city's proud boast is that anything that is for sale anywhere in the Empire can be found in the markets of Sarvos.

The question is how to employ that strength to bolster the Vallornguard and help prepare for the coming war. Plans are quickly drawn up for a grand market, something that can provide whoever the Vallornguard appoint with a bit of ''everything''. Anything that can be employed against the vallorn can be distributed as needed to the Vallornguard - the rest can be sold. In the minds of the [[merchant Prince|merchant princes]] of Sarvos, a good profit margin is the ultimate weapon.

==Tassato==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Vallornguard Military Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Madeiras, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains of white granite, 32 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' League armies with a general appointed by the Vallornguard can take the order to Stem the Green Tide</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassatan bravos propose building an academy that will allow League generals appointed by the Vallornguard to use Stem the Green Tide when defending'''
The Navarri who arrive in [[Tassato]] are greeted by a great deal of commotion as furious work is being done to speed the [[Army#Recruitment|mustering]] of the League's third [[army]]. It is a painful reminder that, more than anything else, what the vallornguard really need are armies. No matter how much planning is put in place, no matter how many fortifications are built, in the end it will always come down to steel weapons and steel will.

Most Tassatans learn to fight with rapier and buckler, the perfect weapons for a bravo who wants to cut a fine dash while bridge fighting. By contrast, the Navarr favour a more pragmatic fighting style when fighting the vallorn, one that makes use of [[venom]] whenever it is available. Training League soldiers in techniques for fighting the vallorn could pay dividends once the enemy attacks.

When the Vallorn is roused, and it ''will'' be roused, insist the visiting [[thorn|thorns]], there will need to be those who can stem the initial tsunami of chaotic energies before it might be driven back and permanently quelled. Constructing an appropriate academy, staffed by members of the Vallornguard, would allow League citizens to drill the kind of basic tactics needed to stand your ground in the face of a swarm of vallornspawn.

Once complete the Vallornguard Military Academy would allow any League army whose [[general]] was appointed by the Vallornguard, to take the '''Stem the Green Tide''' order when defending. There are no League armies that would be affected at present, but a [[Senate motion]] could be used to change the appointment method of a general to a vote of the Vallornguard at any time.

<box>'''Stem the Green Tide'''<br>
* '''Casualties suffered by this army from Vallorn are decreased by a fifth'''
* '''Victory points generated by this army against the Vallorn are increased by one tenth'''

Rapiers might suit the dark alleys of the League cities, but large heavy weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the preferred choice for many professioanl soldiers in League free companies. These are dangerous weapons of war on any battlefield, but with the right training and the right leadership, League soldiers can deploy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_square pike square] to devastating effect against the vallornspawn allowing them to defend against the Vallorn's overwhelming and chaotic offensive, holding back the unending green tide.
</box>

==Temeschwar==
* '''Temeschwari bishops suggest a mandate to encourage League bravos to seek out opportunities to fight the enemy'''
The hard, ruthless people of [[Temeschwar]] are known for their pragmatism. Grand plans for mighty fortresses are all well and good, but they can take years to build. Better to ''get on with it'', in the minds of many Temeschwari - there's no time like the present for dealing with a threat. ''Marko von Vardstein'', a newly-minted [[bishop]] with a small church in one of the poorer parts of Temeschwar, has paired up with ''Livinnia'', a bravo known for wielding two axes and being a woman of extremely few words. The pair suggest that if the League are going to do this then the national assembly should encourage military units to start now, by pursuing any venture that could aid in the fight against the vallorn.

{{Mandate|mandate=In Ratibor's name, let us act! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage League bravos to take up arms against the Vallorn. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right now|assembly=League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then League military units will be able to take part in the [[Venture#Quest_Against_the_Vallorn|quest against the vallorn]] and [[Venture#Explore_the_ruins_of_Terunael|the exploration of the ruins of Terunael]] ventures, as well as any future ventures that deal with engaging the vallorn directly.

<div {{float}}><quote by="William Shakespeare, As You Like it">All the world's a stage,<br>
And all the men and women are merely players</quote></div>

==Spiral==
* '''Actors and troupe magicians in Spiral propose the creation of plays about the vallorn to inspire citizens'''
* '''Apulian merchants have donated five thrones as a prize for the best play, to be judged by vote of members of the Cat's Graces at the Autumn Equinox'''

There's a lot going on in [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulian]] right now, a running battle between cats and birds for control of the city streets and rooftops while soldiers comb the dark passages that lie beneath them. The visiting Navarri are welcomed with all due hospitality, but at first some Apulians question whether they have the time to offer any significant aid, given that the strange ''confluence'' of [[dramaturgy|dramaturgical]] [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|personae]], [[Dramaturgy#The_Instruments|instruments]] and [[Dramaturgy#The_Thrones|thrones]] plays havoc with the city, causing inhabitants and visitors alike to get lost in the shifting streets.

Determined not to be outdone by the other cities, a troupe of actors and magicians proposes that dramaturgy might offer a way to combat the vallorn. Of course there needs to be fortifications and armies and supplies and such things, but none of those will help without the ''will to win'' and the ''belief'' that ''victory'' is ''possible'' (and so on). The biggest hurdle to victory they say, is not the threat of the vallorn but the belief that the Empire lacks the means to defeat it. People need to see the vallorn not as some implacable force that can only be contained at best, but as an enemy that can be defeated once and for all, just like the [[Druj]].

What is needed, they say, are plays and stories that present a new vision of the vallorn. The true power of dramaturgy lies not just in performing rituals calling on the personae and their accoutrements, but in using the power of drama to influence the way people think and believe. Good plays create a narrative that shapes the path of history. Of course critics of dramaturgy argue that it is the power of events that make some plays seem so pivotal, not unlike the way some magicians believe that the stars move in line with events rather than the other way round.

Proponents of the real power of dramaturgy have little time for such naysaying. They argue that creating plays and stories that tell of victory over the vallorn are a subtle but crucial step in making that outcome come about. Of course that raises the question of who will create the plays - such things are time-consuming and expensive. A few Navarr suggest the historical accounts of Navarr and Thorn or [[Megan Black Blood]] might form the basis for such a play, but not everyone thinks that is the best approach. Even the suggestion of dramatising recent triumphs such as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Immolation_.28Liathaven.29|that in Liathaven]] does not meet with enthusiasm.

The League actors are concerned that the old histories may focus too much on the fall and what was lost to the vallorn. Equally their suggestion that if the playwrights do use the historical accounts, they will need to be ''"sexed up a bit, to make it more dramatic"'' does not meet with universal approval by their Navarr guests.

As a compromise, the suggestion is that the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|recently established sodality, the Cat's Graces]] might hold a contest to find the best play about the vallorn. Something dramatic and engaging that will get people into the cheap seats but which sets the tone of an Empire engaging successfully with the vallorn. A purse is quickly assembled, 5 thrones for the winning entry, with the understanding of all who enter, that actors will tour the winning play and any other worthy entries, across the Empire.

Of course it will take time for playwrights to produce something that capture and transform the zeitgeist. It needn't be a full play - it could be a short performance piece, put on everywhere before the main attraction. It could be historical, provided it doesn't compromise being inspiring for too much stuffy "accuracy". After all, the goal is to move the hearts and minds of theatre-goers all over the Empire, not to educate historians and scholars.

The merchants of Apulian request the Cat's Graces sodality either arrange a suitable contest to identify a winning submission, or else find a way to choose the perfect playwright to commission a piece. Either way they offer a purse of five thrones to be awarded by the sodality at the Autumn Equinox, to the author of the play that best inspires people to embrace the idea of defeating the vallorn.

A copy of the play itself will also need to be provided, so that it can be distributed to troupes of actors across the League. Focusing the attention of the League's thespians and actors on the vallorn in this way may reap dividends, although they are likely to be subtle or unpredictable. With the support of the Cat's Graces, it will definitely encourage a surge of interest in depicting the fight against the vallorn on the stage, and in reframing it as a foe to be overcome rather than an insurmountable problem. It might all lead to nothing apart from some very enjoyable nights at the theatre, or it may actually achieve what the dramaturgical theorists claim it will and somehow shift Imperial attitudes to the Doom of Terunael.

==Further Reading==
* [[Cup of choices]] - 388YE Spring wind of fortune detailing the Navarr efforts to assist Urizen
* [[The highest calling]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune about the highest calling

* [[Vallorn]]

Viridian nemesis

2026-07-06T12:42:02Z

Noserenda: /* Holberg */

[[Category:388YE Summer]][[Category:Winds of Fortune]]
<ic>"Trade is the lifeblood of the Jewelled City. Ships dock here from all over the world. The Grendel like to think of themselves as masters of the Bay of Catazar, but the markets of Dubhtraig are barely twice the size of Trivento! Everything is for sale here. Everything the virtuous soul might desire and a little more besides."

"I don't see how that is going to help us." responded Gwyn, careful not to offend his host. He'd been warned that the Merchant Prince of the Amber Signets was given to self-aggrandisement, but he'd been advised that he held sway over a significant number of local merchants who would be good to have on hand. "The vallorn has no trade interests, no valuables. It has no interest in markets or trade, any more than it does in any other facet of civilisation."

Afredo blinked and then forced a smile back to his face. "You miss my point my friend. The point is that whatever you need for this war of yours, is available here. Materials, wains, mana, herbs, weapons, armour, even soldiers are for sale here. Well their swords at least. Tell me what the Vallornguard need to fight the enemy and we'll ensure it's available - for the right price."

Gwyn shrugged his shoulders a little bemused by the question. "I mean... everything... we need everything." Herbs to heal soldiers, crystals for magic, ingots and measures for magic items, there was no material in this or any realm that the Navarri have not found a way to use to fight their ancient foe.

The Merchant Prince smirked, though this time the smile was at least an honest one. "Very well" he replied, "everything it is then..."
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Navarr.png|align=left|caption=The garden long-tended by the Navarr begins to bear fruit.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[The highest calling|highest calling]] of the the [[Navarr]] is to share their long experience fighting the [[vallorn]] with other nations. Last season, they [[Cup_of_choices|chose to work]] with the people of [[Urizen]]; now the Navarr National Assembly has urged their people to embrace the citizens of [[the League]] to arm and armour then for the upcoming battle with the Doom of Terunael. Once again, the [[Loyalty]] Assembly has supported the cause, calling upon those whose heart drives them towards the destruction of ''Terun's Folly''.

The aid was welcomed by the League Assembly and so the Navarr find the cities of the League no less enthusiastic than the spires of Urizen. In conjunction with their guests, each city has come up with its own plan how best to prepare to fight the Vallorn.

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;">
{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Teleri Thornweaver with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Teleri Thornweaver, Navarr National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 252-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, with 25 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with the League to prepare to finish the fight.|by=Leliel, Daughter of Armisael, Loyalty Assembly|vote=190-0|when=Spring 388YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=We welcome and recognise the judgement by Navarr (54). We recognise their highest calling and we welcome their aid.|by=Francesca di Spiral, League National Assembly|vote={{GM}} 328-10|when=Spring 388YE}}</div>

==Holberg==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Boar's Hide'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:'''[[Fortification]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Boar's Dell, Broceliande</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 120 [[white granite]], 60 Mithril, 540 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 6 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 20 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Creates a level two fortification in Boar's Dell
* Increases the level of investment in mana sites in Broceliande by one while there is a vallorn heart in the territory
</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Holberg engineers propose the construction of a grand fortification in Broceliande that could take advantage of the trods to boost mana sites in the territory'''
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Actuallythebest001.png|align=right|width=250}}</div>
[[The_greatest_city_in_the_world|The Greatest City in the League]] lies to the north-east of [[Brocéliande|Broceliande]], and south of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]], two territories both infested with the vallorn. Initial proposals by some ambitious engineers has a [[weirwood]] and [[ilium]] causeway cutting across the Barrens to channel the Vallorn of [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] itself into their territory, that they might fight in the shade of the monstrous [[Walls of Holberg]]. This plan was quickly abandoned as infeasible; fine in theory, ''way'' too expensive in practice.

If the vallorn won't go to Holberg, then Holberg will go to the vallorn. The engineers have a proposal for an enormous bastion built on the foundation's of Greenstead in [[Brocéliande#Boar's_Dell|Boar's Dell]]. Once roused, the vallorn by its nature will tend to be drawn to any substantial fortification, sending its full chaotic wroth at the structure until it is entirely subsumed in vines. Knowing that the vallorn is likely to attack any fortification first means the engineers can expect any substantial defences to become a focal point of the campaign as well as a place for Imperial [[military unit]] captains to assign their forces in the absence of an Imperial [[army]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;"><box><big>'''Regarding the Broch'''</big><br>While [[Brocéliande#the Broch|the Broch]] is already [[Construct Defence of the Broch|fortified]], the work was specifically done in such a way as to ''not'' rouse the ire of the vallorn. After all, [[Brocéliande#Black_Boughs|Black Boughs]] lies within the [[vallorn miasma|miasma]] itself and in a region utterly dominated by the ''Doom of Terunael''.</box></div>
There are some important consequences to consider. Firstly, the [[steading|steadings]] of Boar's Dell would face the brunt of the assault. They are Navarri, they have signed up to this, they have sworn oaths that they are committed to this, but one's home is one's home, nevertheless. Secondly, it is eye-wateringly expensive to create such a structure: even with the help of Holberg's finest engineers, they can't materialise wains out of the ether, as much as other nations may accuse the League of this from time to time.

With the collaboration of Holberg's engineers, the fortification could be completed in six seasons (barring the use of magic or other opportunities). Working closely with Navarr [[vate|vates]] provides a second advantage. By incorporating a significant amount of [[mithril]] into the design, it would harness also some of the chaotic energies being drawn out of the vallorn by the [[trods|trod network]] and channel it into local [[mana site|mana sites]]. That would provide a small but important benefit, providing more mana for the coming war, at least until the vallorn heart in [[Brocéliande#Terunael|Terunael]] is destroyed.

==Sarvos==
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of Everything'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Ministry]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Cigno, Sarvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains, 48 crowns, 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a Ministry for the Vallornguard
* Creates the title of ''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Merchant-Prince of the Vallornguard'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' League national position</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives support from Sarvoisi traders to acquire material to fight the Vallornguard</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To help the Vallornguard acquire the materials needed to fight the vallorn</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''A Little Bit of Everything'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 rings</td><td>4 random materials, 6 random herbs, 3 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>370 rings</td><td>8 random materials, 12 random herbs, 6 mana crystals, </td></tr>
<tr><td>650 rings</td><td>12 random materials, 18 random herbs, 9 mana crystals,</td></tr>
<tr><td>1000 rings</td><td>16 random materials, 24 random herbs, 12 mana crystals, </td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Sarvosi merchants propose commissioning a market of everything to help supply the Vallornguard with the resources to fight the vallorn'''
While Holberg claims to be the Greatest City in the League, their indignant rivals in [[Sarvos]] argue their city is the oldest and still the richest in the Empire. Trade flows across down the Gancio until it meets the [[Bay of Catazar]] at the docks of [[Sarvos#Cigno|Cigno]]. Ships put to port here that dock nowhere else in the Empire, buying and selling; rare metals from [[Varushka]], fine wines from [[Dawn], or exotic goods from overseas. The city's proud boast is that anything that is for sale anywhere in the Empire can be found in the markets of Sarvos.

The question is how to employ that strength to bolster the Vallornguard and help prepare for the coming war. Plans are quickly drawn up for a grand market, something that can provide whoever the Vallornguard appoint with a bit of ''everything''. Anything that can be employed against the vallorn can be distributed as needed to the Vallornguard - the rest can be sold. In the minds of the [[merchant Prince|merchant princes]] of Sarvos, a good profit margin is the ultimate weapon.

==Tassato==
<div {{float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Vallornguard Military Academy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Madeiras, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 16 wains of white granite, 32 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' League armies with a general appointed by the Vallornguard can take the order to Stem the Green Tide</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the start of Summer Solstice 389YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tassatan bravos propose building an academy that will allow League generals appointed by the Vallornguard to use Stem the Green Tide when defending'''
The Navarri who arrive in [[Tassato]] are greeted by a great deal of commotion as furious work is being done to speed the [[Army#Recruitment|mustering]] of the League's third [[army]]. It is a painful reminder that, more than anything else, what the vallornguard really need are armies. No matter how much planning is put in place, no matter how many fortifications are built, in the end it will always come down to steel weapons and steel will.

Most Tassatans learn to fight with rapier and buckler, the perfect weapons for a bravo who wants to cut a fine dash while bridge fighting. By contrast, the Navarr favour a more pragmatic fighting style when fighting the vallorn, one that makes use of [[venom]] whenever it is available. Training League soldiers in techniques for fighting the vallorn could pay dividends once the enemy attacks.

When the Vallorn is roused, and it ''will'' be roused, insist the visiting [[thorn|thorns]], there will need to be those who can stem the initial tsunami of chaotic energies before it might be driven back and permanently quelled. Constructing an appropriate academy, staffed by members of the Vallornguard, would allow League citizens to drill the kind of basic tactics needed to stand your ground in the face of a swarm of vallornspawn.

Once complete the Vallornguard Military Academy would allow any League army whose [[general]] was appointed by the Vallornguard, to take the '''Stem the Green Tide''' order when defending. There are no League armies that would be affected at present, but a [[Senate motion]] could be used to change the appointment method of a general to a vote of the Vallornguard at any time.

<box>'''Stem the Green Tide'''<br>
* '''Casualties suffered by this army from Vallorn are decreased by a fifth'''
* '''Victory points generated by this army against the Vallorn are increased by one tenth'''

Rapiers might suit the dark alleys of the League cities, but large heavy weapons, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billhook bills], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweih%C3%A4nder two-handed swords] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon) pikes] are the preferred choice for many professioanl soldiers in League free companies. These are dangerous weapons of war on any battlefield, but with the right training and the right leadership, League soldiers can deploy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_square pike square] to devastating effect against the vallornspawn allowing them to defend against the Vallorn's overwhelming and chaotic offensive, holding back the unending green tide.
</box>

==Temeschwar==
* '''Temeschwari bishops suggest a mandate to encourage League bravos to seek out opportunities to fight the enemy'''
The hard, ruthless people of [[Temeschwar]] are known for their pragmatism. Grand plans for mighty fortresses are all well and good, but they can take years to build. Better to ''get on with it'', in the minds of many Temeschwari - there's no time like the present for dealing with a threat. ''Marko von Vardstein'', a newly-minted [[bishop]] with a small church in one of the poorer parts of Temeschwar, has paired up with ''Livinnia'', a bravo known for wielding two axes and being a woman of extremely few words. The pair suggest that if the League are going to do this then the national assembly should encourage military units to start now, by pursuing any venture that could aid in the fight against the vallorn.

{{Mandate|mandate=In Ratibor's name, let us act! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage League bravos to take up arms against the Vallorn. If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing right now|assembly=League National Assembly}}

If this mandate is enacted, then League military units will be able to take part in the [[Venture#Quest_Against_the_Vallorn|quest against the vallorn]] and [[Venture#Explore_the_ruins_of_Terunael|the exploration of the ruins of Terunael]] ventures, as well as any future ventures that deal with engaging the vallorn directly.

<div {{float}}><quote by="William Shakespeare, As You Like it">All the world's a stage,<br>
And all the men and women are merely players</quote></div>

==Spiral==
* '''Actors and troupe magicians in Spiral propose the creation of plays about the vallorn to inspire citizens'''
* '''Apulian merchants have donated five thrones as a prize for the best play, to be judged by vote of members of the Cat's Graces at the Autumn Equinox'''

There's a lot going on in [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulian]] right now, a running battle between cats and birds for control of the city streets and rooftops while soldiers comb the dark passages that lie beneath them. The visiting Navarri are welcomed with all due hospitality, but at first some Apulians question whether they have the time to offer any significant aid, given that the strange ''confluence'' of [[dramaturgy|dramaturgical]] [[Dramaturgy#The_Personae|personae]], [[Dramaturgy#The_Instruments|instruments]] and [[Dramaturgy#The_Thrones|thrones]] plays havoc with the city, causing inhabitants and visitors alike to get lost in the shifting streets.

Determined not to be outdone by the other cities, a troupe of actors and magicians proposes that dramaturgy might offer a way to combat the vallorn. Of course there needs to be fortifications and armies and supplies and such things, but none of those will help without the ''will to win'' and the ''belief'' that ''victory'' is ''possible'' (and so on). The biggest hurdle to victory they say, is not the threat of the vallorn but the belief that the Empire lacks the means to defeat it. People need to see the vallorn not as some implacable force that can only be contained at best, but as an enemy that can be defeated once and for all, just like the [[Druj]].

What is needed, they say, are plays and stories that present a new vision of the vallorn. The true power of dramaturgy lies not just in performing rituals calling on the personae and their accoutrements, but in using the power of drama to influence the way people think and believe. Good plays create a narrative that shapes the path of history. Of course critics of dramaturgy argue that it is the power of events that make some plays seem so pivotal, not unlike the way some magicians believe that the stars move in line with events rather than the other way round.

Proponents of the real power of dramaturgy have little time for such naysaying. They argue that creating plays and stories that tell of victory over the vallorn are a subtle but crucial step in making that outcome come about. Of course that raises the question of who will create the plays - such things are time-consuming and expensive. A few Navarr suggest the historical accounts of Navarr and Thorn or [[Megan Black Blood]] might form the basis for such a play, but not everyone thinks that is the best approach. Even the suggestion of dramatising recent triumphs such as [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Immolation_.28Liathaven.29|that in Liathaven]] does not meet with enthusiasm.

The League actors are concerned that the old histories may focus too much on the fall and what was lost to the vallorn. Equally their suggestion that if the playwrights do use the historical accounts, they will need to be ''"sexed up a bit, to make it more dramatic"'' does not meet with universal approval by their Navarr guests.

As a compromise, the suggestion is that the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|recently established sodality, the Cat's Graces]] might hold a contest to find the best play about the vallorn. Something dramatic and engaging that will get people into the cheap seats but which sets the tone of an Empire engaging successfully with the vallorn. A purse is quickly assembled, 5 thrones for the winning entry, with the understanding of all who enter, that actors will tour the winning play and any other worthy entries, across the Empire.

Of course it will take time for playwrights to produce something that capture and transform the zeitgeist. It needn't be a full play - it could be a short performance piece, put on everywhere before the main attraction. It could be historical, provided it doesn't compromise being inspiring for too much stuffy "accuracy". After all, the goal is to move the hearts and minds of theatre-goers all over the Empire, not to educate historians and scholars.

The merchants of Apulian request the Cat's Graces sodality either arrange a suitable contest to identify a winning submission, or else find a way to choose the perfect playwright to commission a piece. Either way they offer a purse of five thrones to be awarded by the sodality at the Autumn Equinox, to the author of the play that best inspires people to embrace the idea of defeating the vallorn.

A copy of the play itself will also need to be provided, so that it can be distributed to troupes of actors across the League. Focusing the attention of the League's thespians and actors on the vallorn in this way may reap dividends, although they are likely to be subtle or unpredictable. With the support of the Cat's Graces, it will definitely encourage a surge of interest in depicting the fight against the vallorn on the stage, and in reframing it as a foe to be overcome rather than an insurmountable problem. It might all lead to nothing apart from some very enjoyable nights at the theatre, or it may actually achieve what the dramaturgical theorists claim it will and somehow shift Imperial attitudes to the Doom of Terunael.

==Further Reading==
* [[Cup of choices]] - 388YE Spring wind of fortune detailing the Navarr efforts to assist Urizen
* [[The highest calling]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune about the highest calling

* [[Vallorn]]

Weakness

2026-07-01T18:50:00Z

Noserenda: /* Effects */

==Description==
This spell is a potent malediction that can neutralise the most powerful enemy champion or render an [[archmage]] as powerless as a raw recruit. The debilitation imposed by this spell is more than mere lack of strength - it is a potentially lethal curse. The victim cannot concentrate on even the simplest [[spellcasting|spell]], cannot inspire themselves to [[Heroic skills|heroic action]] and cannot use the powers of any [[magic items]] they are bonded to.

It is particularly insidious in that it does not go away naturally; it can be removed with [[Bladeroot|herbs]] by a skilled [[Surgical skills#Physick|physick]], or purged by a magician using the [[purify]] spell or a [[rituals|ritual]] such as [[Renewed Strength of the New Day]]. Otherwise, it lasts indefinitely.

==Casting==
{{Offensive Spell|1}}
==Effects==
You may call [[Calls#WEAKNESS|WEAKNESS]] against the target struck by your [[Weapons & armour#Implements|implement]].

WEAKNESS prevents the target from making any [[calls]] for any reason. In addition, they cannot use any [[heroic skills]], [[religious skills]], cast any spells or contribute to any rituals. Only skills, [[magic items]], or [[enchantment|enchantments]] that are "always on" will work (such as those that give you extra hits, wield a polearm, or fire a crossbow). They may otherwise move and fight normally.

You must assume that the target has taken the effect.

The effect lasts until cured by the [[purify]] spell, or a similar potion or magic.

==Sample Spellcasting Vocals==
* By what creeps, what crawls, by what does not; let all that grows recede and rot! - WEAKNESS
* Oh mist-filled pits, dark, dank, unclear; touch all before me with frost-fingered fear! - WEAKNESS
* Kyrop drain the strength from your bones - WEAKNESS!
* Drowned Shepherd drag you down in the darkness - WEAKNESS!
* By magic's might, be stripped of all your powers - WEAKNESS!
* May Winter's cold grip your hateful heart - WEAKNESS!
* The winds of winter reap your strength for their hosts! - WEAKNESS <small>Suggested by Lucas Palmer</small>

==Common Elements==
* '''Rune Magic:''' The rune of Weakness, [[Kyrop]] is unsurprisingly invoked in conjunction with this invocation.
* '''Astronomancy:''' The [[The Drowned Shepherd|Drowned Shepherd]], the astronomantic constellation associated with endings and with curses, is commonly invoked with the weakness spell.
* '''Dramaturgy:''' A [[Dawn|Dawnish]] witch might echo the terrifying roar of the [[Legendary_beasts#Chimera|chimera]], or the dire spirit of the [[Legendary_beasts#Sphinxes and Manticores|manticore]] when casting this spell.
* '''Other traditions:''' This spell has a strong resonance for the realm of Winter.
[[Category:Spells]]

Reikos

2026-06-23T22:30:11Z

Noserenda: /* The Grand Ossuary */

{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofReikos.png|caption=A peaceful place, once home to pleasure gardens and country estates, riven by war.|title=Regions of Reikos|align=left|width=540|height=300}}
== Overview ==
Reikos was once composed of sweeping plains with occasional patches of deciduous woodland or raised elevation. The only major woodlands outside of the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] were in [[#Broken Ride|Broken Ride]], while only the south-eastern downs around [[#Chalcis Mount|Chalcis Mount]] really counted as being hills.

There have been settlements in [[#Riverwatch|Riverwatch]] and [[#Haros Water|Haros Water]] for over 400 years. While Reikos was only conquered in 56YE, the Highborn had established settlements along its southern borders long before the foundation of the Empire. The chapters along the banks of the Haros were known as some of the hardiest and best-versed in the arts of war; during the civil war they played a major role in helping the Virtuous Assembly plan individual engagements against the forces of the Patricians.

Before the [[Druj]] invaded, this formerly peaceful stretch of the Couros river was home to pleasure gardens, parks, and country estates. A [[Prosperity|prosperous]] [[territory]], the wealth of Reikos traditionally came from four places. Firstly, the [[#The Vigilant Swan|Vigilant Swan]] and the [[#The Great Forest at Reikos|Great Forest at Reikos]] produced quality stone and wood respectively, as well as highly sought after white granite and weirwood. Second, the [[Gardens of High Chalcis]] produced herbs sold all over the Empire. Third, the wide roads helped connect the [[Navarr]] in [[Therunin]] and the [[Urizen]] in [[Morrow]] with the rest of the Empire and several towns grew up to cater to the needs of merchants and pilgrims. Fourth, the beauty of Reikos itself made the territory wealthy - the great gardens, sweeping estates and peaceful surroundings made it a favourite place for Imperial citizens from across the Empire to convalesce after illness, or to spend time away from the cares of everyday life.

For centuries, the only real threat to the peace of Reikos came from the abominable inhabitants of the dark forest of [[Brocéliande]]. All of this changed in 367YE with the arrival of the Druj.

==Recent History==
The downfall of Reikos came from its border with the Great Forest of Peytaht. At its edges, the Great Forest is an abundant source of lumber; but its heart is wild and untamed. The long border with the dark forest was notoriously hard to defend, despite the efforts of [[Vigilance|vigilant]] [[Chapter|chapters]] such as the ''[[Highguard groups#Grey_Watchers_of_Peytaht|Grey Watchers of Peytaht]]'', but at least the forest was equally hostile to human and orc alike. When the [[Druj]] barbarians launched a surprise attack through the forest in 367YE, the Highborn were woefully unprepared for it. Those chapters on the edge of the forest that did not retreat were overwhelmed in the first few months of the attack.

The Druj quickly spread south, overwhelming the disorganised Imperial defences. The focus of the [[Military Council]] was elsewhere, and by the time the [[general|generals]] could coordinate their [[Army|armies]], the territory had already fallen. [[Emperor Hugh]] is said to have taken the loss of Reikos particularly badly, and campaigned to focus all Imperial resources on recovering it - unsuccessfully. The Military Council and the [[Senate]] had more pressing concerns facing a major mobilization of the [[Thule]] and the [[Jotun]].

Many [[Benefactor|benefactors]] were ruined in the attack, and many more are still struggling to restore their fortunes. The gardens, parks and pleasant villages of Reikos were largely unprepared to face the onslaught of the Druj, and hundreds died in the initial attacks before they were able to take refuge in the fortified [[Chapter|chapter houses]]. The presence of refugees complicated matters severely; several northern chapters fell prey to disease and starvation. The malicious tactics of the Druj served to make the situation even words - they regularly poisoned supplies; publicly tortured and displayed the horribly abused corpses of captured [[Highguard_military_concerns|guardians]] and [[Highguard_religious_beliefs|priests]]; crippled and maimed Highborn refugees then allowed them to flee so that their presence would further damage morale and absorb valuable medical supplies. Slowly but surely they pressed their advantage and drove the Highborn defenders southward.

Finally, in Autumn 377YE the Druj mounted a major offensive against the surviving Highborn chapters in [[#Riverwatch|Riverwatch]], [[#Haros|Haros]] and [[#Tabernacle|Tabernacle]]. The last regions of the territory fell beneath this assault, leaving only a scattered handfuls of fortified chapters as guttering beacons of hope in a sea of dread. it took some time for the Empire to rally after this defeat, but in Winter 378YE a combined Highborn and [[Navarr]] force [[378YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_garden_of_Highguard|crossed back into Reikos]] to begin the liberation. It was here that the Imperial soldiers gained first-hand experience of something that would later be referred to as the ''[[Druj miasma]]'' or the '' shroud of dread''.

After a few skirmishes and the [[379YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Blood_and_Stone|liberation of the Vigilant Swan]], the Druj forces in the area - represented by a single clan referred to as the Stone Toads, withdrew into the massive fortification they had built in the ruins of [[#High Chalcis|High Chalcis]]. They left guerrillas, traps and ambushers to harry the Imperial troops while they remained secure behind the great white granite walls of Urith Barath.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ShatteredGuardians.png|caption=Guardians of the Shattered Tower keep a watch on the borders of Highguard.|align=right|width=350}}
The territory was rejuvenated - and reconfigured - by a [[a season of mushrooms|wave of Spring magic]] that swept Reikos in early 380YE. The magic saw the restoration of great swathes of forest, and the eradication of much of the lingering taint of Druj occupation - but it was not without cost. Drawing on the power of the eternal [[Llofir]], the magic tore apart damaged and ruined structures without concern as to who had built them. The Highborn were able to protect some of their most valuable relics, but a great many damaged buildings were destroyed - including many chapterhouses. As the magic ebbed away, the eternal claimed the region of [[#Tamarbode|Tamarbode]] as its own demesne, until it was ultimately [[383YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Destroying_Angels|forced to withdraw]] back to its own realm in the Summer of 383YE thanks to the combined efforts of the [[Towerjacks]], the [[Wolves of War]], and the garrison at ''Remember Exile''.

The establishment of the [[Gardens of High Chalcis]], coinciding as it did with the [[Iron_and_wine|coronation message]] of [[Empress Lisabetta]], has seen an influx of healers and doctors into the territory - triggering a drive to see Reikos established as the centre for the healing arts in the Empire.

In Summer 384YE a network of roads, tentatively dubbed "the Virtuous Roads" were [[Construct_White_Roads|commissioned]] by the Imperial Senate. Now the White Roads serve to link Reikos with both [[Necropolis]] and [[Reikos]]. They also provided a major boon to the [[farm|farms]] and [[business|businesses]] of the territory. In the Winter of 386YE, however, the Imperial Senate determined to [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Levy_Tolls_on_White_Roads|levy tolls]] on traffic using the road, meaning they no longer increase the income of individual citizens but provide a significant boost to the Imperial Treasury, in part to pay for the war against the [[vallorn]].

==Major Features==
{{anchor|Urith Barath (High Chalcis)}}{{anchor|Urith Barath}}{{anchor|High Chalcis}}
===High Chalcis===
Prior to the Druj invasion, '''High Chalcis''' was one of the largest settlements in Highguard. Built on the hills of [[#Chalcis Mount|Chalcis Mount]], and famous for its beautiful gardens, the town was a centre for healing and the study of the [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecary]] arts where the medical knowledge of the Empire was codified and expanded. The settlement fell to surprise attack in 367YE, the storehouses of knowledge raided, and the great Stone Toad fortress of '''Urith Barath''' built among the ruins. The Druj citadel fell to Imperial forces in Autumn 379YE, but little remained of the original town in the wake of the destruction. The [[A season of mushrooms|powerful Spring magic]] that washed away signs of Druj occupation devoured most of the remaining ruin.

In the wake of this destruction, [[Construct_Gardens_of_High_Chalcis|extensive work]] was undertaken to restore the town, and especially the Gardens that once surrounded it. New chapterhouses were established around the one structure still standing - the miraculously restored '''Shining Towers'''. These four beautiful towers appeared shortly after the destruction of the Druj citadel on the site of the old chapterhouse of the [[Highguard groups#The_Shattered_Tower|Shattered Tower]]. Returned at last from exile, the Shattered Tower claimed the towers as their new chapterhouse. They report that not only do the towers surround a weak Summer [[regio]], but that they seem to be composed of the legendary magical material [[Stalwart_Stand_on_Solid_Ground#The_Nature_of_Adamant|adamant]]. In some parts of the territory has become a symbol of the unbreakable will of the people of Reikos. In the gardens around the towers stands the [[Keeper of the Cox#Grove of Golden Cox|Grove of Golden Cox]], famed for its unique apple tree that produces [[vis#Golden Apples|Golden Apples]] rich with Summer [[vis]].

In the year since, the settlement has seen a remarkable spate of growth, heavily supported by Highborn exiles returning from [[Therunin#Peakedge_Song|Peakedge Stead]] in neighbouring [[Therunin]] and their [[Navarr]] allies. One of the more important structures is the beautiful [[Claviger_of_the_Basilica_of_Cora_Holdfast#Basilica_of_Cora_Holdfast|Basilica of Cora Holdfast]], completed shortly before the Autumn Equinox 381YE. Given that the [[Cora Holdfast|exemplar]] was of the [[Navarr]], it is perhaps only fitting that the basilica be built in High Chalcis.

While a great deal of work has gone into restoring the town, attention was also focused on restoring the bountiful [[Gardens of High Chalcis]] that once surrounded the settlement. Today, the [[great work]] they represent has been restored, and the Chalcis Hills once again bloom with a great bounty of healing herbs, providing a great boon to the physicks and apothecaries of Reikos.

=== The Sign of Tamar ===
This vast sigil incised into the plain in northern Reikos predates the first human settlements in Reikos. Created by digging long trenches in the earth, scholars have never been sure who constructed it, what purpose (if any) it served, or when precisely it was built. Scholars have paced out the sigil and drawn it, and declared it a humanoid figure that matches the constellation called [[The Drowned Shepherd]]. There is some evidence that the sign was part of, or contained, a very potent Spring [[regio]], possibly with an affinity for the darker and more destructive uses of [[Spring magic]]. If this is the case, its proximity to [[Brocéliande]] can surely be no coincidence.

Even before the coming of [[Llofir]] to [[#Tamarbode|Tamarbode]] there was no viewpoint nearby where the entire figure could be seen clearly. There has been a great deal of speculation as to who placed this sigil here, and whether there is any connection with the chalk figures of [[the Marches]]. Historians have also speculated extensively about how Tamar may have been, and why the region as a whole is called Tamarbode - it is assumed they were connected in some way with the original conquest of Reikos during the early Empire, but there are no records to support this or details of exactly who they may have been.

The eternal [[Llofir]] claimed the Sign of Tamar, as it claimed the whole of Tamarbode. The sigil itself disappeared beneath the enchanted forest that now covers the entire region. Even with the liberation of Tamarbode in 383YE, the earthworks that made up the sign continued to be overgrown and there is every chance it will simply be reclaimed by nature. When Llofir was driven back to the Spring realm, whatever powerful Spring magic was focused here disappeared. You can read more about the battle for the Sign of Tamar in the ''[[383YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Destroying_Angels|Destroying Angels]]'' wind of war. In the Winter of 383YE, the Imperial Senate instructed the [[Appraisal#The_Prognosticators_Office|Prognosticator's Office]] to [[appraisal|appraise]] the Sign for potential use now that Llofir's hold over Tamarbode was broken. The results of that appraisal are detailed in the '''[[Signs and sigils]]''' wind of fortune.

=== The [[Great Forest at Reikos]] ===
The Great Forest at Reikos is a Bourse resource that covers the eastern hills of [[#Broken Ride|Broken Ride]]. Custodianship of the weirwood groves is an [[Imperial Title]] that brings with it a Seat on the [[Bourse]]. It produces 25 Imperial wains of weirwood every season; control is allocated to any Imperial citizen by open auction during the Winter Solstice.

=== The [[Vigilant Swan]]===
The Vigilant Swan is a Bourse resource located in [[#Riverwatch|Riverwatch]]. Custodianship of the Vigilant Swan is an [[Imperial Title]] that brings with it a Seat on the [[Bourse]]. It produces 25 Imperial wains of white granite every season. It is assigned to the [[Highguard|Highborn]] candidate who receives the most support from the Highguard owners of [[congregation]] resources.

During the Summer Solstice 386YE, the Senate [[Fortify Vigilant Swan|voted]] to fortify the Vigilant Swan as a result of an [[Metal_and_stone#Alabaster_and_Onyx_Swans|opportunity]] requested by the [[Archmage of Autumn]], '''Edmundo of Damakan's forge''', and the [[Conclave]]. The Swans of Alabaster and Onyx, handcrafted by the ''Manse of the Lionsmith'', are seven warrior-constructs in the shape of swan-like humanoids; one for each of the Virtues. They are armed, armoured, and infused with the spirit of a herald of Estavus, which allows them to think, talk, and wield battlefield magics. They serve as unceasing watchers, protecting the quarry, and prepared to fight to defend it when called upon.

===The Grand Ossuary===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Long Walk Home.jpg|title=The statue of Brother Gideon that stands in the Grand Ossuary is said by some to be his actual body, preserved forever by potent ritual magic.|caption=Not all those who fought to liberate Reikos lived to see it freed.|width=450|align=right}}
The Grand Ossuary stands in [[Reikos#Haros Water|Haros Water]], not far from the place where the settlement of Haros once stood. A square, stocky building of white stone, it is surrounded by a quiet park laid out with every attempt made to create a quiet atmosphere of contemplation and reflection. Within the structure itself, the dead of Reikos are interred or memorialised, and many relics of the past history of Reikos are kept here - primarily those from before the Druj invasion, but with at least a few connected to heroic deeds performed during the conquest, the occupation, and the later liberation. In particular, the top floor of the Ossuary contains a library where stories from the occupation are stored. Harrowing tales of despair and courage, they include many journals written by those who fell to the orcs.

Work on the Ossuary was already underway when the [[A season of mushrooms|great wave of Spring magic]] swept over the territory - magic that destroyed the remains of the dead as easily as it expunged the lingering mark of the Druj occupation. Only the desperate action of a dozen independent captains and their [[military unit|retinues]] prevented the Ossuary from being overwhelmed. Their names are all immortalized on a simple white granite plinth that stands just inside the main gates of the park. Without their intervention, the (apparently well-meaning) servants of Llofir would have completely devoured the history of Reikos alongside the lingering Druj taint.

Another monument of particular note stands in the Ossuary, and has become a point of pilgrimage for new settlers in Reikos. A statue of Brother Gideon of the Suns of Couros stands in the entrance hall of the Ossuary building proper. Gideon was instrumental in the creation of the Grand Ossuary of Reikos, but died before the work was completed. His memory will forever be linked to this great work, and to the [[Prosperity]] and [[Pride]] of the people of Reikos.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px;"><quote by="Ianthe, Highborn Assembly, Winter 380YE (greater majority)">Our assembly recognises the benevolent and saving Ambition and Loyalty of our departed Brother Gideon of the Suns of Couros in the creation of the Great Ossuary of Reikos. May his memory be forever linked to this Great Work and to the Prosperity and Pride of Reikos.</quote></div>
The Ossuary is a great work; donations are made by visitors which are distributed to the priests of Reikos to help them with their work guiding the future, and commemorating the past. Every [[Highguard|Highborn]] priest who operates a [[congregation]] in [[Reikos]] receives money from the donations. The ossuary is overseen by the [[Steward of the Ossuary]], especially when situations call for the [[Steward_of_the_Ossuary#Distribution_of_the_Grand_Ossuary|distribution]] of the bounty.

===Seminary of the Swan===
Raised a short distance from the [[#Vigilant Swan|Vigilant Swan]], this seminary stands on a small island in the middle of a shallow lake. Waters from the lake feed into the washing pools of the great white granite quarry, and were once the main breeding grounds for the swans that gave the Bourse seat its name. Poisoned by the Druj, the waters were slowly purified until they were safe to support life once again. New swans were brought to live in the waters, the previous birds having been butchered by the orc conquerors.

The Seminary of the Swan itself serves as a school for the training of [[magister|magisters]]. Built in a classical Highborn style, a number of smaller white granite buildings surround a single tall tower - Obadiah Spire - which provides the best view of the surrounding countryside. The Seminary ensures that students of a priestly background understand magic, while those of a more magical bent have a sufficiently Orthodox understanding of the Way.

It is an austere place of study, that demands much of its students and provides little in the way of comfort. To remove distractions the Students are forbidden to set foot on the mainland while they are engaged in their studies. The most common diversion for bored students is to take shallow boats out onto the lake. Eight boats are moored at a small quay beneath the seminary, each named by one of the "[[benefactor|Benefactors]] of Highguard" who helped complete the seminary.

The training of new magicians requires a regular supply of crystal mana, thus creating a steady stream of income for the mana sites of Reikos.
<div style="float:right; width: 750px; clear: right;"><ic>'''At the Hall of Lost Chapters'''<br>Pilgrims seeking solace in the lessons of the past first walk through a covered colonnade that winds through a park of a labyrinthine design. In the middle of the park stands a tall granite bell tower. The bells do not tell the time, but instead are sounded the time and day when each chapter had fallen to the Druj. Arriving at the main building, the visitors are greeted by an imposing portico with massive columns, giving weight to what lies beyond. Passing the entrance, the pilgrims enter a cloister dominated by a huge statue of a basilisk - the protector of the place.

On the north side, the cloister lies against a basilica that serves as a place for contemplation and meditation. The vast space inside is filled with large banners of all the chapters' symbols bound into a greater whole by the single endless steel chain that gives the hall its name. On the east side of the cloister, the Wing of Memory preserves the chapter relics and memorabilia that were recovered after Llofir’s season of mushrooms. Very little sound filters through from the outside, as if the building itself demands a quiet respect for the fallen. The wing also houses a large collection of scrolls, cared for by the archivists. The scrolls contain stories of the chapters, both grand and subtle, their culture and teachings, and their legacies. Opposite, in the Chamber of Murmurs, the stewards recite the names of the dead, without pause, day and night, and they do not repeat themselves for many days. The Hall of Lost Chapters safeguards the Pride of the nation; here the fallen chapters forever remain a part of Highguard.
<small>Original text contributed by Tomáš Zdeněkovič Pilař</small></ic></div>
===Remember Exile===
Completed just before the Autumn Equinox 381YE through the use of a potent enchantment, this fortification is built in [[#Broken Ride|Broken Ride]]. The massive citadel is positioned so as to keep a close watch on both the Great Forest, and on the threat of [[Brocéliande]] to the north-west - and to guard against any potential danger coming out of [[#Tamarbode|Tamarbode]].
===The Unbound Steel Hall (Ruined)===
Built shortly after Reikos was liberated from the Druj, the Unbound Steel Hall of Lost Chapters stood in [[#Riverwatch|Tabernacle]]. It was a place of pilgrimage, dedicated to the history of [[Chapter|chapters]] who have fallen in service of the Empire and the nation. It was a place of pilgrimage seeking lessons of the past. Unfortunately, it was an early casualty of the war against [[Cold Sun]], [[To_the_last_syllable#In_Bastion_and_Reikos|ruined]] by the [[eternal|eternal's]] ''[[Cold Sun#Scions|scions]]''.

Commissioned by '''Ella, Daughter of Zemira,''' of Reumah's Redoubt, using an [[Bearer of an Imperial Wayleave|Imperial Wayleave]] and financed by the Beneficent Order of Steel Chain in conjunction with several Highborn [[benefactor|benefactors]]. The [[opportunity]] to construct the Hall arose as a result of the [[In_brightest_day#The_Power_to_Exalt|inspiration]] following in the wake of powerful magic that washed across the Empire prior to the Winter Solstice 380YE. Built in the newly reborn town of [[#Riverwatch|Tabernacle]], the hall was located on the original high street in Tabernacle, covering multiple lots that were reduced to rubble during the invasion. The Unbound Steel Hall was for a time the largest structure currently standing on the site of the old settlement, and helped drive the rebuilding of the town.

==Regions==
===Broken Ride===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The rolling woodlands of Broken Ride were regularly used for hunting and for training [[Unconquered]] recruits. Only a few scattered chapters were built here, such as [[Highguard groups#Grey_Watchers_of_Peytaht|Beacons Rock]] which stood on the very northernmost borders of Reikos. These isolated chapters were easy prey for the Druj when they invaded.

In 369YE, the woods were the site of the massacre at '''Exile'''. Built round a chapter of Unconquered who trained in the solitude provided by the deep woods, Exile was a hard place, and the Highborn there embraced many trials designed to harden the soul. They held out for three years before they were finally overrun. The Druj desecrated the dead, and used their remains to construct one of their grim shrines of fear and despair, responsible for helping to spread a foul [[Druj miasma|miasma]] over the entire territory.

In the last days of the siege, the choice to hold against overwhelming odds or leave with honour was given to all of the recruits, not a one of whom chose to leave. In battle, the Unconquered used to say: “Remember Exile. We will return” in memorial of fallen friends and mentors. Since the liberation, many have instead begun to say "Remember Exile. We will always return."

Today, the region is sparsely populated. The [[Great_Forest_at_Reikos|weirwood groves]] are still worked, and a [[#Remember Exile|fortification]] has recently been completed here. [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#Broken_Ride_Blooms|Broken Ride Blooms]] still provides a bounty of [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]] to those brave enough to work the forest. A few scattered chapters have returned, many of them dedicated to keeping a [[Vigilance|Vigilant]] eye not only on the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] to the north, but also on [[Brocéliande]] and [[#Tamarbode|Tamarbode]] to the west.

Nestled in the heart of the forest, a white granite [[Construct Monument to Silent Bell|pillar]] stands, crested with a bell missing its clapper. Engraved at its base are the words, "''To the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Sodality of the Silent Bell]], for their tireless work defending this Empire and furthering our knowledge of the Way''."

===Chalcis Mount===
*'''Quality:''' Hills
The gentle hills of Chalcis Mount are the site of [[#High Chalcis|High Chalcis]], and its eponymous [[Gardens of High Chalcis|garden]]. In some poems, they are called the ''Red Downs'' due to the distinctive hue of the [[Imperial Roseweald]] that grew profusely on their slopes - although in the wake of the Druj occupation the name has taken on sadder connotations. The Stone Toad clan built their citadel of Urith Barath here, and it was from that citadel that they ruled Reikos with an iron fist; the citadel is gone now.

Chalcis Mount has a noticeably high population of [[Navarr]] residents. Primarily inhabitants of [[Therunin#Peakedge Song|Peakedge Stead]] in [[Therunin]], the Navarr came to help establish the Gardens to show their gratitude for Highborn support in dealing with a threatened Druj invasion, but many have chosen to stay - at least for the time being. They have established a small settlement on the edge of the region no more than a days march from the steading.

Outside High Chalcis, the physicks and apothecaries are beginning to return. The [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#Fields_of_Remembrance|Fields of Remembrance]] in particular stand as a reminder of the [[Courage]] of those who fought to defend, and to free, Reikos. Perhaps just as significantly, the [[mine]] known as the [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#The_Wound_of_Chalcis|Wound of Chalcis]] is in business once again, drawing up fine quality [[materials#Weltsilver|weltsilver]] from the dark stone cliffs overlooking Therunin.

===Grey Charge===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The wide plains of Grey Charge were avoided by the Druj themselves, but given over to the control of one of their brutal subject nations. The scattered chapterhouses were turned into twisted orc settlements, and the human populace reduced to the status of field slaves. After the liberation, the Spring magic devoured all the ruined chapters, villages, and [[farm|farms]] that once stood here leaving behind untouched forest. New chapters are being established here by the survivors, looking to the trees as a source of [[Prosperity]]. Already, farmland has been liberated from the clutch of the magically inspired woodlands - [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#Grey_Watch_Grasses|Grey Watch Grasses]] weathered the storm of Spring magic reasonably untouched, and leads the way in providing food to the people of Reikos. The [[congregation]] known as [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#Never_Again|Never Again]], formed by refugees in Bastion, is based here. They actively support rebuilding efforts across the entire territory.

===Haros Water===
Haros Water takes its name from the tributary of the Couros that runs through it. Similar to neighbouring [[#Riverwatch|Riverwatch]], Haros Water was made wealthy by a combination of prosperous farms and regular trade passing along the road and the river. The town of '''Haros''', once a major stopping point for trade passing through Reikos, was effectively destroyed during the liberation, and the [[a season of mushrooms|tide]] of [[Spring magic]] that followed after it. Most of the damage had already been done by the time the magic spread over the ruins - following a three day battle in the streets during Winter 378YE, the Druj [[379YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Blood_and_Stone|fired the town]], creating a conflagration that lasted through the night and saw the entire settlement reduced to ruins. The beautiful river gates of Haros, which once allowed daring forays by expert boatmen supporting the defenders, were reduced to broken fragments, standing as mute testimony to the loss of the last Imperial foothold in the territory.

Not everything is lost. A brave effort by several chapters managed to protect some remnants of the former town from the voracious appetite of [[Llofir]] and its agents. The ruins of the river gates in particular still stand, providing a memorial to those who died fighting to protect their homes. The only other structure still standing is now the tallest in the new town; the tower of [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#Echoes_of_Wisdom|Echoes of Wisdom]] bell-makers business survived the fall of Haros, the Druj occupation, and the wave of [[Spring magic]] entirely untouched A new town is beginning to flourish around it, taking advantage of the influx of lumber from the new woodlands of [[#Grey Charge|Grey Charge]] and [[#Longshire|Longshire]]. The [[Highguard groups#The_Suns_of_Couros|Suns of Couros]] in particular have been active in re-establishing Haros. The [[Draughir]] chapter have established a new chapterhouse - a dim reflection of its previous splendour - and are encouraging other Highborn to participate in the rebuilding of Haros as a staging point for the settlement of western Reikos.

===Longshire===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The plains of Longshire were not heavily settled even when Reikos was at its height; now that they are densely wooded this has not noticeably changed. During the occupation, the scattered chapters here were reduced to ruins and claimed by various barbarians. These unruly gangs of orcs squabbled among themselves, occasionally causing the Druj themselves to step in and make an example to restore order. Of particular note is the attack in 370YE when the Druj slaughtered every member of the clan living in the ruins of the old Granite Chain chapterhouse.

An ambitious band of Unconquered soon took residence in the ruins, exploiting the superstitious dread of the local orcs to maintain a hidden chapterhouse that helped coordinate the resistance in the western territory. Today the chapterhouse has been rebuilt by the surviving Unconquered. Working closely with the [[Master_of_the_School_of_Exorcism#The_School_of_Exorcism|School of Exorcism]] in [[#Riverwatch|Riverwatch]], the chapter works to help lay to rest the remaining wraiths that haunt Longshire and to provide support to new chapters establishing themselves amidst the new grown forests.

===Riverwatch===
The [[Vigilant Swan]] was the source of a great deal of prosperity for Riverwatch, but a significant amount also came from the [[farm|farms]] that sprawled across the wide, fertile plains north of the Haros river. As with [[#Haros Water|Haros Water]], the region was also made wealthy by trade passing along the road between [[Casinea]] and [[Sarvos]] in the east and the [[Navarr]] [[steading|steadings]] of [[Therunin]] to the west. Much of that trade passed through the town of '''Tabernacle''', a well-fortified triple-ringed settlement whose residents sprawled outside its walls in long years of peace. Riverwatch held out against the Druj for a decade, the last site of major resistance to the invaders, with constant skirmishing along its borders that saw the farms devastated and Tabernacle reduced to the status of an armed camp. Riverwatch was the last region of Reikos to fall to the Druj, and even then only after many months of sustained assault. While some chapters survived the fall of Tabernacle, the survivors were forced to retreat across the river to [[Bastion#Sybella_Cross|Sybella Cross]] in [[Bastion]]. A year of occupation saw Tabernacle reduced to mud-choked ruins scattered with lethal traps and deadfalls that would have taken months of careful work to locate and disarm. In the end, the town was swallowed by Llofir's wave of Spring magic, devoured by the earth itself, ruins and traps and all.

Today a village is slowly spreading around Riverwatch, named Tabernacle in memory of the town that once stood here. With trade caravans returning to the pre-occupation routes, the village is enjoying a little of its former prosperity. The re-establishment [[Reikos_Spoils_of_War#Tabernacle_Legacy_Claret|Tabernacle Legacy Claret]] in particular marked the beginning of the new prosperity; built over the extensive hidden cellars of the old vineyard, the wine produced here is said to have a particularly fine if bitter quality and has proved popular in several places damaged by war with the orcs. Further prosperity has been brought by a small family of respectable [[Faraden]] traders who have set up a small, permanent enclave in Tabernacle, trading herbs and wood with the citizens of Reikos as they serve as a hub for caravans trading into Therunin and [[Urizen]].

===Tamarbode===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The desolate plains of Tamarbode were primarily known as the site of the enigmatic [[#The Sign of Tamar|Sign of Tamar]], and at least one chapter was dedicated to protecting and guarding the eerie earthworks. It was also home to a couple of fortified chapters on the borders of [[Brocéliande]], facing into the forests there and keeping a careful watch on the [[vallorn]] that slumbers fitfully at its heart. Contact with these chapters was lost when the last of them was overrun by Druj in 372YE. During the orc occupation, the region appeared to be under the control of an especially vicious Druj [[Druj#Magic|Ghulai]] nicknamed "''Greenmask''".

The region was never fully liberated from the Druj - even after the fall of Urith Barath, scattered orc warbands held out here for several months. In Summer 380YE, the great surge of Spring magic that began the rejuvenation of Reikos apparently began here, and the entire region was claimed by the eternal [[Llofir]]. Tamarbode became a primeval woodland that thrummed with unruly [[Spring magic]], and was largely unknown to Imperial forces. Indeed, there were indications that the woodland might be actively hostile to humans, possibly as a response to an [[380YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#Our_Neighbour.27s_Field|abortive attempt]] by the [[Urizen]] [[Citadel Guard]] to drive out the eternal forces here.

In the end, a [[383YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Destroying_Angels|combined operation]] by the Wolves of War and the Towerjacks ultimately destroyed the Castle of Ruin, and Llofir's Garden collapsed and was withdrawn into the Spring realm. While there is still a profusion of mushrooms and toadstools amid the trees here, the forests of Tamarbode now seem to be entirely natural in nature.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Cyrus12292.jpg|caption='''Cyrus, of Ebon's Hall''', Senator for Reikos|align=left|width=400}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Reikos|Territory=Reikos|Season=Spring}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the end of the Summer Solstice 383YE, the Highborn control all the regions of Reikos, meaning it is an Imperial territory.
* The [[fortification]] of [[#Remember Exile|Remember Exile]] is a rank 2 fortification in [[#Broken Ride|Broken Ride]].
* The [[#The Vigilant Swan|Swans of Alabaster and Onyx]] are a rank 1 fortification in Riverwatch that only protect that region
* The [[Keeper of the Stand|Micah's Stand Wayhouse]] in Chalcis Mount allows Navarri characters to establish a [[Resource#Personal_Resource|personal resource]] in Reikos and gain the benefit of any [[great work]] in the territory without suffering the penalty for having a [[Resource#Resources_in_other_Nations|resource in another nation]].
* [[congregation|Congregations]] in the territory benefit from the [[#The Grand Ossuary|Grand Ossuary]] and produce 72 rings each season.
* [[Herb garden|Herb gardens]] in the territory benefit from the [[Gardens of High Chalcis]] and produce an extra 3 drams of [[True Vervain|true vervain]], 2 drams of [[Cerulean Mazzarine|cerulean mazzarine]], 1 dram of [[bladeroot]], 1 dram of [[Imperial Roseweald|Imperial roseweald]], and 1 dose of [[realmsroot]] each season.
* [[Mana site|Mana sites]] in the territory benefit from the [[#Seminary of the Swan|Seminary of the Swan]] and produce 36 rings each season.
* Prior to the [[a season of mushrooms|magic]] of Summer 380YE, several regions devastated by the Druj had the ''ruins'' quality. The powerful magic invoked over the territory removed these qualities as they removed the ruins themselves.
* While the majority of Reikos has been freed from the [[Druj miasma]] by a combination of hard work by Imperial forces and the powerful rejuvenating Spring magic that swept the territory in Spring and Summer 380YE, there are still some areas that suffer under its influence. They are for the most part isolated, hard-to-reach places immediately surrounding a miasma stone ('''OOC Note:''' these remaining areas exist primarily as a source of quests, or as inspiration for an individual player event, rather than as a threat to the territory as a whole).

[[Category:Highguard]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

Saint of Bees

2026-06-09T23:33:10Z

Noserenda:

<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
{{SOP|statement= Our siblings in Varushka have called for Livardz to rise from the ashes. In <u>peerless kinship</u>, Highguard answers their call. In Loyalty, let all those who can be spared from their duties journey north to help erase the stain of the Cold Sun and support the pride and prosperity of Varushka, in accordance with judgement 80.|by=Sister Juliette of Balthazar's Vineyard, Highborn National|vote=Greater Majority 474-22|when=Winter Solstice 387YE|size=small}}
{{SOP|statement= Citizens of Varushka, the Varushkan children at Anvil have been investigating the lack of bees in Karov. Honey Bee of the Sovereign's Head asked the coven 'Moonlight Finds the Mountain Pass' to petition Sung for aid in this endeavour. As a result of this investigation, the National Assembly of Varushka urges all Prosperous citizens to aid in re-flowering Karov. Plant flowers, send seeds. Make Karov bloom again.|by=Sillya Nikovitch Volkov, Varushkan National|vote=Greater Majority 228-0|when=Winter Solstice 387YE|size=small}}</div>
<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Big Bee.jpg|align=left|caption=Bees are an important part of Varushkan culture.|title=We'll see who brings in more honey!|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
The stories of magical bees helping the virtuous in stories are, in a way, timeless. They were being told at bedsides and around campfires long before there was an Empire to speak of. Many Varushkan children grew up with the story of "the Good Tailor" where a swarm of bees helps a virtuous man create a wedding outfit for a cruel Boyar in a single night, both sparing the hero from death and delivering an ironic punishment to the tyrannical ruler who has grown lazy by stealing the labour of her people. Others recall with fondness being told the tale of "the Honey of Oloy" where an unassuming pot contains enough honey for the entire village to eat a spoonful a day during the Longest Winter, keeping everyone warm and healthy and strong enough to fight off rampaging wolves. A surprising number of wardens when asked about their calling mention the climax of that tale, when the bees join the villagers to fight off the thieving bandits lead by Old Wolf. There are dozens more like this - entertaining, but teaching valuable lessons about justice, happiness, working hard, sharing with those who deserve it, and other concepts that modern pilgrims would describe as [[Prosperity]].

So when, in the wake of the attack of Cold Sun, the bees of [[Karov]] began to go missing, it was a source of obvious alarm. Last year [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] was commissioned to [[appraisal|appraise]] the [[Outside_the_wall|restoration of Delev]], and gave some consideration to [[Outside_the_wall#The_Bee_Question|the bee question]]. She did not reach a conclusion however, but did uncover disturbing reports that there were also fewer bees being encountered in [[Karov#Wieliczka|Wieliczka]], [[Karov#Kamienczka|Kamienczka]], and [[Karov#Skoremujac|Skoremujac]] as well as in [[Karov#Duzekani|Duzekani]] where the damage from the ''scions'' was greatest. In the months since, the folk of [[Karov#Malimorzi|Malimorzi]] have also reported seeing fewer and fewer bees, and as the Equinox approaches there are reports from [[Volodmartz#Livardz|Livardz]], [[Miekarova#Dupadealuri|Dupadealuri]], and [[Karsk#Kopevnost|Kopevnost]] of hives deserted and a marked dearth of little black-and-yellow fellows industriously visiting the spring flowers. The problem is spreading from Karov to the rest of Varushka.

Naomi was at a loss to explain what was happening, and suggested either a proposal from someone better versed in magic than she, or that the [[Conclave]] speak to an [[eternal]] about the matter. When the Highborn [[Sunrise over Livardz|arrive in Livardz]] to support the appraisal, they quickly learn of the bee-shaped hole in the Varushkan landscape. The National Assembly of that nation has already called out the urgent need to address the disappearance of the "Prosperous helpers" and given it seems that [[Appraisal#Graciana_i_Lòpez_i_Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] has the matter of Volodmartz in hand, they turn their attention to a different problem. Bees, the lack thereof.

==Too Few Bees==
A few Highborn do look askance at the traditional virtuous animals. The argument of whether a beast can be virtuous or not has reached no firm conclusion. Many of those inclined to help in Varushka, however, take the view that the stories of the darkest nation teach virtue as often as not - they are parables and everyone knows that the bees mentioned in the stories are not ''real'' bees. Yet, at the same time, it's hard to deny that bees are industrious little creatures, tending flowers and creating honey that, in the eyes of the people who know them best, share the product of their hard work with those who in turn look after them, protect them from predators, and ensure their hives are well looked after. Perhaps there is more to the matter than just stories, even stories as inspirational as those Varushkan parents and grandparents tell their children?

It is when talking to some of those who know bees - real bees - best that a new picture starts to emerge. Since the disappearance of the bees began to spread, there has been a barely perceptible fall in the health of plants across Volodmartz. It's still subtle at the moment, but it is slowly getting worse. [[Herb garden|Herb gardens]] in particular have been experiencing a decline. The plants still grow, but each successive generation is a little less potent than the one before. It is also effecting [[farm|farms]] and [[forest|forests]], which a few economically minded Varushkans and Highborn predict may start to impact [[business|businesses]] that rely on such things if the problem continues.

There's no doubt among the Varushkans as to what is to blame - the problem started when Cold Sun invaded. While it is the goose and the spider that are more commonly associated with [[Vigilance]], there's evidence that bees are quite sensitive to danger especially anything related to shifts in the flow of mana through a territory. When the forces of Oblivion attacked, the bees fled or hid just as their human neighbours were doing in the face of the scions. Perhaps bees are [[Wisdom|Wise]] as well, muses one Highborn with an interest in botany. Regardless it seems clear that a quiet catastrophe is unfolding in Varushka, the extent of which has so far gone unmarked.

While not every Highborn thinks ascribing virtue to animals is a good thing, they are resolute in the belief that ''virtue is contagious''. Varushkans see bees as a symbol of prosperity, and symbols help shape peoples' approach to virtue. Restoring the bees to Karov - and hopefully stemming their decline in neighbouring territories - feels at least as important as dealing with the [[curse|curses]] left behind in the wake of Cold Sun's invasion. It might also be a good idea to look at the other places Cold Sun invaded, places where bees are less central in the minds of the citizens, and see if they are suffering a similar decline.

It is also worth noting that Highguard - especially the folk of Reikos - are not strangers to the idea of tending bees. While honey doesn't have the same prominent place in Highguard culture as it does in Varushka, it is by no means an unknown art. The Gardens of High Chalcis have several large bee hives that help tend the herbs there, and it is common for a chapter to collect honey from smaller hives on their grounds. Those who have experience with bees have much to talk about here in Varushka, when it comes to the art and science of working with bees and honey, and it is some of those beewise Highborn who know the stories of Kvetmir of the Bees who first make contact with the priests of Zoloto.

==Kvetmir of the Bees==
*
In northern Skoremujac, in the vale of Zoloto, lives a religious community dedicated to the inspiration of the [[Paragons and exemplars#exemplar|exemplar]] ''Kvetmir Kvetmirovic''. [[Recognition|Recognised]] by the Synod in the early reign of [[Empress Varkula]], Kvetmir Kvemirovic predates the Empire by at least two centuries. Their stories are not widely known - they are by no means [[Paragons_and_exemplars#Renowned_Exemplars|renowned]] - but the people of Zoloto keep their memory alive. Kvetmir is credited with revolutionising beekeeping and honey gathering during his life, and encouraging the keeping of bees as a way to ensure the health of a community beyond access to honey. He collected the "Golden Book" - a collection of folk stories about bees - copies of which can be found all over the Empire to this day although few realise it is the work of an exemplar. A practiced [[Surgical skills#Apothecary|apothecary]], he helped cultivate the use of honey in medicine to treat infection and burns. Even there he took the opportunity to inspire. He spoke in his letters about how hard he found the study of apothecary, being easily distracted and more inclined to spend his time watching bees than practicing his lessons. Hard work, he said, did not just mean hard labour. Any difficult task would bring rewards, and they would be all the sweeter the more arduous it was to achieve them.

He is also associated with two miracles. While travelling to a wedding, Kvetmir made a point of leaving little bowls of sugar water out for the bees each time his travelling party rested. When brigands sought to rob and murder the wedding party, the local bees protected Kvetmir and his family and blinded their assailants. When the "Bee Shepherd" was dying, all the bees in the surrounding area left their hives and came to the room where he lay. The story claims they came in such force they broke down the shutters, and covered him, keeping him warm in his final hour with their bodies quelling the chills that wracked him despite the physicks best efforts, allowing him to pass peacefully. Descendants of those same bees, by all accounts, continued to live in Zoloto up until the present day, and their honey (and the spirits distilled from it) built the vale into a prosperous and comfortable place to live.

Now, their bees too are departing. They invite Highborn to visit them to share what they know of bees, and working together a possible solution is discovered. The bees, say the bee tenders of Zoloto, are frightened. They have fled into the deep wilderness, and many of them have entered a state of torpor - similar to the way they cluster together in the Winter to keep one another warm. They need to be reassured that the danger has passed, and that their human allies will protect them if it returns. The inspiration of Kvetmir speaks not only of the rewards of hard work, but also of the need for those whose livelihood depends on living things - bees or trees or crops - to treat their plants and creatures with respect just as they would a labourer on their farm or a worker in their shop.

==Regal Beehives==
The beehives of Zoloto are large, beautiful, intricate structures of weirwood. They stand amidst fields of [[marrowort]], [[true vervain]], and [[imperial roseweald]] that the beekeepers tend with as much attention to detail as they do their bees. Every Solstice and Equinox, even in Winter, the people of the vale come together for a celebration honouring the hard work of their black-and-yellow labourers. Songs are sung, shallow bowls of sweet water laid out, and stories of the exemplar Kvetmir are told.

In the interests of bringing the bees back, the folk of Zoloto are more than happy to work with the Highborn to share their techniques for handling frightened bees, and also to share the plans for their hives. This represents a two-pronged attack on the problem. The first will need liao, and quite a bit of it. The second will need a commission, to build "regal beehives" to encourage the missing bees to return.

===Ceremonies of Prosperity===
With the priests of Zoloto, and after some discussion with wise ones and storytellers, it is determined that the [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] and [[grey pilgrim|gray pilgrims]] of Highguard will work with their Varushkan kin to propagate the ceremonies used by the community of Kvetmir Kvetmirovic through Karov and the neighbouring territories. These simply ceremonies involve songs about bees and hard work which are easy enough to record, but are used in conjunction with the [[Auras_of_Prosperity#Neither_Beg_Nor_Fear|consecration of Prosperity]], and the [[Auras_of_Prosperity#Hallowing_of_the_Grateful_Debtor|Hallowing of the Grateful Debtor]]. A [[mandate]] has been prepared to assist in this.

{{Mandate|mandate=The prosperity of our Varushkan kin is threatened by the harm done to the bees of Karov. With hard work, we can help them quell the fear that has overtaken their bees, and with the inspiration of Kvetmir Kvetmirovic renew trust between that symbol of Prosperity and the people of the vales. We send (named priest) with 50 doses of liao to spread auras of Prosperity, and to support the work of the vale of Zoloto to right what the Cold Sun has unbalanced.|assembly=Highborn National Assembly}}

If this mandate is passed, it will help spread the inspiration of Kvetmir Kvetmirovic, and the expertise of the beekeepers of Zoloto. This will prevent the situation with bees in Varushka getting worse, and will slowly encourage bees to take residence in their hives again. It will take at least a year, and bee populations are unlikely to recover completely, but it will ensure there is no measurable impact on the prosperity of southern Varushka, and no lasting damage to the Prosperity of herb gardens, farms, forests, or businesses.

===Regal Hives===
<div {{Float}}>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Regal Hive'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]] </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Malimorzi, Karov</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 weirwood, 240 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Reverses the loss of bees in Varushka, restoring prosperity
* Provides a level of investment in herb gardens in the territory granting 1 dose each of true vervain, marrowort, and imperial roseweald to each garden
* Provides a boost to the Gradens of High Chalcis for a year granting 1 dose each of true vervain, marrowort, and imperial roseweald to each garden
* Allows similar regal hives to be built in other Varushkan territories </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Winter Solstic 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Regal hives could be built in Malimorzi in Karov to reverse the harms done to the bees of Karov'''
The beehives of Zoloto are truly impressive examples of the bee tenders arts which the vale folk claim were first built by exemplar Kvetmir himself. Hut sized structures of weirwood, surrounded by plentiful herb gardens and wild flowers alike, they house truly exceptional swarms of bees and produce some of the finest honey in Karov if not Varushka. These "regal beehives" are spoken of as being "fit for a Queen or an Empress" and they are even sometimes referred to as "Varkula's little palaces" in reference to the still-beloved [[Empress Varkula]].

After a great deal of discussion and theory, Highborn and Varushkan alike come to the conclusion that the best place to build a set of truly regal beehives would be [[Karov#Malimorzi|Malimorzi]]. Given that the problem of the bees is spreading into the neighbouring territories, this would represent a reasonably central spot from which to propagate the designs and encourage the bees that the danger has passed. Beekeepers could visit the site, as well as the vale of Zoloto, to share and discuss their techniques and learn from one another. The regal beehives would not only address the fear of the bees, but would reverse the trend. They would represent a level of investment in [[herb garden|herb gardens]] throughout the territory, as healthy bees industriously tend to flowering herbs and produce valuable honey. This level of investment would give every herb garden in Karov an additional dose each of marrowort, imperial roseweald, and true vervain each season.

There is nothing to prevent similar beehives being built in other Varushkan territories. While they wouldn't help stem the loss of bees - it is Karov where the problem originated after all - they would likewise cultivate large, healthy hives to help support the prosperity of the nation. Assuming there was no other great work benefiting herb gardens in the territory, they would have the same effect - additional herbs - for each herb garden.

Finally, once the regal beehives in Karov are completed, the Varushkan beekeepers suggest that in recognition of their hard work the bee tenders would come to Reikos and help propagate their knowledge. For a year following the completion of the regal beehives in Karov, the Gardens of High Chalcis would provide an additional dose of marrowort, true vervain, and imperial roseweald to every herb garden in Reikos.

==Letting the Bees Go==
* '''If the situation continues to decline it will impact the prosperity of Karov and eventually the whole of Varushka
* '''There are still opportunities to find other ways to reverse the disappearance of the bees
Right now, the dearth of bees is a matter for concern but only that. If the tide of bees deserting Varushka is not stemmed, however, the effects will begin to be felt more keenly. If nothing is done by the end of the Winter Solstice 388YE, then by next spring every herb garden and farm in Karov will have a -1 penalty to its production. By the end of the Summer Solstice 389YE, this penalty will have spread to forests and businesses in the territory as well. It's hard to say for certain at this stage, but events in neighbouring territories suggest that if the trend is not reversed it might spread disaster for the prosperity of the whole of Varushka.

Obviously, while the Highborn have worked with the Varushkans of Karov to address the situation through the lens of virtue, the proposals made by Naomi in the '''[[Outside_the_wall#The_Bee_Question|Outside the wall]]''' wind of fortune are still available. While its not clear that a new appraisal will achieve much beyond confirming that the Zoloto/Chalcis proposal will work, it could look at the root cause of the problem (the sunburned status of Duzekani). There are also several eternals that might be able to help. But the fact remains that time is running out. It's running out ''slowly''... but it is still running out.

==Kvetmir Kvetmirovic==
*
The exemplar who inspires the people of Zoloto, and whose influence is felt by beetenders across Varushka and beyond whether they know it or not, has mostly been forgotten. Since their recognition two centuries or more ago, they have mostly faded from memory. The folk of Zoloto offer their support to resolving the bee situation without demanding a price. Yet they are also clear that they would very much appreciate it if the inspiration of Kvetmir Kvetmirovic were to be renewed and they believe the people of Highguard, and their own National Assembly, could both support this ambition. They would like to see an [[inspirational location]] built in Karov to serve as a place of pilgrimage not only for Imperial beetenders, but for the Prosperous of the Empire who wish to learn of their quiet patron. They believe the lessons of industriousness, of treating your workplace and workers with respect and sharing the benefits of everyone's labour, are just as relevant today as they have always been.

A [[writ of consecration]] would allow the hives in the vale of Zoloto, or the regal hives they propose for Malimortz, to become such a place. It would require a dose of [[liao#True Liao|true liao]] of course, and the approval of the [[prosperity]] assembly. They cannot, obviously, predict what the effect would be but they point to the powerful symbolism of bees and Prosperity in Varushka, to the role of honey in medicine, and to the stories that Kvetmir Kvetmirovic cultivated the rare [[realmsroot]] alongside the more traditional herbs with he help of his bees. A writ of consecration would determine if any of these opportunities might be realised.

There is a note of caution among the Highborn however, at least some of the more cynical. The Synod has recently been "burned" by a pre-Imperial Varushkan inspiration. Before anyone starts proposing a writ of consecration, it might be best if the [[Minister of Historical Research]] or even better the [[Lepidean Librarian]] looked into the life and times, and the inspiration, of Kvetmir Kvetmirovic. It would not do to create a place of pilgrimage, an inspirational location, and only ''then'' discover that the storied Kvetmir ''also'' urged people to enact [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Vengeance|merciless retribution]] against people who put their honey on their scones in the wrong way, for example.

<box>'''<big>Bees in the real world</big>'''<br>Bees are pretty remarkable creatures, who've lived alongside humans for a very long time indeed. This plotline mirrors real world concerns about bees, and while that was mostly a coincidence based around the symbolism of bees in Varushka, there ''are'' real world concerns about falling bee populations. A fantasy live-roleplaying game isn't the best place to discuss a real world crisis, but if you are interested in learning more then this page [https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/our-tips-how-bee-friendly from the World Wildlife Federation] and this piece from Kew Gardens about [https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/keep-uk-bees-happy keeping UK bees happy] that might be of interest.</box>
[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]]

Old blue banners dancing

2026-06-09T13:41:25Z

Noserenda: /* Objective: Recover the Ullsmere Rock */

[[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 knock 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.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Fitzwilliam Thorn.jpg|caption='''Fitzwilliam Thorn''', General of the Bounders|align=right|width=350}}
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==
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 Graven March 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 dolman, 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 her to try to tackle the shades but has been capture 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>

Other monstrous geographies

2026-06-09T13:24:42Z

Noserenda: /* Nesustak Forest */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:388YE Spring]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 40%; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Monstrous Geographies.jpg|caption=Even without the Druj miasma there is plenty to fear in Sarangrave. The bottomless lakes and the creatures that dwell in their depths; the marshes and the woods that hide Druj assassins; and the shadow of the past that hangs over the entire wetland.|align=left|width=2000}}</div>
==The End of Winter==
The [[Rivers of Life]] flow through the [[Sarangrave]]. [[Spring magic]] in the clouds, in the streams, the ponds, in the water-bottles of the soldiers. In the Feverwater, in unplumbed depths of the lake of [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]]. They bring with them the promise of life, of wounds that will swiftly heal. They bring a threat as well - the blood-sucking, stinging insects of the Druj-corrupted wetlands swarm and bite in unprecedented numbers. There is a balance of a kind, though, to this indiscriminate magic. Wounds are less likely to fester in the filthy marshes, at least. Sickness less likely to spread. The rains of life fall on the just and the corrupt, equally.

The Druj have kept their stronghold in the south. The massive [[Sarangrave#Tower of the Skink|Tower of the Skink]] looms over the [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]]. The Marshlizard Clan remains the final sept of the Druj still holding out against Imperial armies. To the south of the titanic castle, the [[Axos|Axou]] of [[Axos#Gates_of_Ipotavo|Ipotavo]] continue their own assault. They batter the massive fortified gate from which the [[orc|orcs]] of [[the Mallum]] sent out their raiders to attack [[Axos#Axou Territories|Kabanja]]. The portal is firmly closed, at least for the moment.

Of the forces engaged with the Druj last season, only the [[Boyar's Hasta]], the [[Summer Storm]], and the [[Lions of Adelmar]] have remained. The [[Granite Pillar]] and the [[Golden Axe]] have pulled back to [[Dawn]], to recover perhaps from the horror of the Sarangrave. The [[Druj miasma]] still hangs heavily over the entire territory, of course, stronger and thicker than anywhere the Empire has encountered it before. It is no surprise that those who fight under such conditions need to fall back, to recover from wounds not just physical but spiritual as well.

In their place come the [[Eastern Sky]], [[Gryphon's Pride]], and [[Citadel Guard]] out of [[Semmerholm]], and the [[Navarr]] of the [[Quiet Step]] from [[Astolat]]. They pass swiftly through [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]]; the Karass mark their passage silently, their faces unreadable. From there, across the [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]] to the wreck of Thornfen.

Last season, the Druj [[Fire_and_the_flood#Jarangir's_Levy|broke Jarangir’s Levy]], unleashing a flood that scattered attackers and defenders alike. The waters have subsided now, for the moment at least, but they have washed away the few roads, as well as wrecking farms and smaller settlements across the northern region. It is in the wake of that flood that the Empire renews its assault against the Tower of the Skink.

==Wall Like A Dam==
The Tower has weathered the joint Imperial and Axou attack so far. Even with their [[Fire_and_the_flood#Shield_of_Our_Ancestors|martial "necromantia"]], the ability of the allies to work together is limited thanks to the massive castle that lies between them. Spectral messengers still flit back and forth through the impassable hills, bearing messages and allowing the separate forces to coordinate, but it is no substitute for actually fighting together. The Empire, likewise, makes use of magic to help the disparate forces [[Clarity of the Master Strategist|adapt their strategies]] to the ever-shifting battlefield, and the wicked cunning of the Druj.
The garrison of the Tower itself is massive, well-equipped with potions and blade venoms, supported by the desperate residents of the fortress and those who fled the town of Sephals to that uncertain sanctuary. Five armies of the Empire move to lay siege to the place.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 40%; width: 600px; margin-left: 10px;">
<quote by="Dame Aurum De Castellan, General of the Eastern Sky">Soldiers of the Eastern Sky, we stand now before the tower of the Skink. Our path is clear: A Glorious charge to bring an end to the taint of the Mallum. We will pay a heavy price but I will be there at your side and I will be the first over the walls and the last out. Fight with courage, gird yourself in pride and look to your loyalty. Glory to Dawn and Glory to the Empire.</quote>
<quote by="Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco, General of the Lions of Adelmar">Our Lions of Adelmar, for nine months we have pushed into the Mallum, stood proud against the venoms of the Druj and had the Courage to not only take on their most vicious cruelties, but to keep pushing and to keep winning. Resolve yourselves, our work amidst the Druj is still at hand. May your Swords turn to claws as you rip and rend the tower's stone. Even in their cruel desperation, let us show them what a lioness can do. May the knights of the Summer realm who join us repeat our tales. Now, hold your Virtues at heart and hand, and let them guide you back into war again.</quote>
<quote by="Stormsteel Skorr, General of the Summer Storm">Legionnaires, last season we did well repelling the Druj from Sanath and the Tower of the Skink. This season we keep pushing to take that tower. Be vigilant, we do not know where we will find Druj In the Swamp. Eyes up and open. We are after the slave masters and true Druj, leave the slaves be. Be careful, keep pushing and use pit fights to keep spirits up. We can do this.</quote>
<quote by="Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was, General of the Citadel Guard">My earliest memory is of the lightstone in my bedroom failing. I thought the Druj were coming for me. My cousin, a few years older than me, had told us stories she'd heard about the Druj. I'd asked my mother about them, and she told me as she thought I could bear. I had to get out of bed, feeling through the dark, and down two flights of stairs to find the light. I thought monsters with poison knives were chasing me the whole way. For years, people - Young and old, human and orc, Urizen and Dawnish and Highborn and sept - have woken up in the night and thought the Druj were coming for them - and been right. The fear they spread is anathema to virtue. There is no place for them in Utopia. We stand halfway up the mountain of their destruction and must only finish the climb. Sentinels. If you would bring light to their darkness. If you would save every child terrified of the night. If you will climb this mountain with me. Consider the Drowned Man.</quote>
<quote by="Neve Agra, General of the Quiet Step">Quiet Step, we advance into the Sarangrave and engage Druj forces. Support allied lines, protect the forest and drive the enemy out. Use the terrain to strike fast and act with ambition. Do whatever it takes to secure victory. Sarangrave must be clear of Druj forces. For us, for Urizen, for the Empire to grow and flourish. Listen for the Whispers of the forest and the trods will guide those who move with purpose. If the wind shifts, heed its warning. If the silence deepens, Prepare. You are Navarr. You are the storm in the leaves, the shadows between the branches and the voice that answers intrusion with fury. Go to the Sarangrave and ensure that when this war is over, the forest still stands and our enemies do not.</quote></div>

The Eastern Sky are in the fore, leading the way for a great host of warbands under the command of Imperial [[military unit|captains, champions, and heroes]]. They are inspired by the [[Army_qualities#Favoured|favour]] of [[Eleonaris]], the [[Summer magic|Summer]] [[enchantment]] flowing through and around them guided by a half dozen courtiers from the demesne of the ''Queen of the Pennants''. Utterly committed to victory, no matter what it might cost, they pay a heavy price for their zeal even with the healing power of the waters this season.

Fortunately these knights of Dawn do not fight alone. The Lions of Adelmar are at their side, their shield raised, ready to [[Army_qualities#Guardian|guard]] their fellows from the barbed arrows and envenomed spears of the Druj. The favour of Eleonaris is with the Lions, as well. Under the command of the stag-headed Ser Helvennan fight a cohort of warriors from the [[Knights of Glory|Fields of Glory]]. Resplendent in gold-and-scarlet chain, the warriors of the Fields of Glory, they inspire all who battle the Druj this season, their wroth waxing greater and greater each time they encounter another sign of the corruption of the Mallum. Love and Glory together, at the heart of the fray, the bright banners of Dawn undimmed by the mud and blood that surround them.

Dawn at the heart then, against a grand stronghold of the Druj (and if there is an echo of [[Cost|that terrible battle]] two years past when the [[Hounds of Glory]] paid their ultimate price, it is spoken of with Pride). The Unshackled and the Urizen move more [[Army orders#Steady Conquest|steadily]], refusing to risk the lives of their soldiers more than necessary. Trapped like this, desperate, the tyrants of the Mallum are at their most cruel. They remain alert to the wiles of the Druj ensuring the stealthy guerrillas of the Sarangrave do not have leave to ravage the baggage trains or the flanks of the Imperial force.

The General of the Citadel Guard has invoked the stars, reminded the sentinels and war-magicians of the lesson of [[the Drowned Shepherd]]; that <i>things end</i>. That the Druj, ultimately will end - and if there are [[astronomancy|astronomancers]] who worry about the invocation of a [[Astronomancy#Constellations|constellation]] in such time they speak only in whispers with their heads close together. The constellation that many still remember was once called the Drowned Man is an omen of ending, and it is dangerous to assume one knows what ''exactly'' is going to end when it is invoked.

Finally, the Navarr of the Quiet Step. They are the storm in the leaves, fighting to ensure that the forest stands but the enemy does not. Where the Lions of Adelmar protect, the Navarr bring death. The cruel barbarity of the Druj is met with [[Army_qualities#Cunning|merciless cunning]], blow for blow. One cannot betray one’s enemies, after all. They exploit the forest and the marshes, not only in the Thornfen but in those other parts of Sarangrave where pockets of Druj assassins gather. A second war, quieter than the grand battle at the Tower of the Skink, is waged in the marshes this season.

The Tower alone would represent a significant threat to all the forces in the Sarangrave this season. Its garrison however is also supplemented by three Druj armies - the corrupt witches of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]], the desperate guerrillas of the [[Druj_armies#Hidden Snake|Hidden Snake]], and the relentless malice of the [[Druj_armies#Poison Crane|Poison Crane]]. These armies, their septs scattered, have nowhere to go; they <i>must</i> resist the Empire or risk dissolution.

And resist they do.

==The Battle of Sephals==
Sephals is a ramshackle, spreading town. The floodwaters released by the broken levies have not been kind to it. The <i>Path of the Tail</i>, the road that runs down toward town and tower, has been partially washed away. Regardless, that is the route the Empire follows. The Druj, again, launch a [[Army orders#Solid Defence|desperate defence]] of Sephals; they have not entirely finished moving the supplies of rice and grain and smoked meat out of the warehouses into the cellars of the Tower. In the past, the Druj have shown themselves more comfortable striking and withdrawing to attack from a different angle, from stealth, while their enemies are distracted. Here they have no such luxury, they must stand, and fight. The Poison Crane at least is prepared for the reality of being utterly outnumbered and outclassed; the Hidden Snake are experts at using the terrain to their advantage; the garrison of the Tower of the Skink know these streets, these defences, like nobody else. But there is only so much they can do. Perhaps if the Tainted Basilisk had been here to bring their magic to bear? But they are conspicuous by their absence.

The fighting rages across Sephals for two days before the Druj break. Their withdrawal is disorganised, closer to a rout than a retreat. As a final spit in the face, the Poison Crane try to start a fire in one of the abandoned grain stores, packed with flour, knowing it will spread quickly.

But even here the Druj are stymied. It begins to rain, just as the fire begins to spread. A thunderous downpour that not only extinguishes the flames, but restores attackers and defenders alike as the Empire attempts to mop up. The rain, after all, is full of cursed healing magic.

“Even the weather hates the Druj!” The joke spreads quickly, even as tired soldiers deal with their wounds and gather their fallen. It is grim humour, almost Varushkan, and not everyone laughs. The astronomancers of Urizen, the witches of Dawn, the vates of the Quiet Step, the spiritweavers and the oathwrights are less certain. They look to the skies, and the muttering becomes a murmur. Does anyone remember when people started calling the Drowned Man by a different name? Can anyone else feel the magic in the rain, stronger than it has any right to be? Where is this going to end?

This concerns are not dismissed, but what can be done with them? There is a town - a small city really - that must be administered. Several thousand orcs, a few hundred humans. The majority certainly slaves of the Druj but <i>all</i> of them? Even among the Druj, “slave” has different meanings as the [[Ossium#Ketsov|Ketsov]] or the [[Not_to_conquer#Menrothat|Menrothat]] or the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]] could tell you. There are surely Druj among these wretched folk, and they introduce all the risk that come with allowing assassins and saboteurs to move around behind ones lines. If the [[Iron Helms]] were here some of them might make an unhelpfully pragmatic suggestion as to how to deal with that problem.

The Axou have been very clear about their plans - once they claim Thornfen they will simply evict every orc living there without exception. For now, the Empire cannot safely simply let them go. A part of the town is set aside for the surviving folk of the Mallum, with Summer Storm soldiers doing their best to maintain order and ensure the Druj that are surely among them do no harm. They can do little to prevent scores being settled, and it is a rare morning that passes without a dead body found floating face down in a pond or an open sewer, arms spread as they drift lazily in the currents.

==The Defence of Nesustak==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Centipede General.png|align=right|width=150}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=IrrahHurrah002a.png|align=right|width=240}}
There are folk in Sarangrave who might be able to offer some aid to the Imperial forces in Sephals, but their attention is unfortunately elsewhere. While the bulk of the Druj forces are corralled in Thornfen, the tyrants of the Mallum are always unpredictable. Not long after the Winter Solstice, a significant force made up of Banded Snake sept survivors and members of the Thornwasp clan isolated from Thornfen by [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]] and Imperial armies, attack the rebels of the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak_Forest|Nesustak Forest]]. Reinforced by supplies smuggled south from the Salt Flats, these counter-insurgents are hell bent of slaughtering as many of the rebels as they can. This is not an unfamiliar strategy by the Druj; they hate those who escape their clutches even more than they hate the Empire. So many times they have sought to make an example of those who throw off their yoke, in [[the Barrens]], in [[Ossium]], even in [[Holberg]]. This assault is no exception. It seems likely that they assume the Empire’s attention will be focused entirely in the south-east, at Thornfen. Their attack is double-pronged like an assassin’s blade. On hastily constructed rafts, surviving members of the Thornwasp paddle across the wide expanse of the Feverwater. The Banded Snake gather in secret in western Turan Flats and cross the river under cover of a moonless night.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 40%; width: 600px; margin-left: 10px;">
<quote by="Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose, General of the Gryphon’s Pride">Soldiers of the Pride! Three years ago, I stood with you as we marched forth through the mud and blood of the Steel Causeway and fell in behind the Hounds of Glory to break a dark and terrible bastion. The Hounds' story ended there, but the tale they began there on the Plains of Teeth finishes its next chapter this Winter. Now, the Tower of the Skink will fall in turn. Another monument to wickedness will be laid low. In seasons to come, the pillars will fall as well. The pall of dread and despair that hangs over this land will fade. But that is not our foremost duty. Not this time. If the Druj strike out we will answer them. But there is only one thing the free peoples of Sarangrave have asked for, of our Empire, and they have asked it of us. Make for Nesustak. We will reach out to the Bloodwater Spears and aid them in raising watchtowers to defend themselves. We will show them that the Empire are not the monsters that they think we are. Only we can do this. We are called and so we come. A new dawn is breaking over the Sarangrave. We will make flowers grow here, too.</quote></div>
The rebels are not caught sleeping; they are vigilant for counterattack from the Druj. Indeed, they are in the midst of preparing their own defences. Barricades and palisades to protect their rickety settlements; watch towers against the threat to their borders; armed patrols to root out the remaining threats of the land they have claimed. They are supported in this by a few dozen [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] of the [[Irra Harah|Shacklebreaker]], whose swift feet and keen senses prove invaluable at keeping the loose alliance of survivors united. Their boons of health, healing, and [[Calls#Shatter|war]] are equally welcome. Unfortunately, with the Druj attackers comes a small host of heralds of the <i>[[Arhallogen|Centipede General]]</i>, the <i>King of All Spiders</i>. This stealthy assault, set on murder and mayhem, clearly suits the temperament of the <i>Scorpion Queen</i> - and it can barely resist an opportunity to strike against those <i>Ward of the Young</i> seeks to aid.
Unfortunately, as they have so many times before in this war for the Sarangrave, the Druj have miscalculated.

The Gryphon’s Pride came down through the Barrens with the other armies, but it did not accompany them to Thornfen. Instead, they struck camp in the western Turan Flats, and sent heralds of their own - mortal heralds - into Nesustak Forest. Under the quiet gaze of Irra Harrah’s childer, a cautious negotiation took place on the banks of the river. By all accounts, the Bloodwater Spears, one of the renegade septs of former Druj subjects, have reached out to the Dawnish army for support and the general has answered. Unfortunately, there are also many among the rebels who see the arrival of a Dawnish army on their borders as a thing of terror rather than reassurance.

They have heard the stories of the Druj, of events in the Barrens, of the destruction of the [[Not_to_conquer#Vendarri|Vendarri]], the slaughter of the [[Not_to_conquer#Montanians|Montainians]], the brutal murders of the [[Not_to_conquer#The_Black_Wind|Black Wind]] and the attack by <i>this very army</i> against the rebel heroes under the old banner of Rahvin. They have been told over and over that everyone who ever trusted the Empire has paid the ultimate price for it. So they do not welcome five thousand armoured warriors, no matter if they come beneath a banner of parley or not. Some few yeofolk are allowed to cross into Nesustak, to offer their expertise in constructing defences, but no knight is invited to join them. It is arguably more than might be expected; the Empire is used to the hammer-blow of the Druj miasma but its presence and its constant subtle creeping fingers of suspicion and fear make it very difficult for people to trust one another. That these septs have been able to come together at all is little short of a miracle.

It would be easy for the Pride to crash across the river and force their will on the rebels of Nesustak, but their orders are clear. They are here to protect, not to conquer, and their presence in Turan will at least mean they are in position to intercept any attackers from the north.
{{CaptionedImage|file=GryphonPride_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
Then the Druj attack, and the Gryphon’s Pride acts. The Druj clearly expected the Dawnish to leave the rebels to their fate; the Banded Snake are taken by surprise when the knights and war-witches erupt into the forest to their rear. They are caught between the anvil of the defenders and the hammer of Glory, smashed and broken and left with little recourse but to flee.

The Thornwasp from the south are more of a problem. As the knights march through Nesustak Forest, some of the rebels sadly scatter or seek to intercept them as an invading force. Wherever possible, the Dawnish seek to minimize losses to the confused warriors, their fellow defenders, but these people are <i>frightened</i>. Even with the words of the Bloodwater Spears, there are accidents to be grieved. Yet these accidents cannot risk slowing the Dawnish response.

The septs do their best to fight off the Thornwasp but they are not well armed, not as used to fighting as the tyrants of the Mallum even in their scattered state. Conversely, these ambushers are in no position to face the fury of an entire Dawnish army. At first they press inland, with some minor victories, but even so their actual aim - to slaughter the rebels - proves difficult to achieve. The heralds of Irra Harrah are no match for those of Arhallogen, but they do not attempt to fight. Instead, they serve as guides, getting people to safety - or helping defenders into positions where they can fight back.
{{CaptionedImage|file=GeneralGryphonsPride.png|caption='''Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose''' (centre), General of the Gryphon's Pride|align=right|width=400}}
When the Gryphon’s Pride reaches the shores of the Feverwater, the Druj who once claimed Bloodwater Marshes have nowhere to go. Those who take to their rafts are easy marks for archers - orc and human alike. Those who stand and fight are quickly slain. When the first heavy rains of Spring begin to fall, the shores of the Feverwater are choked with dead Druj, their blood staining the drowning waters muddy red.

After this, the rebels of Nesustak are more inclined to trust those who suggest the Pride is here to help not harm. Grudgingly, carefully, a detente is built. As the rains continue to beat down, the majority of the Dawnish forces withdraw back across the river to remain on watch but those who remain are, if not welcomed, at least tolerated. Few can deny that their aid has saved countless lives from the venom of the Druj, this time at least.

Yet there are also difficult questions asked. What does this mean in the long run? The Empire has conquered Sarangrave and given these lands to strangers from the south to be their domain. What does this mean for the people left in the marshes? How is this better than being the slaves of the Buruk-Tepel? These are orc lands, the homelands of the Bloodwater Spears and the rest. What happens if they do not accept this Imperial domination? Where will the Gryphon’s Pride be when it is the Empire’s warriors looking to kill the free orcs of the Sarangrave - of the Mallum? There are impassioned exchanges, arguments on both sides, but no resolution is reached. The forest is safe for now but what of the future?
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<quote by="Vasiliki Terricos, General of the Shield of Ipotavo">When Ipotavo was besieged, when Kaban was lost, the Druj took many of our beloved away as slaves and prisoners. Many assume them lost to the wicked wills of the Mallum. Yet the Sorcerer-Queen Ipotavo used to say: those who truly oppose the False Divinity with all their heart and all their soul and all their might are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. Though we know not whether our loved ones still dwell on this side of the abyssal dark of the Labyrinth, we fight as if they do. We will take the Tower, and every moment we fight to do so we will fight as if we will hold them, warm and living, in our arms once more: but between us and them are many Druj: they die, unmourned.</quote></div>
What of the future indeed…

==At the Gate of Despair==

Through curtains of rain the Imperial force marches south to the Tower. Few are prepared for the sheer size of the fortification; it spreads across the horizon occupying the space between the foothills connecting the Mallum and the lands of Axos to the south. Its towers are immense, dwarfing those of the Spires of the Dusk in their immensity. This is a chaotic structure of stone and weirwood, and mithril spikes, and ironbound ramparts. This is the last true stronghold of the Druj in Sarangrave, shouting defiance of the forces of virtue to the heavens.

Not that it is easy to feel for its size through the sheets of rain falling all around. Its towers scrape the clouds, but to be fair the clouds are very low at the moment weighed down with water. The banners of the lizard and the snake hang limp and bedraggled, soaked through, cheap dyes running down the wall in streams of sickly green and bloody red.

The walls are defended three ranks deep with Druj archers, but the rain makes it difficult for them to darken the sky any more than it already is. The Eastern Sky has great covered rams to manoeuvre into position, to assault the gates, but even they are a little taken aback at the sheer ''size'' of the things. Not of wood, not even weirwood, but of white granite these doors must need a team of slaves straining on a net of ropes to open and close. The rams of the Empire will struggle to do more than dent them.
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{{CaptionedImage|file=Aurum8565.png||caption=Dame Aurum De Castellan, General of the Eastern Sky|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Dame Katelyn.jpg|caption='''Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco''', General of the Lions of Adelmar|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Neve Agra.jpg|caption='''Neve Agra''', General of the Quiet Step|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was.jpg|caption='''Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was''', General of the Citadel Guard|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=EasternSky Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=LionsAdelmar Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=SummerStorm Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=QuietStep Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=CitadelGuard Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
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A long siege suits the Druj better than the Empire, of course. The longer the Imperial forces are held here in Thornfen, the more time there is for the armies of the Mallum to rally their strength and return to squeeze them against the walls of the Tower, as the Banded Snake in Nesustak are being squeezed against the Feverwater by the Gryphon’s Pride.

A triumphant charge can only take an army so far; to simply rush the Tower of the Skink would be to throw lives away pointlessly. A council is convened to discuss how best to assault the castle, to defeat the enemy sheltered within. A single ranking Axou, a <i>Toxatai</i> war-necromantia, cousin of the Grand Ilarch of Ipotavo, has come at great risk through the foothills to attend in person.

As the rain pounds the canvas above their heads, captains and commanders argue back and forth, seeking some solution to the walls and the gate. The opportunity to starve the defenders out is there, but there is no telling how well provisioned they are to withstand such a siege. The presence of two extra armies inside must be putting their supplies under pressure, but how much is difficult to say. There were many storehouses in Sephals and most were empty by the time the Druj were forced to abandon their position there. Worse, the healing power of the waters of life will help maintain the strength of the Druj just as it maintains the strength of the Empire.

The heavy rains help, but also hinder. While it protects from long-range attacks, if it continues for much longer the Imperial armies risk becoming bogged down. And it shows little sign of letting up. Indeed, runners from the forces left behind in Sephals warn that the streets of the town are already starting to flood as the waters released from Jarangir’s Levy are deepened by a week of unrelenting rain.

In the end, the decision is made to try and take the Tower while the opportunity still remains. A second heavy battering ram is constructed. Rather than being made of wood, it is formed from a white granite column ripped from a Druj palace in Sephals, carried south through the downpour by orcs of the Summer Storm, and shaped by Urizeni engineers. At the last moment, a contingent of Navarr arrive from elsewhere in Sarangrave with a quartet of [[Great Forest Orcs]] freed from the weirwood grove in Whisperwood. They set to work shaping a weirwood frame to carry the ram, with the aid of their Navarr friends. The Boyar's Hasta contributes an amount of looted mithril armour and weapons which, when swiftly melted down by Dawnish smiths, serve to bind and reinforce it with the snarling face of a great maned lion.

The morning of the attack, the waters are already lapping at the walls of the Tower in places. The <i>Tail of the Skink</i> holds the marshwaters at bay - where it approaches the walls it is raised up in a manner that puts some in mind of <i>Otterway</i> back in [[Bregasland]]. The Druj know that this is the key moment, that they will have to face this attack and stand against it. The defenders continue to loose arrows, but the main source of danger are the catapults positioned atop the ramparts. Massive rocks hail down, interspersed with filth, dead bodies, and effluent. Some are bound in iron, but its clear the Druj supplies of catapult stones are also waning slightly. A few barrels of pitch are launched, but the rain quickly extinguishes their threat.

With the Eastern Sky at the forefront, the massive battering ram is slowly maneuvered into position. The armoured covering protects those within from missiles thrown from the walls, but the pounding of rocks and arrows almost drowns out that of the rain - almost. Again and again the great fist smashes against the northern gates of the Tower of the Skink. The defenders are not content to simply sit and trust to the sturdiness of their door however.

The Druj are monstrous, but they are cunning. It becomes clear that they have created their own ways to get troops into and out of the Tower. Without warning, two thousand warriors erupt out of the marshes to the east and west of the <i>Tail of the Skink</i>. They fall on the Imperial forces on the flanks, fighting with bloodthirsty ruthlessness. It quickly becomes apparent that there are hidden tunnels under the walls that emerge nearly a quarter mile from the fortification itself and that for days now, the defenders have been carefully moving their troops into position.

With the garrison come another thousand or so guerrillas of the Hidden Snake, and five hundred Poison Crane. All are equipped for killing, with venoms and poison, many dosed up on the battle-drugs the Druj call [[Double-sided_Blade#Warming_Armour|warspice]] and [[Double-sided_Blade#Weakning_Sun|corpse skin]] that grant near supernatural vitality but overwhelm the common sense and survival instinct of those who use them. This is a suicide attack, one aimed at breaking through the Empire's line to destroy the great ram.

As the assault begins, the skies ''truly'' open. The wind rises, howling around the ramparts, driving the rain almost horizontal. Fighters struggle in the mud, their footing suddenly treacherous on the rainslick ground. Visibility plummets, a massive battle between Empire and Druj, between virtue and hate, reduced to a hundred scattered skirmishes by the walls of water. Thunder rumbles, barely audible over the pounding of the rain. Yet the deafening beat of the ram is louder still, ringing out across the battlefield like the heartbeat of some terrible beast of war. Orc and human, Druj and Imperial, alike fall in the sucking mud and the rising tides, eyes and lungs choking with earth and drowning with filthy water.

And then, with the storm at its height, the lion-faced battering ram of stone and mithril hits something within the solid stone of the gate. A point of weakness that had endured for hundreds of years, since the doors were first raised. A fracture line buried in the rock where only a mighty blow would uncover it. Perhaps the terrible rhythm of the blows has weakened the gate. Perhaps it is something else. But whatever the reason, the hammering blow causes the stone first to crack and splinter, and then with a terrible roaring noise, to break.

Another blow, another, battering against that point of weakness, opening the hole, pounding through the feet-thick stone. The flaw exposed, the gate begins to fragment apart. A terrible cry of despair goes up from inside the Tower of the Skink. The door is falling! After centuries of defiance, one of the two great doors of the Tower of the Skink is falling!

The Lions of Adelmar are first through the breach, shields at the ready. Behind them, the soldiers of the Eastern Sky, and after them the rest of the Imperial forces pouring into the gatehouse of the Tower, as the waters of the flood poured over Jarangir’s Levy.

Outside and inside, bloody slaughter leaves waves of blood on the stone, that mix with the mud to create a grim quagmire. Another cry goes up, another cry of despair. The Quiet Step erupt from the forests of the east, Navarr spears tearing into the Druj attackers assailing the flanks of the army. With spell, and spear, and sword, and axe, and unbreakable shield, the Empire fights the Druj at the Tower of the Skink under the roaring heavens, amid the thundering rain.

The battle is not over simply because the gate has been breached. There are still two armies, and a garrison to match them, inside the castle who must be dealt with. There are screaming, fleeing orcs and humans in rags who will not fight. Sometimes the Druj use them to bait traps, or as shields of meat that cry and wail when forced toward the Empire’s soldiers. Even here there are traps, old and cunning, built into the stonework. Blades that snap from floor or ceiling if one moves the wrong way down a hall; walls that fall to allow defenders to attack from the side; chemicals that in a confined space blind or choke or assail the mind with terrible visions. All these and more the Druj have built into their home, driven by the fear that grips their own hearts. Fear of their enemies, of each other, making even their sanctuary a place where no-one is ever truly safe.

Then the Axou are there, fighting their own way through the defenders. A small, fast moving group has slipped through the halls and courtyards of the castle to take the southern gate. The guards slain, they have managed to throw it wide and let the blades of Ipotavo go to work on the tyrants of the Mallum.

Even here, the clarity granted by Day magic helps ensure that the attackers are able to mount the most efficient assault they can, preventing allies harming each other. For the better part of a day the fighting rages on and on, turning the Tower of the Skink into a charnel house. Whoever wins here, it will be Death that holds dominion when the day is done.

In the end, though, the day ''is'' done. The Tower of the Skink still stands, but the banners of the Empire, of Dawn and Navarr, Urizen and the Unshackled, are raised over its ramparts. The fighting is not over - there are still Druj here in the nooks and the crannies - but the battle is won. The Tower of the Skink has fallen to the Empire and their allies, and with it the Thornfen. And with that victory, the dominion of the Druj over the Sarangrave is brought to a conclusive end.

==Flight and Shadow==
The tower falls, the garrison scatters, but in the end the Poison Crane and the Hidden Snake are not entirely accounted for. They have taken significant losses, for sure, but the power of Spring magic protected them just as it did the Empire. When it is clear that the Tower is lost, many of the soldiers escape through the hidden tunnels beneath the fortification into the marshes. Scattered and hunted, they are forced to flee as best they can. They make their way north to the dubious safety of the Salt Flats, and they pay a heavy price for doing so. Easily another thousand Druj warriors fall as part of the rout, but in the end the armies manage to cross the border north through Kroll. It is a temporary sanctuary for the Druj; with the Sarangrave under the dominion of the Empire, they cannot help but begin to collapse. Soldiers will desert, no matter how much they fear the Buruk Tepel. The writing is on the wall for the armies of the Thornwasp, the Banded Snake, and the Marshlizard.

As in Sephals there is the question of what to do with the orcs and humans left behind in the Tower. The Axou do not want them; the Empire cannot trust them. Arguments break out almost immediately, as outside the rain begins to fall. Yet even these arguments take second place to a more pressing question.

Where are the magicians of the Tainted Basilisk?

==End of All Songs==
Last season the Druj [[Each_age_a_lens#The_Mallum|sent an ultimatum]] to the Empire from the city of Leen in the Salt Flats. Quit the Sarangrave, or the Tainted Basilisk will release the [[vallorn]] of [[Sarangrave#Béantal_Dol|Béantal Dol]]. It seemed inconceivable to many that even the Druj would do such a thing. Others questioned whether even the Tainted Basilisk could achieve such a thing. What would it profit them to destroy the Sarangrave, their own people, likely themselves? What would it profit them indeed.

Those who hoped the ghulai of the Tainted Basilisk might not be equal to the task of rousing Béantal Dol clung to false hope. These foul corrupted wizards have shown themselves not only capable, but willing to unleash the uncontrollable horror of the vallorn in Therunin. They have been exploring, examining, studying the matter for years - a pattern of odd encounters and inexplicable events slowly starting to come together into a skein of secrets and atrocity. They are also more than capable of moving through the Sarangrave under the shadow of [[Night magic]], avoiding those who might seek the stop them, bypassing the defences set against them. And it seems that this is exactly what they have done.
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<quote by="Serafina Semenov, General of the Boyar’s Hasta">Hasta! You have worked like the bee at summers head, watched like the Spider watches its web. Let's now use that vigilance to spy on the Druj, To see what vallorn waking tactics they may use. But before the road calls us, raise a tankard high to our cousins in Ossium slaying peelers where they lie. With Hounds Hall, new forces ride along our own, and the best heckle from me earns a throne. With Courage, there is not a line that cannot break, there is not a thing the Druj hold that we cannot take.</quote></div>
When Sephals fell, they were already in motion. An army of Druj [[Night magic#Obfuscation|obfuscated]] beneath a shroud. The thunderous rain must have seemed a boon to them, making it even easier for them to move east from Thornfen to the edges of Bendol. To where the great ring of Terunael warding stones holds in the floodtide of this ancient terror. A vallorn with the full power of [[Brocéliande]] or [[Axos#Axou Territories|Visokuma]], packed into a single region of verdant ruins.

Unmarked, the Tainted Basilisk come to Bendol and as the gates of the Tower of the Skink begin to splinter, they begin their terrible work.

Unmarked? Oh no, not wholly unmarked. For while the Gryphon’s Pride fought in Nesustak Forest, and the armies of the Empire assailed the Tower of the Skink, the Varushkan army of the Boyar’s Hasta wove its own strategy in the Sarangrave. Where the Navarr of the Quiet Step hunted the Druj, Varushkan scouts helped them uncover their boltholes and hidden lairs. In Nesustak they helped the Dawnish root out the assassins of the Thornwasp and the Banded Snake. And as the armies moved south it was their scouts and spies who warned of the threat from the Poison Crane and the Hidden Snake in time to allow the Quiet Step to reach the battlefield.
{{CaptionedImage|file=BoyarsHasta_Colour.webp|align=right|width=200}}
But mostly what they have been doing is watching for the Tainted Basilisk. Watching the eaves of Bendol. Watching the pathetic Grynbor as they honoured the aberration at the heart of Sarangrave. When the ghulai make their move, the Varushkans are ready to oppose them at every turn.

Observation indicates that the Tainted Basilisk have splintered as they moved, still hidden under their Night magic shroud. They spread their forces around the outskirts of Bendol, at key positions about the circumference of the warding stones. Their shroud protects them only while they are moving; the longer they stay in one place the easier it is to see where they are, to see the mists that hide them from prying eyes gather. When their agents reach the outskirts of Turan, the Boyar’s Hasta strike. A sudden ambush, a vicious fight of scouts and [[Arkad#Vikari|vikari]] that leaves most of the Druj dead. Most, but not all. Some of the ghulai are taken alive, interrogated, forced to reveal their intent.

They plan to breach the warding stones, to undo what the Terunael did in those last days after the disastrous ritual that brought the vallorn into being. They will unleash Béantal Dol, and it will wash across the Sarangrave, devouring armies and rebels alike. A fitting retribution, laughs one half-mad sorcerer. The folly of ancient humans, killing and consuming their distant heirs.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Serafina Semenov.jpg|caption='''Serafina Semenov''', General of the Boyar's Hasta|align=right|width=200}}
Immediately the Hasta start to move - sending messengers and mobilizing their forces to scour the outskirts of Bendol for more groups of ghulai. A second encampment is intercepted in Thornfen with the aid of the Navarr, but they are much better defended. As the Empire consolidates its hold on the Tower of the Skink, another battle erupts on the outskirts of the vallorn. The magicians of the Druj hold nothing back; unleashing spell and ritual alike to try and drive the Varushkans and the Navarr away. They are supported by Dawnish and Urizeni from Sephals, and together they risk everything to disrupt that final desperate ritual of destruction. [[Spring magic]], aimed at rending the ancient standing stones apart with the power of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]].

In the end though, despite this valiant effort, it is too late to stop the Tainted Basilisk from achieving their goal. There is simply too much ground to cover, and the Druj have laid their plans too well. Even as they retreated from the Imperial advance, they left their agents behind to prepare for this unlooked-for day. Ghulai, vikkari, warriors of every Arkad, left behind on the outskirts of the vallorn itself to facilitate one final strike against the Empire should the defence of the Sarangrave fail. And fail it has.

Three days before the Spring Equinox, the deluge that has fallen uninterrupted from the cloud-choked sky since the liberation of Sephals ends as suddenly as it began. In that instant, every head in Sarangrave, no matter where they are in the marshlands, turns to look toward the heart of the territory. Whether arguing with Mallum orcs in Sephals, scouring the Tower of the Skink for remaining Druj, discussing the matter of freedom and security in the Nesustak Forest, or fretting about the Drowned Shepherd and the wisdom of invoking constellations in times such as this, everyone feels it. Like the air changes before a storm breaks, but this comes at the end of the storm. For a moment it overpowers even the banal humdrum thrum of the Druj miasma. An awareness in a split second of a profound finality, of an ending that has been waiting for a thousand years to come to fruition.

The last great working of the Terunael has been broken. The vallorn of Béantal Dol rises, shaking off the remnant of its chains. Fattened by months of Spring-infused waters, it stretches, rousing itself in a way it has never, ever done before since it was first trapped.

And it begins to spread.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Regions of Sarangrave.png|caption=Sarangrave is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=right|width=400}}</div>

==Game Information : Dominion==
* '''The region of Thornfen, and the Tower of the Skink, have fallen
* '''An administrative motion related to their disposition will be raised during the Spring Equinox
* '''The Hidden Snake and Poison Crane have fled the territory taking serious casualties
* '''The remaining garrison of the Tower of the Skink has scattered across southern and eastern Sarangrave
The Empire has captured the region of Thornfen, and with it the Tower of the Skink. The entire territory save for the Nesustak Forest and Bendol are Imperial now. They achieved their goal with the aid of the Axou army of Ipotavo, and while that contribution was valuable it was relatively minor next to the impact of the Empire. There is an existing treaty with the Axou, signed when they joined the war in the Sarangrave, that indicates the intent to not contest Axou claim to Thornfen, including the Tower of the Skink, and the settlement Sephals. During the Spring Equinox, the Civil Service will raise an administrative motion during Friday evening Senate session to confirm that this is still their intent. This motion, if it passes, will be available for the Urizen assembly to [[veto]], as it effectively involves the concedence of a region under their control.

The Gryphon’s Pride spent the season defending, specifically offering aid to the rebels of the Nesustak Forest. Without their intervention, it is likely the rebels would have eventually repelled the attacking Druj but they would have suffered serious losses in the process. The Gryphon’s Pride ensured that the vicious Mallum septs were unable to enact their revenge, and while this has not lessened the rebels desire to see Sarangrave as a free land under their control it has helped to establish the Dawnish army as allies, albeit allies that many are still suspicious of.

The Boyar’s Hasta committed themselves to supporting the other armies, but specifically to watching for signs of the Tainted Basilisk. Thanks to their vigilance, the ghulai of the Druj magical army were only partially successful in their goal. Further details are discussed below.

The armies of the Hidden Snake and the Poison Crane were badly damaged during their defence of the Tower of the Skink, but not destroyed. They have managed to use the confusion to escape back to the Salt Flats of Sanath, but both armies took an additional 500 casualties each during their desperate retreat through Imperial-held Sarangrave, pursued and harried by the Empire. More troubling is the garrison of the Tower of the Skink. While the tower has fallen, and the garrison been seriously damaged, the orcs that make up the garrison have likewise managed to desert the sinking ship. As such Thornfen, Turan Flats, Kroll, and the Whisperwood have all gained the ‘’Outlaw Druj‘’ qualities. Until these outlaws are dealt with, any settlement of those regions are in danger. In addition, any commission built in the territory will have its labour costs increased by a fifth for each region under Imperial control with that quality.

==Game Information : Drowning==
* '''The Drowned Shepherd constellation has exerted unexpected influence in Sarangrave this season
* '''The name of the constellation has changed; nobody is sure where this change originates
This season, the influence of the [[The Drowned Shepherd|Drowned Shepherd]] constellation in Sarangrave has been unmistakable by those who know what to look for. It's unlikely that this is due to its invocation by the general of the Citadel Guard. More likely it is simply that events in the Sarangrave have foreshadowed a profound ending. The constellation is strongly associated with curses, and for all its perception as being generally helpful, [[Rivers of Life]] is still a [[curse]].

There are two elements to this influence that are worth noting. The first is that the constellation appears to have a new name; the Drowned Shepherd. Previously known as the Drowned Man, there has been a notable shift in awareness over the last few months. Much as with the way the understanding of the names of the stars has shifted over the last year or two, so too has awareness of its name shifted. It's up to individual characters how to respond to this. Some will continue to call it the Drowned Man, but this name will feel increasingly archaic and old fashioned. It won't impact magic to use either name, but the name on the wiki has been changed. Speculation about the difference between what a Drowned Man and a Drowned Shepherd symbolise is encouraged.

The other element is that the catastrophic rainstorm has caused water to rise all over the territory. In time that water may subside, but it has resulted in breached dams and ruined farms, herb gardens drowned, and even some structures collapsing. At the same time the unnatural vitality the Rivers of Life bring has been heightened - not only by preserving the lives of soldiers and civilians alike, but also resulting in an explosion in the population of creatures of the Sarangrave including bog octopuses, mosquitos, wasps, spiders, and other small fast-breeding creatures few of which are wholesome in their interactions with humans and orcs.

==Game Information : Béantal Dol==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Blood for Poppies.jpg|caption=The vallorn is the most monstrous of all geographies.|align=right|width=500}}
* '''The vallorn of Béantal Dol has been unleashed
* '''The Tainted Basilisk have been only partially successful and only two regions are seriously threatened
* '''There are opportunities to try and stem the flow of vallorn power in uptime and downtime following the event
* '''The warding stones that once surrounded Béantal Dol are gone
* '''The casualties caused by the vallorn expansion will not be affected by the vallorn miasma
The ghulai of the Tainted Basilisk have breached the circle of warding stones that contains the vallorn of Béantal Dol. Thanks to the Boyar’s Hasta their efforts have been only partially successful. Unfortunately, where the vallorn is concerned “partially successful” is still a significant threat.

Two regions are directly threatened by the expanding vallorn - Nesustak Forest and Bloodwater Marsh. Had the wards simply collapsed, the vallorn would have burst forth towards the nearby fortification, the Tower of the Skink. Sadly, this release is no accident. The magicians of the Tainted Basilisk have seized an [[opportunity]] to deliberately weaken the wards in such a way as to direct the threat against the Empire and the rebels and away from their allies. There is a single [[#Battle_Opportunities|narrow window]] to take action and save one region or the other from desolation.

The actions of the Boyar’s Hasta may still have saved the rest of the territory. They have managed to save most of the warding stones - not enough to hold the vallorn back, but enough to have a vital effect. The vallorn will wash over the stones, as it attempts to expand and in the process the magic that sustains them will be overwhelmed, and destroyed. By the start of the Summer Solstice, the warding stones will be no more - there is no way now to stop them being destroyed. However, they will serve to protect against the vallorn for one final time. In doing so they will absorb some of the devastating verdant power of the vallorn. By the start of the Summer Solstice, the vallorn of Béantal Dol will be to all intents and purposes a “normal” vallorn. It will still be disproportionately potent, but it will no longer present the threat of expanding to completely fill the Sarangrave that it previously did. That threat, like the warding stones, is ended.

What happens to Nesustak Forest and the Bloodwater Marshes, however, will depend on [[#Battle_Opportunities|what the Empire chooses to do]]…

The vallorn of Béantal Dol ''can'' be combatted following the Spring Equinox, but it will require a significant commitment of [[army|armies]] to prevent it consuming one or both of the threatened regions. Due to the long storing up of power, it will be attacking both regions separately with a strength of 30,000. To prevent it claiming the region and devouring almost everyone and everything in it, the Empire would need to ensure it did not get sufficient victory points to claim the region. If the vallorn is able to claim a toehold in the region, it would still be left with a quality similar to [[region qualities#Infested|infested]].

The good news - and there is some good news - is that the brave actions of the Boyar's Hasta and the destruction of the remaining warding stones means that the vallorn will become quiescent again after this season, whatever happens. In addition, the explosive speed with which the vallorn is unfolding into the two regions means that any downtime fighting will ''not'' be taking place under the influence of the [[vallorn miasma]].

==Participation : Power of the Druj==
* '''Any character whose military unit supported an army in Sarangrave this season will receive a lingering wound
Any character whose military unit supported an army fighting in the Sarangrave this season will receive a lingering [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] in their pack. These wounds represent serious injuries or lingering [[curse|curses]] sustained during the fighting that the [[Rivers of Life]] have been unable to restore. Some of these wounds are potentially lethal if they are not treated before the end of the Spring Equinox, so those bearing them may wish to consult a [[surgical skills#Physick|Physick]].
In addition, however, every military unit that fought in the Sarangrave this season has been in a position to secure a small trove of [[herb|herbs]] and [[potion|potions]], and potentially other things as well. If your character would not have approved of your soldiers taking things from the defeated Druj, you can simply drop these additional items back at GOD when you pick up your pack.

==Participation : Lions of Adelmar==
<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>
* '''The Lions of Adelmar continue not being able to take the cautious advance or give ground orders'''
* '''Any character whose military unit fought alongside the Lions of Adelmar may be inspired by the Knights of Glory'''
The Lions of Adelmar last fought alongside the Knights of Glory 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 Lions of Adelmar cannot take the [[Army orders#Cautious Advance|Cautious Advance]] or [[Army orders#Give Ground|Give Ground]] orders until a year has passed - even if Dawn were to put aside their [[Dawn_military_concerns#Army_Orders|commitment]] to Glory.

On the other hand, stag-headed ''Ser Helvennan'' and their warriors from the Field of Glory take every opportunity to inspire the glorious soldiers of the Lions of Adelmar. 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 Opportunities: Twin Horrors==
* '''Two major conjunctions to Sarangrave have been identified for the Spring Equinox but the Military Council can take advantage of only one of them
<div><quote by="Moby Dick, Herman Melville">To the last I grapple with thee; From hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee.</quote></div>
The legendary spite of the Druj admits no peer. Defeated and broken by grappling with the Empire's armies in the Sarangrave they mean to plunge the territory into chaos - they would rather see their ancient homelands consumed by the vallorn than be claimed by the Empire. A final stab aimed at the heart of the people they hate so much. The leaders of the Tainted Basilisk have risked everything, unleashing the vallorn to ensure that everyone goes down together.

==Nesustak Forest==
In Nesustak Forest, they have turned their ire on the septs that have betrayed the Druj by throwing off the shackles of their rule. This season they would have killed and slaughtered the rebels were it not for the timely intervention of the Gryphon's Pride. Their gloriously desperate defence placed a steel-clad wall of gleaming knights and robe-clad fearsome war witches around the rebels, stopping the Druj assault in its tracks. Shielded by the Dawnish soldiers Courage, heralds of [[Irra Harah|''Shackle Smasher'']] have worked tirelessly to save those they can.

There is a conjunction of the [[Sentinel Gate]] on the Saturday of the equinox that opens on the ''Feverbank Trees'' in Nesustak Forest. If offers a dangerous opportunity to try to save the region and the people who live here from the onrushing vallorn. Driven by hate, the Druj will not give up easily however - their forces are already in the area, determined to see the slaughter through to the bloody end.

===Objective: Ward the Feverbank Stones===
* '''The five ancient stones at ''Feverbank Trees'' that once held back the power of the vallorn are failing'''
* '''''Wardens of the Black Waste'' creates powerful wards against the vallorn that last for a season'''
* '''Each stone that is warded will reduce the strength of the vallorn pushing into Nesustak Forest this season by 6000'''

The five ancient stones that stand sentinel in ''Feverbank Trees'' have held back the power of this vallorn for hundreds of year. Created centuries ago by the Terunael people as their empire collapsed, they have been fatally weakened by the Druj creating an opening for the ancient enemy to escape through. The valiant defence by the Boyar's Hasta has created a narrow opening, offering a chance to weaken the roiling advance of the vallorn into Nesustak Forest before it can become an unstoppable flood.

While the magic of the stones is failing, they are still powerful winter totems, built to anchor a ward. Winter ritualists will need to cast [[Wardens of the Black Waste]] on each one of the ancient pillars. The stone will anchor the ritual, so fragile warding posts are not required, the ritual can simply target the pillar itself. This will also prevent the Druj from simply destroying the ward by scattering the post markers. The ritual will weaken any vallorn that approach nearby countering the spring magic that enervates them. Each warding placed upon the stones here will iteratively sap the strength of the encroaching vallorn mass, slowing the movements of giant ettercap and abominations, and draining the animating force that propels the vallornspawn onwards.

Each stone that is still warded at the end of the battle will reduce the strength of the vallorn heading northwards by 6000. If all five pillars are warded, then the full force of the vallorn threatening Nesustak Forest this coming season will be held back, before it returns to quiescence. This will enable Imperial forces to concentrate fully on the vallorn presence that is advancing southwards into the Bloodwater Marsh.

====Objective Threat: Druj Counter Rituals====
* '''Mages from the Tainted Basilisk threaten to counter any wardings'''
* '''They will seek to use a spring ritual to weaken any stone that has been restored'''
* '''The warded stones will need to be guarded, or the small covens hunted down and killed'''
* '''Detect magic can be used at any time to ascertain the status of a warding stone'''

Whilst the vast majority of the Tainted Basilisk's ritual covens have been utterly destroyed by unleashing the vallorn, scant few have survived and are now preparing to ensure that the army's final work is seen to the end. Everyone of the army's remaining ghulai and cicatrix ritualists have spread across the area, tasked with breaking the power of the Terunael magic, and allowing the vallorn to issue forth.

Once the Druj realise that the Empire is attempting to erect wards, they will direct any remaining ritualists to counter them. Druj ritualists will attempt to cast Spring rituals to overwhelm the wards on each stone, undoing the Empire's work. [[Detect magic]] can be cast on a stone at any time to check whether a ward is in place or not. If the ward is down then Warden of the Black Waste will need to be performed to restore it.

The surest way to prevent the Druj from countering Imperial efforts is to hunt down and eliminate these small ritual teams before they can become a threat.

===Objective: Break the Envenomed Claws===
* '''The ''Envenomed Claws'' vikari are one of the last remnants of the Tainted Basilisk army's leadership'''
* '''Killing or scattering this force will destroy any chance of the army holding together'''
* '''If the ''Claws'' are overrun, then the Tainted Basilisk will collapse, disbanding into scattered bands of Druj fighters'''

The vikari of the ''Envenomed Claws'' are leading the remnants of the army active to the north of the vallorn of Béantal Dol. Feared mage-fighters, they are known to employ all manner of blade poisons on their weapons, and travel with several of the sadistic kallad torturers among their number. Redwillow Paste and Oil of Blackthorn will be used with wild abandon, whilst even worse concoctions will be dispensed by the remaining tepel in a panicked frenzy.

The Envenomed Claws will be on the battlefield together, under a distinctive banner, along with key people that form an essential part of the leadership of the Tainted Basilisk. If the Empire can decisively engage the group and kill or scatter them, it will deal a devastating final blow to the Tainted Basilisk. Killing these prominent arkad fighters, the commanders, and any tepel with them, will seal the fate of the army. It will disband as the campaign season begins, breaking up into small units and warbands, all eager to go to ground. Individual bands under a charismatic or particularly cruel orc, will be a problem for Imperial heroes to deal with, but the military threat to Imperial armies will be ended.

===Battlefield Opportunity: Aid the Hares===
* '''Five Hares, heralds of Irra Harah are being hunted by the Druj'''
* '''These lively companions will be keen to offer assistance against the Druj, running messages and helping out those in dire need'''
* '''The Spring Archmage may claim a boon of Irra Harah if all five Hares survive the battle'''
[[Irra Harah|''Shacklebreaker'']] has sent his heralds to aid the rebels of Nesustak Forest. The ''Hares of the Desperate Folly'' are excitable, earnest, and incredibly persistent beings. They have been helping guide the lost and meek away from vicious blades and poisoned arrows. In response, the Druj have taken great delight in killing these servants of Irra Harah whenever they have been cornered.

There are five Hares on the battlefield that could aid the Empire. They will not engage in direct conflict with the wicked orcs, but they can help in other ways if asked. The fleeting may offer services running messages across the battlefield to distant captains, the fretful may offer healing magics to those in dire need, while the fearful may seek to enchant heroes of the Empire with magical powers.

If all five of the heralds survive the battle, then the [[Archmage of Spring]] can point out the service the Empire provided the next time they plenipotentiary the eternal. If the text of the plenipotentiary reminds Irra Harah that the Empire saved five of the Hares of the Desperate Folly, then the grateful eternal will create a boon to give the Archmage the next time they meet.

===Battlefield Environment: Miasma of despair===
* '''The entire battlefield is affected by an oppressive Druj miasma'''
* '''The miasma causes [[Calls#WEAKNESS|WEAKNESS]] unless you have a way to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it'''

The entire area at ''Feverbank Trees'', is under the effect of the [[Druj miasma]], a pall of potent fear that blankets the lands the Druj claim dominion over. Anyone entering the area will need to protect themselves from the clawing dread or succumb to a weakening terror that creeps into their mind.

The primary effect of the miasma is that it [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakens]] anyone exposed to it who does not have the ability to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it. The easiest method to overcome the miasma is to receive an [[anointing]], but particularly [[Heroic_skills#Hero|heroic]] individuals, or those in possession of certain [[enchantment|enchantments]] or [[magic items]] may also be able to counteract the effect. In particular, those of the [[changeling]] [[lineage]] are able to fight the effects of the miasma, by only by becoming ''extremely'' angry - which can cause problems all its own.

==Bloodwater Marsh==
In Bloodwater Marsh, the plans of the Druj have been stymied by the actions of the [[Boyar's Hasta]]. Without their [[Vigilance]], the vallorn would have already escaped the bounds of its prison and the entire territory would now be at risk. Their actions slowed the Druj and made it harder for them to tear down the wards that imprison the vallorn in the ancient gaol of [[Sarangrave#Béantal_Dol|Béantal Dol]].

There is a conjunction of the [[Sentinel Gate]] on the Saturday of the equinox that opens at the ''Mantifent's Bier'' in Bloodwater Marsh. If offers a risky opportunity to try to save the region from the onrushing vallorn and rescue those who have been captured by the Druj. Maddened by fear, the Druj will never surrender - their soldiers are already here, determined to ensure that the fall of Sarangrave consumes everything.

===Objective: Strengthen the Mantifent Stones===
* '''The five ancient stones at ''Mantifent's Bier'' that once held back the power of the vallorn are failing'''
* '''''Wardens of the Black Waste'' creates powerful wards against the vallorn that last for a season'''
* '''Each stone that is warded will reduce the strength of the vallorn pushing into Bloodwater Marsh this season by 6000'''

The five ancient stones that stand sentinel in ''Mantifent's Bier'' have contained the power of this vallorn for hundreds of year. Created centuries ago by the Terunael people as their empire collapsed, they are threatened by the Druj. The actions of the Boyar's Hasta has checked the plans of the buruk tepel but they have only created a short delay. A small window has opened, just wide enough to offer a chance to stall the roiling advance of the vallorn into Bloodwater Marsh.

While the magic of the stones is failing, they are still powerful winter totems, built to anchor a ward. Winter ritualists will need to cast [[Wardens of the Black Waste]] on each one of the ancient pillars. The stone will anchor the ritual, so fragile warding posts are not required, the ritual can simply target the pillar itself. This will also prevent the Druj from simply destroying the ward by scattering the post markers. The ritual will weaken any vallorn that approach countering the spring magic that enervates them. Each warding placed upon the stones here will iteratively sap the strength of the encroaching vallorn mass, slowing the movements of giant ettercap and abominations, and draining the animating force that propels the vallornspawn onwards.

Each stone that is still warded at the end of the battle will reduce the strength of the vallorn heading southwards by 6000. If all five pillars are warded, then the full force of the vallorn threatening Bloodwater Marsh this coming season will be held back, before it returns to quiescence. This will enable Imperial forces to concentrate fully on the vallorn presence that is advancing southwards into the Nesustak Forest.

====Objective Threat: Druj Counter Rituals====
* '''Mages from the Tainted Basilisk threaten to counter any wardings'''
* '''They will seek to use a spring ritual to remove any ward raised on a stone'''
* '''The warded stones will need to be guarded, or the small covens hunted down and killed'''
* '''Detect magic can be used at any time to ascertain the status of a warding stone'''

Whilst the vast majority of the Tainted Basilisk's ritual covens have been utterly destroyed by unleashing the vallorn, scant few have survived and are now preparing to ensure that the army's final work is seen to the end. Everyone of the army's remaining ghulai and cicatrix ritualists have spread across the area, tasked with breaking the power of the Terunael magic, and allowing the vallorn to issue forth.

Once the Druj realise that the Empire is attempting to erect wards, they will direct any remaining ritualists to counter them. Druj ritualists will attempt to cast Spring rituals to overwhelm the wards on each stone, undoing the Empire's work. [[Detect magic]] can be cast on a stone at any time to check whether a ward is in place or not. If the ward is down then Warden of the Black Waste will need to be performed to restore it.

The surest way to prevent the Druj from countering Imperial efforts is to hunt down and eliminate these small ritual teams before they can become a threat.

===Objective: Shatter the Bilious Breath===
* '''The ''Bilious Breath'' vikari are one of the last remnants of the Tainted Basilisk army's leadership'''
* '''Killing or scattering this force will destroy any chance of the army holding together'''
* '''If the Breath are overrun, then the Tainted Basilisk will collapse, disbanding into scattered bands of Druj fighters'''

The capture of Tower of the Skink has broken the back of army and the Tainted Basilisk is close to collapse. With the deaths of many senior Buruk Tepel and the loss of the ritual covens that roused the vallorn, the vikari arkad of the ''Bilious Breath'' harbour the last few ritual covens capable of casting large battlefield rituals. Once battle is joined the covens will most certainly seek to cast [[Fetid Breath of Teeming Plague]] with their last reserves of mana then use the magic on massed troops. The ritual poses a serious threat to the forces of the Empire on the field, especially given the miasma that blankets the area.

The Bilious Breath will be on the battlefield together, under a distinctive banner, along with key people that form an essential part of the leadership of the Tainted Basilisk. If the Empire can decisively engage the group and kill or scatter them, it will deal a devastating final blow to the Tainted Basilisk. Without the leadership of the ''Breath's'' het and cicatrix then all sense of cohesion will quickly collapse. The army will disband as the campaign season begins, breaking up into small units and warbands, all eager to go to ground. Individual bands under a charismatic or particularly cruel orc, will be a problem for Imperial heroes to deal with, but the military threat to Imperial armies will be ended.

===Battlefield Opportunity: Rescue the Seers===
* '''Five Urizeni seers have been seized by the Druj while they were investigating the miasma pillars in the Bloodwater Marsh'''
* '''They have vital information on the location of the pillars anchoring the miasma in the region'''
* '''Rescuing the group of seers from the Druj will give the Empire a chance to deal with the miasma in Bloodwater Marsh'''

At the winter solstice the Urizeni National Assembly directed seers of their nation to find ways to gather knowledge and insights on the crushing pall of dread that blankets the Sarangrave. This is dangerous work with Druj forces still active in the territory. The Druj caught up with one group after they managed to find the location of the key pillars in the Bloodwater Marsh. They have been torturing their prisoners seeking to break their will, but thus far without success. The seers are together on the battlefield, if more than half the group can be rescued and returned to Anvil, then they the [[Civil Service|civil service]] will gather crucial information that will create an [[opportunity]] to deal with any pillars in the Bloodwater Marsh at the Summer Solstice.

===Battlefield Environment: Miasma of Despair===
* '''The entire battlefield is affected by an oppressive Druj miasma'''
* '''The miasma causes [[Calls#WEAKNESS|WEAKNESS]] unless you have a way to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it'''

The entire area at ''Mantifent's Bier'', is under the effect of the [[Druj miasma]], a pall of potent fear that blankets the lands the Druj claim dominion over. Anyone entering the area will need to protect themselves from the clawing dread or succumb to a weakening terror that creeps into their mind.

The primary effect of the miasma is that it [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakens]] anyone exposed to it who does not have the ability to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it. The easiest method to overcome the miasma is to receive an [[anointing]], but particularly [[Heroic_skills#Hero|heroic]] individuals, or those in possession of certain [[enchantment|enchantments]] or [[magic items]] may also be able to counteract the effect. In particular, those of the [[changeling]] [[lineage]] are able to fight the effects of the miasma, by only by becoming ''extremely'' angry - which can cause problems all its own.

Camp planner

2026-06-05T22:25:06Z

Noserenda:

[[Category:Events]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=Camp planners.png|align=left|caption=Every camp needs a plan<br>Created by Dave Barnett with assets from [https://2minutetabletop.com/product/forest-glade/ 2minutetabletop.com]|width=500}}
==Overview==
Empire events are split into two areas, the out-of-character area which isn't used during the game where you can pitch any style of tent, and in-character area where the game takes place and where you can only pitch [[Costume#In-Character_Tents|an appropriate in-character tent]]. The in-character area is further sub-divided into ten distinct camps, one for each nation. If you are bringing an in-character tent, then you must camp with the other members of your nation.

Each nation has one or more camp planners, members of crew whose job is to plan the layout of each camp. Anyone who is planning to camp in the in-character area must contact the camp planner to let them know how many tents they are bringing and how large they are. The camp planners use this information to create a camp plan for each nation, indicating where all their nation's tents will go.

The camp planners publish the camp plan a week before the event. You must camp in the spot indicated on the plan. The camp planner will be available on Thursday and Friday before the event starts to provide help and guidance to find your spot if you need it.

<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; max-width: 400px; clear: right;">
<table class="wikitable">
<tr><th>Nation Facebook Group</th><th>Camp Planner Email</th></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/481197761897569/ The Brass Coast]</td><td>[mailto:brasscoast@profounddecisions.co.uk Trizz Eder<br>Harvey Meek]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/401633306545071/ Dawn]</td><td>[mailto:dawn@profounddecisions.co.uk Thomas Vero<br>Nathan Spalding]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/208819129244083/ Highguard]</td><td>[mailto:highguard@profounddecisions.co.uk Matt Lyons]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/158687267598665/ Imperial Orcs]</td><td>[mailto:imperialorcs@profounddecisions.co.uk Andy Seagull]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/459784360702068/ The League]</td><td>[mailto:league@profounddecisions.co.uk Aimee Scott<br>David Eastwood]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/146423572116922/ The Marches]</td><td>[mailto:marches@profounddecisions.co.uk Daisy Arrow]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/476962795649090/ Navarr]</td><td>[mailto:navarr@profounddecisions.co.uk Kit Stangroom<br>Rosemary Warner]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/470732939604433/ Urizen]</td><td>[mailto:urizen@profounddecisions.co.uk Luca Da Rè<br>David O'Neill]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/396355450407697/ Varushka]</td><td>[mailto:varushka@profounddecisions.co.uk Dave Barnett<br>David Miller]</td></tr>
<tr><td>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/301940076567407/ Wintermark]</td><td>[mailto:wintermark@profounddecisions.co.uk James Gray<br>Bradley Carwardine]</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
==Camp Planning==
* '''If you wish to camp in-character, you must let the camp planner for your nation know'''
* '''Camp planners can be contacted on Facebook or by email'''
* '''The deadline for providing information is two weeks before the event begins'''
* '''You need to tell your camp planner the number and size of any tents you are hoping to bring'''
* '''You must let them know if the tents you are hoping to bring are required or optional'''
* '''Camp planners aim to publish the camp plan for the event one week before it begins'''
* '''Only contact your own nation's camp planner about the camp plan for the event'''
If you are hoping to pitch one or more tents in the in-character area at the event, you must let the camp planner for you nation know well beforehand. This may be as simple as filling in a row on a public spreadsheet, but it varies from nation to nation. You need to contact the camp planner, either on Facebook or by email, and let them know the number and size of any tents you are bringing.

Our camp planners are all members of the relevant nation Facebook group. They will post there 4-6 weeks before each event, to remind people to let them know what tents they are bringing. You can also contact them via their official Profound Decisions email accounts. All contact details are below.

If you are hoping to bring tents you want to pitch in the in-character area then you must let us know two weeks before the event to ensure that space is allocated for them. You will need to let your camp planner know which of the tents you are bringing are required and which are optional (see below) so that they can allocate the space available accordingly. The camp planners for each nation will publish a camping map on the nation's Facebook group one week before the event and will send this by email to anyone who requests it.

All our camp planners work together, collaboratively, to produce a single camp plan for the event. Please only contact your own nation camp planner about the camp plan. If there any issues that you think could affect neighbouring camps, then discuss those with your camp planner. They will share any relevant issues with the camp planning team.

==Optional and Required Tents==
* '''Required tents include all tents for roleplaying in and any tents that need to be on the IC field for any accessibility reason (mobility, fatigue, childcare, etc)'''
* '''Optional tents include any tents that could move to an OC field if required because they are just used for sleeping or storing equipment and aren’t needed for any accessibility reason'''
* '''You won’t be asked to justify or explain your choices - just mark your tent as optional or required with your camp planner'''
* '''If we run out of space, camp planners will move some or all of the sleeping tents labelled as optional to the adjacent overflow fields'''

There are [[Rules_update_2023#Site_Changes|new rules in operation]] for in-character camping in 2023. When you let your camp planner know what tents you are planning to bring, you must let them know which tents are required and which are optional. Required tents are all tents for roleplaying in and any tents that need to be on the in-character field for any accessibility reason (mobility, fatigue, childcare, etc). Optional tents include any tents that could move to an OC field if required because they are just used for sleeping or storing equipment and aren’t needed for any accessibility reason. You won’t be asked to justify or explain your choices - just let the camp planner know if the tent as optional or required as appropriate.

If we run out of space, then our camp planners will move some or all of the sleeping tents labelled as optional to the adjacent overflow fields. These fields are not in-character and don't form part of the Anvil game area, but they are adjacent to Anvil to keep walking distances to a minimum. If we only need to move a few tents, then we will ensure we aren't moving the same tents each time.

==Camp Setup==
* '''You must make sure you camp in the indicated area'''
* '''Your camp planner can show you the area that has been allocated for you to pitch your in-character tents when you arrive at the event'''
You must ensure that you keep your camp to the area designated by the camp planner. You can liaise with the camp planner once you arrive on site before you pitch any in-character tents to confirm where you should camp and how much room you have available.

==During the Event==
* '''All our camp planners play the event, in an emergency they can try to direct you to the most suitable member of our event crew'''
* '''Camp planning is a purely out-of-character responsibility, it has nothing to do with the character they play'''
All our camp planners are members of our site team. This means that they carry out their responsibilities before and after the event, '''not while the event is running'''. Once the event begins, they are just like every other participant who is playing the game. In an emergency your camp planner can try to direct you to the most suitable member of our event crew who can help, but the best place to get help is usually your nation [[egregore]], or a wandering referee, or to ask at GOD.

It is important to keep in mind that our camp planners are treated as players during the event. They are not NPCs and their out-of-character responsibilities as camp planners are completely separate from the in-character goals and objects of their characters. Please don't confuse the two and definitely don't try and offer them in-character bribes to get the spot you want!

==Camp Takedown==
* '''Camp planners will remind players pitching in the in-character area to clear their camp at the end of the weekend'''
* '''Your camp planner can provide advice on how to dispose of your rubbish and will have spare rubbish bags if you need them'''
You must make sure you clear all your rubbish at the end of the weekend and put it in one of the skips provided. Your camp planner will remind you to clear your camp before the end of the weekend. They can tell you where the skips are located and provide advice on the best way to dispose of your rubbish if you need any help. They also have spare refuse bags available if you need them to bag your rubbish.
==Accessibility==
* '''Please make sure your camp planner is aware of any accessibility needs you have'''
* '''Please make sure your camp planner is aware of any other out-of-character issues you have'''
* '''If your accessibility needs include electricity for a CPAP machine, please contact admin to let them know'''
Your camp position can have a huge impact on practical accessibility issues. Please make sure that your camp planner is aware of any accessibility needs that you have - they will do their best to take those into account when assigning you a camp position. Likewise if you have any other out-of-character issues that affect where you need to camp at the event, such as a conduct problem with another player, then you can speak to your camp planner and they will try to choose a suitable pitch accordingly. If for any reason you don't want to speak to your camp planner about your issue, then you can [[contact Profound Decisions|contact anyone]] at Profound Decisions to discuss the matter.

If you need electricity for CPAP machines or similar then please email [mailto:admin@profounddecisions.co.uk admin@profounddecisions.co.uk] and they will liaise with our electricians team to see what options we have.

==Collaboration==
* '''Our camp planners work together to collaborate to produce a single camp plan for the event'''
* '''Producing any camp plan inevitably involves a lot of compromises'''
* '''Please respect the hard work the camp planner do and the decisions they have taken'''
Our camp planners collaborate to create a single camp plan for the whole event. Their first priority is to ensure that the key out-of-character needs of our players are met, followed by the comfort and enjoyment of their nation as a whole. Inevitably, there are compromises that have to be made when placing tents, so not everyone can have the spot they want. You are welcome to submit requests and make suggestions but please respect the hard work the camp planners do. The camp plan, unless it affects your access requirements, is final.
==Current Camp Planners==
<fourpicture>
{{CaptionedImage|file=Trizz.jpeg|caption=The Brass Coast: Trizz Eder<br>email: [mailto:brasscoast@profounddecisions.co.uk brasscoast@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/481197761897569/146423572116922/ The Brass Coast ]}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Harvey_Meek.jpg|caption=The Brass Coast: Harvey Meek<br>email: [mailto:brasscoast@profounddecisions.co.uk brasscoast@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/481197761897569/146423572116922/ The Brass Coast ]}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=TomVero.jpg|caption=Dawn: Thomas Vero<br>email: [mailto:dawn@profounddecisions.co.uk dawn@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/401633306545071/ Dawn ]}}

{{CaptionedImage|file=MattLyons.jpg|caption=Highguard: Matt Lyons<br>email: [mailto:highguard@profounddecisions.co.uk highguard@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/208819129244083/ Highguard ]}}


{{CaptionedImage|file=RosemaryWarner.jpg|caption=Navarr: Rosemary Warner<br>email: [mailto:navarr@profounddecisions.co.uk navarr@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/476962795649090/ Navarr ]}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Luca.jpg|caption=Urizen: Luca Da Rè<br>email: [mailto:urizen@profounddecisions.co.uk urizen@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/470732939604433/ Urizen ]}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=DaveBarnett.jpg|caption=Varushka: Dave Barnett<br>email: [mailto:varushka@profounddecisions.co.uk varushka@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/396355450407697/ Varushka ]}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=James.jpg|caption=Wintermark: James Gray<br>email: [mailto:wintermark@profounddecisions.co.uk wintermark@profounddecisions.co.uk ]<br>Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/301940076567407/ Wintermark ]}}
</fourpicture>

Court Reports

2026-06-05T10:07:53Z

Noserenda: /* Reports from 387YE */

[[Category:The Law]]
[[Category:The Empire]]
==Overview==
This page has the court reports for Anvil in recent years. These are updated with new court reports as time goes on. The most recent court report will also be available to read, pinned up in the Militia tent near the Hub.

==Reports from 387YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 387YE Criminal Cases
|-
|Heresy||Yosephus Morningson was condemned by Raphael Barossa d'Apulian on the matter of Heresy, for statements made during Inquisition and for pamphlets and posters put up around Anvil.||Yosephus Morningson pled not guilty.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra.<br>Fined five thrones, and a Freezing Brand applied at accused's cost.||The statement attached to the brand is "I am a convicted Excessionist".
|-
|Treason||The accused confessed to casting both Merciless Wrath of the Reaver and Blood and Salt empowered with Siakha’s boon during the Spring Equinox 386.||Earl Edmund Reaver pled guilty, with a Loyalty clemency made by Emyr Redwood.||Found guilty by Magistrate Forrester, executed.||The minor benefits of the rituals against the Empire’s enemies, and the multiple breaches, outweighed the confession and the clemency plea.
|-
|Treason||The accused willingly took on Agramant’s Mark in Spring 387 following the offer of information useful for protecting the Empire. Following this, they received an anonymous note tipping them off to a meeting between Imperial magicians and Jotun thralls, with the suggestion that the Jotun would be given Imperial magic. The accused and Robin Blackthorne went to this meeting, and killed the Jotun thralls once everyone else had left. For this, they were vindicated by the Vigilance Assembly in Judgement 236 of Summer 387. When arrested, the accused possessed more vials of blood used to place the Mark.||Imperial Huntsmarshal Milos ‘Twig’ Durenovich Brekhunova pled guilty, with a clemency plea by Anatoly Paukov Zorkin on the virtue of Vigilance.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate Karkovich, executed.||The magistrate accepted that the accused’s motivations lay in defending the Empire; however, at the point the boon was accepted, the nature and magnitude of the aid could not have been known. The magistrate considered that the very severe nature of the treason in consorting with Agramant outweighed the uncertain benefit at the time of the boon’s acceptance.
|-
|Murder||The accused killed Richard of Upwold after they both drew weapons and struck each other during a disagreement over a shared boundary to a barley field. The accused won the fight and then crushed his victim’s skull as he lay defenceless.||Henry of Upwold pled guilty with a Prosperity clemency by Savi Avvocato.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate Karkovich, executed.||The clemency priest noted that the accused could have achieved their goals in a better way. The magistrate agreed, and determined that the plea did not meet the test of necessity.
|-
|Assault||The accused cut down Loaken of the Sentinel’s Tower during a fight he provoked by insulting his attacker. His attacker approached, armed, making threatening gestures and comments, and he defended himself.||Lord Tobias de Gauvain pled not guilty by way of self-defence.||Found not guilty by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo.||The next three cases contain additional context.
|-
|Mayhem||The accused cut off the ear of Lord Tobias de Gauvain subsequent to the above fight.||Loaken of the Sentinel’s Tower pled guilty.||Found guilty by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo. Fined two thrones.||
|-
|Theft||The accused stole the severed ear of Lord Tobias de Gauvain after a fight, and sold it to Arlandria of the Sentinel’s Tower.||Angelique Laval of House de Gauvain pled guilty, with clemency given by Tren Meals of House de Gauvain.||Found guilty by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo. Fined one and a half thrones.||
|-
|Handling Stolen Goods||The accused bought the severed ear of Lord Tobias de Gauvain after a fight, knowing it not to be the rightful property of the seller, Angelique Laval.||Arlandria of the Sentinel’s Tower pled not guilty.||Found guilty by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo. Fined two thrones.||
|-
|Heresy||The accused was condemned by Maarit Suvidottir for teaching orcs that they did not need Virtue, and in so doing denying the Doctrine of Enlightenment and the Doctrine of the Ancestors.||Bloodcrow Knott pled guilty.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra. Executed.||The accused gave a moving and compelling speech about the necessity of his actions, his lack of remorse, and was clear throughout the trial of his intent to continue his actions regardless of the consequence.
|-
|Blasphemy||The accused was condemned by Nim of Ebon’s Hall, Inquisitor of Wisdom, for concealing a Dedication to Freedom.||Gisli Baersson pled not guilty.||Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller. Fined thirty thrones, and a Freezing Brand to be maintained for the rest of Gisli’s life. The Magistrate also recommended a negative Testimony be placed on him.<br><br> The penalty was reviewed by the Chief Magistrates, and the duration of the Freezing Brand has been reduced to three years.||The accused argued at trial that simply bearing a Dedication did not meet the definition of Blasphemy, despite the clear guidance of the Magistracy that they would follow the Synod’s condemnations on what did or did not constitute any given religious crime.<br><br>The sentencing took account of the harm to those around the accused, and was found to be short of that required to justify the death penalty.
|-
|Treason||The accused was commanding on a minor conjunction of the Sentinel Gate. He healed and allowed to live several Druj injured by the Vallorn, and commanded others not to harm them. He allowed them to return to their people, where they would be able to recommence the fight against the Empire.||Earl Percival Summerstrong, Speaker of the Vallornguard pled guilty, with a Wisdom clemency.||Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller. No punishment was levied.||The Magistrate accepted that the accused had demonstrated excellent Wisdom by making use of the unexpected situation to discover ways in which the Druj fight against the Vallorn, which was the motivation for his actions. A necessary consequence of this was leaving some Druj alive, but this was not the goal of his act. When weighed against the benefits of his actions, the harm was much smaller in proportion. The clemency priest made strong representations as to the points of the Hero’s Burden.
|-
|Membership of an Illegal Organisation||The accused was the founder of the illegal organisation known as the Disciples of Sulemaine, and refused to abandon it or its path under any circumstance.||Severus of the Blinding Sun pled guilty.||Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller. Executed.||The accused did not have a priest to offer clemency, as he would only accept a clemency plea on the false virtue of Purity. The only person willing to deliver this plea was not a member of Synod, and so was ineligible.
<br><br>
Immediately following the execution, a spontaneous Consecration aligned with the accused’s professed beliefs arose on the tent where the trial and execution took place.
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 387YE Criminal Cases
|-
|Murder||In Spring 387, two people antagonised Protectorate Quint with insulting artwork and assaulted him. Later, these individuals were in the Wonky Donkey, antagonising unidentified Highborn individuals in white and red, and were cut down by the Highborn. Irontide Ruka, a friend of Quint, saw this, and took the opportunity to execute one of the downed individuals; the Highborn executed the other.||Irontide Ruka pled guilty, with a Loyalty clemency plea made by Marco.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate Karkovich, fined twenty thrones.||The penalty was reduced from execution, in consideration of the clemency plea, Ruka’s handing himself in immediately after the crime, and the severe provocation to Protectorate Quint.
|-
|Heresy||The accused was inquisited by Luca i Taziel i Riqueza, Cardinal of Prosperity, and admitted to being previously dedicated to the Virtue of Freedom. She also admitted to having dedicated others to Freedom.|| Hembeneth i Guerra pled guilty||Found guilty by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo, executed.||Hembeneth was inquisited and condemned in the Summer under [[387YE Summer Solstice Synod judgements#Judgement 149|Judgment 149]] and [[387YE Summer Solstice Synod judgements#Judgement 259|Judgement 259]].
|-
|Murder||The accused attacked Daniela Treval during the Summer Solstice 387, killing her. The accused asserted that they had been coerced into committing the offence, after threats were made against their friends.||John Shatterfoot of Eiraspire pled guilty, with a Loyalty clemency plea made by Amris Johan Merikovich.||Found guilty by Magistrate Sokolov, executed.||The magistrate accepted that the accused felt motivated by Loyalty and acknowledged the duress, but the murder of an Imperial citizen was not considered proportionate to the threats made, considering no attempt had been made to seek due process or assistance from the Magistrates or Militia.
|-
|Assault<br>Contempt of Court<br>Perverting the Course of Justice||The accused assaulted a Dawnish noble; then, at their trial, made every effort to disrupt their trial and prevent it from occurring. They were warned, fined for contempt, and when they continued to be disruptive were further warned that perverting justice carries the death penalty.||Gwillam<br>Aelfric of Dawn<br>both refused to enter any plea.||Found guilty by Magistrate Sokolov, executed.||The trial was incomplete as a result of the refusal of the defendants to allow it to continue. Magistrate Sokolov issued a summary verdict after making every effort to conduct the trial appropriately.
|-
|Murder||The accused murdered four people in Dunfirth, apparently while under the influence of a curse linked to a runemarked boulder.||Thurwolf Dunning pled guilty, with a clemency plea made by Veikko Bondforger.||Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller, executed.||The clemency plea focused on the apparent compulsion from the curse. The magistrate rejected the plea on the basis that Thurwolf showed awareness and decisionmaking ability.
|-
|Blasphemy<br>Abuse of Powers||The accused used True Liao to hallow a shield to the Virtue of Peace; in addition, he was dedicated at various times to each of the known False Virtues and produced a large number of hallowed items under these dedications.||Fintan Nighthaven pled guilty, with a clemency plea made by Rafael Barossa d’Apulian.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra. Executed.||Fintan was condemned in the Summer by [[387YE Summer Solstice Synod judgements#Judgement 260|Judgement 260]]. While the clemency plea was strong in many areas, it did not account for the totality of Fintan’s actions, and the raising priest for the condemnation emphasised the great harm done to the Empire and to the Synod’s authority by the accused’s actions.
|-
|Murder<br>(Attempted)||The accused attacked the Imperial Censor, Gaius Starfall i Riqueza, with apparent intent to kill. The accused offered no motivation for their actions.||Brawn of Dawn<br>Abraham<br>both pled guilty.||Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller, executed.||
|-
|Assault||Gisli Baersson was attacked by the accused, who claimed his motive was ‘boredom’ and ‘thrill-seeking’.||Julius i Rincon i Riqueza pled guilty.||Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller, fined 8 thrones and a Freezing Brand of Irremais to be applied at accused’s cost. Executed after stated refusal to pay any fine.||Julius was warned that refusal to engage with the punishment at all would likely lead to execution, but he continued to refuse to pay any fine at all and was executed.
|-
|Possession of controlled substance||The accused cooperated to brew the illegal poison The Crimson Gate, in order to poison a nest of Ettercaps in Therunin.||Gwynn Springseeker<br>Ilya Aethelwynn<br>Crenalin Oakvale<br>Aalin Oakvale<br>Franceslodi Tassato di Sarvos i Pesse<br>Atticus Reachingvine<br>Ursina i Garza i Guerra<br>Bertrand Gardener<br>Ascalla Maisa<br>Wren Embercast<br>Esme i Estrico i Erigo<br>all pled guilty with a Wisdom clemency plea by Pio i Vega i Riqueza.||Found guilty by Magistrate Farkas, fined one crown each.||The punishment was greatly reduced due to the nature of the crime being for the benefit of the Empire, and the strong clemency plea.
|-
|Possession of controlled substance||The accused cooperated to brew a number of illegal poisons in order to poison kraken eggs in Zenith during a major conjunction of the Sentinel Gate.||Fourteen citizens pled guilty, with clemency pleas by three priests.||Found guilty by Magistrate Farkas, fined five rings each.||These notes are incomplete, due to substantial water damage rendering them unreadable. If you are aware of the names of those convicted or offering clemency pleas, contact the Civil Service.

The Magistrate issued personal thanks and praise to the accused, on the basis of their excellent and difficult service in support of the Imperial interest in Zenith against the Druj.
|-
|Treason<br>Breaching Interdiction||The accused communicated with an eternal under enmity, the [[Whisper Gallery]], using an interdicted ritual that communicates with the Gallery, and were accused of making deals with the Gallery. Eliina did not cast the forbidden ritual, but knew about Bella’s actions and encouraged them. At the time, Eliina was Archmage of Night. Bella has since replaced her.||Bella Vincente d’Apulian<br>Eliina “Realm’s Visionary” Lailasdottir pled guilty, with a clemency plea for Bella made by Elagabala Netherwatch, Grandmaster Sevenfold Path, and a clemency plea for Eliina made by Dagon, Cardinal of Loyalty.||Found guilty by Magistrate Stillwater, fined 8 thrones collectively.||Although execution was considered, the clemency pleas were very strong and there was a successful argument that the contact was in service of saving the lives of Imperial citizens.

Eliina changed name and nation before the trial, but the name given is as it was at the time of the crimes and investigation.
|-
|Treason<br>Breaching Interdiction||The accused communicated with an eternal under enmity, the [[Agramant|Howler]], using an interdicted ritual that communicates with it. They subsequently responded to an invitation and met with it in an attempt to challenge it for a favour that was reportedly empowering the [[Hard to find#The Earl of the Groves|Earl of the Groves]]. No others witnessed this meeting, which took place in a Winter chamber, the ''Court of Desolation''. As such, the remaining events could not be verified. Staurakios paid an 'entry fee' of receiving a curse; Aletheia wagered her ability to love on a game to try and win the favour. Aletheia lost the game, and the chance to retrieve the favour. The accused were well aware in advance that their actions would be criminal, and handed themselves in immediately upon their return.||Staurakios of the Lighthouse that Was, Custodian of the Bleak Tower, pled guilty, with a clemency plea on the virtue of Vigilance by Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer, General of the Argent Sword.<br>Aletheia Wooder pled guilty, with a clemency plea on the virtue of Loyalty by Rafael Barossa d'Apulian.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra. Fined 20 thrones each and each given, at their own cost, a Freezing Brand with the phrase "I negotiated with Agramant".||The crime was extremely serious, and performed with full intent; execution was entirely possible. However, both clemency pleas were excellent, demonstrating how the accused had met each of the tests of the Hero's Burden, including exhausting all possible legal process - having been refused aid by the Archmage of Winter, and with the position of Knight-Protector of Winter being vacant, they were left with few options. The Magistrate found their account of what had gone on in the chamber to have no obvious falsehoods, and some elements, such as the curse, were verifiable. Questions remained about the urgency of their task, with the accused unable to fully substantiate their estimates of lives lost if they had failed to act, but their reasons remained compelling and so while their penalty was steep, they were not executed.
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Civil Case
! scope="col" style="width: 35%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Parties
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Outcome
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 387YE Civil Cases
|-
|Contract dispute||The claimant engaged in a contract with the Artisans’ Guild by which he would deposit materials, which the Artisans’ Guild would pass on to an artisan, who would make a desired item. The artisan, Aspasia Netherwatch, did not deliver the item after receiving materials. Contractually, the Guild was not liable for the materials but were responsible for assisting Jacques in retrieving his materials from the artisan, potentially until the end of time due to the lack of an appropriate break-clause. Jacques wanted his materials back; the Guild wanted to be free of their obligation.||Jacques Damask, represented by Savi Avvocato<br>and<br>Xanthius Stormsend, representing the Artisans’ Guild||Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra assisted the parties in negotiating a settlement. Jacques agreed to discharge the Guild from its obligations to help him in exchange for 7 thrones and 2 crowns.||Savi Avvocato also claimed to be helping the Artisans’ Guild to rewrite its contracts for future work. Jacques did not seem concerned by potential conflicts of interest.
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 387YE Criminal Cases
|-
|Poisoning<br>Murder||The accused poisoned Jacko, an Academy tutor, during a potions class, with the Hunger of the Wolf. It took effect during a conjunction, and the students cut down Jacko; he then died from the poison. Students were deputised to investigate, and accused Laszlo von Holberg, who made a full confession.||Laszlo von Holberg pled guilty.||Found guilty by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo, executed.||The deputies Deerlah Yrhara, Inga Svensborn, and Oola Dunning, are commended for their investigative work.
|-
|Murder||The accused discovered that Earl Tadhg of House Gladewarden wrote to the Howling Queen in an effort to ′become a new Deadwood Knight′. The accused went with others to intervene and stop Tadhg, but the Earl attacked and although struck down vowed that he would not stop his efforts. The accused killed him to try and prevent this.|| Dorian Gryphontale pled guilty, with a clemency plea on the virtue of Loyalty made by the Earl of Fools.||Found guilty by Magistrate Stillwater, fined five thrones.||The circumstances of the situation fit the Hero's Burden very clearly, as well as being in the Imperial interest; the clemency plea was also very convincing and although the penalty for murder can be as high as execution, it was reduced to a fine.
|-
|Treason||The accused collaborated with the Jotun following the Bregasland invasion of 383-384YE, along with his family, informing on their neighbours. They were rewarded for this. He escaped from militia bringing him to trial in Winter 385. He handed himself in in return for Imperial heroes rescuing his family from Jotun captivity.||Sammy Clake pled guilty, with a clemency plea on the virtue of Loyalty made by Father Edmund of Barrowley Abbey.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate Karkovich, executed.||Although the priest argued that when faced with a hard choice Sammy chose to protect his family, the magistrate determined that his actions caused disproportionate harm to his neighbours and to the Empire.<br>The magistrates deemed it not in the Imperial interest to prosecute the remaining Clakes.
|-
|Membership of an Illegal Organisation<br>Resisting Arrest<br>Assault || The accused confessed during an Inquisition to being a member of the Cult of the Falconer. They resisted arrest and stabbed Ethelfrith Sigeling.||Kaisa Sewn-Tongue pled guilty.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate Karkovich, fined six thrones and four crowns; not paid, executed.||No priest was willing to plead clemency for the accused. Kaisa refused outright to pay the fine, and was executed as a result.
|-
|Membership of an Illegal Organisation||The accused confessed to being a member of the Cult of the Falconer.||Finn Starchaser pled guilty.||Found guilty by Chief Magistrate Karkovich, fined five thrones; not paid, executed.|| No priest was willing to plead clemency for the accused. Finn refused outright to pay the fine, and was executed as a result.
|-
|Assault||While standing in the Hub, the accused ferociously attacked an unarmed orc merchant from Beoraidh, a city of foreigners, following a verbal altercation.||Stonesworn Skegg pled guilty, with a clemency plea on the virtues of Loyalty and Pride made by Finna, Ambassador to the Grendel.||Found guilty by Magistrate Sokolov, fined one throne.||A charge of attempted murder was initially considered, due to the intensity of the attack, but was discarded because of inconsistencies in witness statements.<br>The Clemency plea argued that the accused was provoked, and was compelled by virtue to act, but the magistrate determined that the act lacked urgency, proportionality and the exhaustion of legal options. The fine was somewhat reduced due to the plea and the accused's extensive cooperation and lack of prior criminality.
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Civil Case
! scope="col" style="width: 35%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Parties
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Outcome
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 387YE Civil Cases
|-
|Inheritance||Laszlo Gulyas von Temeschwar bought the Regario Dossier in Spring 386YE for sixty thrones, but was killed in the Autumn of that year. Therefore a refund of fifteen thrones was due to his inheritor. Prince Marcus presented a will signed by Laszlo entitling the Sea Wolves to his estate, but Damiàn presented a contract signed subsequently by Laszlo entitling them to any refund due if Laszlo's term ended early. The signatures matched and both documents were deemed genuine.||Prince Marcus von Temeschwar of the Sea Wolves<br>and<br>Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo, Ambassador to Jarm||Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra judged that Laszlo's will entitled Prince Marcus to the money, but this could not be disentangled from the contractual obligation to Damiàn—so Prince Marcus also owed Damiàn fifteen thrones.||Prince Marcus requested that the Civil Service deliver the money directly to Damiàn in order to simplify the discharging of the debt.
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 387YE
|-
| Treason || The accused confessed to paying a ritualist, now deceased, to invoke Yaw'nagrah, an Eternal under enmity, to gain boons in a casting of Blessing of New Spring on her farm. The accused was also identified in a Silent Bell report. || Courgetta i Rincon i Guerra pled guilty with a clemency plea on the Virtues of Ambition, Pride and Prosperity by Emberic Ashsong || Found guilty by Chief Magistrate Karkovich, fined ten thrones. || The punishment was reduced from execution due to the Prosperous nature of the act, and the relatively low level of harm to the Empire.
|-
| Murder <br>(attempted) || The two accused, from Faraden, came to Anvil with a list of targets they admitted intending to kill, and heretical pamphlets on Justice to hand out. They attacked Jared, the Champion of Vigilance. || Zorilgo and Uildel of Faraden pled guilty. || Found guilty by Magistrate de Remourics, executed.
|-
| Murder || Ren Tanner was a captain of a military unit who participated in the illegal attack on the Rahvin at the Fangs one season ago. He was not present at that summit to be tried. The Court Reports from Winter 386YE have details of the attack. || Ren Tanner pled not guilty. || Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller, executed || Tanner claimed at trial that he was coerced by being threatened with Inquisition, and with a threat made against his life if he did not follow through with his oath of Loyalty. He also claimed genuine contrition and good character. The Magistrate judged that these matters, though meriting consideration, didn't justify reducing the sentence in light of the scale of the crime.
|-
| Subverting the Agencies of the State || The accused, who is the Captain of the Senate Guard, had ejected Solomon, Senator for Casinea, from the Senate because of an aura of unidentified origin. The Senator was thus deprived of the right to speak and vote for an entire session. || Arthur Bannerman, known as 'Bam Bam', pled guilty, with a clemency plea on the Virtue of Vigilance made by Vesna Borkovna Prochnost, the Throne, using the Mercy of the Empress. || Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller, fined twenty thrones. || This was judged to be one of the most serious cases of subverting the agencies of the state and thus required a heavy fine. Empress Vesna made a clemency plea citing Bannerman's virtuous motivations and the events leading up to this illegal ejection. It was found that this did not outweigh the crime, but did warrant a reduction of the fine from thirty thrones.
|-
| Subverting the Agencies of the State || In Winter 386YE, the Senators Hal Talbot and Johnny Tailor, as well as Ulrich, the proxy for Senator Bregasland, made several appointments after Mournwold was assigned to the Marches but before a Senator was elected. They incorrectly stated to the Civil Service that their decisions were unanimous. || Hal Talbot - Senator Mitwold, Johnny Tailor - Senator Upwold, and Ulrich all pled guilty. || Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller. Hal Talbot was fined one throne, Johnny Tailor was fined three thrones, Ulrich was fined five thrones. || The defendants claimed genuine error. This was accepted by the Magistrate and relatively low fines were issued in consequence. The accused received fines in proportion to their claimed levels of experience in the Senate.
|-
| Subverting the Agencies of the State || Due to an administrative error, the accused was able to submit a motion to Senate without it going through the proper channels for scrutiny. The error was found before Senate was in session. || Protectorate Thenrik, Legion Engineer, pled guilty. || Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller. Fined one throne. || Due to no significant advantage or disadvantage being given to anybody after the error was discovered, and the Magistrate being satisfied that this was a genuine error, a low fine was levied.
|-
| Subverting the Agencies of the State || At the summit of Winter 386YE, Senator Zenith struck down Pickers Goldleaf, Citizens' Voice, while Pickers was making use of his power in Senate. The title had been legitimately purchased, so this represented a denial of the rights of speaking associated with that title, by use of force. || Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, Senator Zenith, pled guilty with a clemency plea on the Virtue of Vigilance made by Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer. || Found guilty by Magistrate Tiller, fined five thrones. || This was an extremely serious case of Subversion, for which a high fine was warranted. A detailed clemency was given, citing Vigilance, in particular the impression that Goldleaf had claimed that he had not only committed treason but was about to commit further treason on leaving the Senate. The clemency also stated that the accused had reason to believe nobody else was taking the statement seriously, and that if he did not take action Goldleaf would be permitted to leave to conduct the further treason. Taking the clemency and context into account, the Magistrate reduced the fine down from twenty thrones.
|-
| Assault || The accused attacked Mel Bleak and other Spring ritualists for calling on the power of the Claw to enhance their rituals, having heard reports from the Astral Arcanist and Custodian of the Lost that such rituals were empowering a malign entity known as the Falconer. Conclave was at the time debating the interdiction of this practice, but the interdiction had not yet come into effect. || Bernard Dugdale and Artis Greyholm pled guilty, with a clemency plea on the virtue of Vigilance made by Kezandro i Riqueza. || Found guilty by Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra, fined two crowns each. || The fears of the accused seemed well-founded, and the clemency priest established timeliness, a lack of available legal process, and the proportionality of the action with a minimum of force used. The fine was halved from four crowns each.
|-
| Treason || The accused was alleged to have passed information to the Grendel, which led to a direct threat to the life of an Imperial citizen, Sorcha di Apulian. || Raine Tealeaf pled not guilty. || Found not guilty by Magistrate Tiller. || The evidence available was not strong enough to clearly show that Raine Tealeaf had committed treason, and there were no avenues available to pursue further evidence.
|-
| Assault <br>Resisting arrest || The accused was alleged to have assaulted passers-by on the road between the Wintermark and Navarr camps, fleeing into Navarr when pursued. He fought off Militia attempting to arrest him, and tried to escape many times once captured, amounting to four charges of assault and one of resisting arrest. || Tilla of House Ironclaw pled guilty with a clemency plea. || Found guilty of by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo, fined eight thrones and four crowns.<br> Tilla refused to pay the fine, and was executed. || The fine was very high because each time the accused was subdued, he made another effort to attack those around him. The Magistrate chose to compound the assault fines. After the verdict, the accused refused vehemently to pay the fine on principle, and clearly stated that he would never pay the fine, even when warned that this would lead to execution. <br><br> When he continued to refuse the fine, he was executed.
|-
|}

==Reports from 386YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 386YE
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted with a blade Grud, Egregore of the Imperial Orcs, after the victim correctly predicted the death of the accused’s partner in battle. Bloodcrow Kren witnessed the assault. || Lady Griffinsbain, Egregore of Dawn pled guilty || Found guilty by Magistrate Brutus, fined two crowns || The fine was low because of the victim’s provocations.
|-
| Assault || The accused (a priest), and two other priests, performed an Insight on the victim, Hugh Farrier. They reported finding a strong Aura of Hate. Hugh became aggressive. The accused struck Hugh and ran away, before being cut down by other Marchers, Thomas Oak and Sebastian Shaw. || Stanus Emberclad pled not guilty || Found not guilty by Magistrate Brutus || The accused claimed self-defence based on the victim’s aggressive behaviour. The Magistrate accepted this argument.
|-
| Murder <br>(attempted) || The accused attacked Bernard Dugdale, Imperial Spymaster, in the Hall of Worlds, knocking him to the floor before stabbing him several times. He did not stop his attack until he was pulled away. The accused claimed that the Spymaster struck the first blow, and that he dropped his knife and retreated after downing the Spymaster, but was contradicted by witnesses Jim Cladpole and Linley Weaver. || Watt Lambrook pled not guilty || Found not guilty of an attempt to murder, but found guilty of assault, by Magistrate i Zuhri i Erigo, fined 2th || The Magistrate did not ultimately judge this to be a serious attempt to murder, because the attack happened in front of a number of capable witnesses. The fine was increased because this was the second time that the criminal had committed assault against the victim.
|-
| Murder || The accused, a Thule orc, confessed to murdering at least a dozen Imperial citizens over the last year in Sermersuaq, in order to serve the interests of Blood-on-the-Snow. He was caught because his group of magicians, the Dragon’s Talon, cooperated with members of the Vigilance assembly to investigate and trap him. Investigation allegedly revealed that he bore the Mark of his patron. He made a full confession of his crimes. || Frekki Shardbearer pled guilty || Found guilty of murder by Chief Magistrate i Zuhri i Guerra, executed || The accusers were not willing to name the individual who had detected the Mark of the Howler. However, the confession was full and comprehensive, and there did not appear to be any motive for the accused to invent or fabricate the confession.
|-
| Murder || The first accused, Jade, confronted the victim – Aramis du Froste, Senator Barrens – in the Glory Square. After a short conversation, she stabbed and then attempted to execute Senator Barrens, but was interrupted by the Fool of Glory trying to render assistance to the Senator. The second accused, Arnulf, attacked the Fool and a physick, Isolde, who had also come to help the Senator. This allowed Jade to make a second, successful attempt at slaying the Senator, after which the accused, both yeofolk of House Wolfborne, immediately sought Sanctuary nearby. || Jade and Arnulf both pled guilty with a clemency plea on the Virtue of Loyalty, presented by Pontius Emberclad, Curator of the White City Museum. || Both found guilty of murder by Magistrate Brutus, executed. || The plea for Jade was based on Loyalty to House Wolfborne, but lacked any substantial detail. In Arnulf’s clemency plea, based on Loyalty to Jade, it was argued that Arnulf did not directly attack the Senator, and was trying to defend Jade from those coming to aid the Senator. However, the Magistrate found that it was his efforts that gave Jade the opportunity to finish her murder, which was clearly visible to everyone around, and therefore Arnulf was regarded as a knowing and willing participant.
|-
| Murder || The accused - Archavion Wolfborne, General Gryphon's Pride - at Autumn 386 gave his army orders to attack the Rahvin sept at the Fangs mine in Bitter Strand, the Barrens. The Rahvin are foreigners and protected by Imperial law. Some Rahvin were killed in the attack, and the army orders were clear that Rahvin casualties were acceptable in claiming the mine. || Archavion Wolfborne, General Gryphon's Pride, pled guilty with a clemency plea on the Virtue of Vigilance presented by Kasimir Vukovitch von Temeschwar. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The clemency plea, on Vigilance, had strengths. It was not enough to overcome the seriousness of the crime; it was undercut by the lack of urgency - there was no evidence of an imminent Rahvin attack - and by a failure to exhaust legal remedies, such as by seeking a Senate declaration of war. The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose the latter, and was killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The accused were all military unit captains who ordered their soldiers to support the Gryphon's Pride army in attacking the Rahvin at the Fangs mine in Bitter Strand, the Barrens. The Rahvin are foreigners and protected by Imperial law; by the time the Gryphon's Pride orders became public there was also an opportunity for Imperial captains to defend the Rahvin - therefore, these military units were also attacking Imperial citizens. Some Rahvin were killed in the attack, and the army orders were clear that Rahvin casualties were acceptable in claiming the mine. || Madoc, Roland, Sir Pelinal, and Ulfius, all of House Medwood, pled guilty with a single clemency plea on the virtue of Loyalty presented by Sir Decimus of House de Bastion. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The clemency plea relied mainly on Loyalty to the nation following the guidance of the Earls' Council. However, there was no clear explanation why they ignored the two-season grace period suggested by the Council. They also argued that the army was already on the way, so they could not stop it - but this did not explain or justify joining in the attack. The condemned were offered immediate execution or death in battle. They chose the latter, and were killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Vincent Larmallevés pled guilty with a clemency plea on the virtue of Prosperity presented by Pontius Emberclad, Curator of the White City Museum. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The clemency plea, founded on Prosperity, was based on ideas of 'stolen' 'Imperial' mithril - although the mine had never been assigned by the Senate to any nation or as an Imperial seat - and on an unexplained precept that waiting would have 'cost Imperial lives'. The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose the latter, and was killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Ancon, of House Wolfborne, pled guilty with a clemency plea on the virtue of Loyalty presented by Pontius Emberclad, Curator of the White City Museum. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The clemency plea rested on personal Loyalty to General Gryphon’s Pride, who saved the accused’s life, after which he always supported the General and his army. However, there was no explanation for how the Rahvin posed a threat to the General for which this was a proportionate response, or why this personal Loyalty specifically justified murder. The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose the latter, and was killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Ollanius Pius, of House Wolfborne, pled guilty with a clemency plea on the virtue of Vigilance presented by Pontius Emberclad, Curator of the White City Museum. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The basis of the plea was that the accused believed the Rahvin had the mithril to equip an army, and there was no time to solve the issue with diplomacy, but could not explain why the army alone was insufficient and his personal military unit support was required. The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose the latter, and was killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Owain, of House Wolfborne, pled guilty with a clemency plea on the virtue of Vigilance presented by Pontius Emberclad, Curator of the White City Museum. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The basis of the plea was that it was necessary to deny resources to the enemy, citing the example of Berechiah, and that taking the mine and the mithril would ultimately save Imperial lives. However, the plea did
not justify the belief that the Rahvin, who were foreigners, were enemies of the Empire, nor that their actions would cause Imperial deaths. The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose the latter, and was killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Dufenal Ash, of the Marches, pled guilty with no clemency. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose execution.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Eric, of House Orzel, pled guilty with a clemency plea on the virtue of Loyalty presented by Veikko Bondforger. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The basis of the plea was personal loyalty to Archavion. The clemency priest noted that the crime was not proportionate to the situation, and that the accused had not attempted to seek legal recourse because he had a low regard for the political process. The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose the latter, and was killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Lucius Pannonicus, of House Asterion, pled guilty with a clemency plea on the virtue of Loyalty presented by Pontius Emberclad, Curator of the White City Museum. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The basis of the plea was personal
loyalty to Archavion. It justified the actions of the accused on the basis that the army was already on its way to attack the Rahvin, but failed to explain why the assistance of the accused’s military unit was necessary or why murder was a proportionate act. The condemned was offered immediate execution or death in battle. He chose the latter, and was killed in battle the following day.
|-
| Murder || The facts are as stated previously, in the case of House Medwood, above. || Lodwick Hardin, of Wintermark, pled guilty with a clemency plea that was subsequently withdrawn by the priest, Pontius Emberclad. || Found guilty of murder by Magistrate Tiller, sentenced to death. || The clemency plea was withdrawn after the accused attempted to flee the trial. He was not given the choice of execution or death in battle like the others tried alongside him; he was executed immediately.
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 386YE
|-
| Criminal damage <br>Theft || The accused handed themselves in having attempted to steal an item hallowed to a false virtue from the Cardinal of Ambition, Viviane Barossa di Tassato Regario. Their aim was to re-hallow this item to replace its aura with a virtuous one. || Lenarius Ankarien, Imperial Inquisitor, pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>No punishment. ||A clemency plea was made by Gaelen Embercast on the grounds of Loyalty. <br>The presiding magistrate accepted that the accused had acted in the Imperial interest, out of Loyalty to their friend and out of concern for her spiritual health and that of other followers of the Way, especially considering the oath made by the Cardinal to the Axou regarding the item.
|-
| Murder <br>(attempted) || Tao of the Marches employed Willem and Janeth Thatch to help him murder Skywise Gralka, Archmage Day. They shadowed Gralka, and in due course donned sackcloth masks, then attacked her, using at least one envenomed weapon. However, Archmage Day had previously noticed she was being followed, and had alerted the Militia, leading to the defeat and capture of the accused. <br>Willem and Janeth claimed in their defence that they were unaware that a crime was about to be committed, despite having put on masks to conceal their identities. || Tao of the Marches pleaded guilty with no clemency. Willem and Janeth Thatch both pleaded not guilty. || Guilty. <br> All were executed. <br> Tao rose up as a husk, and was immediately killed again. || The presiding magistrate discarded the defence offered by the accused, as they had shown clear signs of preparation and premeditation.
|-
| Murder <br>(attempted) || The accused attempted to murder Captain Cassie, Imperial Censor, several times, including (on the final occasion) just outside the Militia offices. When questioned the accused stated that they were under contract to kill the Censor. Furthermore, the accused stated a belief that the Censor was corrupt and deserved to die. They refused to reveal who contracted this assassination and said if given the opportunity they would try to kill her again. || Desbresa, of the Star Bar, pleaded guilty, with no clemency plea. || Guilty. <br>Executed. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Zadkiel de Coeurdefer with the intent of removing an item hallowed to the malign spiritual presence of Peace, purportedly out of concern for the victim’s spiritual health. Magistrate Sokolov supervised a weregild hearing between the two parties, with the accused, Vitore Von Temeschwar agreeing to pay a weregild of one throne to the victim. || Vittore von Temeschwar pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>One throne paid to the victim as a weregild. ||
|-
| Murder <br>(attempted) || The accused attacked Warrant Officer Orin of the Anvil Militia with an envenomed weapon, in an unprovoked attack, outside the offices of the Anvil Militia. || Jobb of Wintermark pleaded guilty with no clemency plea. || Guilty. <br>Executed. || Although the public nature of the attack meant that the victim was relatively unlikely to die, the use of an envenomed blade and the accused’s subsequent aggressive behaviour delayed timely medical intervention to the envenomed victim thus placing their life in jeopardy; the accused was therefore charged with attempted Murder rather than Assault.
|-
| Assault || The accused, Sulkavaris, the Wintermark Egregore, handed themself in and confessed to assaulting Grud-who-Thinks, the Egregore of the Imperial Orcs. The accused said they had argued with Grud because he had been spreading lies and false prophecies, causing great distress to the accused's sibling. The accused lost his temper and struck Grud with a weapon. || Sulkavaris pleaded guilty with no clemency plea. || Guilty. <br>Fined two crowns. ||
|-
| Murder || The accused, Agni Ashborn, confessed to poisoning Sicaro, Prince of the Crimson Reapers, on the Saturday of the Summer Solstice 386YE. She held a longstanding grudge against him because she held him responsible for the deaths of Gelert and Gaius Ashborn in battle, through his inaction. After killing Sicaro, she took his signet ring and sent a taunting message to the new Prince of the Crimson Reapers. || Agni Ashborn pleaded guilty without a clemency plea. || Guilty. <br>Executed.
|-
| Subverting the Agencies of the State <br>(attempted) <br>Trade of narcotics to the Iron Confederacy <br>(attempted) || The accused, Beauregarthe, attempted to prevent Ambassador Iron Confederacy, Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo, from meeting with two Suranni priests. When arrested, the accused was carrying a narcotic, but there was no evidence of any intent to carry it over the Suranni border. || Beauregarthe, a citizen of the Iron Confederacy, pleaded guilty to subversion, and not guilty to trade of narcotics. <br>A clemency plea for subversion was given on the grounds of Vigilance by Ira Ashes Blaze. || Found guilty of subversion and not guilty of trade in narcotics, by Chief Magistrate Karkovich. <br>Fined five thrones. || The clemency plea argued that the accused was acting to prevent a clear threat to the people they were looking after, which only they knew about, and so was compelled to act. However, it was not made clear how preventing the Ambassador from meeting with the Suranni was for the greater good.
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 386YE
|-
| Subverting the Agencies of the State || At the Spring summit Skywise Tulva enlisted Redhand Tutt to impersonate a Priest, Redhand Ikis in order to obtain primacy on [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_210|judgement #210]]. This judgement was to encourage those people based in Pakaanan’s Pass to evacuate from the threat of the Cold Sun. The evidence suggested that a few dozen lives were saved as a result. || Skywise Tulva pleaded guilty.<br> Redhand Tutt pleaded guilty. || Both were found guilty.<br>They were jointly fined thirty thrones and each subjected to a [[Freezing Brand of Irremais]] at their own expense. They were also denounced by the presiding magistrate. || A clemency plea was made on the grounds of Loyalty.<br>Magistrate Sokolov's denunciation was as follows: “I, Magistrate Kasimir Nikovitch Sokolov denounce this dishonest impersonation of a member of Synod, which affected the outcome of a judgement. To allow this to pass without sanction would undermine the bond of trust between the Civil Service and the Synod for it threatens the spiritual health of all followers of the Way. I request the Imperial Inquisitor to investigate the guilty with a view to an appropriate sanction or penance proportionate to the severity of their actions.”
|-
| Treason || The accused left Anvil through the Gate following a lead to obtain a weapon to use against the Deadwood Knight. On arrival they were met by a herald. Once it was ascertained that this was a herald of the Whisper Gallery, Velko and Ivana left immediately without further interaction. The remainder agreed each to share a secret with the Herald, in return for the location of the sword they sought. When they returned they handed themselves in and cooperated fully. At trial the accused agreed to share publicly the secrets they shared with the herald, both to ascertain the danger these secrets represented and to rob them of some of their value to the Whisper Gallery. || The accused all pleaded guilty. They were as follows: Velko Perovitch Razoradze, Twig, and Ivana Petara Vodjavic, all of Varushka; Lord Leonard Gildeson, Hypatia de Cendres, Alistair de Vere, Marigold Campaner, Aubin Gildaryn, Olwyn Pickle, and Oswald Hopper, all of Dawn. || Velko Perovitch Razoradze and Ivana Petara Vodjavic were found not guilty. The remainder were found guilty, and fined one throne each. || A clemency plea was made by Annabelle Cetelle on the grounds of Loyalty and Wisdom.<br>The magistrate found the accused to have acted Loyally and out of a sense of urgency and concern for the current and future victims of the Deadwood Knight.
|-
| Murder || Witnesses testified that the accused led a group to [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]] in Winter 384YE, where they murdered a group of Varushkan wardens on a pre-arranged signal. A couple of seasons later, a Thule warlock used [[Whispers_through_the_Black_Gate|the Black Gate]] to summon the shade of one of the victims and questioned it in front of other witnesses, whereupon it reportedly confirmed this version of events. The accused argued both that they thought that these were Vyig rather than wardens, and that this situation had been engineered by the Thule as part of a plot. || Alderei the Fair, General of the Iron Helms, and Vedmid, of Carrion Vale, both pleaded not guilty. || Both were found not guilty. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused, Gideon Rookguard, and the victim, Sina Rookguard, were both out drinking together. The accused became upset when the victim picked him up to show her strength and he spilt his drink. He saw red and attacked her, stabbing her until she fell down in front of many witnesses. || Gideon Rookguard pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Timor of Ill Tidings on the grounds of Vigilance.
|-
| Treason || At the Autumn 385 summit Sally Thresher was in charge of a conjunction to go to Mitwold where a group of Siakha heralds were harassing locals to try and get them to fight. She received advice from Guildenstern that they would be able to leave unharmed if they did not agree to a fight. However, they were attacked and swiftly dropped despite not agreeing to a fight. Sally was given the choice to either have herself and all those with her devoured by the heralds or give her permission for them to hunt citizens in Mitwold. She gave her permission so that she and those that went with her could live. Immediately afterwards, she did everything she could to warn the Marches of the coming danger, and which undoubtedly saved many who would otherwise have died. The heralds killed 30 members of the Drakes and the entirety of the Wayford Wanderers foot-the-ball team. || Sally Thresher pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>No punishment was given. || A clemency plea was made by John Sawyer on the grounds of Loyalty.
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 40%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 20%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 386YE
|-
| Blasphemy and heresy || The accused was condemned in Winter 385 ([[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_193|judgement #193]]) for publishing poetry and preaching on the subject of freedom in a manner judged to be blasphemous and heretical. The sentence was lenient, because of 1) the direction given by the condemning priest and 2) the evidence of actual harm caused was slight. || Kennett the Mummer pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br> Fined four thrones. || The condemning priest was Sam Wych-Elm. A clemency plea was made by Jedediah Boon on grounds of Pride.
|-
| Slavery || The accused presented an opportunity to the Military Council to purchase slaves for emancipation from the Grendel in Winter 385. This was in clear contravention of the law against purchasing non-imperial slaves. || Atraxes the Imperial War Scout pleaded guilty || Guilty<br> Fined ten thrones. || Atraxes had already stood down as War Scout
|-
| Subverting the Agencies of the State || The accused forced the Sentinel Gate for a minor conjunction without the permission of the person named responsible by the Civil Service, who was Mortarion Carver, Castellan of Spiral Castle. The skirmish in question was to defeat the *Broken Errant* and their warband, who were threatening Weirwater. The crime was witnessed by Algernon Berinore. The accused first asked the permission of the Castellan, and was refused, before passing through the Sentinel Gate regardless. The senator's clemency defence was weakened as he was unable to explain why he thought the defence organised by the Castellan would be insufficient. Given his clearly admitted intent, and the graveness of a senator illegally impinging on the rightful responsibilities of another, the crime was treated very seriously. || Ser Lucan Mortére, Senator Weirwater, pleaded guilty || Guilty<br> Fined fifteen thrones. || A clemency plea by Killian Mortére on grounds of Ambition
|-
| Assault (Leo), Assault and Mayhem (Tongs) || Syrio of la Berta Rossa, formerly of the family Barossa, was attacked by the two accused, when returning through the Sentinel Gate. Gabriel, Marcus and Rodrigo Barossa were also reported to be present. The victim was said to have sent Tongs a cursed necklace, causing her to commit harm to her loved ones. Tongs and Syrio attempted to fight each other; Leo Barossa made an effort to hold back Syrio while Gabriel Barossa tried to restrain Tongs. Leo was more successful, but only by attacking Syrio. Tongs struck down Syrio and carved a message into his arm, which persisted after healing. || Leo Barossa, Samantha 'Tongs' Barossa both pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Leo was fined one crown.<br>Tongs was fined ten thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Alfredo Barossa di Tassato on grounds of Loyalty.
|-
| Treason || The accused approached the proxy for the Grandmaster of the Unfettered Mind and requested a casting of the Spring ritual *Merciless Wrath of the Reaver*, with the Boon of Siakha. This was an offer made by the Maelstrom to grant additional effects to the ritual; however, the Empress of Sharks was under enmity and so the taking-up of such a boon would be treasonous. The accused returned the following day to make the request again, at which time the proxy Grandmaster was accompanied by two militia officers posing as coven members. Once the accused had paid over the mana crystals and tempest jade required for the ritual, he was arrested. He pled guilty, and under questioning at trial established that he had made no effort whatsoever to seek a legal route to perform the ritual; it was also established that he made no effort to seek alternate paths to Prosperity for himself or his military unit. He had clear advance warning from the Civil Service about the illegal nature of the ritual. Between this and his returning on the second day for the ritual, he had clear intent. As a result, he was sentenced to execution. || Whisper pleaded guilty .|| Guilty. <br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made by Rhisiart Dancewalker on grounds of Prosperity.
|-
| Murder || The accused were all involved in planning and organising a series of murders of Grendel rivals and subordinates of (then) Salt Lord Kaliact which took place in Spiral in Autumn and Winter 384YE. The purpose of these murders was to clear the way for Kaliact to make a treaty with the Senate for Spiral to rejoin the Empire. Kaliact was the originator of the plan, Lachlan presented the plan to the Imperial conspirators. The imperials all helped to plan or coordinate the two missions, with Andronikos also being present on the missions.<br> At trial the accused all argued that their actions, while illegal, were strongly in the Imperial interest and that it had resulted in the return of Spiral to the Empire. As a matter of law magistrates are required to take into account the Imperial interest as a factor in sentencing and accepted that the Imperial interest had been served in this case. It is to be noted that the leadership of the missions themselves, by Hector of Tropaion Citadel, were subject to significantly more judicial criticism due to the way in which they were actually carried out. || Merchant Prince Kaliact, Lachlan Apulian, Imperial Consul Jarrigk, Warmage Andronikos of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros, and Spyridonakes of the Lighthouse at Nikephoros all pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>They were collectively fined 30 thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Rafael Barossa using the Imperial favour to claim the mercy of the Empress on behalf of Jarrigk, Andronikos and Spyridonakes on the grounds of Ambition.<br>A clemency plea was made by Estella Lucati for Kaliact on the grounds of Ambition.<br>A clemency plea was made by Lepidina for Lachlan on grounds of Prosperity.
|-
|}

==Reports from 385YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 385YE
|-
| Contravening a Declaration of Interdiction || The accused cast the interdicted ritual Whispering Shadow Courtiers at the request of her coven in Summer 385. She was not present at the Autumn summit but came to confess at the Winter summit. She cooperated fully and provided information on her coven. She did not complete any of the tasks set by the Whisper Gallery. || Cordelia Assumpta Cordina di Cello-Gribaldi pleaded guilty with no clemency. || Guilty<br> Fined one throne ||
|-
| Treason || The accused was selling sausages, some of which were poisoned and others which were made with human meat and cursed by Blood on the Snow. The accused confessed to being a cultist of this eternal, by the sobriquet of “Voice in the Pines”. || Alphonse di Sausage of Voice in the Pines pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined all the money in their possession (249 rings) and then executed.||
|-
| Contravening a Declaration of Interdiction || The accused made and used an interdicted item, a Shackle of the Unvirtuous in order to allow him to sleep without nightmares. If he had not done so he would not have been able to function or to serve his people. He had explored many other avenues to avoid this crime. || Konstantin Bolotinikov pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br> Fined two crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Martin Orchard
|-
| Aiding and abetting Slavery || Vuk the Wolfeater was investigated for handing over a child of his vale to his sovereign. Persuasive testimony was heard from the adopted parents of General Ash, a child who returned from the care of this sovereign, having had a strange and magical apprenticeship and upbringing. All accounts were that Ash was strongly raised in virtue – a powerful indication that the arrangement was not one of slavery. || Vuk the Wolfeater attended a witness hearing. || It was determined that there is no case to answer. ||
|-
| Treason || The two accused were variously involved in the planning, facilitating and casting of Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths. This ritual, as a known and predictable effect, greatly increases the ease with which Day heralds of eternals not under Enmity can enter the Empire. Both accused admitted that at the time of the casting they knew this would permit easier access for the heralds of Cold Sun, which had declared and demonstrated its intent to attack the Empire, but the casting proceeded nevertheless. The accused therefore ‘aided Eternals [...] to act against the interests of the Empire’, in accordance with the definition of Treason. <br>Evidence and expert testimony from multiple sources including Grandmaster Shuttered Lantern, Proxy Archmage Day and Imperial Seer demonstrated that the accused had ample warning of the threat, that the accused Archmage Day passed up opportunities to declare Enmity against the threat, and that the accused pushed ahead without heed to the grave risks. <br> Both accused were fully cooperative with the investigation. The accused Anthemius Netherwatch, the ritual coordinator, had demonstrated contrition through his actions following the casting, most notably in having a Declaration of Sorcery brought forward against himself. This was taken into consideration for his sentencing. <br> large number of other covens and magicians of Urizen participated in the casting. They were also investigated, but they were not tried as the Magistrate determined that due to the assurances of the accused, the participants’ responsibility did not rise above the level of negligence. <br>At the request of Magistrate Tuomisbarn, the presiding Magistrate, a Denunciation was delivered by Magistrate Abraham against the Conclave and its leadership. Under the terms of the Imperial Constitution the Conclave exists to ‘ensure the fit and proper use of magic.’ The Conclave appointed Gralka as Archmage of Day, and passed a declaration encouraging the casting of Omnihedron rituals. After Bright Eyes Gleam in the Depths was cast, the Conclave elected not to endorse the casting of the ritual, but also elected not to replace the Archmage. Abraham highlighted Conclave’s unique constitutional exemption from Synod oversight and the roots of that exemption in the early Empire’s belief that its Magicians could be trusted to regulate their own affairs. Abraham reminded the assembled, speaking as the Head of the Constitutional Court, that this was an exemption that was subject to change should the Senate will it and the Throne approve it. || Skywise Gralka, Archmage of Day, pleaded guilty <br>Anthemius Netherwatch Custodian of the Lost, pleaded guilty || Both were found guilty. <br>Skywise Gralka, was sentenced to a fine of 150 thrones (to be paid by midday Saturday of the Spring Equinox).<br> Anthemius Netherwatch was sentenced to a fine of 30 thrones || A clemency plea was made by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer, Arbiter of the Four Winds, on grounds of Ambition for Skywise Gralka. A clemency plea was made by Rafael Barossa di Apulian, Grandmaster Sevenfold Path, for Anthemius Netherwatch on ground of Pride.
|-
| Appeal against conviction for Subverting the agencies of the State || The conviction of Bohemond De Rondell for Subverting the agencies of the State in Autumn 385 was overturned on appeal. He was prosecuted for refusing to attend his inquisition but in fact this was his second inquisition of that summit and so he was not required in law to attend. || Bohemond De Rondell || The fine of eight thrones returned. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 385YE
|-
| Assault || The accused struck Archibald Flowers of House Castellan leaving him injured and in need of medical attention. The strike was the culmination of a disagreement between them regarding the Iron Helms. || Christafano of House Castellan pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined five crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Decimus Heywood of House De Britia
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Faewel Novoia after being insighted by him, striking him once with a spear. || Thane Skoll Shieldbane pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. ||
|-
| Attempted Murder || The accused attempted to murder Landon Harcomb. His motive was his belief that the victim had been involved in the recent bourse auction in which the prices were fixed. He wanted to send a message to the bourse before their next auction. || Percy Blackleaf pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined twenty five thrones and a Freezing Brand of Irremais at own expense. || A clemency plea was made by Lindeer Thornheart on grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Murder || The accused assassinated Adòn 'The Mithril Man' Martàn in a front of a plethora of witnesses. They then ran to the Marches for sanctuary and assaulted their clemency priest before fleeing and then being arrested. || Winty and Wulf of Varushka both pleaded not guilty. || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Mass murder || The accused organised two missions through the Sentinel Gate to murder a total of thirty five foreigners (Grendel). The first mission was to kill some Grendel slavers and rescue some slaves. The slaves were former Urizen children made into child soldiers. When they tried to bring the children back the children resisted and so they executed them. Following the mission Hector concealed what happened and swore the others to secrecy. He then organised a second mission to kill a rival of Salt Lord Kaliact and their associates. They did so, executing them all, including some unknown humans who attempted to run. Note: Investigations to identify and prosecute others who are culpable for these murders are in progress. || Hector of Tropaion pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made on grounds of Vigilance, Courage and Loyalty.
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 385YE
|-
| Murder || The accused led a rescue mission into the Barrens to fight “tortured souls” – foreign humans twisted by the Druj. The accused expected to be able to take these people through the Sentinel Gate and when they could not ordered the execution of at least one foreigner who was under a powerful courage aura. Expert testimony from the High Exorcist confirmed that had the Druj recaptured the victim a dangerous force would have arisen. No punishment was levied because the magistrate judged that the accused had been placed in an impossible position. || Achseh of the Sentinel Tower and Jared of Sentinel Tower both pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>No punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Brother Jared
|-
| Mass murder || The accused was involved in a dispute with a family over a trinket. The accused bargained with a powerful magical entity in a lake in Weirwater to kill the person with the locket. However this deal lead to more and more deaths near the lake, ultimately killing everyone who remained in the town. || Arthur Fisher pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Theft || The first accused was caught by the militia while fleeing from the scene of their crime. They were found with a metallic apple in their possession that had been stolen from Owain Farkas. They implicated the second accused as having asked them to steal it. || (1) Brychan Stormbroke and (2) Trystan Whiteglade. Both pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>Brand Thornfang agreed compensation with the victim of one throne and the magistrate accepted this arrangement ||
|-
| Possession and supply of controlled substances or item || The accused and her coven performed the Ephisis' Scale ritual, which returned eight doses of an unknown substance. As is their normal practice, they auctioned the dose on the condition that the buyer identify the substance and report back. The buyer paid one throne and later identified the substance as Bite. Sofia turned herself in at the Summer Solstice and surrendered the remaining seven doses. || Sofia i Del'Toro i Riqueza pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined two thrones. || Sofia’s honesty provided the Militia with valuable information regarding a new source of Bite. The magistrates will provide her with a five throne reward.
|-
| Assault || The accused was bodyguarding Merchant Prince Kaliact when the victim, Ariadne approached too close to his principal. He warned her to step back but she did not (she was attempting issue a pronouncement of doom). He then struck her down by cleaving her leg in order to protect his principal. || Carado di Apulian pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined two crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Valentina Von Temeschwar on grounds of Loyalty
|-
| Murder || A group of Marchers and Highborn went to Bregasland to meet with Bushell Sykes, a known traitor and confidante of Mathilda Fisher. Sykes was expecting a fight but the group instead requested a parley. After speaking at length in an attempt to turn him against Fisher, Sykes motioned towards a weapon at his hip, having stated that either he died there or continued his war against the Empire. Sykes called out to the accused to “do it” and the accused killed him. The presiding magistrate’s view was that there was some uncertainty over the legal status of Sykes and so held a trial to openly examine the evidence. || General Amberlain P. Black pleaded guilty || Found guilty at trial but no punishment was levied. Post script: Sykes was designated as a barbarian prior to the Spring 385YE summit for fighting for the Jotun, so in law General Amberlain is considered not guilty. || A clemency plea was made by Edmund of Barrowby
|-
| Assault || The accused was hired by three unknown Dawnish men to cleave the leg of a citizen whom they had a grudge against. The accused cleaved him in both the torso and chest, and told him not to come back through the labyrinth before leaving him. || Aaron Thornweaver pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined one throne || A clemency plea was made by Neala Blackhawk on grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Treason || The accused contacted the Whisper Gallery in a ritual and consulted with the eternal. Beinon states he did not know what was happening, however a number of witnesses corroborated that he was present during the ritual and knew exactly what was happening. || (1) Mila Jellick and (2) Beinon Tanglehorn. <br>Mila pleaded guilty <br>Beinon pleaded not guilty. || Both were found guilty. <br>Mila Jellick was fined six thrones.<br>Beinon was sentenced to death by execution. || A clemency plea was made for Mila Jellick on grounds of Courage
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 385YE
|-
| (1) Assault (twice) <br>(2) Subverting the agencies of the state, resisting arrest and contempt of court <br>(3) Subverting the agencies of the state, resisting arrest and contempt of court || During Marcher rough music at the Military Council Sam Wych was witnessed striking Constable Maximus of the Crystal Skies and Magistrate Avedon De Remourics with an implement, casting the paralyse spell. Allis Thorne and Sally Baker entered the Military Council and claimed right of witness. Allis is not a Synod member and has no right of witness. Sally and Allis were both excessively noisy, in breach of the legal requirements of witness. They were ordered to leave by the Herald of the Council. They refused to leave and told Magistrate Kuura Tuomisbarn to arrest them. Once they were arrested they were taken to the Militia tent where the rough music continued. They absconded in the confusion and evaded the pursuing militia long enough to claim sanctuary in the Marcher camp. Militia efforts to recover them after this time were rebuffed by the Marchers. Sam presented themself very late that night and the others the next day. || (1) Sam Wych pleaded guilty <br>(2) Allis Thorne pleaded guilty <br>(3) Sally Baker pleaded guilty to the first two charges and not guilty to contempt of court|| (1) Guilty. <br>Sentenced to a year long curse of the Dreamscape of the Endless Hunt (2) Guilty of the first two charges and not guilty of contempt of court <br>Sentenced to a year long curse of the Freezing Brand of Irremais (3) Guilty of the first two charges and not guilty of contempt of court. <br>Sentenced to a year long curse of the Freezing Brand of Irremais <br>They were all also fined 65 thrones for which they were jointly liable. || A clemency plea was made by Friar Rosemary Stamp on behalf of Sam Wych.<br> A clemency plea was made by Duncan Ashhill on behalf of Aliss Thorn.<br> A clemency plea was made by Jebediah Boon on behalf of Sally Baker<br>They were also required to pay the mana cost of their curses.
|-
| Supplying Bite and Treason (dealing with the Druj) || Following a lengthy undercover operation Lukash was arrested for dealing bite. When he was arrested a large amount of extremely incriminating correspondence between Lukash and the Vyig was found on his person. Lukash admitted being the leader of a group dealing bite. During the operation he had been witnessed leading this group and arranging for the purchase of bite. The correspondence showed that he was in League with both the Vyig and the Druj, and that the Vyig were using Drusila's Obelus as part of this arrangement. Lukash claimed that he was in fact working undercover for the militia all along. He claimed his handler was Victor, a former Head of Intelligence. However, Victor died many years ago and when challenged, Lukash admitted that he had not attempted to make contact with the militia during the intervening years. || Lukash Biessek von Temeschwar pleaded guilty to both charges. || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made by Father Drakov on the grounds of Courage.
|-
| Possession of Bite || Nico was witnessed in possession of one dose of bite, given to him by Lukash. || Nico von Temeschwar of the Crimson Reapers pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined one throne ||
|-
| Dealing of Bite || A Cambion was selling bite in the Golden Goat in the League. The militia therefore followed up on this undercover. They purchased bite from the Cambion Aloysius di Sarvos of the league. The suspect revealed their supplier and returned with them for trial. || Aloysius di Sarvos and Julie, (last name not recorded, believed to be the sister of Patches). || Guilty<br>Each were fined two thrones. || A clemency plea was made on behalf of both on the grounds of Vigilance.
|-
| Contempt of Court || The Archmage refused to hand over a Crown of Agramant when ordered to do so. The crown is under interdiction due to the enmity of its maker. The basis of the clemency plea was that the crown was given during a parley with Wise Rangara and previously Rangara had blighted the Marches for spurning a gift, so voluntarily handing it over would risk similar consequences. The crown was removed from the Archmage and destroyed. || Ematius of the Library of Ankarien, Archmage of Winter, pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined one throne || A clemency plea was made by Martin Orchard on the grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Idolatry || The accused, a vate, went on a conjunction to provide advice regarding heralds. There was a herald of Tharim who was holding a number of Marchers. Their release was secured but the life of the herald was in jeopardy and the accused interceded in order to allow the herald to leave. In doing so the accused offered their soul to the herald. This was refused by the herald, but they said they would accept their service instead. || Morwenna Withered Rose pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Sentenced to a year long curse of the Freezing Brand of Irremais || The condemning priest was Silas of the Cenotaph. A clemency plea was made by Brynn Tendfallen on the grounds of Loyalty.
|-
|}

==Reports from 384YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 384YE
|-
| Theft || The accused were contracted by the Di Tutamen family to go to Syrene’s Wisdom and collect magical water from there without leaving any witnesses. They collected a number of vials of water and while they were there rescued some miners who had been injured and trapped. They then reported what they had done to the militia. || Zoraida I Caballo and Corwyn I Cabello pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined three thrones || The fine was paid in compensation to the representative of the holder of Syrene’s Wisdom.
|-
| Murder || The accused executed a downed imperial citizen on the battlefield who was in the process of being arrested by the militia. This unknown citizen had been caught fighting alongside the Druj. There was no immediate threat posed by the victim and the Druj had already been pushed back from the immediate area. Furthermore the accused knew that the victim was an imperial citizen and acted anyway. || Finnan of Meliora in Dawn plead guilty || Guilty.<br> Fined 27 thrones which was paid into the Dawnish war chest via the egregore. || A clemency plea was made by Lady Caudine duLac on grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Sorcery and treason || The accused was caught working alongside the Druj in the Barrens. He said that he made a deal with the Druj to avoid death . In return he provided information of hidden Imperial holdouts in the Barrens and used his Winter magic against the Empire. The accused was declared a sorcerer by the Conclave in Winter 380YE. || Renée de Loire plead guilty. || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made by Anabelle Beaugarden of House Castellan on grounds of Prosperity
|-
| Perverting the course of justice || The accused was witnessed interacting with the Whisper Gallery although it is unknown what was discussed. The accused’s memories relating to the Whisper Gallery were magically hidden or removed by either a Tulpa or ritual. The magistrate drew an adverse inference from the conduct of the accused - namely that they deliberately hid these memories to try to avoid justice. || Alfiar of Carta Noturno plead guilty || Guilty<br> Death by execution || A clemency plea was made by Genoveva Barossa di Tassato
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered a slave trader called Boriggard De Percy at a wedding outside of Anvil. The accused had arrested Boriggard after he admitted to trading slaves to the Druj. However, their position was overrun by Druj before he could be taken to the nearest magistrate. The accused was faced with the snap second decision to either let them go or execute them and chose the latter. || Gabriel Barossa plead guilty || Guilty.<br>Branded for a year with Freezing Brand of Irremais. || A clemency plea was made by Genoveva Barossa di Tassato
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 384YE
|-
| Idolatry || The condemned, an Asavean refugee, was accused of worshipping gods and refusing to convert to the way. The Court found that they had been private in their worship – just like the vast majority of foreigners present in the Empire. As no harm to the Empire was established, the punishment followed suit. || Legate Glaucia Heminia plead guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined one ring. || A clemency plea was made by Skywise Rykana on grounds of Wisdom<br>The [[384YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_31|condemnation]] was upheld during the Autumn Equinox 384YE
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Voidan Silou of Dawn with a weapon, striking him with a powerful blow. This was because the victim told his sister that House Orzell are dickheads. The fine was increased due both to his position and the fact he did it with forethought and knowledge of illegality. || Valentin Orzell pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined one throne. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Gaspar de Tassato Regario for insulting him, despite being warned not to do so. The fine was increased due both to his position and the fact he did it with forethought and knowledge of illegality. || Veikko Bondforger pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>Fined one throne. || A clemency plea was made by Aethelric the Grounded of Sigehold Hall
|-
| Treason || The accused cursed a Faraden citizen, Altin Valtar, after being accused of cheating at cards (See 384 Spring Court Reports). The curse prevented the victim from communicating. Expert witness Ulric Vernof of Winter Spire gave evidence that the curse was consistent with the methodology of the Whisper Gallery and that it is not castable by one person. The accused claimed she won the curse in a card game from a Herald of Lashonar but could not describe the Herald, how the curse was transferred or how she cast it given she claimed to have no magical power. The Court inferred that the accused was attempting to conceal a treasonous interaction with the Whisper Gallery. || Mockingbird the mountebank of Sarvos pleaded not guilty. || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Slavery and assault || The accused, a Faraden citizen transported Mockingbird of Sarvos to Anvil for trial on suspicion of treason. Mockingbird was kept in multiple heavy chains for days and had been extensively beaten while bound. These facts were not disputed. The Court found that their treatment of the prisoner was disproportionate and far exceeded what was reasonable for lawful custody to such a sustained extent that it was deemed slavery. || Altin Valtar pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined twenty thrones ||
|-
| Attempted Murder || The accused attempted to murder Veikko Bondforger both on Saturday night and Sunday morning. He claimed to have done this because he believed the victim to be Ratibor reborn and therefore must be killed. He said that if he were released he would continue his attempts to kill the victim. || Alexander Bentakuv pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Death by execution||
|-
| Murder || Descartese of Urizen was mortally wounded, on the battlefield. His deeply held Ambition was that he should die cleanly by the sword, not a lingering death in his bed. He called for his friend, Aurum, and after gathering further friends and colleagues of Urizen (including Philostrate, his Egregore) to witness that this was done well and without deceit, Aurum solemnly carried out the task. It was clear from the investigation that none had understood the legal implications of such an act – that a citizen cannot consent to their own death and that the law does not concern itself with how many moments that citizen had left to live. || Aurum of the Nightingale Temple of Urizen plead guilty. || Guilty.<br>Fined two thrones || A clemency plea was made by Lenarius Ankarien on grounds of Loyalty<br>One throne of the fine was given to the egregore to spend on something to remember the Ambition of Aurum to the people of Urizen.
|-
| Murder || The two accused, along with Brother Geoffrey Orchard of Pickham Monastery all received identical letters from Jodeya Watiker di Tassato Mestra inviting them to a secret meeting at a bar in Kahraman to discuss “mutual interests”. All three used a conjunction during this summit to take up the offer. They met with Jodeya, who revealed she was working for Blood on the Snow and that she wished to become his Herald. She gave the visitors three choices: To kill Jodeya there and then, to kill her (unnamed) companion, or to leave, in which case more letters would be sent until someone was found who would do it. It didn't seem to matter to Jodeya which murder was committed. Either would make the eternal “happy”. There appeared to be no discussion about any “mutual interests”, Brother Geoffrey withdrew and returned to Anvil, apparently to buy time for the others to learn more. At a moment when the bar was empty both the accused murdered Jodeya and escaped before the barkeep returned. Both handed themselves in to the militia. The court was content that Vigilance had guided them to commit the murder, but was not convinced that it was the correct choice. || Agnes Tapinson of the Woven Saplings of Navarr and Decimus Starchaser of Starchaser Spire of Urizen both pleaded guilty || Guilty, <br>fined 5 thrones each. || A clemency plea was made by Brother Martin Orchard on behalf of Agnes Tapinson on grounds of Vigilance. A clemency plea was made by Lochias of Oblivions Edge on behalf of Decimus Starchaser on grounds of Vigilance.<br>The court further warned them that if they accept any form of boon from Blood on the Snow as reward for their deed then they would face a charge of treason.
|-
| Attempted Murder || On Saturday night of the summit Mathilda Fisher, came to Anvil under a flag of peace to make her demands regarding Bregasland. She met with representatives of the Empire at the Senate building and a large crowd of Marchers gathered to protest. The accused conspired with Tomothy Crowle to break through the security cordon around the meeting and try to kill her. Thanks to the vigilance of the Senate Guard and Militia the attack failed and both were arrested. Tomothy was healed from his wounds and then released to the Marcher mob but later died, having “popped his stitches”. || Jacob Fenner formerly of Bregasland and a citizen of the Marches pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>Fined five thrones to be paid via the magistrates to the Marcher warchest and a voluntary Freezing Brand of Irremais. || A clemency plea was made by Sister Meredith of the Boundaryfolk on grounds of Loyalty
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 384YE
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the State || The accused seconded two senate motions in Winter 383YE by mistake. || Rhisiart Dancewalker pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined five thrones.||
|-
| Blasphemy || The accused was condemned for being dedicated to Hatred on two occasions and for the promotion of the false virtue of hatred. They were previously a member of Santana’s ‘purity’ cult and claimed they were acting alone undercover. || Zaccai of Urizen plead guilty. || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made by Raphael i Zamora i Riqueza did not find virtue in his acts.
|-
| Assault || The accused was acting as Field Marshal on the battlefield. They instructed Clive Feathers Rest to engage the enemy but he collected more arrows instead. An ill-tempered disagreement ensured and the accused struck and wounded the victim. || Sidlore de Gauvin AKA “Captain Charge” pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>Fined six crowns || A clemency plea was made by Estienne de Gauvin on grounds of Loyalty<br>Four crowns from the fine were directed to be contributed to Dawn’s warchest
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 384YE
|-
| Assault || The accused was taunted by Zachary of Enlightenment Spire. He retorted by cleaving Zachary in the torso. || Ezekiel of Adina’s Charge pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined six crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Josephineos of Adina’s Charge on grounds of Loyalty.
|-
| Impersonating a militia officer, attempted assault || The accused used an invalid militia sash to impersonate a militia officer and infiltrate the security cordon around visiting Grendel envoys. In Winter 383 he had been convicted for impersonating a militia officer, assault and theft when he led an attack on the Grendel. It was the view of the Court that his intent was to attack and rob the Grendel. He was identified as being the culprit in multiple other reports of militia impersonation. He claimed that he was forced to commit his crimes by others but he then refused to name them or otherwise cooperate. || Ban Shattersong of Navarr pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death. || A clemency plea was made by Silk Splitterspear on grounds of testing the Vigilance of the militia.<br>The severe punishment was due to the convict’s multiple repeat offences, his contempt for the judicial process and his lies when questioned.
|-
| Contempt of Court || In Winter 383 at Anvil the accused gave an order to invest his army ‘The Bounders’ at Whittle and, among other things, prevent non-marcher magistrates and militia from enacting the trials ordered by the Synod for heresy and blasphemy. In doing so he impeded the proper operation of the legal process. The magistrate was forced to conscript many of the Bounders as there were insufficient militia available fitting Black Jack’s criteria. || General Ciaphas "Black Jack" Decker pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br> Fined eighteen thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Sam of The Mourn on grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Assault and attempted mayhem (and encouraging thereof) || The first accused assaulted a mountebank known as ‘Mockingbird’ and attempted to cut out their tongue. Concerned citizens nearby prevented this. The victim left Anvil before they could be questioned. The first accused claimed that the victim cheated them in a card game in a Navarr wayhouse two weeks before the winter summit 383. When the accused called out the cheat the wayhouse returned their money but the victim then cursed Altam so that they were unable to communicate. The curse was eventually removed and Altam was advised by Chikoran at the Faraden embassy that they should seek vengeance against Mockingbird by cutting out their tongue. || Seeker Altam Baatan and their Priest Chikoran, both of Faraden, pleaded guilty with no clemency. || Guilty.<br> Fined five thrones. ||
|-
| Theft || The accused stole a bowl of change from the Printers Guild. When caught they confessed to their crime but were unable to return the stolen funds (estimated by them to be about two crowns) as they had already been spent. || Donotevaly de Temeschwar and Journabo de Temeschwar pleaded guilty with no clemency. || Guilty.<br>Fined two thrones || One throne of the fine was returned as compensation to the victims.
|-
| Treason (Dealing with an eternal under enmity||The accused was investigated after warning the Conclave that he had sacrificed his family for winter power. This was a legally and factually complex case involving identity evidence, night magic that can transfer memories, a tent of skin and bone made from the accused’s family members, Sydanjaa and the eternal Blood on the Snow. Ultimately, the court determined that the accused had most likely effected a deal with Blood on the Snow many years ago. The court accepts that they did not realise who they were dealing with and that the exact circumstances were ambiguous and so chose to be lenient. ||Talvekani of the Circle of Zulgan-Tash pleaded not guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined twenty five thrones || A deduction of two thrones was made for expenses incurred.
|-
|}
==Reports from 383YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 383YE
|-
| Attempted Murder, Assault || The accused assaulted the victim with intent to kill in Therunin prior to the winter summit. The victim is believed to have been a member of the Heirs of Terunael and dedicated to the false virtue of vengeance. The accused was stopped in their attack by others and the victim was healed. The victim was killed in a later unrelated incident and a number of their possessions were found to be hallowed to vengeance. The accused handed themselves in. || Georg of Broken Bough pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>No punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Rhishart Dancewalker on grounds of Loyalty
|-
| Assault || The accused, while possessed by the spirit of his ancestor, launched an unprovoked assault against the victim inside the orc camp. Prior to the attack he yelled “You look like a fish I want to eat you”. The victim was of naga lineage. || Grud the unchained pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns ||
|-
| Treason || The accused, during a skirmish against the Jotun, was asking the fallen Jotun if they thought they had done enough to cross the Abyss. One replied they had not and the accused healed him on his promise that he would not take up arms against the empire again. The others he left. A complaint was raised by General Crolle (who led the skirmish) and who ordered him not to heal the enemy. The main basis of the clemency plea was that it is virtuous to help others to achieve virtue. || Sagramore de Gauvin pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>No punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Skywise Tulva, Cardinal of the Way, on the grounds of Courage<br>Sagramore de Gauvain did say that he had agreed with Skywise Tulva to raise this issue with the Synod and attempt to develop an Imperial policy.
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered the victim, Obadiah, at Upwold before the winter summit. They were searching for missing children, directly implicating Obadiah in the deaths of said children. The remains of children were found, including a bow crafted of human bones and winter magic. Details of the possible rituals used by Obadiah will be passed to the Conclave. || Wyatt Longbrook and Bree Talbot pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>No punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Brother Martin Orchard on grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Theft, assault, impersonating a militia officer || The accused were identified among about a dozen Navarr who attacked and robbed the imperial Fleetmaster Esteban I Del Rio Blanco I Guerra who was accompanying a Grendel delegation in Anvil under a flag of peace in order to trade. They also admitted to impersonating a militia officer as part of their line of work in order to gain trust. The amount stolen was of about a dozen thrones in value. Magistrate Cooper will be asking Skywise Fal, the Imperial Consul and Esteban I Guerra if they wish to file civil cases as both citizens recompensed the Grendel for the items stolen. || Three members of the Blackscar of Navarr, including Baniel Whisperoot, pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br> Fined ten crowns||
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Grud the unchained in the Orc fighting pit following a verbal confrontation following the loss of his compatriot. Grud did not want to press charges. || Irontide Skagg || It was determined that there is no case to answer. ||
|-
| Attempted murder and assault || The victim, Santana, was approached by four Navarr including the two accused. Ravada proclaimed Santana was a heretic. Santana was insighted and found to be dedicated to the false virtue of purity. The accused assaulted Santana and also Finna of the Brass Coast when she tried to defend her. Events then moved to the Hub where Adeaphon attempted to murder Santana. || Ravadi Lonestrider and Adeaphon of Stormbroke Striding of Navarr plead guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined five thrones || A clemency plea was made by Hwyl Summercrow on grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Sale of Bite || The accused sold ten bite to Cynestan of Wintermark when they met in the Boars Head in Navarr. || Tamme von Holberg pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined ten thrones. ||
|-
| Possession of Bite || The accused bought ten doses of bite from Tamme von Holburg. The accused was clearly a severe bite addict and it was accepted that this was for personal use. || Cynestan of Wintermark pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br> Fined four crowns. ||
|-
| Heresy, Abuse of Powers and Blasphemy || The accused was condemned by the Brass Coast National assembly for the religious crimes of heresy, excommunication without a writ, anointing citizens to Hatred, and spreading the false virtues of Purity and Hate. || Santana of the Kohan pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br> Death by execution. ||
|-
| Assault || A Navarri citizen assaulted a marcher after being antagonised at Kings Stoke before the summit. || The Navarri pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined two crowns ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 383YE
|-
| Murder || The accused was identified as the murderer of Celuria Silvertongue by use of Whispers through the black gate on the victim. The accused then confessed to murdering Celuria because of her testimony against the Hallowed Order (of which they were both members). The accused believed that the victim’s actions had resulted in the executions of three members of the order. When the accused met with Celuria to parley about this she claimed to have killed her because she believed that Celuria intended her harm. || Coira i Kemem i Guerra pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Multiple assaults || The accused were arrested after attacking Veikko, Cardinal of Loyalty, and Jerrasto and Raphael of the Gilded Horn Carta. One of these assaults was witnessed in the Hub by the Militia and the attackers were arrested. The accused committed suicide by use of pre-prepared ritual magic before investigations were concluded. However, questioning continued after death by use of magic and their responses indicated that they were followers of vengeance. Symbols of vengeance were also worn on their person). || Two Faraden who refused to supply their names. || The accused committed suicide. ||
|-
| Possession and supply of Bite. || The accused was arrested by the militia in the sewers beneath Cargo in possession of a large quantity of Bite. He confessed to having sold bite on behalf of his mistress. He claimed this was only under duress: threats had been made against his family. He did accept that he profited by doing so. || Ilzio of Temeschwar pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined five thrones and branded with a “B” || A clemency plea was made by Tiana i Zidan i Riqueza on the grounds of Loyalty
|-
| Contempt of Court || The accused both engaged in a conspiracy to deceive: namely they falsely claimed that the Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy had authorised Lord Colwyn de Rondel to act as his proxy. Both accused confessed their crime to the magistrate at an early stage. || Lord Colwyn de Rondell and Ilya Nikovich Volkov both pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined six thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Skywise Gralka on behalf of Lord Colwynn de Rondell. A clemency plea was made by Meris of the Vale of Lost Souls on behalf of Ilya Nikovich Volkov
|-
| Murder || The accused was discovered holding a knife and standing over the body of the victim, Spiteful Dross. He fled the scene upon seeing the militia coming to investigate. At trial he claimed that he ran because he was angry at the death of his friend. || Mr Williams pleaded not guilty. || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Attempting to subvert the agencies of the state || The accused admitted seconding two motions at the same summit. The speaker for the senate required another second to be found before the motion could be put to the senate. || Baal, Senator for Bastion, pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined five thrones. ||
|-
| Treason || The accused used the ritual “Tribute to the thrice cursed court” to “destroy” a coven stone that he had obtained illegally and that he believed presented a threat to the Empire. He claimed that he was ignorant that enmity had recently been declared against Skathe, thus rendering the use of this ritual treason. The expert evidence from Brother Martin was that the use of this ritual would not guarantee the object’s destruction. Note that the accused could also or alternatively have been charged with contravening a declaration of interdiction. || Warrakine Ashenhide Arch of the Copperhill Monastery pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made by Albert Fuggestone Copperhill on grounds of Prosperity
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 383YE
|-
| Criminal damage and assault (aiding and abetting) || The accused raised a judgement (Spring 383/14) to incite citizens to desecrate the works of Almodin Oktistis. The resultant mobs caused substantial damage to these works. In Tassato the mob broke into the Imperial Mint and engaged with the Mint Guard, causing a number of non-fatal injuries and extensive damage to Lorenzo’s Legacy of Ambition. || Rafael Barossa di Tassato pleaded guilty to both charges. || Guilty of criminal damage<br>No punishment.<br>Guilty of assault. <br>Fined one throne.|| A clemency plea was made by Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato, the Cardinal of Pride.<br>No direction was made with regards to any potential civil claims arising from this crime, potential claimants should speak to Magistrate Cooper.
|-
| Mayhem || The accused carried out a skein reading upon Leofric Baerson who then broke their oath not to reveal the results. The accused demanded that Leofric be cut as punishment, and this took the form of destroying Leofric’s left eye, without consent. It was not possible for physicians to save the eye and it is believed that magical methods are now required. || Keston of Wintermark pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>The accused is required, at his own expense, to arrange for Leofric’s eye to be healed by the end of the Autumn Summit or face further punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Leofric Baerson on grounds of Wisdom
|-
| Heresy and Abuse of powers || The accused preached heresy against the Imperial Orcs for two hours outside their camp. Evidence was presented that she did so under an aura of hatred, which appeared to have spontaneously manifested. The accused raised the judgement of condemnation against themselves and argued at trial that they should be executed while excommunicated.<br>The abuse of powers related to the accused raising a judgement of inquisition against herself. It was noted by the Court that while priests have done this previously, it is the first occasion that the Synod have chosen to act against the practice since the death of Empress Britta. || Medea Ruth pleaded guilty to both charges. || Guilty of abuse of powers. <br>Fined 25 thrones.<br> Guilty of heresy<br>Death by execution. || The condemning priest for heresy was the accused.<br> The condemning priest for abuse of powers was Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun.<br> A clemency plea was made by Ed Watcher.<br> The court requested the removal of the accused’s excommunication prior to execution and this was carried out.
|-
| Murder || The accused was engaged in a power struggle with the victim, Tuirkane Cordraco, over the future direction of their noble house. The accused defeated the victim in the glory square but this did not resolve their disagreement. The accused demanded a rematch or he would ‘impose discipline’. The accused then slew the victim, breaking his back with his mace. At trial the accused claimed he was within his rights to execute a member of his own household. He requested penal military service, which was refused on the grounds that being allowed to die in battle is earned and not a right. || Earl Arthur Cordraco pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution || At his execution the accused compounded his misdeeds by claiming that he was going to the fields of glory, not the labyrinth, as virtues had never been of any use to him.
|-
| Criminal damage || The accused entered into an agreement with the eternal Scathe to undertake a number of tasks. As a result of their final task, all of the mirrors in Sarvos and a garden in Holberg were destroyed. Value of the items destroyed was assessed by the civil service at 30,000 thrones after consultation with the League egregore. Clemency was accepted on the basis of loyalty to the souls of many of their people, whom Scathe was preventing from returning to the Labyrinth. It was confirmed that thousands of Imperial souls were returned to the labyrinth as a result of their actions. || Jaylus, Kerioth and Ephrael, all of Zephaniah's Lament pleaded guilty, Leon died prior to being brought to trial || Guilty. <br>Fined 300 thrones|| A clemency plea was made by Rane Sherarding<br>The fine reflected the substantial damage done to the national hearth magic of the League.
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 383YE
|-
| Murder || The accused, who was new to Anvil, executed a fellow member of his striding, Caffron Streamwalker, during a skirmish in Winter 382YE. The victim was injured and screaming that everyone was going to die. The accused claimed the victim was harming morale and carried out a so-called “mercy killing”. Note: This case was reviewed and the sentence judged to be inadequate as this was plain murder- “mercy” did not enter into it. Any future cases of this nature will not be dealt with so lightly. || Lizarath Streamwalker pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined one throne.|| A clemency plea was made by Jokell Streamwalker
|-
| Aiding and abetting the murder of Bessie the Bard and attempting to pervert the course of justice || This case relates to the murder of Bessie the Bard (see report for Winter 382 for further detail) by the Hallowed Order, a group dedicated to the assassination of those they deemed to be heretics. While the actual murder was carried out by Rune (who died before he could be brought to trial) he had a number of accomplices in the Hallowed Order, The accused was with Rune in the immediate aftermath of the murder and furthermore his initial account of events changed significantly by the time of trial. Given he was also a member of the same murderous conspiracy it was judged that he had either encouraged, or helped in the perpetration of this murder. || Orren of House De Rondell pleaded not guilty to both charges. || Not guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice.<br>Guilty of murder.<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Mass murder of Suranni Templars near the Feroz border || The accused used the sentinel gate to travel to the Feroz and Iron Confederacy border to assist Jean Valois and his group to escape from the Iron Confederacy (they having converted to The Way). A group of ten templars sent after Valois also found them, and after a brief stand off, the citizens engaged the templars in combat. According to the accounts of the Iron Confederacy officials nine of the templars were killed. At trial two templar survivors were presented by High Templar De Rolo, who could not explain the discrepancy and suggested his masters were incompetent. Both Rolo and the second survivor’s testimony was judged to be untruthful. Brother Jaylus (a healer) did not take part in the engagement. || Mordecai, Animayus, Tobias, Iscah, Gideon, and Nathaniel of Highguard, and Alan Fletcher of Dawn all pleaded guilty. Brother Jaylus of Highguard pleaded not guilty. || Brother Jaylis was found not guilty.<br>Mordecai, Animayus, Tobias, Iscah, Gideon, and Nathaniel of Highguard, and Alan Fletcher of Dawn were found guilty. Fined ninety thrones and branded with a cross upon their cheek. || A clemency plea was made on behalf of Mordecai on grounds of Loyalty. <br>Clemency pleas were made on behalf of the rest on the grounds of Courage
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the State || The accused was the proxy senator for Kallavesa at the Autumn 382 summit. He seconded two motions in contravention of senate procedure. He claimed that this was due to a mistake, and a misunderstanding of the law, The Court recognised that he fully cooperated with the investigation and was inclined to leniency on this occasion. || Tanesh of Dunneth Hall pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>A fine of six mana crystals and two thrones. || The fine of six mana crystals was sent in advance of the trial
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Medea Ruth while she was ranting hatred against orcs outside the Imperial Orc camp. || Ida Isjant pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined two crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Medea Ruth on grounds of Courage
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the State || The accused discharged an Imperial Wayleave while holding the imperial title “Collector of Prosperity’s Boon”. He claimed that he did not realise that a Wayleave was an Imperial title. The court accepted this was an honest mistake and chose to be very lenient. || Tyr Brennan pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>No punishment levied. ||
|}
==Reports from 382YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 382YE
|-
| Heresy || The accused (while Conscience of the Senate) sent letters to many in the Empire in which they contravened the Doctrine of Human Destiny by claiming that [Orc] thralls reincarnate amongst other things. They went beyond asking questions to teaching false doctrine. No evidence was presented of others being swayed by or spreading these heretical beliefs. || Mel of the Mourn pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>The penance of a Freezing Brand of Irremais was taken into account and they were furthermore fined twenty five thrones. || The condemning priest was Hazel of the Shattered Tower. <br>A clemency plea was made by Martin Orchard on grounds of Vigilance.
|-
| Idolatry || The accused was invited by the Senate to take up a post designing buildings. He proceeded to do so in the Asavean style although it quickly became apparent that these involved grandiose statues to the Asavean gods. Nevertheless for a number of years the accused continued to be employed by the Senate and commissioned by various Senators to continue. Furthermore none of these commissions were vetoed by the Synod. In his defence the accused argued that if the Empire didn't like his buildings why did they keep employing him? Furthermore why did the Synod wait so long before taking action, if the buildings were idolatrous? He claimed that the Empire were crooks who were planning on confiscating his earnings and prosperity and that this was unjust. The Court was concerned that the accused, while clearly guilty, was also a priest of a foreign religion building these imperial commissions the only way he knew how. It appeared that he was being made a scapegoat while the Senate and those who had commissioned his services (all followers of The Way) had faced no condemnation for their actions. || Almodin Oktístis, Priest of the Builder and the Asavean Architect, pleaded not guilty. || Guilty. <br>No punishment was applied as the Court was of the opinion that this would not be just and therefore not in the Imperial interest. || The condemning priest was Veikko Bondforger.<br>Almodin Oktístis was advised to leave the Empire forthwith.
|-
| Murder of Bessie the Bard and Contempt of Court || The accused were members of the Hallowed Order, a group led by Rune who undertook vigilante justice against heretics, including among their number a group of hawks specifically tasked with assassinations. A witness had also given a statement that she had been approached by Yon (after the murder) and asked to take part in these activities. The accused gave evidence that Rune was out of control and taking things too far before his death. They admitted attempting to interfere with a Whispers Through the Black Gate to obtain testimony from Bessie the Bard. The fact that they were present at the time of the murder, that the witness evidence suggested that Rune had fled the scene in the immediate aftermath of the murder, that they had by their own admission interfered with the investigation into Bessie the Bard's death and that Yon had continued to recruit for the Hallowed Order, an organisation whose purpose was the murder of Imperial citizens all led the court to the conclusion that it was more likely than not that the accused participated in or assisted in the murder of Bessie the Bard. || Yon of the Moon's Owl of Wyvern's Watch and Gren Wyvernson of Wyvern's Watch plead not guilty to murder and not guilty to contempt of court. || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. || Yon requested that the sentence be commuted to penal military service but this had already been considered and rejected, in consideration of the circumstances.
|-
| Murder || On the Saturday night of the Winter Solstice in Anvil a Druj peace delegation came to parley with the leaders of Urizen. As part of that process two of the barbarians forced the third to take a potion against his will. This potion, by some unknown Druj magics, allowed a Druj leader, not present in Anvil, to use the body of the third orc as a vessel for his communications. At the end of the parley the leader left the body of this orc and he fell to the ground, dead. Attempts were made to bring the two remaining Druj to the Magistrates for investigation. One fled, a second was caught. The victim was protected under Imperial Law as a member of a peace delegation and the other Druj were obliged to abide by Imperial Law as members of the same delegation. The orc admitted his involvement but saw nothing wrong with his acts. The victim meant nothing to him and the court was convinced that it was the forcible taking of the potion that resulted in the death. || A Druj orc of unknown name refused to plead and so a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. || Guilty. <br>Sentenced to death by execution. || After sentence was given the orc made a fight of it and was killed by the vigilant citizens of Anvil before a formal execution could be carried out.
|-
| Treason by treating with the Whisper Gallery (First Trial) || Between the Autumn and Winter summits a hospital in Morrow was attacked by Druj orcs. The head of that hospital had made a deal with the Whisper Gallery for them to provide a magic shroud to protect the hospital from the Druj, in return for which secrets were being given to the Whisper Gallery and rare books were being burnt. Those who gave up their secrets then found that they had forgotten them. Eight Imperial Citizens came to the magistrates at Anvil at the Winter Solstice to confess their crimes. Six were tried collectively and a seventh tried separately afterwards, one did not face trial. All of the accused accepted their culpability in that they carried out the ritual required to satisfy the Whisper Gallery, taking part in the giving of secrets and burning of books. The Court was convinced that the accused were not treating with the enemy with treasonous motives, and that their loyalty had saved the lives of several hundred wounded Imperial citizens. However the Court was not convinced that the act was Virtuous enough to totally mitigate their actions. || Aquilllian Effugere, Redhand Gezzar, Ptolemy Ravensfell, Aethelric of Sigehold, Tamar of Enlightenment Spire, Raelyn Holdfast and Sadiq all pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined of fifty thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Sabilla of Highguard on behalf of Redhand Gezzar on grounds of Loyalty. A clemency plea was made by Pan Edgestalker on behalf of Sadiq on grounds of Loyalty. A clemency plea was made by Veikko Bondsforger, Cardinal of Loyalty, on behalf of Aquilllian Effugere, Ptolemy Ravensfell, Aethelric of Sigehold, Tamar of Enlightenment Spire, Raelyn Holdfast on grounds of Loyalty<br>This fine was allocated to Virtuous endeavours of the citizenry. The defendants were encouraged to make suggestions, and decision of Magistrate Reinholz as to how it was allocated was announced at the Spring Equinox
|-
| Treason by treating with the Whisper Gallery (Second Trial) || The facts of the case were identical to the previous case, except that the accused had both led the ritual, and also voted against carrying it out (unlike the other defendants). She did so on the grounds that it was an unvirtuous act. The accused initially plead guilty without clemency but following legal advice from the magistrate the trial was delayed to allow the accused to consult Conclave and priests of the Synod. An accused who pleads guilty has the right to choose whether to request clemency or not. However at trial the question of the Virtue of their acts is determined by the Clemency priest and the Magistrate, not the opinion of the accused. || The accused pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>No additional punishment. The fifty Throne fine from the first trial was considered sufficient for the entire act. || A clemency plea was made by Maarit Suvidottir of Sigehold
|-
| Treason by treating with the Whisper Gallery (this is unrelated to the previous two trials) || The accused did a deal with The Whisper Gallery. This deal was in the form of a letter that the accused had kept for some time. The accused replied to this letter and made a deal with the Whisper Gallery. The accused said that they only did so after coming under the influence of a magical effect. It should be noted that committing crimes while under the influence of magical affects is not a legal defence. In law we are held responsible for our own actions. || Benedict Pacelli Von Holberg pleaded guilty || Guilty. Sentenced to Death by Penal Military Service. ||
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the state || The accused wrote directly onto a Synod Judgement posted in the hub. This judgement belonged to another member of the Synod. Their unauthorised addition to the judgement was intended to change Synod voting behaviour. || Viviane de Couerdefer, Cardinal of Ambition plead guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined seven thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Irada Von Temeschwar, Cardinal of Vigilance.
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the state (both accused) and assault (Ancel Weaver only) || An aide to the Throne held an Imperial Favour which contained the power to dissolve Conclave. Syn Nighthaven grabbed the Imperial Favour from their hands and ran out of Conclave, allegedly ripping up the document as she did so. She claimed to have burnt the remains, but this is unverified. Ancel magically repelled one citizen who had blocked Syn's way so she could not get past. At trial, when pressed, Syn stated that she would have struggled to get past this final person otherwise. || Syn Nighthaven and Ancel Weaver pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined thirty thrones for subverting the agencies of the state. <br>Guilty of Assault<br>Fined three crowns|| A clemency plea was made by Jared of the Suns of Couros on behalf of Syn Nighthaven. A clemency plea was made by Irada Von Temeschwar, Cardinal of Vigilance, on behalf of Ancel Weaver
|-
| Poisoning || At the Autumn equinox the accused slipped Bite into the drink of Thorn, a friend, with no warning. || Aron of the Levy pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined three crowns. || Aron of the Levy had already been convicted and punished for possession of bite. They voluntarily presented themselves to the militia and cooperated fully.
|-
| Murder || The details of this case are unclear although it appeared to involve a killing on the battlefield among the Navarr this case will now be reviewed and reported upon when the facts are known. || || ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 382YE
|-
| Murder and slavery || The accused is a mine owner in Varushka who has been working slaves in the mine and regularly sacrificing them to Bas Celik in exchange for protection. He was identified by Irontide Flax as being the person pointed out by one of his victims while dying. Furthermore during a ritual to summon his grandmother’s shade she revealed both the murderous arrangement with Bas Celik and that the accused had been keeping slaves. || Anfesa of Varushka originally pleaded not guilty but changed his plea following his grandmother’s testimony and pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>Death by execution||
|-
| Murder and three counts of perverting the course of justice || The shade of Harry the Book, a murder victim, was summoned and questioned. He accused Tess of stabbing him to death. Other evidence that was eventually gathered suggested that Tess murdered Harry on behalf of Irra Harah, who had ordered his death, along with three other imperial citizens. || Tess, former Head of Constabulary in the Anvil Militia. No plea was entered as the accused was tried in absentia. || Guilty<br>Execution in absentia || Tess fled the to the Spring realm prior to her trial.
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted the victim, Owain Farkas, by striking him with her wand at Conclave and repelling him from the floor. || Empress Lisabetta von Holberg pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined four crowns. || A clemency plea was made on grounds of Prosperity.
|-
| Possession of Bite || The accused bought bite from Maximus, an associate, and then slipped it into the drink of Thorn, a friend, with no warning. || Aron of the Levy pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>
Fined two crowns. || Note further investigations are ongoing with regards to the supply of the drug by Maximus and the poisoning of Thorn.
|-
| Perverting the course of justice and resisting arrest || The accused was questioned about the secret location of the Rookery in connection with the investigations into the murder of Captain Hardfrost and Magistrate Murcello by the Rookwoods. The accused denied knowing where the Rookery was and claimed to have no involvement in the murder or subsequent escape. When the militia subsequently located the Rookery with the help of House Vexille and conducted a raid, the accused was found there. The accused resisted arrest along with the other wanted murderers from the House and was the only one who retained sufficient connection to the empire to be brought back through the gate for trial. The murderers were summarily executed at the scene. || Thomas Rookwood Martel pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 382YE
|-
| Attempted murder and treason || The accused approached the Empress and spoke to her about her poor relations with the Navarr. The accused took offence and slashed at the Empress’s throat with her dagger, injuring her badly. || Hipwyn Ashguard pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution|| A clemency plea was made by Corey Wayfarer that stated the act was unvirtuous.
|-
| Assault || Lord Romand of House Remys of Dawn engaged in an altercation with the senator Bohemond de Rondell. Romand suddenly lunged at Bohemond, cursing him, and the accused stepped in to defend Bohemond and struck down Romand with his dagger. He then called for a magistrate and ensured Romand received medical attention. || Cesare Sanguineo Rezia Di Tassato, Senator for Tassato, pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined two crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Skywise Gralka on grounds of Loyalty
|-
| Possession of Bite || The accused claimed to find two doses of bite on the east road and sought the advice of the Harlequin what to do with it. The Harlequin suggested he sell it to the Crimson Reaper Cartel (knowing their leader to be in the militia). When the accused tried to sell it to them, Prince Tali promptly arrested him. || Lucian, a foreigner of Holberg descent pleaded guilty. || Guilty. Fined four crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Irada von Temeschwar, Cardinal of Vigilance, on grounds of Loyalty.
|-
| Multiple assaults || The accused attacked a series of victims while apparently suffering the effects of the {{Black Plateau}} curse. || Danica of House Vandale pleaded guilty || Guilty. Fined a total of five thrones || A clemency plea was made by Lochias
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the state and assault || While apparently under the effects of a curse from Spiral the accused put up a judgement for consideration by the Synod without it being stamped and approved by the Tribune. He subsequently assaulted someone after arguing with them. || Ozren de Orzel pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Corwyn Leafstalker
|-
| Assaults || Both the accused had a heated argument while they held drawn weapons. Michaelangelo stepped towards Lupo but did not raise or tense his weapon. Lupo stabbed him with his spear. An independent witness provided evidence as to how events transpired. || Ferosi Lupo pleaded guilty. Michaelangelo Di Sarvos pleaded not guilty. || Lupo was found guilty.<br>Fined four crowns. <br>Michaelangelo was found not guilty. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused was contracted by his husband to assault another imperial citizen. || Eduardo i Erigo pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined one throne. || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Assault || The accused read a pamphlet written by Serjanus of Urizen and then assaulted him. || Katerina Gardener pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. ||
|-
| Assault || Enzo di Saverio and Natalia of Carta Stalare faked an assault on Enzo as a distraction for a curse to be delivered to someone in the Urizen camp. The subterfuge was discovered but Enzo would only confirm that they were a distraction for “other acts”. Having refused to answer further questions Enzo attempted to leave the camp. Believing this to be part of a greater crime the accused struck down Enzo. || Aurum of House Nightingale of Urizen pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined one crown || A clemency plea was made by Galene Netherwatch on grounds of Vigilance. <br>The fine was paid in compensation to the victim.
|-
| Manslaughter || The accused killed an Imperial citizen in the Mourn. He claimed that this was in defence of his sister. Conflicting and changing evidence was provided by witnesses Joanna and Roberta in his defence which was deemed contradictory and unreliable. Accordingly the clemency plea was not accepted. || Svoki an orc ex-thrall of the Mourn pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Sentenced to death. || A clemency plea was made on grounds of Loyalty
|-
| Attempting to pervert the course of justice || The accused were beaters in the Mournwold who responded to the sounds of a murder in progress and pursued their suspect, an orc thrall, to Anvil. At trial they gave conflicting evidence which then changed during the investigation. || Joanna pleaded not guilty. Roberta plead guilty || Joanna was found not guilty. Roberta was found guilty.<br>Fined one throne. ||
|-
| Murder || During a battle on the {{Black Plateau}}, Cadar Aurelius of Dawn struck down and killed Gaston’s Earl. In revenge Gaston killed Cadar Aurelius on the battlefield. || Gaston de Courdyer of Dawn pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution || A clemency plea was made by Jared of the Suns of Couros
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 382YE
|-
| Assault || The accused ordered Cormack Dun out of the Urizen camp when he attempted to sell copies of the Oathwright bearing the headline “Druj outwit heroes and conquer Zenith”. As Cormack was leaving the accused ordered him to run and when he did not, struck him a blow with his sword. The unwelcome guest defence did not apply as it was not a reasonable use of force. || Philostrate Menos, a host of the Urizen egregore, pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined two crowns || A clemency plea was made by Runerathmore of Neverwatch Spire on grounds of Pride.
|-
| Treason and perverting the course of justice || The accused admitted trading secrets of Imperial citizens to the Whisper Gallery in exchange for lost information from the Imperial Archives. Furthermore the accused used magic to erase his memories of his co-conspirators and then came to confess his crimes. || Arne Coerling pleaded guilty to both charges. || Guilty.<br> Fined twenty five thrones for treason<br> Fined five thrones for perverting the course of justice. || A clemency plea was made by Gunnbrand Ironwill on grounds of Pride.<br>The convict declared themselves to be a Justice heretic and committed magical suicide,
|-
| Treason || The accused confessed to being coerced by the Grendel (who held her family hostage) into stealing Imperial charts and secret military information from Anvil and passing them to the Grendel. || Carlita i Osa pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution || A clemency plea was made by Medea Ruth on grounds of Loyalty
|-
| Assault || The accused and the victim, Tanwyn Ankarien, were on the battlefield in Spiral. The accused believed Tanwyn was responsible for the peace treaty failing and headbutted her when the opportunity arose. || Stilicho of the Scarlet Guard pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Malchus of Jachin's Legacy over a disagreement about how to treat members of the Iron Helms while through the sentinel gate. || Iscah of Jachin's Legacy pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. || A clemency plea was made on grounds of Vigilance
|-
| Assault || Tanwyn Ankarian and Philostrate Menos were suffering from a Spiral related curse. Corvus, the High Exorcist had informed Rhisiart that getting those afflicted into a particular tent (with a magical aura) would cure them. Rhisiart attempted to trick Tanwyn into said tent and failed so resorted to violence. Once her curse was removed, all the accused then repeated the exercise, injuring Philostrate in the process. || Rhisiart Dancewalker, Tanwyn Ankarien, and Phaedra Ankarien all pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Discharged without punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun on grounds of Wisdom.
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Arbiter Serjanus of the Scarlet Guard of Urizen after provocation and put him down. She established the victim was being healed before leaving. || Danica Vandale pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Jared of the Suns of Courous on grounds of Loyalty. <br>A subsequent judicial review indicated that she should have been fined more heavily due to prior convictions for crimes of violence. This will be taken into account if she comes before the magistrates in the future.
|-
| Contravening a declaration of Interdiction || The accused cast the ritual Rivers Run Red upon Therunin on the last day of the summit then handed themselves in. They argued their actions were necessary to counter the Rivers of Life ritual cast on the region by the Great Forest Orcs as this had awoken the vallorn in the area. Furthermore they argued that the only effect of Rivers Run Red would be to negate the Rivers of Life. They had attempted to convince Conclave to remove the interdiction but failed to do so and felt an urgent need to act immediately to protect the lives of the nearby citizens from the vallorn. || Kellos Foxden, Celyn Brackensong, Eirwen Brackensong, Trystan Brackensong, Talek Dancewalker, the Navarr egregore, Rhea Pridestalker, Saeros Splitroot, Drow Gedor and Drefa Brackensong being the Voice of the Quiet Forest coven pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Discharged without punishment although the magistrate noted that it is left to Conclave to decide if they wish to react further. || A clemency plea was made by Amris on grounds of Courage.
|}

==Reports from 381YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 381YE
|-
| Attempted Murder and assault || The accused launched an unprovoked assault upon Heretta of the Rangers of Narook while the victim lay injured on the ground receiving medical aid, The accused argued that this was both because Heretta had left him and stolen his boots and also that he intended to heal his former companion with a spoon. The spoon was examined and found mundane, furthermore it had not been seen by any witnesses at the scene. || Andres i Erigo pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and guilty to assault || Guilty.<br>Death by execution || A clemency plea was made on the charge of assault on grounds of Pride
|-
| Assault || The accused saw two children sparring at the Academy and joined in, attacking them with a metal sword without warning or permission. || Mokko of the Printers Guild pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined five crowns. ||
|-
| Attempted Murder || Upon returning to Anvil the accused handed themselves in for a crime committed over two years ago. Elthred had attempted to hire the Greenshields to assassinate Ardeth Sigsdottir. However an ongoing militia sting operation meant that Warrant Officer Nimh made the introduction. Elthred had been attended as bodyguard by Kivari, who Nimh testified was drunk and not paying attention to the conversation. Other witnesses provided evidence that the intended victim was manipulative and dangerous and that this act by Elthred was uncharacteristic. || Elthred of Holt Hyrde pleaded guilty.<br> Kivari of Holt Hyde pleaded not guilty. || Elthred was found guilty.<br>Fined five thrones and marked with the Freezing Brand of Irremais. <br>Kivari was found not guilty. || A clemency plea was made by Beodun Snowlock on behalf of Elthred
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Sol, egregore of the Brass Coast. Sol was going to turn up and chase the Reaper, thus showing disrespect to League national traditions. || Vitore Van Temeschwar pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined one crown. || A clemency plea was made on grounds of Pride.
|-
| Criminal damage || The accused caused severe damage to the Colossus of Sarvos by ramming it with his ship. He claimed to have been blackmailed by a mysterious masked man and woman who bought up all of his significant gambling debts and threatened his family and crew if he did not ram the Colossus. || Artur di Sarvos pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined twenty thrones, || A clemency plea was made by Cesare Enzo Di Trivento on grounds of Loyalty.<br>The sentence was suspended for two years to reflect the difficulty of a man of such modest means raising such a sum and in recognition that he was acting under duress.
|-
| Murder || The accused brutally murdered Nevyn Bitterbark of the Bitterbark Steading. He claimed that the victim was the murderer of the Dawnish senator, Lady Jocelyn Cordraco. However no plausible explanation for his actions nor evidence to support his claim was forthcoming. || Kadywar of House Tarvey of Dawn pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made on grounds of Loyalty.
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 381YE
|-
| Assault || The accused, a warrant officer in the militia, assaulted Eudaemon of Halcyon Spire in the Hub. This followed an interview during which it became clear that no charges would be laid at this time against the victim for his attempt to perform a curse. || Bronislav Markovitch Wolfguard pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined two thrones. || The fine was higher because the guilty party was an on-duty militia officer.
|-
| Perverting the course of justice || The accused was the prime suspect in the murder of Philgar Rowan. She was the last person to see him alive and her answers to the militia (when she was cooperating at all) were contradictory in several respects. || Jemyma Rookwood of House Martell pleaded not guilty. || Guilty. <br>Death by execution || Jemyma Rookwood committed suicide before the sentence could be carried out
|-
| Murder and resisting arrest || The accused handed himself in to the militia and confessed to his part in the battle of Crow’s Keep, fighting on the side of Dogri Thulebane. He was ordered by the Thulebane to lead his civilian followers to a new settlement and to preserve the traditions of Skarsind. He had taken so long to hand himself in because he had been busy settling these refugees from the keep. || Kali Keen Eye of Clan Saker pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined ten thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Jorma Steelhelm on grounds of Pride.<br> The magistrate directed that the fine should go to aid in the founding of the new settlement.
|-
| Attempted theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice || The accused attempted to steal the notebook of Senator Bridget Eastville at the Summer Solstice 381. She was caught in the act and gave a false name to the militia when she was arraigned for trial (to take place the next day). She then failed to attend her trial. She was hunted down by the militia at the Autumn summit despite having disguised herself as a league citizen. Her identity was confirmed by the Navarr egregore. || Lorwen Splinterkin of Navarr pleaded guilty to both charges. || Guilty on both counts.<br> Fined two crowns for the attempted theft.<br>Fined ten thrones for attempting to pervert the course of justice. ||
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered Earl D’Ossienne many years ago. The Earl had become deranged in his later years. He forced his children to fight each other for his own cruel amusement. The accused became scared that it was only a matter of time before one of them was killed and so they killed the Earl first. || Ser Kay de Ossienne pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined thirty thrones. || A clemency plea was made on grounds of Pride and Loyalty
|-
| Treason || The accused communicated accurate military intelligence to the Grendel barbarians. This intelligence included the movements of Omperial armies and supplies. || Cicero of the Shaping Stars spire pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted someone who had just placed a curse upon him. || Galbraith of the Boundaryfolk pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined three crowns. ||
|-
| Murder || Maurice de Gauvain, Archmage of Autumn, was killed by the accused during a battle against husks, some of whom were dressed in Dawnish House colours. Maurice's lower jaw was covered in blood at the time of the battle, and his facial features were obscured. Garavaine was dispatching downed husks to prevent them rising again, and mistook Maurice for one such. Maurice was questioned using Whispers Through the Black Gate, and did not see his killer. He expressed no concern that these actions may have been motivated by foul play. || Garavaine de Rondell pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined thirty five thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Jared of the Suns of Couros on grounds of Vigilance.<br>This plea was only partially accepted by the magistrate as the lack of care for fellow soldiers was arguably not a vigilant act.
|-
| Assault || At the pledge ball, the accused assaulted Silvio de Tassato after the completion of a play he had orchestrated which insulted Ancel’s love. || Ancel Steward pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined one crown. || A clemency plea was made by Rane Jorunsdottir, Inquisitor of Pride.
|-
| Six counts of assault and false imprisonment || The accused had beaten and captured half a dozen local Imperial citizens for their own purposes in Skarsind. || Two orcs of the Thule pleaded not guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined twelve crowns. However, when it became clear they could not pay they were executed. || The names of the Thule were not recorded.
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 381YE
|-
| Attempted murder and assault || Thomas Bookkeeper of Navarr was assaulted very late at night in the Senate and almost killed by the accused. || Nora of the Green Men pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to assault. || Not guilty of murder. <br>Guilty of assault <br>Fined three thrones. ||
|-
| Assault || Aarne Ceorling of Wintermark was assaulted in the Hub by the accused. || Jorma Steelhail pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined ten crowns. ||
|-
| Heresy || The accused was condemned by a greater majority of the Synod General Assembly for her unrepentant heretical teachings. She claimed to be the First Empress reborn, possessed of a Paragon soul returned from a place beyond the Labyrinth, which she called the "Land Without Tears", a golden land without pain and suffering. || Yael of Highguard pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Contempt of Court || The accused had requested that he be allowed to execute Yael should that be the verdict. Permission was granted provided that he did not use the sword of the Exarch. Later he placed this sword in Yael's hand. He was ordered by the presiding magistrate not to execute her while she was holding this sword but he disobeyed and struck her down regardless. || Cyrus, Exarch of Felix's Watch.|| Summarily fined five thrones for failing to obey the lawful order of a magistrate. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 381YE
|-
| Mass Murder || The accused confessed to killing a house full of Dawnish citizens. The circumstances were that he was taken prisoner by the House of Lord Lucien De Loire and tortured, forced to fight other prisoners and starved for six long years. When he and the other prisoners escaped Errol and some others stayed behind to buy time for their wounded to escape by setting fire to the house and killing anyone who got out. Evidence gathered by the Dawnish militia supported many of these facts and it is strongly suspected that this House were followers of vengeance. || Errol, Bailiff of the Grand Market pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Discharged without punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Sister Meredith on grounds of Loyalty.<br>This result reflects the strong clemency plea and the extenuating circumstances.
|-
| Contempt of court || The accused blocked the path of a member of the militia in the performance of her duties and then refused to move. When fined a crown for contempt of court she responded by telling the magistrate to “Fuck off”. || Medea Ruth of Halcyon Spire || Summarily fined one throne. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused grabbed the nearest weapon and stabbed Rane Jorunsdottir. || Ulric Ybasden pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. ||
|-
| Attempt to abet the contravention of a declaration of sorcery || In an attempt to rescue the Empress's father from the whisper gallery (who are under enmity) the accused attempted to broker a deal between them and Ancel Steward of House Vexille. Ariana sent the missive not knowing what it contained. The deal did not go through as the Whisper Gallery would only deal directly with Ancel Steward. During questioning, Danica claimed Kaspar had not been involved, leading to an increase in her fine. || Kaspar Yakovich von Holberg, Danica Vandale and Arianna de Tassato pleaded guilty. || Guilty.<br>Kaspar was fined 22 thrones.<br>Danica was fined 25 thrones<br>Arianna was fined ten thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Severin Teyhard von Holberg on behalf of Kaspar Yakovich von Holberg on grounds of Loyalty.<br>A clemency plea was made by Jared of the Suns of Couros on behalf of Danica Vandale on grounds of Loyalty.<br>A clemency plea was made by Corwin Leafstalker on behalf of Arianna de Tassato on grounds of Loyalty.
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the state || The accused attacked a herald of Yaw'nagrah (who is currently under enmity) during a plenipotentiary with the Archmage of Spring. This is in direct contravention of the Conclave's rules on how such parleys are conducted. || Drefa Brackensong pleaded not guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined ten thrones. ||
|-
| Assault and contempt of court || The accused punched the victim, Watt of the Marches, believing (wrongly) that he had kidnapped her sister, Miriam Bard. Furthermore the accused frequently interrupted the magistrate during trial and was summarily tried for contempt of court. || Bessie the Bard pleaded guilty to assault || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns for assault plus two crowns payable in compensation to the victim. <br>Fined one crown for contempt of court. || A clemency plea was made by Lumi Lehtonen
|-
| Dereliction of duty || The accused handed herself in for a crime that occurred several years ago. She had been assigned to a military unit at the Reikos citadel and her new commander ordered her unit to surrender to the Druj. Instead she fled from the field of battle. || Allegra of Navarr pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined ten crowns and subjected to the Freezing Brand of Irremais. || A clemency plea was made by J'zarr i Shartha i Guerra on grounds of Loyalty.
|-
| Murder and resisting arrest || The accused resisted legal arrest with murderous force, leading to the deaths of over 200 Varushkan soldiers and most of the inhabitants of Crows Keep. The court was moved only slightly by the clemency plea for Dogri Thulebane on the grounds of loyalty to the people of Crows Keep and Skarsind. This was on the grounds that his actions had the direct consequence of leading to the deaths of most of his people, and the destruction of Crows Keep. The clemency pleas for the other accused were accepted on the grounds that it was not within their power to legally prevent the battle and their virtue compelled them to act. || Dogri Thulebane, Ranulph six lives and Mhira Valoing plead guilty || Guilty. <br>Dogri Thulebane was sentenced to death. By their request this was to be carried out by Mother Thane of Wintermark by sundown. Subsequently the court acquiesced to a request for him to die in battle, before sundown <br>The other accused were discharged without further punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Jorma Steelhail on behalf of Dogri Thulebane and Ranulph Six Lives on grounds of Loyalty and Courage respectively. A clemency plea was made by Cerwynn Brackensong on grounds of Loyalty.
|}

==Reports from 380YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 380YE
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Medea Ruth Marshwatch, a former member of his order, with a staff while cursing her. The reason given for this by the accused was that the victim had brought shame to their order by her actions in the Sentinel's Repose bar. || Eudaemon of Halcyon Spire pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined one crown plus one crown compensation paid to victim. || A clemency plea was made by Bonewall Rek on grounds of Pride.
|-
| Murder || The accused was enjoying a celebration away from Anvil when the mood suddenly changed as the unknown victim arrived. A melee ensued in which the accused was not directly involved but which resulted in the victim being struck down. A priest ascertained the victim was dedicated to a freedom cult. The victim begged to be killed and the accused did so, but in law it is not possible to consent to your own murder. || The accused (whose name was not recorded) pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Branded. || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Theft || The accused stole valuable herbs to eat. The accused was also sternly warned against providing a false name to the militia as this is a serious offence. || Will Brackensong pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined one throne. || A clemency plea was made by Corey Wayfarer
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the state || The accused received a message from Barrens orcs near a triage centre behind the front lines of the recent fighting. They were offered a deal to exchange twenty eight Dawnish prisoners in return for five brands on citizens to mark the orc lives lost. The brands were investigated and found to be mundane. This was treated in law as a legitimate ransom demand so no treason charges were levied. || Merry Talbot, Skywise Gralka, Talaith, Jada of Ravensfell, Joshua of Zephaniah's Lament all pleaded not guilty || Not guilty. || All the accused initially pleaded guilty but the plea was later changed on advice of the magistrate
|-
| Blasphemy || The accused was condemned by the Synod and admitted to preaching the false virtue of hate and spreading auras of hate. While a clemency plea was made on grounds of loyalty the court did not accept that his actions were justified in the circumstances. || Friar Robin of Whittle pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made by James Appleseeder. Martin Orchard spoke for the Marcher National Assembly.
|-
| Treason and Contravening a declaration of interdiction || The accused cursed (or aided and abetted said cursing) Gregor, Head of the Shuttered Lantern. The accused did so using a ritual text called “Quell the Thief of Secrets” created by and traded from the whisper gallery(and with whom a state of enmity currently exists). They argued that this was to try to prevent further harm being perpetrated against Gregor by the Whisper Gallery by making him unable to read or write and thus a “non-combatant” in the war of secrets. || Ancel Steward, Guissart Vexille (not present), Arlen Weaver, Ser Lacons Vexille and Lady Gweniveve Vexille pleaded guilty to all charges || Guilty. <br>Collectively fined forty thrones <br>Sentenced to be branded with the Freezing Brand of Irremais. || A clemency plea was made by Corwyn Leafstalker
|-
| Murder || The accused was investigating the victim, Laudica i Tsaga i Riqueza, for being a follower of the false virtue of vengeance. She was invited to the victim's tent, which was under an aura of vengeance and given a mask that cursed the bearer to take vengeance upon those who threaten their loved ones. An axe was placed near to hand and then the victim threatened harm to the accused's sister in the future while taunting her to take vengeance. The accused struck her with fatal consequences. || Ephrael of Zephaniah's Lament pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined five thrones. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime but also its context. || A clemency plea was made by Jared of the Suns of Couros on grounds of Vigilance and Pride.
|-
| Assault and criminal damage || General Irontide Skar owned an axe which was possessed by the spirit of a Jotun ancestor. The accused believed this to be a detrimental influence on the General and the army. She attempted to seize the axe and nearly strangled the General with it then failing to take it she disenchanted the axe, removing the spirit. Expert witness testimony was accepted from Irontide Lok and Bloodcrow Yargol on the subject of Jotun ancestors in orcish lore. || Bloodcrow Shettehs pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns for assault<br> Fined seven thrones for criminal damage to be paid in compensation to victim. || A clemency plea was made by Atla on grounds of Wisdom and Loyalty.
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted the victim, Silas of Zephaniah's Lament, because she was “meddling” with her sister. || Amatia i Tsagaan i Erigo plead edguilty || Guilty. <br>Fined one crown. || A clemency plea was made by Maricella i Tsagaan i Guerra on grounds of Loyalty.
|-
| Assault (two counts) || The accused asked the victim, Hazel of the Shattered tower, “if she would like a face like hers” referring to Senator Tanwyn. The accused then struck the victim in the face with a shield and pushed her to the ground. || Rhisiart Tarw pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined three thrones due to the accused being a repeat offender. ||
|-
| Heresy and blasphemy || The accused encouraged Imperial orcs in Hraka Hold to not follow the Way claiming “it is a human religion”. Further he said the Hierro clan failed because “they had too much ambition” and preached against both too much pride and ambition. He also claimed orcs are superior to humans. He has been inquisited for this behaviour before and has said he would mend his ways. During the trial he argued his beliefs were common among imperial orcs. || Bloodcrow Yargol was condemned by the General Assembly. He pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined thirty thrones<br>Sentenced to be branded with the Freezing Brand of Irremais. || The condemning priest was Jorma Steelhail.<br>The heavy fine reflected the serious impact that Yargol's heresy was having on his peers and to act as a deterrent against similar behaviour in the future.<br>
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 380YE
|-
| Theft || An Enigmatic Staff belonging to Sovica Kovar was stolen from the academy premises. The accused admitted selling this staff onto a Navarr. || Alexi Gremani pleaded guilty || Guilty.<br> Fined three crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Lucifaro Erigo on grounds of Loyalty and Vigilance
|-
| Murder || The accused had argued with Isca over magical efforts to direct the falling red star. They invited her to their tent with promises of an apology but Dusan paralysed her and Svetlana and Velushka slew her with their weapons. They then disposed of the body with magic. Isca's shade was summoned and her identity verified then she was questioned. Isca testified as to the events as described above and contradicted the claims of the accused to have argued with Isca in the tent prior to killing her. The accused handed themselves in at the start of the next festival. || Dusan, Svetlana and Velushka of the Tangled Thorns pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution || A clemency plea was made by Elka Grimani, Cardinal of Pride.<br>Although some good arguments were made in favour of clemency, the seriousness of the crime, the destruction of evidence, and their failure to justify the necessity of their actions were judged to mean that a sentence of death was appropriate.
|-
| Theft || The accused searched the tent of the Tangled Thorns (while they were under investigation by the militia) and took their coven stone. This stone is permanently enchanted and therefore valuable. They claimed to be acting out of vigilance since it might be cursed and furthermore that they were authorised by a member of the militia to take it. No evidence could be found that this was the case. || Mina of the Howling Pines and her two cousins pleaded not guilty. || Not guilty. ||
|-
| Treason and subverting the agencies of the state || In the winter of 379 the accused had a meeting with the Druj and sent a letter in 380 to confirm their agreement to crush a tribe of Barrens orcs between their armies. Furthermore the Druj would cast Rivers Run Red to maximise casualties. The accused advised the military council of the plan, allowing them to plan the campaign accordingly and with considerable success. However, he failed to engage with either the Senate or Imperial Consul about this scheme. || Ancel Steward pleaded not guilty to treason and guilty to subverting the agencies of the state. || Not guilty of treason. <br>Guilty of subverting the agencies of the state<br>Fined twenty five thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Sir Lacons Vexille with regard to the first charge<br>It is not known why clemency was accepted even though accused pleaded not guilty.
|-
| Treason || The accused and his family were captured by Druj in Edinberg near Holberg. His captors threatened to kill his family unless he led the cadets of the academy into a trap. He lured in twenty cadets and five adults with talk of a boggart infestation and did not attempt to warn them in any way. Even though the cadets were ambushed by orcs they not only escaped with their lives but also saved the accused's captive family. || Antonio Gelani von Holberg pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Blasphemy || The accused came to Anvil and falsely preached that hope was as important as the other Imperial virtues. They were condemned by the Assembly of Nine and repented after the Empress spoke to them. || Christoph and Julieta di Sarvos pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Sentenced to spend the next season removing auras of hope from Sarvos. || A clemency plea was made by Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato, Cardinal of Ambition
|-
| Assault || The accused was threatened by four mercenaries sent from a League Carta to cut down a “sacred” tree in a cemetery in Holfried. He warned them off but when they persisted and tried to cut down the tree he assaulted them. || Friar John Taker of the Marches pleaded not guilty on grounds of defence of the property in question. || Not guilty. ||
|-
| Criminal damage || The accused went on a skirmish with a relative but after they failed to stay close to him he broke their staff. || Uther de Rondell pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined three crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Sir Gaulio Orzel
|-
| Possession and supply of gutwrench (at the Vor'Azi Grimhold) || The accused was hired for ten thrones (five in advance) to poison Karina by someone called “Feldermaus” in the League. The accused gave Karina gutwrench to take instead of a deadly poison. She convinced Karina to take it by claiming it would show her whether her lover truly cared for her or not. || Anya of the League pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined seven thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Amris Merikovich on grounds of Wisdom
|-
| Theft (in the environs of a field hospital near the front lines) || A unit of the army was captured and the accused was let go and told that the orcs would release the rest of his unit if he provided them with some herbs. He proceeded to steal said herbs and was caught. || Kay Fletcher pleaded guilty. || Guilty. <br>Fined four crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Jada of Ravensfell on grounds of Vigilance
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 380YE
|-
| Assault || The accused punched Nadia Borodina di Sarvos of the Pledge twice in front of many witnesses. || Vaniagh of the Suns of Couros pleaded guilty with no clemency. || Guilty<br>Fined four crowns. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused struck down the victim while apprehending him for investigation by the synod. The victim, Romero di Sarvos, had been witnessed handing out heretical pamphlets. The court ruled that the assault was unlawful since it exceeded reasonable force. || Grace Sanguino Regia di Tassato plead guilty || Guilty<br>Fined one crown. || A clemency plea was made by Irada von Temeschwar
|-
| Heresy and blasphemy || The accused was witnessed handing out heretical and blasphemous pamphlets which he had himself obtained in Faraden. The accused was condemned by the Assembly of Nine and Cardinal Ophelia di Sanguino was their expert witness. || Romero di Sarvos pleaded guilty with no clemency. || Guilty<br>Death by execution. || The accused was both unrepentant and presented a clear risk to the Empire.<br>The convict's assets were sequestered and he was
|-
| Murder || The accused handed herself in and confessed to the murders of both Sister Dorcas and Sister Ana of the Suns of Couros. She said she had no control over her actions but having realised what she had done she did not seek help or treatment. || Sister Aurelia pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused got into an argument with Banwell Rae over the execution of a citizen for heresy. The accused pushed Rae to the floor when Rae stepped towards him. || Kane Frostwalker pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted the victim, Jera de Luisignon, while he was awaiting trial. The victim had cursed the accused's homeland, then taunted him about it. The accused then assaulted the victim with a knife but saw to it he was healed afterwards. || Magic' Errol of the Marches pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined one crown. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused asked the victim, Jera de Luisignon to lift a curse that he had placed upon his father. Jera proceeded to insult both the accused and his father. The accused then stabbed him. || Robert Greyshanks pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined one throne. ||
|-
| Blasphemy and idolatry || The accused was condemned by the Synod for blasphemy and idolatry for his involvement in the actions of the notorious De Luisignan anarchy cult. || Jera de Luisignon of Dawn pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution. || A clemency plea was made by Lady Josephine Novarion
|-
| Attempted murder and membership of the Vyig || The accused was witnessed stabbing Warrant Officer Hardfrost with a poisoned dagger at his wedding reception. A note indicated orders from the Vyig to carry out the assassination and scars consistent with removed Vyig tattoos were found on his knuckles. || Christoph di Sarvos plead not guilty to all charges. || Guilty<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused tried to stop a Vyig assassin, Christoph di Sarvos, who was fleeing the scene of a crime. She was stabbed and poisoned and received a series of medical treatments that left her in an agitated state. She found the suspect in militia custody and stabbed him in a frenzy which was almost fatal to the victim. || Cora Greyshanks of the Marches plead guilty. || Guilty<br>Fined six crowns. || A clemency plea was made by Robert of Swindale on grounds of Loyalty<br>The court warns the convict and all citizens that the magistrates take a dim view of assaults on suspects in militia custody.
|-
| Assault || The accused was asked by a Warrant officer to guard the prisoner, Christoph di Sarvos. When the prisoner turned somewhat aggressively towards the accused he struck him twice with the butt of his bill. || Hob Culloch of the Marches pleaded not guilty on the grounds that he was keeping him in custody during a lawful arrest. || Not guilty but warned about his use of force. ||
|-
| Heresy || The accused was caught preaching heresy and promoting the false virtue of 'fear'. Examination by the egregore of Highguard found that he was a citizen of Highguard but that he was now nameless. He was condemned by the Assembly of the Way. || A citizen of Reikos who no longer bore any name pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution|| Due to time constraints, caused by the need for condemnation, the accused was tried after the summit
|-
| Contravening a Declaration of Interdiction || The accused cast the ritual Whispering Shadow Courtiers to contact the Whisper Gallery in contravention of the Conclave's declaration of Enmity. It was argued that his intent was to try to find out information on the Whispering Gallery's activities in an effort to save imperial lives. The court was satisfied that there was no evidence of treason. The accused had sought no prior advice from members of the Conclave, but the Cardinal of Vigilance advised him that she would plead clemency for him at trial. || Benedict of the House of Seven Mirrors plead guilty. || Guilty<br>Fined ten thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Irada von Temeschwar, Cardinal of Vigilance. The court reminds citizens that contravening a declaration of interdiction is a serious offence.
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 380YE
|-
| Manslaughter || Substantial Agramant activity was reported by witnesses in the Vale of Hollow Pines at the time of the offence. During these events the accused shot dead an old draughir woman with a single arrow. The victim (who was not a Varushkan citizen) had recently attacked Grandmother Aria, first paralysing her then biting off her ear. || Boyar Akstis of Eigulys known as “Gully” pleaded guilty || Due to both the circumstances and the clemency plea provided the convict was discharged without punishment. || A clemency plea was made by Rooslin Prochnost
|-
| Murder || The accused admitted the murder of Darius of the Emerald Order by stabbing him to death near the Marcher maypole in Anvil. The accused handed himself in, and claimed that he had lost his wits due to the side effects of potion making. While no witnesses to the crime came forward, and the accused said he had no memory of the murder, blood stains were found on his robes consistent with the events. || Pugilist of the Emerald Order pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the state || The accused claimed right of witness in order to investigate a rumour he had heard of slavery in Anvil. He did not have the legal right to do so as he is not a member of the synod. || Bloodcrow Yargol pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Fined six crowns. ||
|-
| Murder and perverting the course of justice || The accused were all involved in some capacity with the murder of Brady (for which Tarion of the Black Scar has already been executed). Erian aided the murder by luring Brady into an ambush and then lied about it in one of her statements to the militia. Bernie was the one who planned the murder but he did not personally wield a blade. Lleu, their acting Brand, was told by them of the murder after it happened and he asked Erian to lie to the militia. || Erian plead guilty to perverting the course of justice and murder. Bernie plead guilty to murder. Klay plead guilty to perverting the course of justice. || Guilty<br>Erian was sentenced to death by execution.<br>Bernie was sentenced to death by execution. <br>Lleu was fined five thrones. || A clemency plea was made by Aelfin on behalf of Erian but said it was not a virtuous act<br>A clemency plea was made by Rhisiart Tarw on behalf of Lleu on the grounds of Loyalty and Pride
|-
| Assault || The accused all assaulted militia deputy Yaroslav who was guarding an old mine that had until recently been utilised by the Vyig. || Viktor, Boris and Alexi von Temeschwar all pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns each. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused (who handed herself in) used her weapon to strike a heavy blow on the arm of a soldier who insulted her after the battle. || Clarice Novarion, General of the Eastern Sky, pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns. || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Perverting the course of justice || The accused was involved in the formation of the criminal scheme by the Handful of Dust coven in the Brass Coast to give True Liao to an eternal. The accused left this coven and moved to Dawn but because she felt bound by contract to secrecy she only gave very general warnings to Asher (the guide priest who lost his life as a result of their actions). || Catalina de Rondel of Dawn pleaded guilty || Guilty. <br>Sentenced to suffer the curse of the Freezing Brand of Irremais || A clemency plea was made by Frederick Novarion
|-
| Murder (other lesser charges could have also been laid) || The accused were all citizens trapped in Reikos during the occupation. When priests arrived and reconnected them with the Way they came to Anvil to face justice for the terrible crimes they had committed in order to survive and so that others could learn from their experiences. Their crimes included killing others in fights over food, burning a house of flux sufferers to prevent spread of the disease, killing a crying child so they would not be found by a Druj patrol, torture and killing of Druj collaborators, cannibalism, killing to end the suffering of the starving and killing those who became a drain on the group's resources. || Jolen, Ruth, Caliban and Meliphas all pleaded guilty || All were discharged without further punishment but were offered the opportunity to participate in a Highguard cleansing ritual involving a river and weighing down with stones to represent guilt. || A clemency plea was made by four priests<br>The court accepted the necessity of the acts for their survival and the dreadful adversity of their situation, starving and without any hope of outside help. Arguments were made both for and against the virtue of their actions.<br>In considering sentence the court carefully considered whether these citizens were both deserving and capable of rejoining society. Also, whether it is in the Imperial interest to execute those left in such intolerable conditions.
|-
| Manslaughter (the first accused only) and trade of true Liao to foreigners || The accused arranged a past life vision and Asher of Felix Watch, Cardinal of Courage, agreed to accompany her. However, Ysabel had made a pact with the eternal, Sadogua, to pass her share of True Liao to him magically when she pretended to drink her dose. As a result Asher went to the labyrinth alone and the vision collapsed. Asher's mortal body died and then vanished. Barak of Haros, Head of the Attendants of the Gateway and Livia of the Celestial Cascade, Seer of the Gateway, bore witness and confirmed that Ysabel had been given a full safety briefing, that clearly stated that if both participants did not follow the process then the vision would collapse, and that Ysabel had signed her agreement. The defendants agreed the facts, and stated that their intention was to research the effects of True Liao on an eternal. || Ysabel I Ergo of the Handful of Dust pleaded guilty to both charges. Geraile I Erigo, Maite I Erigo, and Evaristo I Erigo pleaded guilty to trade of true liao to foreigners || Ysabel I Ergo was found guilty<br>Death by execution.<br>The other accused were found guilty<br>Fined seventy five thrones.<br> When their fine became due the next day they refused to pay and claimed to have given away all their assets. Consequently they were executed. || A clemency plea was made on behalf of Geraile I Erigo, Maite I Erigo, and Evaristo I Erigo.
|-
| Manslaughter and assault || The accused and others captured some bandits and brought them back through the Sentinel Gate. The victim attempted to flee and was struck down. The victim was kicked in the head by the accused and died in spite of the medical treatment applied at the scene. || Arden of Cantiarch's Hold pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and guilty to assault. || Not guilty of manslaughter<br>Guilty of assault. <br>Fined two crowns. ||
|-
| Assault || The first accused attacked Ursil de Luisignan with his wand after getting into an altercation. The second accused attacked Tremayne de Luisignan with his sword after he got involved. || Selen de Rondel and Robert Greyshanks both pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br> Selen de Rondel was fined four crowns. <br>Robert Greyshanks was required to apologise to the victim. ||
|-
| Attempted Treason || The accused took a conjunction to meet the eternal Jaheris to discuss the (then current) enmity with Eleonaris but, rather than meeting Jaheris arrived at an audience with Eleonaris herself. Some members of this party had already been advised by the Dawnish egregore not to speak with Eleonaris if this happened. The court probed the nature of the meeting to discover if any of the delegation intended to negotiate and deal with Eleonaris but found no evidence of attempted treason." || Duke Orzel of Dawn along with the other members of his delegation all pleaded not guilty. || Not guilty || The accused were given words of warning with regards to talking to enemies of the Empire in the future.
|}
==Reports from 379YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 379YE
|-
| Theft || The accused were witnessed by a member of the militia fleeing a shop in Tassato carrying stolen merchandise. As Kit is a minor, her guardian Catalina faced punishment in her place. || Kit de Tassato (a minor) and Wyl Brackensong both pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Jointly fined two thrones, to be paid as compensation to the victim, Umberto. ||
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered Brady of Blackscar striding following an accusation of incompetence by the victim. A thorough investigation by the militia uncovered the accused, who then admitted the crime during an interview. || Tarion of Black Scar pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Theft || The accused stole three crowns from the victim's change jar. As Kit is a minor, her guardian Catalina faced punishment in her place. || Kit de Tassato pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns and ordered to repay the three crowns stolen from the victim. ||
|-
| Blasphemy || The accused were condemned by the Synod for preaching the false virtue of peace at Anvil at the Autumn summit. The expert witness from the synod was Father Appleseed. || Mother Alice, Calm Roberto, and Mary Bregasland pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Branded and recommended to the care of Father Appleseed. || A clemency plea was made by Father Appleseed's brother.<br>The accused were separately excommunicated.
|-
| Treason || The accused made a deal with Agramant in which he was given the means to create fear auras to help in their fight against the Jotun in return for executing Jotun prisoners in the presence of Agramant's herald. Expert advice was taken before the trial from Syrus, the Archmage of Winter who advised that such actions do benefit Agramant. || Aedan of Olwen's stand pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Theft || The accused was cursed in the Senate. After the Senate guard struck down the deliverer of the (perfectly legal) curse, the accused rifled through the victim's bag. Afterwards two crowns, twelve rings and a small red puppet were missing. It was unclear whether these items were in fact stolen as the puppet was later found in the mud. || Senator Miroslav offered a weregild of three crowns in compensation for any losses, which was accepted by the victim. || Three crowns weregild was accepted in compensation.<br>No additional punishment levied by magistrates. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 379YE
|-
| Murder (first accused) Manslaughter (second accused) || Five years ago the accused were part of a coven who experimented with a Spring vortex, resulting in an explosion which killed seven citizens. The first accused killed a survivor of the blast in order to keep their experiments secret .Evidence was presented that proved that the second accused was not present at this incident. || Mwfanwy Dray pleaded guilty (first accused)<br>Mertyn Dray pleaded not guilty. || Mwfanwy was found guilty<br>Death by execution<br>Mertyn was found not guilty. ||
|-
| Attempted murder (later reduced to attempted poisoning) || The accused was reported to the militia by Jonah for paying him one and a half thrones to poison Bronislav, a member of the militia involved in the Greenshields case. The accused admitted intent to poison (but not murderous intent) during the trial. || Salviana former fiance of Aelvir of the Greenshields pleaded not guilty. || Guilty of attempted poisoning<br>Fined ten thrones. ||
|-
| Murder and attempted murder || The accused was captured attempting to assassinate the civil servant Helena Raminci di Sarvos. During their trial the accused also admitted the murder of another civil servant. || An unnamed agent of the Whisper Gallery in a porcelain mask pleaded guilty. || Guilty <br>Death by execution || The accused took their mask off and vanished after being sentenced
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 379YE
|-
| Impersonation of an Imperial official (Meha i Zidan)<br>Subverting the agencies of the state (everyone else)<br>Perverting the course of justice (Pavel) || General Istana discovered that senator Kattalin i Hazama was absent, thus preventing his re-election without involvement from the senate. He took advice from Pavel, the military council civil servant liaison from which he inferred that he should appoint a fake senatorial proxy for the missing senator to fix the problem. Meha i Zidan was the false proxy, but was not aware of the extent of the conspiracy. The other senators were participants in this subversion, although Avisena i Ezmara was unaware that the proxy was false. At trial Pavel denied General Istana's claims but later he came forward to admit that he had in fact implied what the general inferred, Consequently, post-trial the magistrate substantially reduced the fines levied. || Anwar del Torro pleaded guilty<br>Feliciana i Sotero pleaded guilty.<br>Avisena i Ezmara pleaded not guilty<br>General Istana pleaded not guilty<br>Meha i Zidan pleaded guilty. <br>Pavel pleaded guilty || Anwar del Torro was found guilty<br>Fined ten thrones later reduced to five thrones <br>Feliciana i Sotero was found guilty<br>Fined ten thrones later reduced to five thrones<br>Avisena i Ezmara was found not guilty. <br>General Istana was found guilty<br>Fined twenty thrones later reduced to five thrones<br>Meha i Zidan was found guilty<br>Fined four crowns later reduced to two crowns.<br>Pavel was found guilty<br>Fined twenty thrones. || Avisena i Ezmara was advised to change her plea to not guilty on the advice of the court.<br>Pavel resigned from his post as Herald of the Council
|-
| False Imprisonment || Tyrwyn imprisoned his own military unit in a fort when they became afflicted by a curse which made them feral and violent. He came forward and confessed of his own volition, but as no complaints have been made and his behaviour appeared to be virtuous, the case was dismissed. || Tyrwyn Northernbay of Miaren || Case dismissed. ||
|-
| Assault || During the Cathan Canae tourney the suspect entered the arena unannounced and pushed over the Jotun champion, who insisted that charges be brought. || Irontide Bruk pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined three rings. || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Assault, theft, Vyig membership (various)Assault, theft, Vyig membership and murder (various) || A group of nine tattooed Vyig were captured by the Iron Raptors. Various evidence of their crimes was presented, including some statements by suspects implicating other members of the group in crimes. || Five suspects pleaded guilty to assault, theft, and Vyig membership.<br>Four pleaded not guilty to murder, assault, theft, and Vyig membership. || One of those accused of murder was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the lesser charges.<br>Fined all their assets and tattoos removed<br>Five were found guilty of the lesser charges<br>Fined all their assets and tattoos removed.<br>Three suspects accused of murder were found guilty<br>Senteced to death by execution || The three suspects guilty of murder attempted to escape and were executed
|-
| Murder || The accused killed a fleeing Vyig suspect after they attempted to escape on multiple occasions. || Mercutio pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined four thrones and branded on his hand. || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Attempted murder || The accused cut the throat of Lunetta Sanguino, who was attempting to become a herald. The reason given for the attack was to send her soul to the labyrinth, lest her soul should be prevented from entering the labyrinth by her eternal service. The clemency plea at trial was made by the victim who has reconsidered her choices. || Jared of the Suns of Couros pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined one crown || A clemency plea was made<br>The fine was instructed to be paid into the Synod Virtue fund
|-
| Murder || The accused were tried for the murder of Zedenka of the Ulla Sisterhood, Varushka. The victim described her attackers when summoned back through the Black Gate. Careful investigations confirmed that the summoned shade was in fact Zedenka and that her testimony appeared genuine. Kale refused to answer questions put by the magistrate and Thor's answers were vague and inconsistent with witness testimony that placed both of them at the scene of the crime. Udoxia, testified that Thor came out of a tent following a woman's scream and declared that it was a “false alarm”. || Thor of the Hammer pleaded not guilty.<br>Kale pleaded not guilty. || Thor of the Hammer was found guilty<br>Death by execution<br>Kale was found guilty<br>Death by execution || Kale used magical means to commit suicide and briefly haunt the area before execution
|-
| Slavery and mayhem || The accused were captured during a raid in Reikos to sweep up remaining perpetrators from the Brothers and Sisters of Virtue (many of whom have already been tried for the mutilating and enslaving of hundreds of orc orphans) || Sister Keiiah pleaded not guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution || Sister Keeiah committed suicide using magical means before execution.
|-
| Murder || The accused killed a criminal who had been downed during a raid on the Vyig. || Prospero of the League pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined five thrones || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Vyig membership and contempt of court (Maria)Murder, theft malsanguino, and Vyig membership (Nicolo and Cesare) || The accused were tattooed Vyig captured by concerned Imperial citizens. Nicolo and Cesare escaped custody and committed serious assaults on the presiding magistrate and a warrant officer present following the verdict, before recapture. || Maria pleaded not guilty.<br>Nicolo pleaded not guilty<br>Cesare pleaded not guilty. || Maria was found guilty<br>Tattoos were removed and her left hand was mutilated.<br>Nicolo was found guilty<br>Death by execution<br>Cesare was found guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 379YE
|-
| Manslaughter || The accused killed Auras Dustborn while he was unconscious during a battle with husks. The accused had been ordered to kill all husks on the ground to prevent them arising again and mistook the victim for a husk. || Keridwyn Splitroot pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Weregild agreed that the Splitroot steading to serve the Dustborn steading for two seasons<br>no further judicial punishment || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Murder, membership of Vyig || The accused, a self-confessed enforcer for the Vyig, admitted to murdering Darren Uzo in Temeschwar on the orders of Uncle Uzo || Al Uzo pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Assault, theft, membership of Vyig || The accused implicated himself in the aiding and abetting of a Vyig “protection” racket || Robert Uzo pleaded guilty || Guilty <br>Fined one throne<br>Tattoo was removed || A clemency plea was made<br> Property deed to a brickmaker's business was taken in lieu of the fine and sold for one throne
|-
| Handling stolen goods || The accused had no tattoos but admitted to working for the Vyig, carrying their property and so on. || Bobby of Varushka pleaded not guilty || Guilty<br>Branded as a thief ||
|-
| Attempted murder or aiding and abetting of attempted murder either directly or by concealment of their activities || Following intelligence reports that the Greenshields Tavern in Wintermark were carrying out a business of assassins for hire, a sting operation was carried out. An undercover militia deputy introduced a fake client to Aelvir, who arranged for an assassination to be carried out against the victim, another undercover deputy for the fee of ten thrones. Sully went with the client to check out the victim and to kill them if he considered it safe to do so. Sully also offering what the client took to be poison when he did not like the victim's location. A final attempt was made but baulked at the last moment. The clients' monies were then returned. When arrested no explanation was offered for this behaviour. The sister, Lumi was observed to be close to her brother and witnesses placed her nearby in the tavern during these events. Vesha was a new barman and Uri did not belong to the Greenshields group, no evidence was presented implicating them in these crimes. || Aelvir – the landlord and procurer - pleaded guilty<br>Sully – apothecary and assassin - pleaded not guilty<br>Lumi – sister to Aelvir - pleaded not guilty<br>Uri - bar staff- pleaded not guilty<br>Vesha – bar staff - pleaded not guilty || Aelvir was found guilty<br>Death by execution<br>Sully was found guilty<br>Death by execution<br>Lumi was found guilty<br>Death by execution<br>Uri and Vesha were found not guilty || A clemency plea was made on behalf of Aelvir
|}

==Reports from 378YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 378YE
|-
| Theft and assault || The accused were caught attempting to steal a weapon of war in the form of a giant stone head from the Varushkan camp. They assaulted Senator Dushan Otecovna Zlata of Varushka in the process || Kayne and Leopric, both of Wintermark, pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fine of 4 thrones ||
|-
| Perverting the course of justice || The accused incorrectly believed that a murder case (in which the accused was Yanov Tartaklvsky of Varushka) would not be tried. He threatened a number of witnesses to this trial although it was accepted that he was ignorant that they were witnesses in an ongoing case. || Brand Rizzard pleaded not guilty || Guilty.<br>Fined one throne ||
|-
| Assault || The accused assaulted Luke of the Shattered Tower of Highguard and (incidentally to this charge) cursed him. || Aben Newath and two other unnamed heralds of Jaheris pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Returned to the Hall of Worlds without further punishment. ||
|-
| Idolatry and treason || The accused attempted to bargain with Surut (an eternal under enmity) using unborn souls. He was condemned by the Synod. || Thulun of the Silent Step pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Murder, theft, assault || The accused was the leader of a band of murderous brigands who had been preying upon refugees fleeing the Mournwold. || Thomas Hayward pleaded not guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Murder, assault || The accused was charged with murder of a prisoner while on a battlefield and the assault of another marcher, Tilly Stoke who became involved after the fact. || Hob Culloch pleaded not guilty || Not guilty ||
|-
| Treason, contempt of court || The accused were caught attempting to perform a ritual damaging mana production in the Empire and refused to answer the Magistrate. After their trial (as suspected) they admitted to being involved with the Anarchy cult which has been active in Miekarova recently. || Ivan and Sergei of Miekarova pleaded not guilty || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Murder || The accused took responsibility for landing the killing blow on a Navarr after Varushka and Navarr were tricked by ghosts into fighting each other at night. The Navarr attacked the Varushkans first and the presence of the ghosts meant that a number of participants in the battle rose up to fight again. || Yanov Abromovich Tartaklvsky pleaded not guilty || Not guilty. ||
|-
| Heresy || The accused were condemned by the Vigilance assembly for their involvement in the Miekarovan Anarchy cult. They refused to answer questions or give their names. || Four unknown citizens pleaded not guilty || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Heresy || The accused was condemned by the vigilance assembly for contravening the doctrine of Human Destiny by claiming to be greater than any human. There was no evidence presented that anyone was actually swayed by this. || Thelonius Kade pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined two thrones. ||
|-
| Contempt of Court || The accused were two Varushkans who were caught in Anvil at the Imperial Regio attempting to perform a ritual to damage mana production in the Empire. It was suspected that these were members of the Miekarovan anarchy cult. They refused to answer any of the Magistrate's questions. || Svetlana and Yuri of Varushka did not enter a plea || Guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 378YE
|-
| Murder || The accused ordered the murder of militia deputy Gwylyr during the Winter Solstice 377YE. || Cerunnos pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution to be carried out after the battle on Sunday. || The execution was not carried out due to the death of Cerunnos in battle.<br>This was the final trial pertaining to Gwylyr's murder.
|-
| Theft || While wearing a mask of Mazen the accused stole goods from the hub of a value of approximately 5 crowns. She handed herself in the following day and gave a full confession. || Isabel i Erigo pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined five crowns. ||
|-
| Slavery, Mayhem and murder || The accused were part of a conspiracy to enslave hundreds of Orcs by mutilating their brains at an early age. Their labour was subsequently sold to unsuspecting imperial citizens. Orcs who fell ill or who were injured were typically murdered. All belonged to the Brothers and Sisters of Virtue sect of Raeza's Wall Chapter in Casinea. The militia would like to formally commend Senator Ywain of Dawn for his actions in bringing this matter to the attention of the militia and in providing vital assistance to the operation which smashed this criminal organisation and brought these perpetrators to justice. || Ulfric Bouchnack pleaded guilty. <br>Brother Raphael pleaded not guilty. <br>Rannock pleaded not guilty. || All were found guilty.<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Slavery, Mayhem, Murder and resisting arrest. || Relating to the above crimes, the mutilation of the orcs was performed by the Dubcek family in the vale of Wyrmgratz, Varushka. They were named as co-conspirators by the members of the Brothers and Sisters of Virtue. A group of militia, deputised orcs and two magistrates went to Wyrmgratz to arrest them and bring them to trial. They refused to comply with the Magistrate's order to return to Anvil and so were summarily executed. || Yatislav Dubcek and eight other members of the Guardians of Moral Order. || Tried summarily and executed. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 378YE
|-
| Assault || The accused headbutted Nathaniel the Unbranded during the fracas in which a number of the Druj envoys were killed. || Irontide Brack pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined one crown. ||
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered Lord Griffinsbane while he was being held in Dawnish custody awaiting probable charges for treason and attempted murder. || Danica d'Orzel pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Fined two thrones. ||
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered militia deputy Gwylyr during the winter solstice while at the {{Black Plateau}}, allegedly on the orders of General Cernanos. || Owen Y'Basden pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Murder || The accused aided and abetted in the murder of Gwylyr described above. || Bors Y'Basden pleaded guilty. || Guilty<br>Fined two thrones and branded. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Spring Equinox 378YE
|-
| Assault || An assault by the accused upon Mara of Vashti's Penitents, Highguard || Sev of House Degruvain pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns ||
|-
| Assault || An assault by the accused upon Pavel of The Company of the White Flame || Jael of Vashti's Penitents pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined four crowns ||
|-
| Assault || An assault by the accused upon Jael of Vashti's Penitents || Bedevere of the Crimson Petals and Clarice Novarion both pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined two crowns each. ||
|-
| Attempting to pervert the course of justice || The accused poisoned himself in order to implicate Lorenzo of the Butchers Bank for his attempted murder. || Sandoval of the Gilded Horn Carta pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered Tristran Longridge of the Marches in the Marches in 376 in revenge for the slaying of her Feni barbarian master || Hilda Appeby of Dawn pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Assault || An assault by the accused upon Magratha Echostorm, a medic at the hospital, while under the influence of a curse || Bloodcrow Martak pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Bloodcrow Martak to serve in the hospital as an orderly instead of receiving a fine ||
|-
| Assault || An assault by the accused upon Jael and Mara of Vashti's Penitents when Mara interfered with a duel between Jael and Terin Realmsreach. || Aife Realmsreach pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined two rings ||
|-
| Murder || Murder of Jael and Mara of Vashti's Penitents while unconscious, following the assault described previously. || Terin Realmsreach pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered two League citizens in the city of Temeschwar. || Two members of the Vyig of Temeschwar pleaded guilty ||Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Assault || An assault by the accused upon Jael of Vashti's Penitents while defending a herald || Ox the Crazy pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined one crown ||
|-
| Murder || The accused murdered the previous Grand Bailiff of the Market, Martha of Stockland || Two residents of Ashtown pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Subverting the agencies of the state || The accused was precipitate in taking action regarding a senate motion (about the non-extension of the armistice with the Jotun) which was later vetoed. || Bridget Eastville (nee Talbot) pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined six thrones ||
|-
| Heresy || The accused used his soul as an asset in a contract with the eternal Zand. || Angelo i Jannat i Riqueza pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined three thrones || The fine was instructed to be paid into the Synod Virtue fund
|}

==Reports from 377YE==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Winter Solstice 377YE
|-
| Attempted Murder, Subverting Agencies of the State. || The accused is the leader of the Y'Basden Striding. In battle he repeatedly refused the orders of the battlefield commander and when a runner came to repeat the orders he had him cut down. || Ulrich Y'Basden pleaded not guilty to both charges. || Not guilty of attempted murder<br> Guilty of assault. <br>Guilty of subverting the Agencies of the State.<br>Death by military service. ||
|-
| Poisoning || The accused added liao to the drink of Irontide Groff, an Imperial orc, causing him to be made slightly unwell. At the time the accused believed that a mora shapeshifter was present in the company and the act was performed to identify if the orc was in fact a Mora (he was not). || Lazarus pleaded guilty || Guilty<br> Fined one ring.<br>Ordered to pay one ring in compensation to Irontide Groff. || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Poisoning, assault || The accused used a poisoned blade upon her husband Lord Beaumont before the battle to make him too weak to go (as she feared for his safety). She later cured her husband's ailment he went to do his duty on the battle. || Lady Igraine Novarion pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Ordered to hand over her poisons to her husband prior to the next battle. || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Murder, possession of a Scorpion Sting || The accused murdered Guillmero i Marco i Riqueza using a Scorpion Sting || Maria i Androsin i Erigo leaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution. ||
|-
| Aiding and abetting murder, possession of Scorpion Sting || The accused supplied the Scorpion Sting that was used to murder Guillmero i Marco i Riqueza. || Cain of Cassian Chapter pleaded guilty || Guilty<br> Death by execution. ||
|-
| Assault || The accused accepted a boon of vengeance from a herald of Hayaak and then assaulted General Stanislav in the tavern, against whom he bore a grudge. || Mordin of the Rising Sun Spire pleaded guilty || Guilty<br> Fined two crowns<br>Corvus, Archmage of Summer, will provide (magical) compensation to the victim. ||
|-
| Assault || The orc egregore handed himself in to the militia after he broke the leg of a member of the Irontide who repeatedly insulted a guest. || The Imperial Orc egregore pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined six crowns. ||
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Autumn Equinox 377YE
|-
| Murder || Mother killed an assailant who was witnessed attempting to murder her child. The attacker died very swiftly but no evidence of foul play was presented. || Inga Essing || Not guilty || No record of their plea was made
|-
| Attempt to acquire controlled substance (deadly poison) || A citizen was asked to acquire poison by Emil Darkling for murderous purposes. All witnessed by a member of the militia. The evidence also suggested that Krefinar, landlord of the Artisan Arms had asked Emil Darkling to do this on his behalf. || Emil Darkling pleaded guilty<br>Krefinar || Emil Darkling was found guilty<br>Death by military service.<br>Krefinar was found not guilty || No record of Krefinar's plea was made
|-
| Treason || The accused were captured by members of the league fighting on the side of barbarians against the Empire. || Father Olaf and Ragnar Olafson both pleaded guilty || Father Olaf was found guilty<br>Death by execution<br>Ragnar Olafson pleaded guilty <br>Death by military service ||
|-
| Blasphemy || The accused was witnessed preaching the false virtue of unity. || Faelid pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Death by execution ||
|-
| Blasphemy and Heresy || The accused was condemned by the Synod for the production of an allegedly blasphemous and heretical pamphlet. || Xavier of Urizen || Not guilty ||
|-
| Improper placement of an aura on the senate || The accused placed a calming magical aura on the senate building during the festival of the broken wheel. || Catalynd Enigo pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined three crowns ||
|-
| Attempted false imprisonment and theft || The honourable guild of debt collectors in the league were accused of kidnapping the father of Fiona Mudstrider and attempting to extort a ransom from her. || The honourable guild of debt collectors || Guilty<br>Fined ten crowns || No record of their plea was made
|-
| Manslaughter || A unit led by Nicolo Barossa de Tassato Regario of the league arrested a group of citizens who they believed were heretics while on a mission outside Anvil. Excessive use of force resulted in the death of one of these citizens. || Nicolo Barossa de Tassato Regario pleaded guilty || Guilty<br>Fined seven crowns ||
|-
| Heresy || The accused were arrested by a unit led by Nicolo Barossa de Tassato Regario of the league for carrying out heretical activities. || Mario de Sarvos, Silvos de Sarvos and Isabella de Sarvos || Guilty <br>Death by military service. || No record of their plea was made
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Crimes
! scope="col" style="width: 50%;" | Description
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Accused and Plea
! scope="col" style="width: 10%;" | Result
! scope="col" style="width: 15%;" | Notes
|+ align="top"| Summer Solstice 377YE
|-
| Treason || Seeking to offer weapons to barbarians || Harry Harrold of the Marches || Not guilty ||
|-
| Murder || A citizen taken prisoner in battle || Xavier of Urizen || Guilty<br>Fined twenty crowns || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Murder || In a duel by poison || Solomon of Highguard || Guilty<br>Death by military service || A clemency plea was made
|-
| Murder || In the tavern || Elpidio Floren and Abul Dye || Guilty<br>Death by military service || A clemency plea was made
|}

Imperial sodality

2026-06-03T23:09:10Z

Noserenda: /* Sessions */

<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Lann.png|title=Rune: Lann|align=left|width=200|caption=The [[Lann|Rune of Loyalty]] is often used as a symbol for the idea of an Imperial sodality, and evoked in the creation of a [[Mark of Fellowship]].}}</div>
==Overview==
There are countless organisations in the Empire that have grown in influence and membership beyond the confines of a single nation. These groups and institutions are commonly referred to as sodalities. Most of them do not benefit from any formal recognition by the [[Imperial Senate]] and those with subversive or criminal intent have every reason to avoid it. However, if a group wish to wield legal powers collectively, they must petition the Senate to pass a [[senate motion|motion]] to recognise them as an Imperial sodality.

To be recognised in this way, a fellowship must have a manifesto, a clear statement as to its purpose and responsibilities, and a known symbol. Creating a sodality requires a constitutional vote, so it is only possible to do so when there is an occupant of [[the Throne]] who can ratify the vote.

A new Imperial title is automatically created when a sodality is recognised by the Senate. The position must be elected by members of the sodality and it is their responsibility to represent their sodalities' views to other parts of the Empire and to be responsible for recruitment of new members and for advancing the sodality's goals and the member's interests.

==Role within the Empire==
* '''A sodality has primacy within the remit of its responsibilities'''
* '''Creating a new sodality constrains the other houses of power'''
* '''A sodality cannot have concerns and responsibilities that overlap unnecessarily with another branch of government'''
Imperial sodalities exist to allow the Senate to create new bodies of state, ones that have responsibility for a distinct area of concern. A group only becomes an Imperial sodality when its existence is formally recognised with a [[Senate motion]] with a clear manifesto.

A sodality ''must'' have a responsibility for a distinct area of concern. Each sodality has primacy within the remit of its own area of responsibility. If the Senate approves a specific purpose for a sodality, then ''only'' that sodality can employ legal powers within that area of responsibility. It is unconstitutional for any other house to employ powers that transgress on the sodalities responsibilities.

Because only a single body may have primacy, creating a sodality removes that concern from any other house of power. At the point where the Empire created the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]] - with responsibility for the arts of the apothecary, then the Imperial Conclave can no longer exercise power over potions or similar consumables. Each sodality must be clearly unique - the Senate cannot create a second sodality with competing responsibilities, since then it would be impossible to determine which sodality had primacy.

==Sessions==
* '''A sodality can wield its powers during a formal session by upholding one or more resolutions'''
* '''The civil service will arrange for at least one session for each sodality at every summit'''

A sodality must be in session to wield its powers. The time and location of a formal session of every Imperial sodality is set by the [[Civil Service|civil service]], just as it is for the Imperial Senate. They arrange each session and publish the time and location in advance of each summit. By default, sessions take place in [[Anvil#The_Sodality_Chamber|the Sodality Chamber]], if scheduling allows. The civil service will arrange additional sessions if they determine they are appropriate.

The sodality can wield any powers they possess by passing resolutions during a session. A resolution is passed if a simple majority of members present vote to support it. For a resolution with multiple different candidates or options, only the choice that gains the most support passes. Any member of the sodality can add a resolution to the agenda by raising the matter with an appropriate member of the civil service before the session begins. Otherwise they will need to raise the resolution personally at the end of the session after all other business is concluded.

A civil servant will be present at the beginning of any session, to notarise any resolutions passed. They are only required to attend for sufficient time for the sodality to enact any powers they hold. If the sodality do not discharge their legal business in a timely manner, addressing any resolutions on the agenda first, and after an appropriate amount of discussion, then the civil servant is under no obligation to remain present.

==Participation==
Any Imperial citizen who is a [[member of a sodality]], or is a [[Civil Service|civil servant]], is free to enter the chamber and speak therein while the sodality is in session. The sodality is free to permit citizens who are not otherwise eligible to enter and to speak if they choose to do so. Such guests may be asked to be quiet at any point, and treated as [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_against_the_Person|unwelcome guest]] if they refuse.

In addition, the [[Member_of_the_Synod#Witness|right of witness]] ensures that every member of the [[Synod]] is entitled to observe the session. As with other bodies of state, members of the Synod may not participate in the session unless they are also a member of the sodality, and can expect to be expelled if they are disruptive.

==Limitations==
===Manifesto===
* '''Each sodality much have a manifesto'''
* '''A valid manifesto makes three concise assertions of the things that members believe'''
* '''A valid manifesto has three clear statements expressing what the sodality exists to do'''

A sodality only becomes an Imperial sodality when its existence is formally recognised with a [[Senate motion]] that explicitly names the sodality and lists its goals. The goals enumerated in the Senate motion must encapsulate the sodality's purpose. To ensure that the purpose is clear a sodality is expected to provide a clear, '''concise''' manifesto that makes three assertions and three statements, in a similar format to those adopted by the [[Conclave order|orders]] of the [[Conclave]].

All Senate motions are subject to [[scrutiny]] by the Constitutional Court who study the wording to ensure that it is compatible with [[Imperial law]] and the [[Imperial Constitution]]. The Court pay special attention to the enumerated goals of any sodality and are likely to reject anything that is overly long or broad or which tramples on the responsibilities of an established part of the Imperial government or even another sodality.

It is not possible to grant legal powers to a sodality that do not naturally accord with the responsibilities outlined in the group's manifesto.

===Veto===
* '''A resolution to employ a legal power must be announced to the Senate'''
* '''Legal powers employed by a sodality are subject to veto by the Synod and the Throne'''
All resolutions by a sodality to use a legal power must be announced in the Senate before they can be effective. At that point they are subject to veto by [[the Throne]] if they are present.

The same remit governs the actions of sodalities, so the [[Synod]] can veto the announcement of any legal power enacted by a sodality. Any legal power that would have constitutional implications could be vetoed by the General Assembly or by the Assembly of Nine, and any normal legal power could be vetoed once per summit. A decision that is vetoed cannot be revisited before the start of the next summit.

===Dissolution===
* '''The Imperial Senate can dissolve a sodality with a a constitutional vote of the Senate'''

The Senate can dissolve an existing sodality with a constitutional [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Conclave_Orders|vote of the Senate]]. If a sodality is dissolved, than any Imperial titles that are appointed by that sodality that are not explicitly resigned to new appointment methods are abrogated.

==Upkeep==
* '''The cost to the Imperial treasury is four thrones per season per sodality'''

The civil service are required by law to keep careful records of which citizens are members of an Imperial sodality so that they can support the sodality's ability to elect a speaker and enact any other powers they have. The more sodalities that exist, the more expensive this operation becomes. By default, the upkeep for each sodality is four thrones a season.

An [[opportunity]] to grant an existing Imperial sodality additional new legal powers or abilities may explicitly include an increase in the sodality's upkeep to reflect the benefits.

{{Sodality Further Reading}}

On the road ahead

2026-05-30T21:10:11Z

Noserenda: /* City of Passions */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]]
<quote by="Stanzas of a common drinking song sung by Freeborn explorers of Old Anduz, each participant improvises a verse in turn">
''Deep down into old Anduz<br>
''No ghosts for us to fear<br>
''At least no ghosts of freeborn haunt<br>
''Though others may be near<br>
''I'm with my friend, a brave kohan<br>
''Plus Dust and Flame and Glass<br>
''If I misstep, start to fall<br>
''I trust they'll save my ass

''Deep down into old Anduz<br>
''A fortune waits us there<br>
''Of peoples long forgotten now<br>
''Gone longer than my hair!<br>
''I'll tell the local Hakima<br>
''I paid all care and due<br>
''Though if I'm really honest<br>
''I haven't got a clue!

''Deep down into old Anduz<br>
''We're down here on a lark<br>
''I'm trying to impress a girl<br>
''Ignite some kind of spark<br>
''She's daughter of an old Corsair<br>
''Who has no sense of humour<br>
''I heard she knows a special trick<br>
''If you believe the rumour
</quote>
<div style="float:left; width: 40%;; clear: right; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=FreebornShelter.jpg|align=right|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
For the first time in many seasons, the lands of the Freeborn are not immediately threatened. The forces of the Jotun continue to press into [[the Marches]], while the [[Grendel]] attempt to [[Deep_blue_sea#As_The_Gull_Flies|catch the Red Wind Corsairs]] has been countered by Freeborn cunning. The [[Children of Wrecks]] have taken loss after catastophic loss and are now under attack by the [[Iron Confederacy]]. The apperance of the Surrani is worrying, they've laid claim to the [[Feroz#Cazar_Straits|Cazar Straits in Feroz]], but they show no sign of attacking the mainland.

With a chance to draw breath, the inhabitants of the ancient town of [[Segura#Anduz|Anduz]] are looking for new opportunties for their home. The land has been transformed in recent years, the influx of the Zemress Islanders and the re-establishment of the Towers of Anduz have brought [[Prosperity]] to the grasses of Segura. But the potential of Anduz remains untapped.

The place is steeped in history, it was a city here long before the Empire was created, before even the [[The_Brass_Coast_history#Three_Sisters_of_Highguard|Three Sisters]] ever came to [[the Brass Coast]]. That city was destroyed long ago, but in Anduz, the ruins of the past are the foundations of the future. As the Freeborn settled the ruins, they created new homes from the stone of the abandoned buildings.

The place was sacked by the Lasambrians in 363 and two decades later, the shattered ruins of Anduz have become difficult to distinguish from the ruins of Old Anduz from which they were originally built. In Anduz it has always been so, take from the past the things the dead no longer need and refashion them as a gift for the living. The ruins are like [[The_Brass_Coast_hearth_magic#Clothing|old clothing]], handed down from one generation to the next. The fabric cut and resown to make a new garment each time.

Inspired by the burgeoning spirit of the new age, folk are searching for inspiration. From the ruins of old Anduz, what new future might yet arise?

==City of Adventure==
* '''An edifice could be built to celebrate the city's position as a gateway to adventure'''
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create a new Brass Coast archetype committed to blazing new trails'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Adventure'''

<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Brazen Propylaeum'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 [[white granite]], 5 [[mithril]], and 90 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Erects a new propylaeum on the south side of the city
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Trailblazer, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become a city of adventure
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
Anduz has always been a gateway to adventure. When the Freeborn first came to Segura they discovered the remains of an abandoned city. The ruins squatted on the roads leading south, past the Lasambrians to the lands of the Surrani and West towards the Faraden. Trade flowed into the Brass Coast, despite the predations of bandits - while adventure often began here, precisely because of them. Some came to Anduz seeking to explore the ruins themselves. Many simply used the settlement as a stopping off point, a place to begin their journey as they blazed a trail into the unknown.

Some Anduzers claim the city's history represents the epitome of what it really means to be Freeborn - a commitment to throw yourself into every endeavour no matter how long the odds, no matter the risks. ''“Life is short — let it never be dull!”'' is the nation's defining motto, and those early trailblazers certainly embodied that. Seeking out adventure wherever it is found, never allowing themselves to stop and worry what might go wrong. People committed to excitement and adventure whenever it presented the opportunity.

On the South side of the city lie the ruins of an ancient propylaeum, a huge stone gateway that once arched over the road south. Built not to protect Anduz but to inspire Ambition and make the souls of those arriving or leaving, soar. Torn down centuries ago by raiders, some dhomiro are hoping to persuade the city's backers to restore the epic gateway so that it can once again serve as an inspiration to visitors.

The work is not cheap, the Propylaeum would require 25 wains of white granite, 5 wains of mithril and 120 crowns. The idea is to alloy the mithril with brass to give the structure a beautiful brazen sheen when the sun illuminates it. But if the Freeborn National Assembly backed the creation of the Brazen Propylaeum, it would help to inspire adventurers and thrillseekers across the nation. The rash, the bold, and the brazen would draw inspiration from the epic structure. It would encourage trailblazers, people unafraid to challenge convention and to eager to commit to any endeavour no matter how difficult or dangerous it might be.

{{Mandate|mandate=Life is short, let it never be dull! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Freeborn to be blaze new trails. Aim high and pursue your dreams, no matter the dangers.|assembly=Brass Coast National Assembly}}

If the Brazen Propylaeum is completed and this mandate is enacted then it will encourage citizens across the Brass Coast to celebrate the trailblazers amongst them - they will applaud those Freeborn who are committed to overcoming challenges, regardless of the costs and heedless of the risks. The Freeborn have always craved adventure and excitement, these trailblazers would epitomise that willingness to throw themselves into any endeavour, no matter how risky or outrageous. ('''OOC Note:''' We will add the trailblazer archetype to the Brass Coast character options).

Perhaps most importantly of all, the Brazen Propylaeum would cement the nature of Anduz as a city of adventure at the dawn of a new age. [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Names|Names]], as any wise magician can tell you, have ''power''. One of the most subtle hearth magics, the name of a thing can influence it's nature and change it's fate. If Anduz becomes the City of Adventure, then any future [[opportunity|opportunities]] involving the city and the surrounding territory are more likely to reflect it's commitment to adventure.

==City of Deals==
* '''An edifice could be built to celebrate the city's position as a mercantile hub'''
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create a new Brass Coast archetype committed to cutting a deal and turning a profit'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Deals'''

<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of a Thousand Sails'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 [[white granite]] and 15 [[weirwood]], and 90 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Restores the Market of a Thousand Sails to its former glory
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Hawker, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become the City of Deals
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
There was a time when Anduz was one of the richest cities on the Brass Coast. When the Towers of Anduz were first completed, the city became a marketplace for every imaginable trade, drawing merchants from foreign lands to hawk their wares at the legendary Market of a Thousand Sails. This vast outdoor market housed a thousand stalls, each one covered with a colourful tarpaulin fashioned from sailcloth. At the height of its power, Anduz was not just rich but important. The presence of so many wealthy dhomiro merchants in the city bred influence and power. Anduz was a place where the Prosperous truly understood that ''"all things can have a price."'

At the height of its power, the merchants who worked the market place were called hawkers. Prosperous to a fault, they would ply their trade, hawking their goods to any who would listen. Always eager to cut a deal and make a profit, the most successful amongst them grew fabulously wealthy but they kept the name, to let others know that they were open to any proposition. Entrepreneurs, they understood that anything that could be bought and sold, could yield a profit. The hawkers would compete with each other on price, but they were united in fierce defence of their right to trade freely with each other. The Freeborn have always outlawed slavery, but it was said that anything else for sale in the world could be bought in the Market of a Thousand Sails.

There are still plenty of hawkers in the nation, some are aspiring business owners, looking to make their first throne by hawking their wares. Some are wealthy merchants committed to increasing their power by cutting deals. But the market of a thousand sails is gone, long since destroyed by the Lasambrians who burned the stalls and stole the bright sailcloth. With it, the focus of Anduz was lost and the prominence of its wealthy merchants declined.

It is time to arrest that decline? The remains of the Market are still there - some of the stone could be reused. New stalls could be erected, new sails could be woven. The Market of a Thousand Sails could be relaunched and with it the hopes and aspirations of the city of Anduz. It would not be cheap, a massive marketplace on this scale is an ambitious endeavour that would require 15 white granite, 15 weirwood and 90 crowns. But if it were endorsed by the Freeborn National Assembly, then it would help to inspire not just wealthy Freeborn but those who were hungry to join their ranks. It would remind everyone of the Freeborn belief that the fairest way to reckon the worth of something is to put a price on it. Enterprising merchants with money would be reminded that it is ''Prosperous'' to spend that wealth to wield power and influence. It would encourage Freeborn to seize the mantle of the hawkers, and embrace every opportunity to cut a deal.

{{Mandate|mandate=All things can have a price. We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Freeborn to hawk their wares to all and sundry. Strive, toil, and claim the just rewards of your labours!|assembly=Brass Coast National Assembly}}

If the Market of a Thousand Sails is completed and this mandate is enacted then it will encourage citizens across the Brass Coast to celebrate the hawkers amongst them. They will applaud those Freeborn who are committed to taking every opportunity to turn a profit, ignoring those who called for propriety or charity. The Hawkers were always committed to the idea that the items one traded should be too the conscience of the trader, and were staunch activists against the interdictions of the conclave, the proscriptions of the synod and the prohibitions of the senate. The Freeborn have always been comfortable peddling influence as easily as other nations sell wares, these hawkers would epitomise that willingness to cut a deal, no matter how risky or outrageous. ('''OOC Note:''' We will add the hawker archetype to the Brass Coast character options).

Perhaps most importantly of all, the Market would cement the nature of Anduz as a city of deals at this moment when the stars have aligned. An epithet for a city is no small thing - if Anduz becomes the City of Deals, then any future opportunities involving the city and the surrounding territory are more likely to reflect it's commitment to pursue wealth and the influence it brings.

==City of Passions==
* '''An edifice could be built to commemorate the city's history as the birthplace of the firebrands
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create a new Brass Coast archetype committed to championing social causes'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Passions'''
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Burning Agora'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 [[weirwood]], 10 [[white granite]] and 90 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates the Burning Agora, a torchlit public space dedicated to the passionate exchange of ideas
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Firebrand, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become the City of Passions
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Anduz has always been a cosmopolitan city, a place where people thrived and ideas with them. Arguments were common place, often heated and passionate, but rarely would they come to blows. The Freeborn philosophy is that society is best served when every individual is responsible for themselves and to themselves. They left Highguard looking for a chance to make a new future for themselves, not to impose one on others. The city was known for it's passions, the high-minded ideals of its priests and sutannir and the dedication of its inhabitants to fight for the things they believed in.

Maria i Contero i Guerra, the wife of [[Emperor Ahraz]] was born here, and many of the Firebrands, the followers of the young Emperor owned resources in the city at that time. The city has a storied reputation as a place where people pursue Virtue, the way a corsair pursues a prize ship. A place where a passionate commitment to an ideal is regarded as more important to the Way than doctrine or dogma. Emperor Ahraz is long dead, but many in Anduz carry a torch for their adopted son. Those embers have been fanned into a raging fire by the recent publication of the [[The Courage of Ahraz|dramatic events of the doomed Emperor's life and death]].

More controversially, there are some (especially the Riquezans) with growing concerns about the exact nature and intention of the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]]. The goal to spread the Way of Virtue to the whole world is a laudable goal, yet, what version of the Way? There is a fear that the Highborn may seek to use the Grand Inspiration to try to push a rigidly-orthodox interpretation of doctrine and in doing so, stifle a commitment to a Virtuous life.

As a counterweight to this "Grand" Inspiration, these concerned citizens propose the construction of an open space in the centre of Anduz, a torchlit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agora agora] where people can exchange ideas in passionate debate. Segura is almost as far as you can get from [[Bastion]] and still be in the Empire, what better place for a safe haven for those who would seek to ask the right question and courageously face any unwelcome truths that might be found? Not a place for heretics or idolators, but for those who want to pursue a Virtuous way to live their lives without tied down by dogma.

The Burning Agora would cost 20 wains of weirwood, 10 wains of white granite and 90 crowns. It would need to be a substantial affair, lit with torches rather than lightstones, so that [[The_Brass_Coast_religious_beliefs#Dust,_Flame,_and_Glass|the Freeborn love of flame]] could inspire speakers and listeners alike. If it were commissioned, the Freeborn National Assembly could use a mandate to endorse its construction and the legacy of Ahraz and those who followed him. If that happened it would inspire orators and idealists across the Coast to pursue their beliefs. The impassioned, the driven, those who believed in a cause would draw inspiration from the grand structure. It would encourage firebrands, people unafraid to challenge the powerful and to prepared to commit to their cause no matter the cost.

{{Mandate|mandate=We prize freedom and disdain arrogance. We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage the citizens of Segura to create a place to discuss where doctrine and encourage free thinkers. Every being deserves to live the life they want in the manner they wish.|assembly=Brass Coast National Assembly}}

If the Burning Agora is completed and this mandate is enacted then it will encourage citizens across the Brass Coast to celebrate the legacy of the firebrands - the historical example set by the followers of Emperor Ahraz as well as those living exemplars who share their forebear's commitment to Virtue without doubt or fear, regardless of the disapproval of others. The Freeborn have always prized freedom and responsibility and disdained arrogance, these firebrands would epitomise that willingness to challenge authority as they sought ways to make the Empire live up to its ideals, no matter how much opprobrium they faced. ('''OOC Note:''' We will add the firebrand archetype to the Brass Coast character options).

Crucially, the Burning Agora would dedicate the soul of Anduz to the passionate pursuit of ideals, during a time of revelation. If Anduz becomes the City of Passions, then any future opportunities involving the city and the surrounding territory are more likely to reflect it's commitment to idealism.

==City of Wonders==
* '''A single commission could attempt to build all three edifices to transform the city's future'''
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create three new Brass Coast archetypes'''
* '''It would require a piece of art to inspire the project provided by the Cat's Graces or similar'''
* '''Anduzers will provide a purse of 20 crowns to reward the winning artist'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Wonders'''
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Dust, Glass and Flame'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 [[white granite]], 35 [[weirwood]], 5 [[mithril]], 30 [[ilium]] and 120 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires a foundational piece of art depicting the new city to inspire architects
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates the Burning Agora, a torchlit public space dedicated to the passionate exchange of ideas
* Erects a new propylaeum on the south side of the city
* Restores the Market of a Thousand Sails to its former glory
* Enchants the Fountain of Wonders at the centre of the city
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Firebrand, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Hawker, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Trailblazer, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become the City of Wonders
</td></tr>
</table></div>

Of course nobody can agree on what ''should'' be built, so inevitably someone asks why can't they build them all? That turns out to have two major problems. The first is that each of the commissions draws on the powerful hearth magic of names to influence the nature of the city. Anduz ''can't'' be the City of Deals, Passions and Adventure - magic doesn't work like that. But if magic is a problem, then why not use magic to solve it?

Instead of building one of the commissions, the Brass Coast could attempt a single ''grand'' project, that one romantic fool calls "Dust, Glass and Flame". The actual idea is to build all three edifices, but to include a grand fountain at the centre of the city, one permanently enchanted with ilium by the hakima to invoke wonder. It would require a lot of ilium - 30 rings in total, but that would be sufficient to balance the influence of the three individual structures and bind them all together to serve the city harmoniously.

<div style="float:right; width: 350px; margin-left: 10px; clear: right;"><box>'''OOC Note'''<br>Empire includes a large element of hard skills - the success and triumphs that your character has on the field are often down to your abilities as a player, whether that's fighting in battle, trading in the Bourse or giving a speech in the Senate. For that reason we would politely ask participants to only submit original compositions created by participants in the game. This competition is a chance for the many fantastic artists in the Empire community to achieve glory. It's fine for a player-character to hire another player-character if they pay them with in-character funds, but generative AI can't be used in Empire and submitting a piece of art that was purchased out-of-character, or created by someone who isn't an active participant in Empire is outside of the spirit of this contest.</box></div>

At least it would if the designs were coherent. And therein lies the second problem. The plans for each of the three edifices have been created independently - at the moment the styles and arrangements don't quite gel. If it were just a matter of artistic choices that wouldn't be vital, but when trying to take advantage of hearth magic in this way it is ''vital'' that everything gels together.

To solve ''that'' problem, the hakima suggest that asking the ''Cat Graces'' to hold a contest to create a foundational piece of art, once it is confirmed as a [[Imperial sodality|sodality]] by the Imperial Senate. What is needed is an artists impression of New Anduz to set the tone for the redevelopment of the whole city. The designs for the Agora, the Propylaeum and the Market could be updated to reflect the art produced. (The National Assembly would have to take up the challenge of organising an appropriate contest if the sodality fails to pass the Senate). The contest needs to challenge artists to create a beautiful piece of art depicting the new city, something to capture the imagination and inspire those who see it. Then the sodality need to pick the best one. Once a copy of the winning artwork is provided to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], inhabitants of the city will provide the artist who created it with a purse of 20 crowns in reward for their efforts.

That leaves one final issue that is not so easily overcome. The cost. Creating all three edifices - and a huge magical fountain to tie them all together is exciting, it's romantic, it fires the imagination. It's also very expensive. Can the Brass Coast really afford it? Each of three individual edifices is a tall order, they're large impressive structures that would need a lot of investment. Any one of them could change the fate of Anduz and help bolster the fortunes of the nation. Just completing one would be a challenge and require everyone to pull together. It's a great accomplishment to achieve any one of these.

It might appeal to the heart to try and do it all, but it's not the most efficient way to restore the fate of Anduz and even suggesting it, risks embracing the idea in a fit of enthusiasm and then discovering a year or more down the line that they can't raise the funds. The fate of Anduz is to continue its slow decline if nothing is done - the worst thing that could happen is to choose the most expensive option and then for it to languish for years unfunded. After all, look what happened to the [[Construct_Grand_Inspiration_of_the_Way|Grand Inspiration of the Way]], two years have gone by and still not complete...

The nation would be ill-advised to attempt the most dramatic development of Anduz, unless there is genuine support to ensure that the resources are there to ensure it can be built.

On the other hand, if it could be done, it would transform the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Wonders. The place would rival the great cities of the Empire, and any future opportunities involving the city and the surrounding territory would be more likely to reflect it's nature as a city of wealth and adventure that embraced novelty and new ideas.

==City of Stones==
* '''If nothing is commissioned, or no work begins within a year then Anduz will gain the ruins quality'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Stones'''

If nothing is done, if this opportunity to determine the fate of Anduz passes unmarked, then the city will continue much as it always has. Anduzjasse would gain the '''ruins''' quality, as the focus of people who living there turns to survival among the remnants of a previous age. That will happen if nothing is commissioned, or if one of the edifices is commissioned but a year passes with no progress on the building. If that happens, the city would gain the moniker the City of Stones and future [[opportunity|opportunities]] would reflect the focus on survival over success.

==Timing==
* '''The three mandates are not competing, the Freeborn National Assembly can pass any or all of them'''
* '''The mandates are only available at this summit'''
* '''The mandates have no effect unless the commission associated with them is built'''

Each of the three mandates is only available at the forthcoming summit. They are ''not'' competing mandates, the Freeborn National Assembly could pass some or all of them, but they must be enacted in the coming season, otherwise the opportunity to benefit is lost.

None of the mandates will have any effect until the commission it is associated with is built, either the single edifice linked to that mandate, or the grand edifice, Dust, Glass and Flame, that is linked to all three mandates.

The Freeborn Assembly does not have to pass all the mandates. The Empire can build one of the three edifices, or the grand commission that combines them all, but the Assembly can pick and choose which mandates they wish to enact. They could skip one or more of the mandates for any reason.
==Further Reading==
* [[Segura]]

On the road ahead

2026-05-30T21:07:57Z

Noserenda: /* City of Deals */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]]
<quote by="Stanzas of a common drinking song sung by Freeborn explorers of Old Anduz, each participant improvises a verse in turn">
''Deep down into old Anduz<br>
''No ghosts for us to fear<br>
''At least no ghosts of freeborn haunt<br>
''Though others may be near<br>
''I'm with my friend, a brave kohan<br>
''Plus Dust and Flame and Glass<br>
''If I misstep, start to fall<br>
''I trust they'll save my ass

''Deep down into old Anduz<br>
''A fortune waits us there<br>
''Of peoples long forgotten now<br>
''Gone longer than my hair!<br>
''I'll tell the local Hakima<br>
''I paid all care and due<br>
''Though if I'm really honest<br>
''I haven't got a clue!

''Deep down into old Anduz<br>
''We're down here on a lark<br>
''I'm trying to impress a girl<br>
''Ignite some kind of spark<br>
''She's daughter of an old Corsair<br>
''Who has no sense of humour<br>
''I heard she knows a special trick<br>
''If you believe the rumour
</quote>
<div style="float:left; width: 40%;; clear: right; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=FreebornShelter.jpg|align=right|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
For the first time in many seasons, the lands of the Freeborn are not immediately threatened. The forces of the Jotun continue to press into [[the Marches]], while the [[Grendel]] attempt to [[Deep_blue_sea#As_The_Gull_Flies|catch the Red Wind Corsairs]] has been countered by Freeborn cunning. The [[Children of Wrecks]] have taken loss after catastophic loss and are now under attack by the [[Iron Confederacy]]. The apperance of the Surrani is worrying, they've laid claim to the [[Feroz#Cazar_Straits|Cazar Straits in Feroz]], but they show no sign of attacking the mainland.

With a chance to draw breath, the inhabitants of the ancient town of [[Segura#Anduz|Anduz]] are looking for new opportunties for their home. The land has been transformed in recent years, the influx of the Zemress Islanders and the re-establishment of the Towers of Anduz have brought [[Prosperity]] to the grasses of Segura. But the potential of Anduz remains untapped.

The place is steeped in history, it was a city here long before the Empire was created, before even the [[The_Brass_Coast_history#Three_Sisters_of_Highguard|Three Sisters]] ever came to [[the Brass Coast]]. That city was destroyed long ago, but in Anduz, the ruins of the past are the foundations of the future. As the Freeborn settled the ruins, they created new homes from the stone of the abandoned buildings.

The place was sacked by the Lasambrians in 363 and two decades later, the shattered ruins of Anduz have become difficult to distinguish from the ruins of Old Anduz from which they were originally built. In Anduz it has always been so, take from the past the things the dead no longer need and refashion them as a gift for the living. The ruins are like [[The_Brass_Coast_hearth_magic#Clothing|old clothing]], handed down from one generation to the next. The fabric cut and resown to make a new garment each time.

Inspired by the burgeoning spirit of the new age, folk are searching for inspiration. From the ruins of old Anduz, what new future might yet arise?

==City of Adventure==
* '''An edifice could be built to celebrate the city's position as a gateway to adventure'''
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create a new Brass Coast archetype committed to blazing new trails'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Adventure'''

<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Brazen Propylaeum'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 [[white granite]], 5 [[mithril]], and 90 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Erects a new propylaeum on the south side of the city
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Trailblazer, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become a city of adventure
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
Anduz has always been a gateway to adventure. When the Freeborn first came to Segura they discovered the remains of an abandoned city. The ruins squatted on the roads leading south, past the Lasambrians to the lands of the Surrani and West towards the Faraden. Trade flowed into the Brass Coast, despite the predations of bandits - while adventure often began here, precisely because of them. Some came to Anduz seeking to explore the ruins themselves. Many simply used the settlement as a stopping off point, a place to begin their journey as they blazed a trail into the unknown.

Some Anduzers claim the city's history represents the epitome of what it really means to be Freeborn - a commitment to throw yourself into every endeavour no matter how long the odds, no matter the risks. ''“Life is short — let it never be dull!”'' is the nation's defining motto, and those early trailblazers certainly embodied that. Seeking out adventure wherever it is found, never allowing themselves to stop and worry what might go wrong. People committed to excitement and adventure whenever it presented the opportunity.

On the South side of the city lie the ruins of an ancient propylaeum, a huge stone gateway that once arched over the road south. Built not to protect Anduz but to inspire Ambition and make the souls of those arriving or leaving, soar. Torn down centuries ago by raiders, some dhomiro are hoping to persuade the city's backers to restore the epic gateway so that it can once again serve as an inspiration to visitors.

The work is not cheap, the Propylaeum would require 25 wains of white granite, 5 wains of mithril and 120 crowns. The idea is to alloy the mithril with brass to give the structure a beautiful brazen sheen when the sun illuminates it. But if the Freeborn National Assembly backed the creation of the Brazen Propylaeum, it would help to inspire adventurers and thrillseekers across the nation. The rash, the bold, and the brazen would draw inspiration from the epic structure. It would encourage trailblazers, people unafraid to challenge convention and to eager to commit to any endeavour no matter how difficult or dangerous it might be.

{{Mandate|mandate=Life is short, let it never be dull! We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Freeborn to be blaze new trails. Aim high and pursue your dreams, no matter the dangers.|assembly=Brass Coast National Assembly}}

If the Brazen Propylaeum is completed and this mandate is enacted then it will encourage citizens across the Brass Coast to celebrate the trailblazers amongst them - they will applaud those Freeborn who are committed to overcoming challenges, regardless of the costs and heedless of the risks. The Freeborn have always craved adventure and excitement, these trailblazers would epitomise that willingness to throw themselves into any endeavour, no matter how risky or outrageous. ('''OOC Note:''' We will add the trailblazer archetype to the Brass Coast character options).

Perhaps most importantly of all, the Brazen Propylaeum would cement the nature of Anduz as a city of adventure at the dawn of a new age. [[Wintermark_hearth_magic#Names|Names]], as any wise magician can tell you, have ''power''. One of the most subtle hearth magics, the name of a thing can influence it's nature and change it's fate. If Anduz becomes the City of Adventure, then any future [[opportunity|opportunities]] involving the city and the surrounding territory are more likely to reflect it's commitment to adventure.

==City of Deals==
* '''An edifice could be built to celebrate the city's position as a mercantile hub'''
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create a new Brass Coast archetype committed to cutting a deal and turning a profit'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Deals'''

<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Market of a Thousand Sails'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 [[white granite]] and 15 [[weirwood]], and 90 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Restores the Market of a Thousand Sails to its former glory
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Hawker, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become the City of Deals
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
There was a time when Anduz was one of the richest cities on the Brass Coast. When the Towers of Anduz were first completed, the city became a marketplace for every imaginable trade, drawing merchants from foreign lands to hawk their wares at the legendary Market of a Thousand Sails. This vast outdoor market housed a thousand stalls, each one covered with a colourful tarpaulin fashioned from sailcloth. At the height of its power, Anduz was not just rich but important. The presence of so many wealthy dhomiro merchants in the city bred influence and power. Anduz was a place where the Prosperous truly understood that ''"all things can have a price."'

At the height of its power, the merchants who worked the market place were called hawkers. Prosperous to a fault, they would ply their trade, hawking their goods to any who would listen. Always eager to cut a deal and make a profit, the most successful amongst them grew fabulously wealthy but they kept the name, to let others know that they were open to any proposition. Entrepreneurs, they understood that anything that could be bought and sold, could yield a profit. The hawkers would compete with each other on price, but they were united in fierce defence of their right to trade freely with each other. The Freeborn have always outlawed slavery, but it was said that anything else for sale in the world could be bought in the Market of a Thousand Sails.

There are still plenty of hawkers in the nation, some are aspiring business owners, looking to make their first throne by hawking their wares. Some are wealthy merchants committed to increasing their power by cutting deals. But the market of a thousand sails is gone, long since destroyed by the Lasambrians who burned the stalls and stole the bright sailcloth. With it, the focus of Anduz was lost and the prominence of its wealthy merchants declined.

It is time to arrest that decline? The remains of the Market are still there - some of the stone could be reused. New stalls could be erected, new sails could be woven. The Market of a Thousand Sails could be relaunched and with it the hopes and aspirations of the city of Anduz. It would not be cheap, a massive marketplace on this scale is an ambitious endeavour that would require 15 white granite, 15 weirwood and 90 crowns. But if it were endorsed by the Freeborn National Assembly, then it would help to inspire not just wealthy Freeborn but those who were hungry to join their ranks. It would remind everyone of the Freeborn belief that the fairest way to reckon the worth of something is to put a price on it. Enterprising merchants with money would be reminded that it is ''Prosperous'' to spend that wealth to wield power and influence. It would encourage Freeborn to seize the mantle of the hawkers, and embrace every opportunity to cut a deal.

{{Mandate|mandate=All things can have a price. We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage the Freeborn to hawk their wares to all and sundry. Strive, toil, and claim the just rewards of your labours!|assembly=Brass Coast National Assembly}}

If the Market of a Thousand Sails is completed and this mandate is enacted then it will encourage citizens across the Brass Coast to celebrate the hawkers amongst them. They will applaud those Freeborn who are committed to taking every opportunity to turn a profit, ignoring those who called for propriety or charity. The Hawkers were always committed to the idea that the items one traded should be too the conscience of the trader, and were staunch activists against the interdictions of the conclave, the proscriptions of the synod and the prohibitions of the senate. The Freeborn have always been comfortable peddling influence as easily as other nations sell wares, these hawkers would epitomise that willingness to cut a deal, no matter how risky or outrageous. ('''OOC Note:''' We will add the hawker archetype to the Brass Coast character options).

Perhaps most importantly of all, the Market would cement the nature of Anduz as a city of deals at this moment when the stars have aligned. An epithet for a city is no small thing - if Anduz becomes the City of Deals, then any future opportunities involving the city and the surrounding territory are more likely to reflect it's commitment to pursue wealth and the influence it brings.

==City of Passions==
* '''An edifice could be built to commemorate the city's history as the birthplace of the firebrands
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create a new Brass Coast archetype committed to championing social causes'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Passions'''
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''The Burning Agora'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 [[weirwood]], 10 [[white granite]] and 90 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates the Burning Agora, a torchlit public space dedicated to the passionate exchange of ideas
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Firebrand, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become the City of Passions
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

Anduz has always been a cosmopolitan city, a place where people thrived and ideas with them. Arguments were common place, often heated and passionate, but rarely would they come to blows. The Freeborn philosophy is that society is best served when every individual is responsible for themselves and to themselves. They left Highguard looking for a chance to make a new future for themselves, not to impose one on others. The city was known for it's passions, the high-minded ideals of its priests and sutannir and the dedication of its inhabitants to fight for the things they believed in.

Maria i Contero i Guerra, the wife of [[Emperor Ahraz]] was born here, and many of the Firebrands, the followers of the young Emperor owned resources in the city at that time. The city has a storied reputation as a place where people pursue Virtue, the way a corsair pursues a prize ship. A place where a passionate commitment to an ideal is regarded as more important to the Way than doctrine or dogma. Emperor Ahraz is long dead, but many in Anduz carry a torch for their adopted son. Those embers have been fanned into a raging fire by the recent publication of the [[The Courage of Ahraz|dramatic events of the doomed Emperor's life and death]].

More controversially, there are some (especially the Riquezans) with growing concerns about the exact nature and intention of the [[Blood_will_thicken#A_Question_of_Scale|Grand Inspiration of the Way]]. The goal to spread the Way of Virtue to the whole world is a laudable goal, yet, what version of the Way? There is a fear that the Highborn may seek to use the Grand Inspiration to try to push a rigidly-orthodox interpretation of doctrine and in doing so, stifle a commitment to a Virtuous life.

As a counterweight to this "Grand" Inspiration, these concerned citizens propose the construction of an open space in the centre of Anduz, a torchlit [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agora agora] where people can exchange ideas in passionate debate. Segura is almost as far as you can get from [[Bastion]] and still be in the Empire, what better place for a safe haven for those who would seek to ask the right question and courageously face any unwelcome truths that might be found? Not a place for heretics or idolators, but for those who want to pursue a Virtuous way to live their lives without tied down by dogma.

The Burning Agora would cost 20 wains of weirwood, 10 wains of white granite and 90 crowns. It would need to be a substantial affair, lit with torches rather than lightstones, so that [[The_Brass_Coast_religious_beliefs#Dust,_Flame,_and_Glass|the Freeborn love of flame]] could inspire speakers and listeners alike. If it were commissioned, the Freeborn National Assembly could use a mandate to endorse its construction and the legacy of Ahraz and those who followed him. If that happened it would inspire orators and idealists across the Coast to pursue their beliefs. The impassioned, the driven, those who believed in a cause would draw inspiration from the grand structure. It would encourage firebrands, people unafraid to challenge the powerful and to prepared to commit to their cause no matter the cost.

{{Mandate|mandate=We prize freedom and disdain arrogance. We send (named individual) with 50 doses of liao to encourage the citizens of Segura to create a place to discuss where doctrine and encourage free thinkers. Every being deserves to live the life they want in the manner they wish.|assembly=Brass Coast National Assembly}}

If the Burning Agora is completed and this mandate is enacted then it will encourage citizens across the Brass Coast to celebreate the legacy of the firebrands - the historical example set by the followers of Emperor Ahraz as well as those living examplars who share their forebear's commitment to Virtue without doubt or fear, regardless of the disapproval of others. The Freeborn have always prized freedom and responsibility and disdained arrogance, these firebrands would epitomise that willingness to challenge authority as they sought ways to make the Empire live up to its ideals, no matter how much opprobrium they faced. ('''OOC Note:''' We will add the firebrand archetype to the Brass Coast character options).

Crucially, the Burning Agora would dedicate the soul of Anduz to the passionate pursuit of ideals, during a time of revelation. If Anduz becomes the City of Passions, then any future opportunities involving the city and the surrounding territory are more likely to reflect it's commitment to idealism.

==City of Wonders==
* '''A single commission could attempt to build all three edifices to transform the city's future'''
* '''If endorsed by the Freeborn Assembly it would create three new Brass Coast archetypes'''
* '''It would require a piece of art to inspire the project provided by the Cat's Graces or similar'''
* '''Anduzers will provide a purse of 20 crowns to reward the winning artist'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Wonders'''
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Dust, Glass and Flame'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Anduzjasse, Segura</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 [[white granite]], 35 [[weirwood]], 5 [[mithril]], 30 [[ilium]] and 120 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Available up til the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE or until one of the other edifices on this opportunity is commissioned</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires a foundational piece of art depicting the new city to inspire architects
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates the Burning Agora, a torchlit public space dedicated to the passionate exchange of ideas
* Erects a new propylaeum on the south side of the city
* Restores the Market of a Thousand Sails to its former glory
* Enchants the Fountain of Wonders at the centre of the city
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Firebrand, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Hawker, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Creates a new Freeborn archetype, the Trailblazer, if supported by the Freeborn National Assembly
* Changes the fate of Anduz, to become the City of Wonders
</td></tr>
</table></div>

Of course nobody can agree on what ''should'' be built, so inevitably someone asks why can't they build them all? That turns out to have two major problems. The first is that each of the commissions draws on the powerful hearth magic of names to influence the nature of the city. Anduz ''can't'' be the City of Deals, Passions and Adventure - magic doesn't work like that. But if magic is a problem, then why not use magic to solve it?

Instead of building one of the commissions, the Brass Coast could attempt a single ''grand'' project, that one romantic fool calls "Dust, Glass and Flame". The actual idea is to build all three edifices, but to include a grand fountain at the centre of the city, one permanently enchanted with ilium by the hakima to invoke wonder. It would require a lot of ilium - 30 rings in total, but that would be sufficient to balance the influence of the three individual structures and bind them all together to serve the city harmoniously.

<div style="float:right; width: 350px; margin-left: 10px; clear: right;"><box>'''OOC Note'''<br>Empire includes a large element of hard skills - the success and triumphs that your character has on the field are often down to your abilities as a player, whether that's fighting in battle, trading in the Bourse or giving a speech in the Senate. For that reason we would politely ask participants to only submit original compositions created by participants in the game. This competition is a chance for the many fantastic artists in the Empire community to achieve glory. It's fine for a player-character to hire another player-character if they pay them with in-character funds, but generative AI can't be used in Empire and submitting a piece of art that was purchased out-of-character, or created by someone who isn't an active participant in Empire is outside of the spirit of this contest.</box></div>

At least it would if the designs were coherent. And therein lies the second problem. The plans for each of the three edifices have been created independently - at the moment the styles and arrangements don't quite gel. If it were just a matter of artistic choices that wouldn't be vital, but when trying to take advantage of hearth magic in this way it is ''vital'' that everything gels together.

To solve ''that'' problem, the hakima suggest that asking the ''Cat Graces'' to hold a contest to create a foundational piece of art, once it is confirmed as a [[Imperial sodality|sodality]] by the Imperial Senate. What is needed is an artists impression of New Anduz to set the tone for the redevelopment of the whole city. The designs for the Agora, the Propylaeum and the Market could be updated to reflect the art produced. (The National Assembly would have to take up the challenge of organising an appropriate contest if the sodality fails to pass the Senate). The contest needs to challenge artists to create a beautiful piece of art depicting the new city, something to capture the imagination and inspire those who see it. Then the sodality need to pick the best one. Once a copy of the winning artwork is provided to the [[Civil Service|civil service]], inhabitants of the city will provide the artist who created it with a purse of 20 crowns in reward for their efforts.

That leaves one final issue that is not so easily overcome. The cost. Creating all three edifices - and a huge magical fountain to tie them all together is exciting, it's romantic, it fires the imagination. It's also very expensive. Can the Brass Coast really afford it? Each of three individual edifices is a tall order, they're large impressive structures that would need a lot of investment. Any one of them could change the fate of Anduz and help bolster the fortunes of the nation. Just completing one would be a challenge and require everyone to pull together. It's a great accomplishment to achieve any one of these.

It might appeal to the heart to try and do it all, but it's not the most efficient way to restore the fate of Anduz and even suggesting it, risks embracing the idea in a fit of enthusiasm and then discovering a year or more down the line that they can't raise the funds. The fate of Anduz is to continue its slow decline if nothing is done - the worst thing that could happen is to choose the most expensive option and then for it to languish for years unfunded. After all, look what happened to the [[Construct_Grand_Inspiration_of_the_Way|Grand Inspiration of the Way]], two years have gone by and still not complete...

The nation would be ill-advised to attempt the most dramatic development of Anduz, unless there is genuine support to ensure that the resources are there to ensure it can be built.

On the other hand, if it could be done, it would transform the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Wonders. The place would rival the great cities of the Empire, and any future opportunities involving the city and the surrounding territory would be more likely to reflect it's nature as a city of wealth and adventure that embraced novelty and new ideas.

==City of Stones==
* '''If nothing is commissioned, or no work begins within a year then Anduz will gain the ruins quality'''
* '''That would change the fate of Anduz, making it the City of Stones'''

If nothing is done, if this opportunity to determine the fate of Anduz passes unmarked, then the city will continue much as it always has. Anduzjasse would gain the '''ruins''' quality, as the focus of people who living there turns to survival among the remnants of a previous age. That will happen if nothing is commissioned, or if one of the edifices is commissioned but a year passes with no progress on the building. If that happens, the city would gain the moniker the City of Stones and future [[opportunity|opportunities]] would reflect the focus on survival over success.

==Timing==
* '''The three mandates are not competing, the Freeborn National Assembly can pass any or all of them'''
* '''The mandates are only available at this summit'''
* '''The mandates have no effect unless the commission associated with them is built'''

Each of the three mandates is only available at the forthcoming summit. They are ''not'' competing mandates, the Freeborn National Assembly could pass some or all of them, but they must be enacted in the coming season, otherwise the opportunity to benefit is lost.

None of the mandates will have any effect until the commission it is associated with is built, either the single edifice linked to that mandate, or the grand edifice, Dust, Glass and Flame, that is linked to all three mandates.

The Freeborn Assembly does not have to pass all the mandates. The Empire can build one of the three edifices, or the grand commission that combines them all, but the Assembly can pick and choose which mandates they wish to enact. They could skip one or more of the mandates for any reason.
==Further Reading==
* [[Segura]]

Other monstrous geographies

2026-05-27T19:02:02Z

Noserenda: /* Game Information : Drowning */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:388YE Spring]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 40%; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Monstrous Geographies.jpg|caption=Even without the Druj miasma there is plenty to fear in Sarangrave. The bottomless lakes and the creatures that dwell in their depths; the marshes and the woods that hide Druj assassins; and the shadow of the past that hangs over the entire wetland.|align=left|width=2000}}</div>
==The End of Winter==
The [[Rivers of Life]] flow through the [[Sarangrave]]. [[Spring magic]] in the clouds, in the streams, the ponds, in the water-bottles of the soldiers. In the Feverwater, in unplumbed depths of the lake of [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]]. They bring with them the promise of life, of wounds that will swiftly heal. They bring a threat as well - the blood-sucking, stinging insects of the Druj-corrupted wetlands swarm and bite in unprecedented numbers. There is a balance of a kind, though, to this indiscriminate magic. Wounds are less likely to fester in the filthy marshes, at least. Sickness less likely to spread. The rains of life fall on the just and the corrupt, equally.

The Druj have kept their stronghold in the south. The massive [[Sarangrave#Tower of the Skink|Tower of the Skink]] looms over the [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]]. The Marshlizard Clan remains the final sept of the Druj still holding out against Imperial armies. To the south of the titanic castle, the [[Axos|Axou]] of [[Axos#Gates_of_Ipotavo|Ipotavo]] continue their own assault. They batter the massive fortified gate from which the [[orc|orcs]] of [[the Mallum]] sent out their raiders to attack [[Axos#Axou Territories|Kabanja]]. The portal is firmly closed, at least for the moment.

Of the forces engaged with the Druj last season, only the [[Boyar's Hasta]], the [[Summer Storm]], and the [[Lions of Adelmar]] have remained. The [[Granite Pillar]] and the [[Golden Axe]] have pulled back to [[Dawn]], to recover perhaps from the horror of the Sarangrave. The [[Druj miasma]] still hangs heavily over the entire territory, of course, stronger and thicker than anywhere the Empire has encountered it before. It is no surprise that those who fight under such conditions need to fall back, to recover from wounds not just physical but spiritual as well.

In their place come the [[Eastern Sky]], [[Gryphon's Pride]], and [[Citadel Guard]] out of [[Semmerholm]], and the [[Navarr]] of the [[Quiet Step]] from [[Astolat]]. They pass swiftly through [[the Barrens#The Bleaks|the Bleaks]]; the Karass mark their passage silently their faces unreadable. From there, across the [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]] to the wreck of Thornfen.

Last season, the Druj [[Fire_and_the_flood#Jarangir's_Levy|broke Jarangir’s Levy]], unleashing a flood that scattered attackers and defenders alike. The waters have subsided now, for the moment at least, but they have washed away the few roads, as well as wrecking farms and smaller settlements across the northern region. It is in the wake of that flood that the Empire renews its assault against the Tower of the Skink.

==Wall Like A Dam==
The Tower has weathered the joint Imperial and Axou attack so far. Even with their [[Fire_and_the_flood#Shield_of_Our_Ancestors|martial "necromantia"]], the ability of the allies to work together is limited thanks the the massive castle that lies between them. Spectral messengers still flit back and forth through the impassable hills, bearing messages and allowing the separate forces to coordinate, but it is no substitute for actually fighting together. The Empire, likewise, makes use of magic to help the disparate forces [[Clarity of the Master Strategist|adapt their strategies]] to the ever-shifting battlefield, and the wicked cunning of the Druj.
The garrison of the Tower itself is massive, well-equipped with potions and blade venoms, supported by the desperate residents of the fortress and those who fled the town of Sephals to that uncertain sanctuary. Five armies of the Empire move to lay siege to the place.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 40%; width: 600px; margin-left: 10px;">
<quote by="Dame Aurum De Castellan, General of the Eastern Sky">Soldiers of the Eastern Sky, we stand now before the tower of the Skink. Our path is clear: A Glorious charge to bring an end to the taint of the Mallum. We will pay a heavy price but I will be there at your side and I will be the first over the walls and the last out. Fight with courage, gird yourself in pride and look to your loyalty. Glory to Dawn and Glory to the Empire.</quote>
<quote by="Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco, General of the Lions of Adelmar">Our Lions of Adelmar, for nine months we have pushed into the Mallum, stood proud against the venoms of the Druj and had the Courage to not only take on their most vicious cruelties, but to keep pushing and to keep winning. Resolve yourselves, our work amidst the Druj is still at hand. May your Swords turn to claws as you rip and rend the tower's stone. Even in their cruel desperation, let us show them what a lioness can do. May the knights of the Summer realm who join us repeat our tales. Now, hold your Virtues at heart and hand, and let them guide you back into war again.</quote>
<quote by="Stormsteel Skorr, General of the Summer Storm">Legionnaires, last season we did well repelling the Druj from Sanath and the Tower of the Skink. This season we keep pushing to take that tower. Be vigilant, we do not know where we will find Druj In the Swamp. Eyes up and open. We are after the slave masters and true Druj, leave the slaves be. Be careful, keep pushing and use pit fights to keep spirits up. We can do this.</quote>
<quote by="Andronikos of the Lighthouse-That-Was, General of the Citadel Guard">My earliest memory is of the lightstone in my bedroom failing. I thought the Druj were coming for me. My cousin, a few years older than me, had told us stories she'd heard about the Druj. I'd asked my mother about them, and she told me as she thought I could bear. I had to get out of bed, feeling through the dark, and down two flights of stairs to find the light. I thought monsters with poison knives were chasing me the whole way. For years, people - Young and old, human and orc, Urizen and Dawnish and Highborn and sept - have woken up in the night and thought the Druj were coming for them - and been right. The fear they spread is anathema to virtue. There is no place for them in Utopia. We stand halfway up the mountain of their destruction and must only finish the climb. Sentinels. If you would bring light to their darkness. If you would save every child terrified of the night. If you will climb this mountain with me. Consider the Drowned Man.</quote>
<quote by="Neve Agra, General of the Quiet Step">Quiet Step, we advance into the Sarangrave and engage Druj forces. Support allied lines, protect the forest and drive the enemy out. Use the terrain to strike fast and act with ambition. Do whatever it takes to secure victory. Sarangrave must be clear of Druj forces. For us, for Urizen, for the Empire to grow and flourish. Listen for the Whispers of the forest and the trods will guide those who move with purpose. If the wind shifts, heed its warning. If the silence deepens, Prepare. You are Navarr. You are the storm in the leaves, the shadows between the branches and the voice that answers intrusion with fury. Go to the Sarangrave and ensure that when this war is over, the forest still stands and our enemies do not.</quote></div>

The Eastern Sky are in the fore, leading the way for a great host of warbands under the command of Imperial [[military unit|captains, champions, and heroes]]. They are inspired by the [[Army_qualities#Favoured|favour]] of [[Eleonaris]], the [[Summer magic|Summer]] [[enchantment]] flowing through and around them guided by a half dozen courtiers from the demesne of the ''Queen of the Pennants''. Utterly committed to victory, no matter what it might cost, they pay a heavy price for their zeal even with the healing power of the waters this season.

Fortunately these knights of Dawn do not fight alone. The Lions of Adelmar are at their side, their shield raised, ready to [[Army_qualities#Guardian|guard]] their fellows from the barbed arrows and envenomed spears of the Druj. The favour of Eleonaris is with the Lions, as well. Under the command of the stag-headed Ser Helvennan fight a cohort of warriors from the [[Knights of Glory|Fields of Glory]]. Resplendent in gold-and-scarlet chain, the warriors of the Fields of Glory, they inspire all who battle the Druj this season, their wroth waxing greater and greater each time they encounter another sign of the corruption of the Mallum. Love and Glory together, at the heart of the fray, the bright banners of Dawn undimmed by the mud and blood that surround them.

Dawn at the heart then, against a grand stronghold of the Druj (and if there is an echo of [[Cost|that terrible battle]] two years past when the [[Hounds of Glory]] paid their ultimate price, it is spoken of with Pride). The Unshackled and the Urizen move more [[Army orders#Steady Conquest|steadily]], refusing to risk the lives of their soldiers more than necessary. Trapped like this, desperate, the tyrants of the Mallum are at their most cruel. They remain alert to the wiles of the Druj ensuring the stealthy guerillas of the Sarangrave do not have leave to ravage the baggage trains or the flanks of the Imperial force.

The General of the Citadel Guard has invoked the stars, reminded the sentinels and war-magicians of the lesson of [[the Drowned Shepherd]]; that <i>things end</i>. That the Druj, ultimately will end - and if there are [[astronomancy|astronomancers]] who worry about the invocation of a [[Astronomancy#Constellations|constellation]] in such time they speak only in whispers with their heads close together. The constellation that many still remember was once called the Drowned Man is an omen of ending, and it is dangerous to assume one knows what ''exactly'' is going to end when it is invoked.

Finally, the Navarr of the Quiet Step. They are the storm in the leaves, fighting to ensure that the forest stands but the enemy does not. Where the Lions of Adelmar protect, the Navarr bring death. The cruel barbarity of the Druj is met with [[Army_qualities#Cunning|merciless cunning]], blow for blow. One cannot betray one’s enemies, after all. They exploit the forest and the marshes, not only in the Thornfen but in those other parts of Sarangrave where pockets of Druj assassins gather. A second war, quieter than the grand battle at the Tower of the Skink, is waged in the marshes this season.

The Tower alone would represent a significant threat to all the forces in the Sarangrave this season. It’s garrison however is also supplemented by three Druj armies - the corrupt witches of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]], the desperate guerrillas of the [[Druj_armies#Hidden Snake|Hidden Snake]], and the relentless malice of the [[Druj_armies#Poison Crane|Poison Crane]]. These armies, their septs scattered, have nowhere to go; they <i>must</i> resist the Empire or risk dissolution.

And resist they do.

==The Battle of Sephals==
Sephals is a ramshackle, spreading town. The floodwaters released by the broken levies have not been kind to it. The <i>Path of the Tail</i>, the road that runs down toward town and tower, has been partially washed away. Regardless, that is the route the Empire follows. The Druj, again, launch a [[Army orders#Solid Defence|desperate defence]] of Sephals; they have not entirely finished moving the supplies of rice and grain and smoked meat out of the warehouses into the cellars of the Tower. In the past, the Druj have shown themselves more comfortable striking and withdrawing to attack from a different angle, from stealth, while their enemies are distracted. Here they have no such luxury, they must stand, and fight. The Poison Crane at least is prepared for the reality of being utterly outnumbered and outclassed; the Hidden Snake are experts at using the terrain to their advantage; the garrison of the Tower of the Skink know these streets, these defences, like nobody else. But there is only so much they can do. Perhaps if the Tainted Basilisk had been here to bring their magic to bear? But they are conspicuous by their absence.

The fighting rages across Sephals for two days before the Druj break. Their withdrawal is disorganised, closer to a rout than a retreat. As a final spit in the face, the Poison Crane try to start a fire in one of the abandoned grain stores, packed with flour, knowing it will spread quickly.

But even here the Druj are stymied. It begins to rain, just as the fire begins to spread. A thunderous downpour that not only extinguishes the flames, but restores attackers and defenders alike as the Empire attempts to mop up. The rain, after all, is full of cursed healing magic.

“Even the weather hates the Druj!” The joke spreads quickly, even as tired soldiers deal with their wounds and gather their fallen. It is grim humour, almost Varushkan, and not everyone laughs. The astronomancers of Urizen, the witches of Dawn, the vates of the Quiet Step, the spiritweavers and the oathwrights are less certain. They look to the skies, and the muttering becomes a murmur. Does anyone remember when people started calling the Drowned Man by a different name? Can anyone else feel the magic in the rain, stronger than it has any right to be? Where is this going to end?

This concerns are not dismissed, but what can be done with them? There is a town - a small city really - that must be administered. Several thousand orcs, a few hundred humans. The majority certainly slaves of the Druj but <i>all</i> of them? Even among the Druj, “slave” has different meanings as the [[Ossium#Ketsov|Ketsov]] or the [[Not_to_conquer#Menrothat|Menrothat]] or the [[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]] could tell you. There are surely Druj among these wretched folk, and they introduce all the risk that come with allowing assassins and saboteurs to move around behind ones lines. If the [[Iron Helms]] were here some of them might make an unhelpfully pragmatic suggestion as to how to deal with that problem.

The Axou have been very clear about their plans - once they claim Thornfen they will simply evict every orc living there without exception. For now, the Empire cannot safely simply let them go. A part of the town is set aside for the surviving folk of the Mallum, with Summer Storm soldiers doing their best to maintain order and ensure the Druj that are surely among them do no harm. They can do little to prevent scores being settled, and it is a rare morning that passes without a dead body found floating face down in a pond or an open sewer, arms spread as they drift lazily in the currents.

==The Defence of Nesustak==
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There are folk in Sarangrave who might be able to offer some aid to the Imperial forces in Sephals, but their attention is unfortunately elsewhere. While the bulk of the Druj forces are corralled in Thornfen, the tyrants of the Mallum are always unpredictable. Not long after the Winter Solstice, a significant force made up of Banded Snake sept survivors and members of the Thornwasp clan isolated from Thornfen by [[Sarangrave#Bendol|Bendol]] and Imperial armies, attack the rebels of the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak_Forest|Nesustak Forest]]. Reinforced by supplies smuggled south from the Salt Flats, these counter-insurgents are hell bent of slaughtering as many of the rebels as they can. This is not an unfamiliar strategy by the Druj; they hate those who escape their clutches even more than they hate the Empire. So many times they have sought to make an example of those who throw off their yoke, in [[the Barrens]], in [[Ossium]], even in [[Holberg]]. This assault is no exception. It seems likely that they assume the Empire’s attention will be focused entirely in the south-east, at Thornfen. Their attack is double-pronged like an assassin’s blade. On hastily constructed rafts, surviving members of the Thornwasp paddle across the wide expanse of the Feverwater. The Banded Snake gather in secret in western Turan Flats and cross the river under cover of a moonless night.
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<quote by="Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose, General of the Gryphon’s Pride">Soldiers of the Pride! Three years ago, I stood with you as we marched forth through the mud and blood of the Steel Causeway and fell in behind the Hounds of Glory to break a dark and terrible bastion. The Hounds' story ended there, but the tale they began there on the Plains of Teeth finishes its next chapter this Winter. Now, the Tower of the Skink will fall in turn. Another monument to wickedness will be laid low. In seasons to come, the pillars will fall as well. The pall of dread and despair that hangs over this land will fade. But that is not our foremost duty. Not this time. If the Druj strike out we will answer them. But there is only one thing the free peoples of Sarangrave have asked for, of our Empire, and they have asked it of us. Make for Nesustak. We will reach out to the Bloodwater Spears and aid them in raising watchtowers to defend themselves. We will show them that the Empire are not the monsters that they think we are. Only we can do this. We are called and so we come. A new dawn is breaking over the Sarangrave. We will make flowers grow here, too.</quote></div>
The rebels are not caught sleeping; they are vigilant for counterattack from the Druj. Indeed, they are in the midst of preparing their own defences. Barricades and palisades to protect their rickety settlements; watch towers against the threat to their borders; armed patrols to root out the remaining threats of the land they have claimed. They are supported in this by a few dozen [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] of the [[Irra Harah|Shacklebreaker]], whose swift feet and keen senses prove invaluable at keeping the loose alliance of survivors united. Their boons of health, healing, and [[Calls#Shatter|war]] are equally welcome. Unfortunately, with the Druj attackers comes a small host of heralds of the <i>[[Arhallogen|Centipede General]]</i>, the <i>King of All Spiders</i>. This stealthy assault, set on murder and mayhem, clearly suits the temperament of the <i>Scorpion Queen</i> - and it can barely resist an opportunity to strike against those <i>Ward of the Young</i> seeks to aid.
Unfortunately, as they have so many times before in this war for the Sarangrave, the Druj have miscalculated.

The Gryphon’s Pride came down through the Barrens with the other armies, but it did not accompany them to Thornfen. Instead, they struck camp in the western Turan Flats, and sent heralds of their own - mortal heralds - into Nesustak Forest. Under the quiet gaze of Irra Harrah’s childer, a cautious negotiation took place on the banks of the river. By all accounts, the Bloodwater Spears, one of the renegade septs of former Druj subjects, have reached out to the Dawnish army for support and the general has answered. Unfortunately, there are also many among the rebels who see the arrival of a Dawnish army on their borders as a thing of terror rather than reassurance.

They have heard the stories of the Druj, of events in the Barrens, of the destruction of the [[Not_to_conquer#Vendarri|Vendarri]], the slaughter of the [[Not_to_conquer#Montanians|Montainians]], the brutal murders of the [[Not_to_conquer#The_Black_Wind|Black Wind]] and the attack by <i>this very army</i> against the rebel heroes under the old banner of Rahvin. They have been told over and over that everyone who ever trusted the Empire has paid the ultimate price for it. So they do not welcome five thousand armoured warriors, no matter if they come beneath a banner of parley or not. Some few yeofolk are allowed to cross into Nesustak, to offer their expertise in constructing defences, but no knight is invited to join them. It is arguably more than might be expected; the Empire is used to the hammer-blow of the Druj miasma but its presence and its constant subtle creeping fingers of suspicion and fear make it very difficult for people to trust one another. That these septs have been able to come together at all is little short of a miracle.

It would be easy for the Pride to crash across the river and force their will on the rebels of Nesustak, but their orders are clear. They are here to protect, not to conquer, and their presence in Turan will at least mean they are in position to intercept any attackers from the north.
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Then the Druj attack, and the Gryphon’s Pride acts. The Druj clearly expected the Dawnish to leave the rebels to their fate; the Banded Snake are taken by surprise when the knights and war-witches erupt into the forest to their rear. They are caught between the anvil of the defenders and the hammer of Glory, smashed and broken and left with little recourse but to flee.

The Thornwasp from the south are more of a problem. As the knights march through Nesustak Forest, some of the rebels sadly scatter or seek to intercept them as an invading force. Wherever possible, the Dawnish seek to minimize losses to the confused warriors, their fellow defenders, but these people are <i>frightened</i>. Even with the words of the Bloodwater Spears, there are accidents to be grieved. Yet these accidents cannot risk slowing the Dawnish response.

The septs do their best to fight off the Thornwasp but they are not well armed, not as used to fighting as the tyrants of the Mallum even in their scattered state. Conversely, these ambushers are in no position to face the fury of an entire Dawnish army. At first they press inland, with some minor victories, but even so their actual aim - to slaughter the rebels - proves difficult to achieve. The heralds of Irra Harrah are no match for those of Arhallogen, but they do not attempt to fight. Instead, they serve as guides, getting people to safety - or helping defenders into positions where they can fight back.
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When the Gryphon’s Pride reaches the shores of the Feverwater, the Druj who once claimed Bloodwater Marshes have nowhere to go. Those who take to their rafts are easy marks for archers - orc and human alike. Those who stand and fight are quickly slain. When the first heavy rains of Spring begin to fall, the shores of the Feverwater are choked with dead Druj, their blood staining the drowning waters muddy red.

After this, the rebels of Nesustak are more inclined to trust those who suggest the Pride is here to help not harm. Grudgingly, carefully, a detente is built. As the rains continue to beat down, the majority of the Dawnish forces withdraw back across the river to remain on watch but those who remain are, if not welcomed, at least tolerated. Few can deny that their aid has saved countless lives from the venom of the Druj, this time at least.

Yet there are also difficult questions asked. What does this mean in the long run? The Empire has conquered Sarangrave and given these lands to strangers from the south to be their domain. What does this mean for the people left in the marshes? How is this better than being the slaves of the Buruk-Tepel? These are orc lands, the homelands of the Bloodwater Spears and the rest. What happens if they do not accept this Imperial domination? Where will the Gryphon’s Pride be when it is the Empire’s warriors looking to kill the free orcs of the Sarangrave - of the Mallum? There are impassioned exchanges, arguments on both sides, but no resolution is reached. The forest is safe for now but what of the future?
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<quote by="Vasiliki Terricos, General of the Shield of Ipotavo">When Ipotavo was besieged, when Kaban was lost, the Druj took many of our beloved away as slaves and prisoners. Many assume them lost to the wicked wills of the Mallum. Yet the Sorcerer-Queen Ipotavo used to say: those who truly oppose the False Divinity with all their heart and all their soul and all their might are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. Though we know not whether our loved ones still dwell on this side of the abyssal dark of the Labyrinth, we fight as if they do. We will take the Tower, and every moment we fight to do so we will fight as if we will hold them, warm and living, in our arms once more: but between us and them are many Druj: they die, unmourned.</quote></div>
What of the future indeed…

==At the Gate of Despair==

Through curtains of rain the Imperial force marches south to the Tower. Few are prepared for the sheer size of the fortification; it spreads across the horizon occupying the space between the foothills connect the Mallum and the lands of Axos to the south. Its towers are immense, dwarfing those of the Spires of the Dusk in their immensity. This is a chaotic structure of stone and weirwood, and mithril spikes, and ironbound ramparts. This is the last true stronghold of the Druj in Sarangrave, shouting defiance of the forces of virtue to the heavens.

Not that it is easy to feel for its size through the sheets of rain falling all around. Its towers scrape the clouds, but to be fair the clouds are very low at the moment weighed down with water. The banners of the lizard and the snake hang limp and bedraggled, soaked through, cheap dyes running down the wall in streams of sickly green and bloody red.

The walls are defended three ranks deep with Druj archers, but the rain makes it difficult for them to dark the sky any more than it already is. The Eastern Sky has great covered rams to manoeuvre into position, to assault the gates, but even they are a little taken aback at the sheer ''size'' of the things. Not of wood, not even weirwood, but of white granite these doors must need a team of slaves straining on a net of ropes to open and close. The rams of the Empire will struggle to do more than dent them.
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A long siege suits the Druj better than the Empire, of course. The longer the Imperial forces are held here in Thornfen, the more time there is for the armies of the Mallum to rally their strength and return to squeeze them against the walls of the Tower, as the Banded Snake in Nesustak are being squeezed against the Feverwater by the Gryphon’s Pride.

A triumphant charge can only take an army so far; to simply rush the Tower of the Skink would be to throw lives away pointlessly. A council is convened to discuss how best to assault the castle, to defeat the enemy sheltered within. A single ranking Axou, a <i>Toxatai</i> war-necromantia, cousin of the Grand Ilarch of Ipotavo, has come at great risk through the foothills to attend in person.

As the rain pounds the canvas above their heads, captains and commanders argue back and forth, seeking some solution to the walls and the gate. The opportunity to starve the defenders out is there, but there is no telling how well provisioned they are to withstand such a siege. The presence of two extra armies inside must be putting their supplies under pressure, but how much is difficult to say. There were many storehouses in Sephals and most were empty by the time the Druj were forced to abandon their position there. Worse, the healing power of the waters of life will help maintain the strength of the Druj just as it maintains the strength of the Empire.

The heavy rains help, but also hinders. While it protects from long-range attacks, if it continues for much longer the Imperial armies risk becoming bogged down. And it shows little sign of letting up. Indeed, runners from the forces left behind in Sephals warn that the streets of the town are already starting to flood as the waters released from Jarangir’s Levy are deepened by a week of unrelenting rain.

In the end, the decision is made to try and take the Tower while the opportunity still remains. A second heavy battering ram is constructed. Rather than being made of wood, it is formed from a white granite column ripped from a Druj palace in Sephals, carried south through the downpour by orcs of the Summer Storm, and shaped by Urizeni engineers. At the last moment, a contingent of Navarr arrive from elsewhere in Sarangrave with a quartet of [[Great Forest Orcs]] freed from the weirwood grove in Whisperwood. They set to work shaping a weirwood frame to carry the ram, with the aid of their Navarr friends. The Boyar's Hasta contributes an amount of looted mithril armour and weapons which, when swiftly melted down by Dawnish smiths, serve to bind and reinforce it with the snarling face of a great maned lion.

The morning of the attack, the waters are already lapping at the walls of the Tower in places. The <i>Tail of the Skink</i> holds the marshwaters at bay - where it approaches the walls it is raised up in a manner that puts some in mind of <i>Otterway</i> back in [[Bregasland]]. The Druj know that this is the key moment, that they will have to face this attack and stand against it. The defenders continue to loose arrows, but the main source of danger are the catapults positioned atop the ramparts. Massive rocks hail down, interspersed with filth, dead bodies, and effluent. Some are bound in iron, but its clear the Druj supplies of catapult stones are also waning slightly. A few barrels of pitch are launched, but the rain quickly extinguishes their threat.

With the Eastern Sky at the forefront, the massive battering ram is slowly maneuvered into position. The armoured covering protects those within from missiles thrown from the walls, but the pounding of rocks and arrows almost drowns out that of the rain - almost. Again and again the great fist smashes against the northern gates of the Tower of the Skink. The defenders are not content to simply sit and trust to the sturdiness of their door however.

The Druj are monstrous, but they are cunning. It becomes clear that they have created their own ways to get troops into and out of the Tower. Without warning, two thousand warriors erupt out of the marshes to the east and west of the <i>Tail of the Skink</i>. They fall on the Imperial forces on the flanks, fighting with bloodthirsty ruthlessness. It quickly becomes apparent that there are hidden tunnels under the walls that emerge nearly a quarter mile from the fortification itself and that for days now, the defenders have been carefully moving their troops into position.

With the garrison come another thousand or so guerrillas of the Hidden Snake, and five hundred Poison Crane. All are equipped for killing, with venoms and poison, many dosed up on the battle-drugs the Druj call [[Double-sided_Blade#Warming_Armour|warspice]] and [[Double-sided_Blade#Weakning_Sun|corpse skin]] that grant near supernatural vitality but overwhelm the common sense and survival instinct of those who use them. This is a suicide attack, one aimed at breaking through the Empire's line to destroy the great ram.

As the assault begins, the skies ''truly'' open. The wind rises, howling around the ramparts, driving the rain almost horizontal. Fighters struggle in the mud, their footing suddenly treacherous on the rainslick ground. Visibility plummets, a massive battle between Empire and Druj, between virtue and hate, reduced to a hundred scattered skirmishes by the walls of water. Thunder rumbles, barely audible over the pounding of the rain. Yet the deafening beat of the ram is louder still, ringing out across the battlefield like the heartbeat of some terrible beast of war. Orc and human, Druj and Imperial, alike fall in the sucking mud and the rising tides, eyes and lungs choking with earth and drowning with filthy water.

And then, with the storm at its height, the lion-faced battering ram of stone and mithril hits something within the solid stone of the gate. A point of weakness that had endured for hundreds of years, since the doors were first raised. A fracture line buried in the rock where only a mighty blow would uncover it. Perhaps the terrible rhythm of the blows, has weakened the gate. Perhaps it is something else. But whatever the reason, the hammering blow causes the stone first to crack and splinter, and then with a terrible roaring noise, to break.

Another blow, another, battering against that point of weakness, opening the hole, pounding through the feet-thick stone. The flaw exposed, the gate begins to fragment apart. A terrible cry of despair goes up from inside the Tower of the Skink. The door is falling! After centuries of defiance, one of the two great doors of the Tower of the Skink is falling!

The Lions of Adelmar are first through the breach, shields at the ready. Behind them, the soldiers of the Eastern Sky, and after them the rest of the Imperial forces pouring into the gatehouse of the Tower, as the waters of the flood poured over Jarangir’s Levy.

Outside and inside, bloody slaughter leaves waves of blood on the stone, that mix with the mud to create a grim quagmire. Another cry goes up, another cry of despair. The Quiet Step erupt from the forests of the east, Navarr spears tearing into the Druj attackers assailing the flanks of the army. With spell, and spear, and sword, and axe, and unbreakable shield, the Empire fights the Druj at the Tower of the Skink under the roaring heavens, amid the thundering rain.

The battle is not over simply because the gate has been breached. There are still two armies, and a garrison to match them, inside the castle who must be dealt with. There are screaming, fleeing orcs and humans in rags who will not fight. Sometimes the Druj use them to bait traps, or as shields of meat that cry and wail when forced toward the Empire’s soldiers. Even here there are traps, old and cunning, built into the stonework. Blades that snap from floor or ceiling if one moves the wrong way down a hall; walls that fall to allow defenders to attack from the side; chemicals that in a confined space blind or choke or assail the mind with terrible visions. All these and more the Druj have built into their home, driven by the fear that grips their own hearts. Fear of their enemies, of each other, making even their sanctuary a place where no-one is ever truly safe.

Then the Axou are there, fighting their own way through the defenders. A small, fast moving group has slipped through the halls and courtyards of the castle to take the southern gate. The guards slain, they have managed to throw it wide and let the blades of Ipotavo go to work on the tyrants of the Mallum.

Even here, the clarity granted by Day magic helps ensure that the attackers are able to mount the most efficient assault they can, preventing allies harming each other. For the better part of a day the fighting rages on and on, turning the Tower of the Skink into a charnel house. Whoever wins here, it will be Death that holds dominion when the day is done.

In the end, though, the day ''is'' done. The Tower of the Skink still stands, but the banners of the Empire, of Dawn and Navarr, Urizen and the Unshackled, are raised over its ramparts. The fighting is not over - there are still Druj here in the nooks and the crannies - but the battle is won. The Tower of the Skink has fallen to the Empire and their allies, and with it the Thornfen. And with that victory, the dominion of the Druj over the Sarangrave is brought to a conclusive end.

==Flight and Shadow==
The tower falls, the garrison scatters, but in the end the Poison Crane and the Hidden Widow are not entirely accounted for. They have taken significant losses, for sure, but the power of Spring magic protected them just as it did the Empire. When it is clear that the Tower is lost, many of the soldiers escape through the hidden tunnels beneath the fortification into the marshes. Scattered and hunted, they are forced to flee as best they can. They make their way north to the dubious safety of the Salt Flats, and they pay a heavy price for doing so. Easily another thousand Druj warriors fall as part of the rout, but in the end the armies manage to cross the border north through Kroll. It is a temporary sanctuary for the Druj; with the Sarangrave under the dominion of the Empire, they cannot help but begin to collapse. Soldiers will desert, no matter how much they fear the Buruk Tepel. The writing is on the wall for the armies of the Thornwasp, the Banded Snake, and the Marshlizard.

As in Sephals there is the question of what to do with the orcs and humans left behind in the Tower. The Axou do not want them; the Empire cannot trust them. Arguments break out almost immediately, as outside the rain begins to fall. Yet even these arguments take second place to a more pressing question.

Where are the magicians of the Tainted Basilisk?

==End of All Songs==
Last season the Druj [[Each_age_a_lens#The_Mallum|sent an ultimatum]] to the Empire from the city of Leen in the Salt Flats. Quit the Sarangrave, or the Tainted Basilisk will release the [[vallorn]] of [[Sarangrave#Béantal_Dol|Béantal Dol]]. It seemed inconceivable to many that even the Druj would do such a thing. Others questioned whether even the Tainted Basilisk could achieve such a thing. What would it profit them to destroy the Sarangrave, their own people, likely themselves? What would it profit them indeed.

Those who hoped the ghulai of the Tainted Basilisk might not be equal to the task of rousing Béantal Dol clung to false hope. These foul corrupted wizards have shown themselves not only capable, but willing to unleash the uncontrollable horror of the vallorn in Therunin. They have been exploring, examining, studying the matter for years - a pattern of odd encounters and inexplicable events slowly starting to come together into a skein of secrets and atrocity. They are also more than capable of moving through the Sarangrave under the shadow of [[Night magic]], avoiding those who might seek the stop them, bypassing the defences set against them. And it seems that this is exactly what they have done.
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<quote by="Serafina Semenov, General of the Boyar’s Hasta">Hasta! You have worked like the bee at summers head, watched like the Spider watches it's web. Let's now use that vigilance to spy on the Druj, To see what vallorn waking tactics they may use. But before the road calls us, raise a tankard high to our cousins in Ossium slaying peelers where they lie. With Hounds Hall, new forces ride along our own, and the best heckle from me earns a throne. With Courage, there is not a line that cannot break, there is not a thing the Druj hold that we cannot take.</quote></div>
When Sephals fell, they were already in motion. An army of Druj [[Night magic#Obfuscation|obfuscated]] beneath a shroud. The thunderous rain must have seemed a boon to them, making it even easier for them to move east from Thornfen to the edges of Bendol. To where the great ring of Terunael warding stones holds in the floodtide of this ancient terror. A vallorn with the full power of a [[Brocéliande]] or a [[Axos#Axos Territories|Visokumo]], packed into a single region of verdant ruins.

Unmarked, the Tainted Basilisk come to Bendol and as the gates of the Tower of the Skink begin to splinter, they begin their terrible work.

Unmarked? Oh no, not wholly unmarked. For while the Gryphon’s Pride fought in Nesustak Forest, and the armies of the Empire assailed the Tower of the Skink, the Varushkan army of the Boyar’s Hasta wove its own strategy in the Sarangrave. Where the Navarr of the Quiet Step hunted the Druj, Varushkan scouts helped them uncover their boltholes and hidden lairs. In Nesustak they helped the Dawnish root out the assassins of the Thornwasp and the Banded Snake. And as the armies moved south it was their scouts and spies who warned of the threat from the Poison Crane and the Hidden Widow in time to allow the Quiet Step to reach the battlefield.
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But mostly what they have been doing is watching for the Tainted Basilisk. Watching the eaves of Bendol. Watching the pathetic Grynbor as they honoured the aberration at the heart of Sarangrave. When the ghulai make their move, the Varushkans are ready to oppose them at every turn.

Observation indicates that the Tainted Basilisk have splintered as they moved, still hidden under their Night magic shroud. They spread their forces around the outskirts of Bendol, at key positions about the circumference of the warning stones. Their shroud protects them only while they are moving; the longer they stay in one place the easier it is to see where they are, to see the mists that hide them from prying eyes gather. When their agents reach the outskirts of Turan, the Boyar’s Hasta strike. A sudden ambush, a vicious fight of scouts and [[Arkad#Vikari|vikari]] that leaves most of the Druj dead. Most, but not all. Some of the ghulai are taken alive, interrogated, forced to reveal their intent.

They plan to breach the warding stones, to undo what the Terunael did in those last days after the disastrous ritual that brought the vallorn into being. They will unleash Béantal Dol, and it will wash across the Sarangrave, devouring armies and rebels alike. A fitting retribution, laughs one half-mad sorcerer. The folly of ancient humans, killing and consuming their distant heirs.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Serafina Semenov.jpg|caption='''Serafina Semenov''', General of the Boyar's Hasta|align=right|width=200}}
Immediately the Hasta start to move - sending messengers and mobilizing their forces to scour the outskirts of Bendol for more groups of ghulai. A second encampment is intercepted in Thornfen with the aid of the Navarr, but they are much better defended. As the Empire consolidates its hold on the Tower of the Skink, another battle erupts on the outskirts of the vallorn. The magicians of the Druj hold nothing back; unleashing spell and ritual alike to try and drive the Varushkans and the Navarr away. They are supported by Dawnish and Urizeni from Sephals, and together they risk everything to disrupt that final desperate ritual of destruction. [[Spring magic]], aimed at rending the ancient standing stones apart with the power of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]].

In the end though, despite this valiant effort, it is too late to stop the Tainted Basilisk from achieving their goal. There is simply too much ground to cover, and the Druj have laid their plans too well. Even as they retreated from the Imperial advance, they left their agents behind to prepare for this unlooked-for day. Ghulai, vikkari, warriors of every Arkad, left behind on the outskirts of the vallorn itself to facilitate one final strike against the Empire should the defence of the Sarangrave fail. And fail it has.

Three days before the Spring Equinox, the deluge that has fallen uninterrupted from the cloud-choked sky since the liberation of Sephals ends as suddenly as it began. In that instant, every head in Sarangrave, no matter where they are in the marshlands, turns to look toward the heart of the territory. Whether arguing with Mallum orcs in Sephals, scouring the Tower of the Skink for remaining Druj, discussing the matter of freedom and security in the Nesustak Forest, or fretting about the Drowned Shepherd and the wisdom of invoking constellations in times such as this, everyone feels it. Like the air changes before a storm breaks, but this comes at the end of the storm. For a moment it overpowers even the banal humdrum thrum of the Druj miasma. An awareness in a split second of a profound finality, of an ending that has been waiting for a thousand years to come to fruition.

The last great working of the Terunael has been broken. The vallorn of Béantal Dol rises, shaking off the remnant of its chains. Fattened by months of Spring-infused waters, it stretches, rousing itself in a way it has never, ever done before since it was first trapped.

And it begins to spread.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Regions of Sarangrave.png|caption=Sarangrave is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=right|width=400}}</div>

==Game Information : Dominion==
* '''The region of Thornfen, and the Tower of the Skink, have fallen
* '''An administrative motion related to their disposition will be raised during the Spring Equinox
* '''The Hidden Widow and Poison Crane have fled the territory taking serious casualties
* '''The remaining garrison of the Tower of the Skink has scattered across southern and eastern Sarangrave
The Empire has captured the region of Thornfen, and with it the Tower of the Skink. The entire territory save for the Nesustak Forest and Bendol are Imperial now. They achieved their goal with the aid of the Axou army of Ipotavo, and while that contribution was valuable it was relatively minor next to the impact of the Empire. There is an existing treaty with the Axou, signed when they joined the war in the Sarangrave, that indicates the intent to not contest Axou claim to Thornfen, including the Tower of the Skink, and the settlement Sephals. During the Spring Equinox, the Civil Service will raise an administrative motion during Saturday afternoon Senate session to confirm that this is still their intent. This motion, if it passes, will be available for the Urizen assembly to [[veto]], as it effectively involves the concedence of a region under their control.

The Gryphon’s Pride spent the season defending, specifically offering aid to the rebels of the Nesustak Forest. Without their intervention, it is likely the rebels would have eventually repelled the attacking Druj but they would have suffered serious losses in the process. The Gryphon’s Pride ensured that the vicious Mallum septs were unable to enact their revenge, and while this has not lessened the rebels desire to see Sarangrave as a free land under their control it has helped to establish the Dawnish army as allies, albeit allies that many are still suspicious of.

The Boyar’s Hasta committed themselves to supporting the other armies, but specifically to watching for signs of the Tainted Basilisk. Thanks to their vigilance, the ghulai of the Druj magical army were only partially successful in their goal. Further details are discussed below.

The armies of the Hidden Widow and the Poison Crane were badly damaged during their defence of the Tower of the Skink, but not destroyed. They have managed to use the confusion to escape back to the Salt Flats of Sanath, but both armies took an additional 500 casualties each during their desperate retreat through Imperial-held Sarangrave, pursued and harried by the Empire. More troubling is the garrison of the Tower of the Skink. While the tower has fallen, and the garrison been seriously damaged, the orcs that make up the garrison have likewise managed to desert the sinking ship. As such Thornfen, Turan Flats, Kroll, and the Whisperwood have all gained the ‘’Outlaw Druj‘’ qualities. Until these outlaws are dealt with, any settlement of those regions are in danger. In addition, any commission built in the territory will have its labour costs increased by a fifth for each region under Imperial control with that quality.

==Game Information : Drowning==
* '''The Drowned Shepherd constellation has exerted unexpected influence in Sarangrave this season
* '''The name of the constellation has changed; nobody is sure where this change originates
This season, the influence of the [[The Drowned Shepherd|Drowned Shepherd]] constellation in Sarangrave has been unmistakable by those who know what to look for. It's unlikely that this is due to its invocation by the general of the Citadel Guard. More likely it is simply that events in the Sarangrave have foreshadowed a profound ending. The constellation is strongly associated with curses, and for all its perception as being generally helpful, [[Rivers of Life]] is still a [[curse]].

There are two elements to this influence that are worth noting. The first is that the constellation appears to have a new name; the Drowned Shepherd. Previously known as the Drowned Man, there has been a notable shift in awareness over the last few months. Much as with the way the understanding of the names of the stars has shifted over the last year or two, so too has awareness of its name shifted. It's up to individual characters how to respond to this. Some will continue to call it the Drowned Man, but this name will feel increasingly archaic and old fashioned. It won't impact magic to use either name, but the name on the wiki has been changed. Speculation about what the difference between a Drowned Man and a Drowned Shepherd symbolise is encouraged.

The other element is that the catastrophic rainstorm has caused water to rise all over the territory. In time that water may subside, but it has resulted in breached dams and ruined farms, herb gardens drowned, and even some structures collapsing. At the same time the unnatural vitality the Rivers of Life bring has been heightened - not only by preserving the lives of soldiers and civilians alike, but also resulting in an explosion in the population of creatures of the Sarangrave including bog octopuses, mosquitos, wasps, spiders, and other small fast-breeding creatures few of which are wholesome in their interactions with humans and orcs.

==Game Information : Béantal Dol==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Blood for Poppies.jpg|caption=The vallorn is the most monstrous of all geographies.|align=right|width=500}}
* '''The vallorn of Béantal Dol has been unleashed
* '''The Tainted Basilisk have been only partially successful and only two regions are seriously threatened
* '''There are opportunities to try and stem the flow of vallorn power in uptime and downtime following the event
* '''The warding stones that once surrounded Béantal Dol are gone
The ghulai of the Tainted Basilisk have breached the circle of warding stones that contains the vallorn of Béantal Dol. Thanks to the Boyar’s Hasta their efforts have been only partially successful. Unfortunately, where the vallorn is concerned “partially successful” is still a significant threat.

Two regions are directly threatened by the expanding vallorn - Nesustak Forest and Bloodwater Marsh. Had the wards simply collapsed, the vallorn would have burst forth towards the nearby fortification, the Tower of the Skink. Sadly, this release is no accident. The magicians of the Tainted Basilisk have seized an [[opportunity]] to deliberately weaken the wards in such a way as to direct the threat against the Empire and the rebels and away from their allies. There is a single [[#Battle_Opportunities|narrow window]] to take action and save one region or the other from desolation.

The actions of the Boyar’s Hasta may still have saved the rest of the territory. They have managed to save most of the warding stones - not enough to hold the vallorn back, but enough to have a vital effect. The vallorn will wash over the stones, as it attempts to expand and in the process the magic that sustains them will be overwhelmed, and destroyed. By the start of the Summer Solstice, the warding stones will be no more - there is no way now to stop them being destroyed. However, they will serve to protect against the vallorn for one final time. In doing so they will absorb some of the devastating verdant power of the vallorn. By the start of the Summer Solstice, the vallorn of Béantal Dol will be to all intents and purposes a “normal” vallorn. It will still be disproportionately potent, but it will no longer present the threat of expanding to completely fill the Sarangrave that it previously did. That threat, like the warding stones, is ended.

What happens to Nesustak Forest and the Bloodwater Marshes, however, will depend on [[#Battle_Opportunities|what the Empire chooses to do]]…

==Participation : Power of the Druj==
* '''Any character whose military unit supported an army in Sarangrave this season will receive a lingering wound
Any character whose military unit supported an army fighting in the Sarangrave this season will receive a lingering [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] in their pack. These wounds represent serious injuries or lingering [[curse|curses]] sustained during the fighting that the [[Rivers of Life]] have been unable to restore. Some of these wounds are potentially lethal if they are not treated before the end of the Spring Equinox, so those bearing them may wish to consult a [[surgical skills#Physick|Physick]].
In addition, however, every military unit that fought in the Sarangrave this season has been in a position to secure a small trove of [[herb|herbs]] and [[potion|potions]], and potentially other things as well. If your character would not have approved of your soldiers taking things from the defeated Druj, you can simply drop these additional items back at GOD when you pick up your pack.

==Participation : Lions of Adelmar==
<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>
* '''The Lions of Adelmar continue not being able to take the cautious advance or give ground orders'''
* '''Any character whose military unit fought alongside the Lions of Adelmar may be inspired by the Knights of Glory'''
The Lions of Adelmar last fought alongside the Knights of Glory 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 Lions of Adelmar cannot take the [[Army orders#Cautious Advance|Cautious Advance]] or [[Army orders#Give Ground|Give Ground]] orders until a year has passed - even if Dawn were to put aside their [[Dawn_military_concerns#Army_Orders|commitment]] to Glory.

On the other hand, stag-headed ''Ser Helvennan'' and their warriors from the Field of Glory take every opportunity to inspire the glorious soldiers of the Lions of Adelmar. 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 Opportunities==
* '''Two major conjunctions to Sarangrave have been identified for the Spring Equinox but the Military Council can take advantage of only one of them
The prognosticators have identified two '''simultaneous''' opportunities in the Sarangrave during the Spring Equinox. The first will allow the Empire to intercede in Nesustak Forest and fight the vallorn here. The other will allow them to do the same, but in Bloodwater Marsh. If the Military Council choose this battle, they will be forced to pick <i>one</i> of these two conjunctions.

The vallorn of Béantal Dol can also be combatted following the Spring Equinox, but it will require a significant commitment of [[army|armies]] to prevent it consuming one or both of the threatened regions. Due to the long storing up of power, it will be attacking both regions separately with a strength of 30,000. To prevent it claiming the region and devouring almost everyone and everything in it, the Empire would need to ensure it did not get 10 victory points. Fewer than that and it is likely the region would still be left with a quality similar to [[region qualities#Infested|infested]].

The good news - and there is some good news - is that the brave actions of the Boyar's Hasta and the destruction of the remaining warding stones means that the vallorn will become quiescent again after this season, whatever happens. In addition, the explosive speed with which the vallorn is unfolding into the two regions means that any downtime fighting will ''not'' be taking place under the influence of the [[vallorn miasma]].

Wide azure skies

2026-05-18T13:20:58Z

Noserenda: /* On the Lakeshore */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:388YE Spring]] [[Category:Military Council]]
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==War Between Land and Sea==
[[Mareave]] is a dry land. There are areas where the ground will nurture crops, but they are few and jealously guarded. The fertile valley of Clisearn knows the gentle touch of fresh water, but even the Brine Turtles must rely on their purified waters to sustain their sept. In the north, the soil is dry and arid and easily blown by the winds. The Unshackled are working to bring water to the north, with their great aqueduct, but it is a slow process. For most of the people of the southernmost land of the Empire, the only fresh water they know is dragged up from deep underground, or falls unpredictably from the sky during the violent Spring storms. This year is no different; dark clouds gather above the Bay of Catazar as Winter fades. They rumble and grind against one another, portending the tempest to come, and the waves that will crash once more against the western cliffs as they do every year.

That tempest has already started, in a way. During the [[Scarlet_sands#Battle_Opportunity:_Rocks_Fall|Winter solstice]], the Grendel forces performed a risky ritual. Using power contained in the ''[[Scarlet_sands#Objective: Shore Up the Coast|Hawser of the Damned]]'', they let loose [[Winter magic]] and brought down the [[Mareave#Blood_River_Colossi|Blood River Colossi]] - and the entire coastal cliffside of [[Mareave#Fleisardh|Fleisardh]] as well. There are not a great many witnesses to exactly what happens when the magic is released. It takes a week or so for the effects to become visible; the rate of decay of the giant weathered statues accelerates until first the one and then the other collapse entirely, great hunks of crumbling stone plunging down into the rough waters off the coast of Mareave. From there, the [[Winter magic#Weakness|decay]] set in motion by the ''Haulers of the Tide'' gathers speed. It spreads inevitably north and south bringing down the cliffs into the churning waters, themselves whipped up by the powerful magical working. A fortnight after the Winter Solstice, the coastline of Fleisardh is unrecognizable. The sea has taken great misshapen bites out of the land, and a rocky shore now spreads where the cliffs once were. The statues are vanished from sight, and the waterfall that once flowed between them is now barely a weir, with blood-red foul water already pooling along the shore poisoning the waters.

This was no mere act of vandalism - the Grendel are not the Druj after all. This was all done in the service of a greater strategy. As the [[Towerjacks]] leave Mareave for [[Spiral]], and the [[Seventh Wave]] and the [[Winter Sun]] prepare for a final push into Fleisardh to drive the barbarians of the Broken Shore out of Mareave again, the fruits of that strategy become apparent.

Though the invaders have been pushed back into Fleisardh, they do not intend to remain there. The ''Brine Turtle'' and the ''Iron Gulls''; the ''Storm Sharks'' and the ''Naguerro'' push back against the [[Army orders#Steady Conquest|steady conquest]] of the Imperial forces, and they push back ''hard''. Nor are they alone. Even as the new shoreline of southern Mareave is settling into place, the naval forces of the yellow-sailed Golden Winds and the crimson-sailed Shamal are sailing south from [[Redoubt]]. They sail past the cliffs of Icarion and Sinfoyard, through the waters of Beoraidh, to the rocky beaches of Fleisardh. By themselves, they would be bad enough, their marines well versed in the art of the shore offensive, but they also bring with them the Black Eels, the Bone Nautilus, and the Hamsin. The latter are supported by a a cohort of heavily-armoured [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] soldiers, mercenaries paid by the Plenum itself to make war on the Empire. The Grendel of the Hamsin - it is a rare army of the Broken Shore that is made up of the rich and powerful inhabitants of the cities and ports rather than the sun-hardened inland septs - are more than happy to fight alongside sell-swords they do not need to pay themselves. While the armies already here bleed and struggle to slow the advance of the Empire’s soldiers, the newcomers disembark, form up, and ready themselves to join the fray.
==On the Wings of the Storm==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;"><quote by="Wildfyre of Balthazar’s Vineyard, General of the Seventh Wave">Seventh Wave! There are those who say we leave, or to hold a line. When our enemy bleeds we keep the knife in and twist, our shields are scarred but will not break. Our swords are strained with the Grendel's blood. We don't fall back, we don't let them take one step, Walk with loyalty for our Imperial Orc siblings, My beloved wave my pride for you shall light a thousand lamps. Step forward. Step True. Step with Virtue.
</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;"><quote by="Sand Viper Ikk, General of the Winter Sun">Orcs of the Winter Sun, this season we stay in Mareave. With clarity and strategy to protect the lands we call home, and to push out those that have bitten the hand we reached out to them in friendship. Guard your comrades, protect your flank as we steadily conquest Fleisardh and the rest of Mareave.
</quote></div>
The Empire are not without allies of their own. As the harbingers of the storm blow from the west, two [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|frozen citadels]] rise in Mareave - one in [[Mareave#Nadir|Nadir]] to the north, the other over the foothill of [[Mareave#Clisearn|Clisearn]]. The latter is a sight to behold; a massive wall of ice stretching across the eastern end of the valley where the ''Ohwinn'' river winds through the foothills. The Fundindelve is sealed away behind great gates of living frost; the waters of the Ohwinn cascading through the wall made frigid-cold, colder than any waters have ever been in this arid land. This is no random citadel from the [[Realms#Summer|Summer realm]]; it is the ''Isjättens Väggar'', and the garrison that issues forth is composed of massive frost-armoured warriors and a dozen immense ice giants drawn from the domain of Cathan Canae to protect the lands of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]].

As well as magical castles, there is the fortress of Rucraic’s Redoubt. Named for one of the [[Sannite]] ancestors, shared with the Grendel, the newly completed redoubt is [[enchantment|enchanted]] with the [[Ramparts of Ashlar]]. Giants of bronze, as well as giants of ice, are abroad in Mareave this season it seems. The constructs drawn from the Fire Mountain of Shikal fight with the [[orc]] garrison of Rucraic’s Redoubt while the walls themselves burn with brass sigils evoking strength, fire, and stone.

Where the Grendel have Asaveas, the Imperial Orcs have mercenaries of their own. After [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Defensive War|negotiation]] between the [[senator]] and the people of the mountains, a force of [[Skoura|Skouran]] battle-engineers comes down through the narrow passes to the Redoubt. Perhaps five hundred in number, every soldier is equipped with magical arms and armour. Three hundred bear magical shields alongside their powerful warhammers; the remaining two hundred are empowered with talismans that keep them on their feet even as they press the hardest part of the fray with their massive thundering mattocks. They barely rest at the Redoubt - although many spend their time there approvingly exploring the new citadel - before marching south to join the battle against the Grendel.
==On the Lakeshore==
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{{CaptionedImage|file=SeventhWave_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=WinterSun_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
And what a battle! Both Imperial armies are woven with [[Day magic]], granting their soldiers and captains that [[Clarity of the Master Strategist|supernatural clarity]] that allows them to cooperate easily with other forces - no matter how strange - to complete their objectives. Giants, and war-engineers; Highborn and Unshackled. They fight together to push the barbarians south, and even in the face of a much larger force they do not falter for one step of the way.

After the Winter Solstice, the Empire is pressing south and west into Fleisardh. At first they continue to make headway - slowly, but inevitable pushing the Grendel back. Then the tide starts to turn. By themselves, the defenders of Fleisardh struggle to hold the Empire for more than a week or so - but that is all that is required. As the forces out of Redoubt, maritime and terrestrial alike, join the fray the Imperial advance slows. They hold the lands they have taken… but then the forces against them become too much to resist. For all their allies, the Empire’s forces are simply too badly outnumbered. The Grendel press them hard, and step by step they are forced to retreat.

The armies of the Broken Shore are potent, but the presence of the Shamaal and the Golden Winds adds even more pressure to the Empire. Their vessels take every advantage of the new shoreline, depositing soldiers and marines across the western coast, providing supplies and reinforcements at every turn. This would have been impossible if the great Blood River Colossi still stood, if the cliffs had not been brought down, but even with the south-western waters still hungry with Winter magic, the navies and their payload of armoured barbarians prove too much for the Empire.

They fall back, and it seems as if the storm clouds flow in to fill the space they have left. The sky above the Grendel armies is low, and heavy with the threat of rain and worse. The winds from the sea pick up speed, raising dust clouds and wiping away the bootprints of the Imperial soldiers as they retreat, slowly, back into Clisearn, yielding the ground they have claimed in Fleisardh to the Grendel.

==A Wall of Ice and Steel==
Fleisardh is lost; the Seventh Wave and the Winter Sun pushed back. As the weather worsens, they make a stand in south-western Clisearn. With the ''Isjättens Väggar'' and Rucraic’s Redoubt at their backs, with the magicians of the [[Golden Pyramid]] at their [[Mareave#Grand Lodge|Grand Lodge]] offering what support they can, they erect their own wall of ice and steel between the valley and the arid flatlands of Fleisardh.

The two sides have manoeuvred around each other, the Grendel [[Army qualities#Resilient|grinding forward]] and the Empire attempting to take ground with [[Army orders#Steady Conquest|as few lives lost]] as possible. Here though on the border between Fleisardh and Clisearn, the skirmishing thrust and counter-thrust comes to a head. Blood soaks into the sandy soil, blood of orcs and human and supernatural warrior alike, and the ground swallows it thirstily. Thundering cries of battle, a storm of swords and shields, a furious tempest… and what is below is echoed in the skies. The storm breaks, the clouds tear open with a peal of thunder that deafens and dazes many Highborn [[naga]] with its sheer violence. Rain begins to pour down, and the soil drinks it just as greedily as it drinks the blood.

It lets something loose, this Spring storm. The fury in the clouds is echoed by the soldiers fighting below. In a different time, in a different place, it would be chaos but not here, and not know. The Imperial armies are bound by the clarity of Day; the Grendel armies may be barbarians but they are ''disciplined'' barbarians. A mad dance of strike and counterstrike unfolds on the border between Fleisardh and Clisearn. Each manoeuvre is met and countered, each counter turning into a riposte. Here three landsharks fight human and orc warriors with a towering ice-giant; there a bronze colossus is beset by a dozen Stone Born and just before it is brought down Unconquered arrows force the Grendel to withdraw.

The Sannite on the battlefield hear the voice of Rucraic himself roaring in the storm winds, urging them to strike without fear and show their former masters ''who they are''. Their warcries are echoed by the Black Eels, the reaver-army that roars the name of Rucraic even as they strive to steal the bounty of rich Clisearn and the Funfindelve. Sannite and Grendel clash like never before in that liminal space, that shore between the dry land and the mountains.

The Highborn hear no voices in the storm, but they hear the voices in their hearts just as loudly. They fight [[Courage|Courageously]] alongside [[Loyalty|Loyal]] allies - not human, but Imperial nonetheless - and they fight with [[Pride]]. They will not withdraw save that the enemy forces them, and if the line breaks they will draw a new line and stand it, and again and again if that is what is required of them.

Do they know they can’t hold back the Grendel? The captains and commanders must suspect. Do the soldiers know? Do they care? Or are they in that moment the defenders of the Empire, of the Unshackled legacy, and fighting only in that moment. Let the future take care of itself.

The battle is bloody, and the Empire is forced to retreat… but they do not give up. They don’t take the easy route, don’t fall back any farther than they must. They trust to the [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] and the healer-mages that fight alongside them, and they keep fighting.

==Uncertain Victory==
As the Spring Equinox draws nearer, Imperial forces in Mareave remain engaged with the Grendel. The Grendel armies continue to press into Clisearn, with the Brine Turtles and the Black Eels in the vaguard. The Empire holds, but they are outnumbered. Even with the ''Isjättens Väggar'', it is a struggle to prevent the barbarians overrunning the valleys. Without the presence of that magical citadel in particular, its possible the wealthy region would have already fallen.

Yet the fighting has achieved something, perhaps something a little unexpected. Two armies remain to fight, against massive odds, to keep Mareave. This has not - can not have - gone unnoticed by the orcs of Mareave who were once Grendel or subject to them. Highborn and Winter Sun alike find those among the families of Clisearn ready to offer provisions and water to their soldiers. What the Grendel demanded last season, they give freely to the defenders. It does not hurt the Imperial cause that the Black Eels are raiding the wealth of Mareave, and it seems that they are not taking any great pain to differentiate between Imperial Orc and former Grendel. The orcs of Clisearn do not invite Imperial soldiers into their homes... but neither do they slam their doors against them.

Likewise, when the enchantment settles over Rucraic's Redoubt, the orcs of Eoradal and their cousins in Nadir and Icarion come to see the magical sigils, to watch open-mouthed as the forces summoned from the Autumn realm defend against their former masters. Quietly, and without fuss, a few more would-be warriors approach the Sannite with queries about the Unshackled, and the Empire. Pebbles are tumbling; the heavens hold their breath to see if the mountain will subside again... or if the avalanche will sweep the old world before it and perhaps leave something new in its place.

For now, in the south, the Empire holds, and the Grendel press, and the weather remains tumultuous as it will through the Spring Equinox before the rains die down and the soil dries once more. For all the lives lost on both sides, nothing has been resolved. The Grendel show no signs of giving up, but neither do the Empire. At least the threat of the Shamal and the Golden Sails is contained to the coast… but even as the Spring Equinox dawns, the [[Army_qualities#Scouting|scouts]] of the Seventh Wave bring a worrying report. There are sightings of hitherto unknown Grendel ships sailing in force up the coast from the Broken Shore, with sails of deepest amethyst, to join the battle in Mareave.

==Game Information==
* '''The Empire has been forced out of Fleisardh and the Grendel are making inroads into Clisearn'''
The Empire has been pushed back; they have lost their foothold in Fleisardh, and the Grendel are halfway to conquering the whole of Clisearn. The presence of two magical citadels, and the enchantment on the garrison of Rucraic’s Redoubt, hindered the barbarian advance here. The presence of a thousand strength force of well-equipped Skouran mercenaries attached to the Redoubt further impeded the Grendel ability to push north from Fleisardh. Without one or more of these additional forces, the Grendel advance would have been much more rapid.

==Participation : Military Units==
* '''Characters whose military unit was fighting in Mareave this season may qualify for an aura on their weapon depending on their motivation'''
Between the presence of the ice-warriors and giants of the ''Isjättens Väggar'', the rousing words of both the Imperial generals, and the [[Imperial address|strident address]] of the [[Throne]], anyone whose [[military unit]] supported the Winter Sun or the Seventh Wave may find themselves especially inspired by the fighting in Mareave. This may take the form of a temporary [[Aura#Item_Aura|item aura]] that will persist through the Spring Equinox.

If your character’s military unit supported one of the armies, or you are the general of either force, you ''may'' experience such an aura, if your motivations make you eligible. To qualify, your character must have been present with one of the following three core motivations.

If you are an orc, you would qualify if your inspiration was:
* To keep Mareave free of the Grendel; you took it and you will hold it
* To face the Grendel boldly in battle and show yourself better than them
* To impress the people of Mareave with your cunning and audacity

If you are a human, you would quality if your inspiration was:
* To face even the most overwhelming odds in pursuit of what is right
* To show your solidarity with the Imperial Orcs against the wicked barbarians
* To demonstrate the superiority of the Empire over the Grendel; there is nothing they can claim that the Empire cannot take from them

If your character had different motivations in Mareave, that’s fine but you won’t qualify for an aura. Which might be for the best - these auras arise spontaneously so they won't be one of the known auras that a priest can create with hallow. To gain an aura you must email {{plot}} before midnight on the 25th May with your CID and which of the three motivations best describes your motivation for fighting in Maraeve this season. Your pack will contain a ribbon for a one-handed weapon aura that you can attach to your own phys-rep.

==Battle Opportunity==
* '''Prognosticators have identified a major conjunction of the Sentinel Gate leading to Clisearn during the Spring Equinox'''
The prognosticators associated with the military council have identified a major conjunction of the Sentinel Gate leading to Clisearn during the Spring Equinox. They are cautious about what it might portend, but they cautiously speculate that it might involve an opportunity to strike a stinging blow against the Grendel and perhaps demonstrate conclusively the sincerity of the Imperial claim to Mareave.

Wide azure skies

2026-05-18T13:20:13Z

Noserenda:

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:388YE Spring]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 40%; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wide azure skies.jpg|caption=The storm clouds roil and rage, but behind them the sky is a deep azure blue.|align=left|width=6000}}</div>
==War Between Land and Sea==
[[Mareave]] is a dry land. There are areas where the ground will nurture crops, but they are few and jealously guarded. The fertile valley of Clisearn knows the gentle touch of fresh water, but even the Brine Turtles must rely on their purified waters to sustain their sept. In the north, the soil is dry and arid and easily blown by the winds. The Unshackled are working to bring water to the north, with their great aqueduct, but it is a slow process. For most of the people of the southernmost land of the Empire, the only fresh water they know is dragged up from deep underground, or falls unpredictably from the sky during the violent Spring storms. This year is no different; dark clouds gather above the Bay of Catazar as Winter fades. They rumble and grind against one another, portending the tempest to come, and the waves that will crash once more against the western cliffs as they do every year.

That tempest has already started, in a way. During the [[Scarlet_sands#Battle_Opportunity:_Rocks_Fall|Winter solstice]], the Grendel forces performed a risky ritual. Using power contained in the ''[[Scarlet_sands#Objective: Shore Up the Coast|Hawser of the Damned]]'', they let loose [[Winter magic]] and brought down the [[Mareave#Blood_River_Colossi|Blood River Colossi]] - and the entire coastal cliffside of [[Mareave#Fleisardh|Fleisardh]] as well. There are not a great many witnesses to exactly what happens when the magic is released. It takes a week or so for the effects to become visible; the rate of decay of the giant weathered statues accelerates until first the one and then the other collapse entirely, great hunks of crumbling stone plunging down into the rough waters off the coast of Mareave. From there, the [[Winter magic#Weakness|decay]] set in motion by the ''Haulers of the Tide'' gathers speed. It spreads inevitably north and south bringing down the cliffs into the churning waters, themselves whipped up by the powerful magical working. A fortnight after the Winter Solstice, the coastline of Fleisardh is unrecognizable. The sea has taken great misshapen bites out of the land, and a rocky shore now spreads where the cliffs once were. The statues are vanished from sight, and the waterfall that once flowed between them is now barely a weir, with blood-red foul water already pooling along the shore poisoning the waters.

This was no mere act of vandalism - the Grendel are not the Druj after all. This was all done in the service of a greater strategy. As the [[Towerjacks]] leave Mareave for [[Spiral]], and the [[Seventh Wave]] and the [[Winter Sun]] prepare for a final push into Fleisardh to drive the barbarians of the Broken Shore out of Mareave again, the fruits of that strategy become apparent.

Though the invaders have been pushed back into Fleisardh, they do not intend to remain there. The ''Brine Turtle'' and the ''Iron Gulls''; the ''Storm Sharks'' and the ''Naguerro'' push back against the [[Army orders#Steady Conquest|steady conquest]] of the Imperial forces, and they push back ''hard''. Nor are they alone. Even as the new shoreline of southern Mareave is settling into place, the naval forces of the yellow-sailed Golden Winds and the crimson-sailed Shamal are sailing south from [[Redoubt]]. They sail past the cliffs of Icarion and Sinfoyard, through the waters of Beoraidh, to the rocky beaches of Fleisardh. By themselves, they would be bad enough, their marines well versed in the art of the shore offensive, but they also bring with them the Black Eels, the Bone Nautilus, and the Hamsin. The latter are supported by a a cohort of heavily-armoured [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] soldiers, mercenaries paid by the Plenum itself to make war on the Empire. The Grendel of the Hamsin - it is a rare army of the Broken Shore that is made up of the rich and powerful inhabitants of the cities and ports rather than the sun-hardened inland septs - are more than happy to fight alongside sell-swords they do not need to pay themselves. While the armies already here bleed and struggle to slow the advance of the Empire’s soldiers, the newcomers disembark, form up, and ready themselves to join the fray.
==On the Wings of the Storm==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;"><quote by="Wildfyre of Balthazar’s Vineyard, General of the Seventh Wave">Seventh Wave! There are those who say we leave, or to hold a line. When our enemy bleeds we keep the knife in and twist, our shields are scarred but will not break. Our swords are strained with the Grendel's blood. We don't fall back, we don't let them take one step, Walk with loyalty for our Imperial Orc siblings, My beloved wave my pride for you shall light a thousand lamps. Step forward. Step True. Step with Virtue.
</quote></div>
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;"><quote by="Sand Viper Ikk, General of the Winter Sun">Orcs of the Winter Sun, this season we stay in Mareave. With clarity and strategy to protect the lands we call home, and to push out those that have bitten the hand we reached out to them in friendship. Guard your comrades, protect your flank as we steadily conquest Fleisardh and the rest of Mareave.
</quote></div>
The Empire are not without allies of their own. As the harbingers of the storm blow from the west, two [[Frozen Citadel of Cathan Canae|frozen citadels]] rise in Mareave - one in [[Mareave#Nadir|Nadir]] to the north, the other over the foothill of [[Mareave#Clisearn|Clisearn]]. The latter is a sight to behold; a massive wall of ice stretching across the eastern end of the valley where the ''Ohwinn'' river winds through the foothills. The Fundindelve is sealed away behind great gates of living frost; the waters of the Ohwinn cascading through the wall made frigid-cold, colder than any waters have ever been in this arid land. This is no random citadel from the [[Realms#Summer|Summer realm]]; it is the ''Isjättens Väggar'', and the garrison that issues forth is composed of massive frost-armoured warriors and a dozen immense ice giants drawn from the domain of Cathan Canae to protect the lands of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]].

As well as magical castles, there is the fortress of Rucraic’s Redoubt. Named for one of the [[Sannite]] ancestors, shared with the Grendel, the newly completed redoubt is [[enchantment|enchanted]] with the [[Ramparts of Ashlar]]. Giants of bronze, as well as giants of ice, are abroad in Mareave this season it seems. The constructs drawn from the Fire Mountain of Shikal fight with the [[orc]] garrison of Rucraic’s Redoubt while the walls themselves burn with brass sigils evoking strength, fire, and stone.

Where the Grendel have Asaveas, the Imperial Orcs have mercenaries of their own. After [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Defensive War|negotiation]] between the [[senator]] and the people of the mountains, a force of [[Skoura|Skouran]] battle-engineers comes down through the narrow passes to the Redoubt. Perhaps five hundred in number, every soldier is equipped with magical arms and armour. Three hundred bear magical shields alongside their powerful warhammers; the remaining two hundred are empowered with talismans that keep them on their feet even as they press the hardest part of the fray with their massive thundering mattocks. They barely rest at the Redoubt - although many spend their time there approvingly exploring the new citadel - before marching south to join the battle against the Grendel.
==On the Lakeshore==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=SeventhWave_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=WinterSun_Colour.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
And what a battle! Both Imperial armies are woven with [[Day magic]], granting their soldiers and captains that [[Clarity of the Master Strategist|supernatural clarity]] that allows them to cooperate easily with other forces - no matter how strange - to complete their objectives. Giants, and war-engineers; Highborn and Unshackled. They fight together to push the barbarians south, and even in the face of a much larger force they do not falter for one step of the way.

After the Winter Solstice, the Empire is pressing south and west into Fleisardh. At first they continue to make headway - slowly, but inevitable pushing the Grendel back. Then the tide starts to turn. By themselves, the defenders of Fleisardh struggle to hold the Empire for more than a week or so - but that is all that is required. As the forces out of Redoubt, maritime and terrestrial alike, join the fray the Imperial advance slows. They hold the lands they have taken… but then the forces against them become too much to resist. For all their allies, the Empire’s forces are simply too badly outnumbered. The Grendel press them hard, and step by step they are forced to retreat.

The armies of the Broken Shore are potent, but the presence of the Shamaal and the Golden Winds adds even more pressure to the Empire. Their vessels take every advantage of the new shoreline, depositing soldiers and marines across the western coast, providing supplies and reinforcements at every turn. This would have been impossible if the grate Blood River Colossi still stood, if the cliffs had not been brought down, but even with the south-western waters still hungry with Winter magic, the navies and their payload of armoured barbarians prove too much for the Empire.

They fall back, and it seems as if the storm clouds flow in to fill the space they have left. The sky above the Grendel armies is low, and heavy with the threat of rain and worse. The winds from the sea pick up speed, raising dust clouds and wiping away the bootprints of the Imperial soldiers as they retreat, slowly, back into Clisearn, yielding the ground they have claimed in Fleisardh to the Grendel.

==A Wall of Ice and Steel==
Fleisardh is lost; the Seventh Wave and the Winter Sun pushed back. As the weather worsens, they make a stand in south-western Clisearn. With the ''Isjättens Väggar'' and Rucraic’s Redoubt at their backs, with the magicians of the [[Golden Pyramid]] at their [[Mareave#Grand Lodge|Grand Lodge]] offering what support they can, they erect their own wall of ice and steel between the valley and the arid flatlands of Fleisardh.

The two sides have manoeuvred around each other, the Grendel [[Army qualities#Resilient|grinding forward]] and the Empire attempting to take ground with [[Army orders#Steady Conquest|as few lives lost]] as possible. Here though on the border between Fleisardh and Clisearn, the skirmishing thrust and counter-thrust comes to a head. Blood soaks into the sandy soil, blood of orcs and human and supernatural warrior alike, and the ground swallows it thirstily. Thundering cries of battle, a storm of swords and shields, a furious tempest… and what is below is echoed in the skies. The storm breaks, the clouds tear open with a peal of thunder that deafens and dazes many Highborn [[naga]] with its sheer violence. Rain begins to pour down, and the soil drinks it just as greedily as it drinks the blood.

It lets something loose, this Spring storm. The fury in the clouds is echoed by the soldiers fighting below. In a different time, in a different place, it would be chaos but not here, and not know. The Imperial armies are bound by the clarity of Day; the Grendel armies may be barbarians but they are ''disciplined'' barbarians. A mad dance of strike and counterstrike unfolds on the border between Fleisardh and Clisearn. Each manoeuvre is met and countered, each counter turning into a riposte. Here three landsharks fight human and orc warriors with a towering ice-giant; there a bronze colossus is beset by a dozen Stone Born and just before it is brought down Unconquered arrows force the Grendel to withdraw.

The Sannite on the battlefield hear the voice of Rucraic himself roaring in the storm winds, urging them to strike without fear and show their former masters ''who they are''. Their warcries are echoed by the Black Eels, the reaver-army that roars the name of Rucraic even as they strive to steal the bounty of rich Clisearn and the Funfindelve. Sannite and Grendel clash like never before in that liminal space, that shore between the dry land and the mountains.

The Highborn hear no voices in the storm, but they hear the voices in their hearts just as loudly. They fight [[Courage|Courageously]] alongside [[Loyalty|Loyal]] allies - not human, but Imperial nonetheless - and they fight with [[Pride]]. They will not withdraw save that the enemy forces them, and if the line breaks they will draw a new line and stand it, and again and again if that is what is required of them.

Do they know they can’t hold back the Grendel? The captains and commanders must suspect. Do the soldiers know? Do they care? Or are they in that moment the defenders of the Empire, of the Unshackled legacy, and fighting only in that moment. Let the future take care of itself.

The battle is bloody, and the Empire is forced to retreat… but they do not give up. They don’t take the easy route, don’t fall back any farther than they must. They trust to the [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] and the healer-mages that fight alongside them, and they keep fighting.

==Uncertain Victory==
As the Spring Equinox draws nearer, Imperial forces in Mareave remain engaged with the Grendel. The Grendel armies continue to press into Clisearn, with the Brine Turtles and the Black Eels in the vaguard. The Empire holds, but they are outnumbered. Even with the ''Isjättens Väggar'', it is a struggle to prevent the barbarians overrunning the valleys. Without the presence of that magical citadel in particular, its possible the wealthy region would have already fallen.

Yet the fighting has achieved something, perhaps something a little unexpected. Two armies remain to fight, against massive odds, to keep Mareave. This has not - can not have - gone unnoticed by the orcs of Mareave who were once Grendel or subject to them. Highborn and Winter Sun alike find those among the families of Clisearn ready to offer provisions and water to their soldiers. What the Grendel demanded last season, they give freely to the defenders. It does not hurt the Imperial cause that the Black Eels are raiding the wealth of Mareave, and it seems that they are not taking any great pain to differentiate between Imperial Orc and former Grendel. The orcs of Clisearn do not invite Imperial soldiers into their homes... but neither do they slam their doors against them.

Likewise, when the enchantment settles over Rucraic's Redoubt, the orcs of Eoradal and their cousins in Nadir and Icarion come to see the magical sigils, to watch open-mouthed as the forces summoned from the Autumn realm defend against their former masters. Quietly, and without fuss, a few more would-be warriors approach the Sannite with queries about the Unshackled, and the Empire. Pebbles are tumbling; the heavens hold their breath to see if the mountain will subside again... or if the avalanche will sweep the old world before it and perhaps leave something new in its place.

For now, in the south, the Empire holds, and the Grendel press, and the weather remains tumultuous as it will through the Spring Equinox before the rains die down and the soil dries once more. For all the lives lost on both sides, nothing has been resolved. The Grendel show no signs of giving up, but neither do the Empire. At least the threat of the Shamal and the Golden Sails is contained to the coast… but even as the Spring Equinox dawns, the [[Army_qualities#Scouting|scouts]] of the Seventh Wave bring a worrying report. There are sightings of hitherto unknown Grendel ships sailing in force up the coast from the Broken Shore, with sails of deepest amethyst, to join the battle in Mareave.

==Game Information==
* '''The Empire has been forced out of Fleisardh and the Grendel are making inroads into Clisearn'''
The Empire has been pushed back; they have lost their foothold in Fleisardh, and the Grendel are halfway to conquering the whole of Clisearn. The presence of two magical citadels, and the enchantment on the garrison of Rucraic’s Redoubt, hindered the barbarian advance here. The presence of a thousand strength force of well-equipped Skouran mercenaries attached to the Redoubt further impeded the Grendel ability to push north from Fleisardh. Without one or more of these additional forces, the Grendel advance would have been much more rapid.

==Participation : Military Units==
* '''Characters whose military unit was fighting in Mareave this season may qualify for an aura on their weapon depending on their motivation'''
Between the presence of the ice-warriors and giants of the ''Isjättens Väggar'', the rousing words of both the Imperial generals, and the [[Imperial address|strident address]] of the [[Throne]], anyone whose [[military unit]] supported the Winter Sun or the Seventh Wave may find themselves especially inspired by the fighting in Mareave. This may take the form of a temporary [[Aura#Item_Aura|item aura]] that will persist through the Spring Equinox.

If your character’s military unit supported one of the armies, or you are the general of either force, you ''may'' experience such an aura, if your motivations make you eligible. To qualify, your character must have been present with one of the following three core motivations.

If you are an orc, you would qualify if your inspiration was:
* To keep Mareave free of the Grendel; you took it and you will hold it
* To face the Grendel boldly in battle and show yourself better than them
* To impress the people of Mareave with your cunning and audacity

If you are a human, you would quality if your inspiration was:
* To face even the most overwhelming odds in pursuit of what is right
* To show your solidarity with the Imperial Orcs against the wicked barbarians
* To demonstrate the superiority of the Empire over the Grendel; there is nothing they can claim that the Empire cannot take from them

If your character had different motivations in Mareave, that’s fine but you won’t qualify for an aura. Which might be for the best - these auras arise spontaneously so they won't be one of the known auras that a priest can create with hallow. To gain an aura you must email {{plot}} before midnight on the 25th May with your CID and which of the three motivations best describes your motivation for fighting in Maraeve this season. Your pack will contain a ribbon for a one-handed weapon aura that you can attach to your own phys-rep.

==Battle Opportunity==
* '''Prognosticators have identified a major conjunction of the Sentinel Gate leading to Clisearn during the Spring Equinox'''
The prognosticators associated with the military council have identified a major conjunction of the Sentinel Gate leading to Clisearn during the Spring Equinox. They are cautious about what it might portend, but they cautiously speculate that it might involve an opportunity to strike a stinging blow against the Grendel and perhaps demonstrate conclusively the sincerity of the Imperial claim to Mareave.

388YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune

2026-05-18T13:16:35Z

Noserenda: /* Minor Conjunctions */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Into the light.jpg|align=left|caption=Spring is a time of renewal; a time for affirmed loyalties and renewed oaths.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:500px; float: right; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Wind of Fortune !! Order Released !! Last Updated || Note
|}

Over the past three months, events have taken place which are of significance to the Empire and may require a response from her champions. These are the winds of fortune, counterparts to the winds of war that detail the Empire's military campaigns. They lay out situations, and usually include things that characters can do to take advantage of [[opportunity|opportunities]] or to resolve problems. In almost every case, they start with a piece of flavour text. This fiction helps introduce the wind of fortune, or draws out a particular theme or element. Often, it represents a viewpoint that one or more NPCs might have in-character. In all cases, these pieces are intended to help create an atmosphere and provide a little entertainment. Where they contain opinions, those are the opinions of the fictional people depicted - and where they contain information or rumours, the assumption is that the reader will create their own context for that information or gossip if they want to use it in character.

The body of the wind of fortune describes situations and lays out ways players can engage with them. Except where we explicitly talk about something being "rumoured" or use a phrase like "some might say..." the details of a wind of fortune are factual. They represent briefing material presented by the civil service or similar authoritative sources and represent something the average educated citizen would acknowledge as a reliable truth. Unless we specify otherwise, we're also being as thorough as possible. This information doesn't need further checking in-character. It's not an opinion, and we're not trying to trick you.

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:400px; float: left; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Nation !! Diplomacy Wind
|}

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 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 could know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months. It's perfectly acceptable to turn up to Empire having read only a few Winds of Fortune that directly interest your character; part of the fun on the field can come from learning about situations and opportunities in other parts of the game.

In each case, we've tried to tag the Winds of Fortune entry with the nations or political bodies to which it is most relevant. We've done this to help people who are interested only in events that are especially relevant to them. In no way are these tags intended to be exhaustive; the Empire is a complex place, and very little happens in isolation. We are also adding the dates that they were last updated (other than typos and correcting [[red links]]) in an attempt to make it easier to keep track of the newest releases.
__TOC__
==Winds of Fortune==

==Other Events==
===Rod and Shield in the Commonwealth===
<div style="float:right; width: 150px; clear: left;">[[File:OrderRodAndShield.jpg]]</div>
* '''The Rod and Shield have been encouraged to support the Commonwealth against Cold Sun'''
* '''Members of the order can journey to the Commonwealth to offer advice, or take part, in the fight against ''scions'' of Cold Sun
Shortly before the end of the Autumn Equinox 387YE, Lantir was [[Cold war|lost to Cold Sun]]. '''Sakari Nightscale''', as [[Rod and Shield|Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield]], called on the order to offer [[Cold_war#Magical_Aid|magical aid]] to the [[Commonwealth]], along with the Golden Pyramid and experts from the Granite Pillar. Battlemages and magicians interested in the practical application of magic in military situations have travelled across the Sea of Steel to support the Commonwealth's efforts against the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun|Oblivion]], either by directly getting stuck in against the heralds, or through discussions on the tactical use of magic.

Any player whose character is a member of the Rod and Shield can email {{plot}} with their CID to let us know that their character went to the Commonwealth. Those who email in will receive a random pawn of [[vis]] and a lingering [[Combat#Traumatic_Wounds|traumatic wound]] from an encounter with a ''scion''. The deadline for emailing in to take part in this opportunity is midnight on Tuesday the 19<sup>th</sup> of May.

===Vigilance in Sarvos===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; margin-left: 10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" ;">'''Investigated Sarvos'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Citizen'''</td><td>'''Nation'''</td></tr>
<tr><td> Achseh </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Ada </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Aemon </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Alessi of the Basilisks of the Labyrinth </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Amaro d’Apulian </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Apollos </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Delilah </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Destin </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Elena Donati di Sarvos </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Esria </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Estella Lucati </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Fabio Costas d’Apulian </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Giuliana Tessaro di Sarvos </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Godfrey of The Emberclad </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jared </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Joran </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jovian </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Jules von Holberg </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Junia of The Rowan Chapel </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Kaspar Yakovich von Holberg </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Lia Adelaar </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Melkior of Balthazar’s Vineyard </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Merlof Von Temeschwar </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Miroslaw Vukovitch Von Temeschwar </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Omin </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Paulus Adelaar van Holberg </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Taddea Ginori </td><td> The League </td></tr>
<tr><td> Tyrael </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Vashti of the Cenotaph </td><td> Highguard </td></tr>
<tr><td> Viviane Barossa di Tassato Regario </td><td> The League </td></tr>
</table>
</div>
<div style="display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
{{SOPInner|statement=Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Joran of Reikos with 25 doses of liao to rally the people of Highguard to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let Virtue reveal the deceiver!|by=Joran of Reikos, Highguard National Assembly|vote=552-0|when=Winter 387YE}}

{{SOPInner|statement=Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Viviane Barossa with 25 liao to rally the people of the League to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let virtue reveal the deceiver!|by=Viviane Barossa, League National Assembly|vote=168-0|when=Autumn 387YE}}
</div>
Last season, an [[Finding is the final act|opportunity]] arose for the priests of the League and Highguard to investigate the potential of a Grendel espionage ring in the crown of the Catazar - the city of [[Sarvos]]. Both assemblies approved this venture to thwart the machinations of the orcs of the Broken Shore, and the last three months saw thirty-two of their number descend upon the coast in a vigilant fervour. Furthermore, the Sarvos Chamber of Commerce voted to seek out the aid of the [[College_of_the_Liberated|College of the Liberated]], further increasing the chances of success.

Unfortunately, due to the actions of Imperials taking advantage of the [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Within_and_Without|offer]] of the [[Whisper Gallery|Court of the Shadowed Oracle]] to profit from the espionage ring rather than identify and disrupt it, the inquisitors were thwarted in their attempts. The priests of Highguard and the League were unable to follow up on enough leads to identify the Grendel agents or their key bases of operation.

All is not lost, however, the Conclave [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_War_of_Whispers|committed to the war on whispers]] this season gone, and from that focus comes results. Those who took part in the [[Venture#War_of_Whispers|venture]] have been able to determine and share that there were three military units led by humans from somewhere in the east of the Empire (that is, from either [[Varushka]], [[Dawn]], [[Holberg]], [[Therunin]], or [[Urizen]]) who took part in this counter-counter-espionage.

'''<big>Participation</big>'''<br>
Those who took the '''Preach Vigilance - Investigate Sarvos''' action will have taken part in interviewing the faithful in Sarvos, investigating leads and clues in the city, and attempting to identify traitors to the Empire. Unfortunately, each time they were close to pinning down something, it would have gone awry. Either a witness was whisked away, a piece of evidence lost, or a written document had the text garbled.

==Trade Summary==

==Mandates==
* '''You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, [[387YE_Winter Solstice_Synod_judgements#Mandate|here]].'''
A number of [[mandate|mandates]] were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod last season. As long as the named priest provided sufficient liao, those mandates have been [[Mandate#Implementing_a_Mandate|automatically enacted]].

==Winter Conjunctions==
* '''Last event there were a number of conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate; their known outcomes are listed here'''
During the Winter Solstice, there were a number of [[Sentinel_Gate#Conjunctions|conjunctions]] of the [[Sentinel Gate]] identified by the Imperial prognosticators. In each case, a band of Imperial heroes used that conjunction to travel to a location far from Anvil and intervene in an ongoing situation. These are the known outcomes of those conjunctions. In the case of battles, it is important to remember that the [[Military Council]] can only make use of ''two'' of the major conjunctions each summit, choosing which to take advantage of during the [[Muster]].

===Major Conjunctions===

===Minor Conjunctions===
{|table class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! # !! Location !! Responsibility !! Overview !! Result
|-
| 1 || Morrow, Peregro, Xavier's Path || [[Arbiter of the Four Winds]] || [[Red_skies#A_Different_Skill_(Morrow)|Defeat the wreckers]] || Wreckers defeated
|-
| 2 || Sermersuaq, Suaq Wastes, Verdant Lea || [[Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq]] || [[Shadow_in_the_grass#Agramant_and_Big_Icebarn|Kill the Ceaseless Hunter]] || Ceaseless Hunter killed
|-
| 3 || Sarvos, Uccelini, Antonio's Glebe || [[Champion of Wisdom]] || [[Red_skies#Golden_Crane_(Sarvos)|Defeat the wreckers]] || Wreckers defeated
|-
| 4 || Sermersuaq, Suaq Wastes, Taiva's Pen || '''Maryc of House Orzel''' || [[Shadow_in_the_grass#Agramant_and_Big_Icebarn|Kill the Feasting Lord]] || Feasting Lord killed
|-
| 5 || Madruga, Crucible, Draws Sward || [[Imperial Fleet Master]] || [[Red_skies#As_If_the_World_Were_Fog_(Madruga)|Defeat the wreckers]] || Wreckers defeated
|-
| 6 || Sarvos, Foracci, Vintner's Way || [[Armarius of the Anvil Library]] || [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Burn_The_Books_(Sarvos)|Protect the Library Scriptorium]] || All Cinders killed and Scriptorium protected
|-
| 7 || Skallahn, Greenwall, Paegga's Rest || [[Strategos of Wintermark]] || [[Rubies_in_the_snow#Prince_of_the_Ravens|Kill Eluf Asbjørnsson]] || ''Eluf Asbjørnsson'' survived and will raise the fyrd of Greenwall this season
|-
| 8 || Madruga, Torres, Corsair's Road || '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''' || [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Sever_The_Hand_(Madruga)|Protect the House of Guerra]] || All Cinders killed and House of Guerra protected
|-
| 9 || Bregasland, Ottermire, Abigail's Green || [[Keeper of the Breadbasket]] || [[Rose_grow_the_rushes_o%27#A_Plain_Wooden_Box_(Bregasland)|Kill the Jotun warband]] || Imperials pushed off the field; Lion of the North have recovered strength
|-
| 10 || Upwold, Tower March, Benson's Bawn || '''Martin Orchard''' || [[Poets_light_but_lamps#Silence_The_Bell_(Upwold)|Protect Benson's Orchard]] || All Cinders killed and Benson's Orchard protected
|-
| 11 || Sküld, Kógur, Leopard-Tooth Pass || [[High Bard of the Empire]] || [[Invited_with_asperity#A_Cultural_Exchange_%28Redux%29|Exchange cultural works of storytelling]] || Cultural works exchanged, High Bard may know more
|-
| 12 || Therunin, Eastring, Broken Pasture || [[Vallornguard|Speaker of the Vallornguard]] || [[The_thing_with_feathers#Midwinter,_Was_It?_(Llofir)|End the suffering of those who fought the vallorn]] || Unclear, but the Speaker of the Vallornguard may know more
|-
| 13 || Casinea, Casfall, Casca's Doom || [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]] || [[Apparently_with_no_surprise#Whatever_Happened_to_Mendicant_Garev?|Heal and rescue mendicant Garev]] || Mendicant Garev rescued and healed, some strange items recovered, Speaker of the Highborn Assembly might know more. Mendicant Garev was [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_150|called]] to inquisition
|-
| 14 || Mournwold, Alderly, Hare Stone || '''Linley Weaver''' || [[The_thing_with_feathers#The_Stone_Cried_Out_(Irra_Harah_again)|Respond to the call of Warrenwise]] || Problem solved, '''Linley Weaver''' should know more
|-
| 15 || Therunin, Eastring, Day's Rest Wayhouse || '''Eleri Bronwen's Rest''' || [[The_tune_without_the_words#A_Light_in_the_Trees_%28Therunin%29|Discuss relocation of Glimmerwater steading]] || The Glimmerwater steading will relocate to [[Miaren]]
|-
| 16 || Spiral, Apulus, Aphelion Cape || '''Floria Sunshaper''' || [[Mirror_and_the_flame#Keep_the_Bargain_(Conjunction)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Grendel defeated and shards retrieved
|-
| 17 || Kallavesa, West Marsh, Ingrid's Rock || [[Watcher of Britta's Pool]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#It_Moves_(Kallavesa)|Stop the coral husks]] || Coral husks destroyed
|-
| 18 || Redoubt, Siluri, Lucia's Moor || [[Prelate of Adelmar's Shrine]] || [[Blood-red_blooms#A_Short_Path_(Redoubt)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Grendel defeated
|-
| 19 || Bregasland, North Fens, Gorum's Toe || [[Keeper of the Dour Fens]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#Behold_the_Fear_(Bregasland)|Stop the coral husks]] || Coral husks destroyed
|-
| 20 || Redoubt, Tomari, Magnus' Clearing || [[Brilliant Star|Custodian of the Brilliant Star]] || [[Blood-red_blooms#Within_the_Stone_(Redoubt)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Grendel defeated
|-
| 21 || Sermersuaq, Stark, Scop's Lookout || [[The Academy|Head of the Academy]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#Cut_Them_Down_(Sermersuaq)|Clear out the coral husks]] || Coral husks destroyed
|-
| 22 || Necropolis, Fishguard, Myfanwy's Rest || [[Abbess of Reconciliation]] || [[Blood-red_blooms#At_the_Gardens_(Necropolis)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Imperial pushed off the field and [[Abbess_of_Reconciliation#Abbey_of_Reconciliation|Abbey of Reconciliation]] raided
|-
| 23 || Ayereed, Gainmeachdubh, Dunreagh's Mead || [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower]] || [[387YE Winter Solstice winds of war#Make_an_Anchor_Weep_(Ayereed)|Defeat the Grendel]] || Imperials pushed from the field but remnant Grendel killed by wagon raiders
|-
| 24 || Skallahn, Ulfrsmoor, Nordrborg Approach || [[Smith of Ashes]] || [[Rubies_in_the_snow#Siege|Stop the construct from reaching Kierheim]] || Construct defeated
|-
| 25 || Skallahn, Mindrkyst, Drekatangi || '''Sebastian Shaw''' || [[Rubies_in_the_snow#A_Bronze_Bear|Rescue shipwrecked Marchers]] || Crew of the Old Jim's Ewe were successfully rescued
|-
| 26 || Therunin, Peakedge Song, Hywel's Track || [[Apothecaries Guild|Guild Leader of the Apothecaries Guild]] || [[Crimson_and_green#Under_an_Oak_(Therunin)|Defeat the Druj]] || Druj defeated and apothecaries saved
|-
| 27 || Sarangrave, Whisperwood, Skinflawed's Corral || [[Strategos|Strategos of Urizen]] || [[Fire_and_the_flood#A_Cold_Medallion_(Conjunction)|Defeat the Druj]] || ''Grettek Skinflawed'' and rest of the Druj killed
|-
| 28 || The Barrens, The Bleaks, The Execution Field || [[Envoy to the Karass]] || [[Quietude#Spies_And_Traitors_(Conjunction)|Discuss intricacies of Imperial law with Anka Karass]] || ''Anka Karass'' has gained a greater understanding of the rights and responsibilities of the Karass under Imperial law
|-
| 29 || Spiral, Apulus, Hadrian's Path || [[Sevenfold Path|Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path]] || [[To_fight_aloud#Unexpected_(Spiral)|Intercept the Disciples of Sulemaine]] || Disciples dispatched and scattered, none escaped to Mareave
|-
| 30 || Therunin, Eastring, Greensward Lea || [[Vallornguard|Speaker of the Vallornguard]] || [[Mushroom,_mushroom,_mushroom#Waves_of_Ruin_(Conjunction)|Clear out the Druj]] || Druj cleared out
|-
| 31 || Therunin, Eastring, Greensward Lea || [[Spear of the Seven]] || [[Mushroom,_mushroom,_mushroom#Waves_of_Ruin_(Conjunction)|Take advantage of the conjunction]] || Area was cleared but no ritual performed
|-
| 32 || Redoubt, Limus, Temple of the Stinging Blade || [[Champion of Loyalty]] || [[To_fight_aloud#Borderland_(Redoubt)|Deal with the Disciples of Sulemaine]] || Disciples slaughtered, the Champion of Loyalty should know what happened to the schema
|-
| 33 || Morrow, Altis, Path to Highwatch || [[Polemarch of Highwatch]] || [[To_fight_aloud#Precious_Cargo_(Morrow)|Stop the Disciples of Sulemaine]] ||Disciples slaughtered, the Polemarch of Highwatch should know what happened to the dose of [[true liao]]
|-
| 34 || Hercynia, Northpines, Starwood Roots Steading || [[Archmage of Winter]] || [[The_tune_without_the_words#Over_the_Hills_(Hercynia)|Investigate strange rumours]] || Rumours investigated; '''Bloodcrow Arora''', the [[Archmage of Winter]], might know more
|-
|}

387YE Winter Solstice Synod judgements

2026-05-04T19:43:56Z

Noserenda: /* Judgement 74 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]][[Category: 387YE Winter]]
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Winter 387 Synod judgements.jpg|align=right|width=400|caption=The Synod raised a hundred and ninety-one judgements.}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Winter Solstice 387YE, the Imperial Synod raised 156 judgements.

==Statement of Principle==
Fifty-seven [[Statement of Principle|statements of principle]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Brynn Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' The crises of recent years have exposed a weakness in the Imperial Way. Wisdom teaches us to test what we know. We must work to build a Way that is strengthened by truth, not threatened by it. This is the highest calling of our Assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (46-100)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 13===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Luke
* '''Judgement:''' The scars of Whittle run deep. A people massacred due to zealotry. The Marchers know too well the risks of following your traditions. While the Marchers have no intent of undermining the Synod’s spiritual authority, the fact of the matter remains; A Marcher, A Marcher. Should the Synod proscribe the beliefs of the Marcher Orcs as heretical, the Marches as a whole will defend their neighbours as they would any other Marcher unduly persecuted. To echo the words of the First Empress: “You will take all of us, or none of us.” The Synod may make it’s choice.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (146-50)
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">
{|
|+ <big>'''Judgement Quick Links'''</big>
! Judgement Type
! Amount
|-
|[[#Statement of Principle|Statement of Principle]]|| 57
|-
|[[#Mandate|Mandate]] || 11
|-
|[[#Writ of Consecration|Writ of Consecration]] || 2
|-
|[[#Revocation|Revocation]] || 1
|-
|[[#Proscription|Proscription]] || 15
|-
|[[#Inquisition|Inquisition]] || 9
|-
|[[#Sanction|Sanction]] || 24
|-
|[[#Recognition|Recognition]] || 2
|-
|[[#Appointment|Appointment]] || 21
|-
|[[#Rewarding|Rewarding]] || 14
|-
|}
</div>
===Judgement 16===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement:''' The sacred Hallowed Bells of Virtue have come to gather Marcher Inspiration, shepherded by Ardeniel of the Woodwych Harts! To Upwold, the Bell of Prosperity will chime the work song, keeping the ploughs in line; the Bell of Wisdom will turn minds to tactics to fortify our land. To Bregasland, the Bell of Loyalty will follow General Amberlain, echoing her call; the Bell of Ambition will sound with the Strong Reeds as they rise. To Mournwold, the Bell of Pride will ring from the hillside of Rebellion’s Ridge, for the miners’ cause; the Bell of Vigilance will beat the bounds, readying for attack. To Mitwold, where we would send others, we send only one; the Bell of Courage. Sound it on the border. Sound it over Fort Fidelis. Sound it where the Jotun will hear. We are a Nation of hospitality and a Nation at war. We will protect these Bells with our lives and honour carrying them on their journey.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (196-0)

===Judgement 20===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Eurybia of the Wanderers
* '''Judgement:''' The Urizen national assembly approves the awarding of the Golden Cascade to Darien Numbers. Their use of the Eyes of Prosperity upon Zenith, and their generous support in building the benefice of the Golden Cascade proves themselves a virtuous friend and ally of Urizen. Citizens of Zenith - witness your donations in use.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (206-0)
__TOC__
===Judgement 21===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Rafael Barossa d’Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' The Hallowing of the Master teaches us to use others as tools to further our own aspirations: spreading the Way across the world. We should therefore seek a way to incorporate neighbouring foreign powers, and defeated barbarian nations, into the Empire as vassal-states, using them as a buffer against external aggression while their culture adapts to Imperial rule. Ultimately, this may allow them to join the Empire as an eleventh, twelfth, or twentieth nation once they have learned the Way and their place in it. We should look first to apply this to the Druj septs once we defeat their leaders, the vile Buruk-Tepel. This is our Highest Calling.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (368-80)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 22===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Dagon Barossa of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. The Loyalty Assembly took the first step to anchor the Way in Asavea and we will not falter now! We search for Loyalty sects inspired by the actions of Exemplar Alberto Acciai that we might support to help further anchor the Way in Asavea. This is our Highest Calling.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (302-162)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 25===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Samantha “Tongs” Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' As PRELATE OF ADELMAR’S SHRINE, I CALL ALL LEAGUISH BRAVO’S and MERCENARIES TO RAISE THEIR SWORDS AGAINST THE DARKNESS IN THE WILD PLACES OF SPIRAL.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (302-22)
* '''Notes:''' A call to action for the League to clear out the threats present in Spiral, as per the '''[[My_friends_are_my_estate#Swords_Against_Darkness|My friends are my estate]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Isario i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Live brazenly, fiercely, and truthfully; so that your life becomes proof of what is right. Cast down the chains of tyranny, fear and empty tradition wherever you find them! Act with Courage to choose what you know is true and moral, and confront the world when it stands against you. By inspired by the Exemplar Ahraz, who had the Courage to champion freedom, dignity, and prosperity, and seized them for all, through daring action and unflinching conviction. We were brave, wise, and ambitious enough to reject slavery, break it’s chains on our Empire and then on the world. We are the Freeborn heirs of a legacy of brazen passion, morality, and liberty. We do not just think it, or believe it, we live it. <u>We are fiercely proud of our culture and its freedom of ideas. We must protect and nurture both so that they can flourish. This is our Highest Calling.</u>
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (32-116)

===Judgement 35===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Gwen Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' The Way as it exists is built upon a crumbling foundation of hearsay. The truth was supposedly contained in High Guard libraries, but those have been burned on the accusation of falsehood. It is paramount to the goals of the Way and the Empire that this hearsay be challenged. To test what we think we know about the nature of Virtue, the labyrinth, and the Way is the highest calling of this assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (248-96)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 36===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Nathair Autumngale
* '''Judgement:''' From the very heartlands of this Empire, to the furthest lands touched by Virtue. We are the blood of the Empire, we are Shepherds of the Great Dance and we find ourselves entwined with our fellow Nations as never before. Paths in the dance braided together in these moments. Bring our voice through the veins of the trods that cross the lands while they resonate with our song. In the midst of winter we gather at the hearth, at home. At Wayhouse, Stead, and Tarry. We trade Song and Story with one another, and regales our history, our tale, our culture. Take heed these words, commit to memory these songs, and as winter turns to spring, bring them as a chord along these resonant trods. Bring them to our closest allies and the furthest reaches of our Empire both, so that all know that even when this magic has faded. As sure as the seasons do change. Where Navarr go, music follows.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (265-0)

===Judgement 38===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Nere
* '''Judgement:''' With the new year Highguard reaffirms its claim on the Salt Flats of Sanath once more. Necropolis is our past. Bastion is our present. Leen will be our future. These 3 cities will become the defining Pilgrimage path of our faith. And Leen itself will be our gateway to lands far across the sea and through its virtuous rebirth we will show the world the power of our faith. Highguard, there will be challenges in this endeavor, so we call on you to plan ahead. Consider the challenges we will face and how we may prepare to face them. We shall sow Virtue where they wrought filth.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (542-10)
* '''Notes:''' References a previous [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_111|judgement]] from the Summer Solstice 386YE

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Hans
* '''Judgement:''' During the Fall of Therunin, Great Forest Orcs were taken by the Druj and are now enslaved accross the Salt Flats and The Mallum. Viture calls for us to show that the Empire will do anything to never allow slavery to happen under our watch. Our unconquered and military units, use your expertise to liberate the Great Forest Orcs who where enslaved by the Druj. We have laid claim on the salt flats - this is one step of many to inspire the inhabitants and our allies with our virtuous deed
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (500-0)

===Judgement 42===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Nicodemus of Balthazar’s Vineyard
* '''Judgement:''' The Grand Inspiration is now two-thirds complete. In those stones lie a promise. Designed by an Orc and a Marcher and funded by contributions from citizens of all ten nations of the Empire, this peerless structure proves to the world that in the Way of Virtue, and in this Empire, all people can achieve their highest destiny. Let us ignite the Empire’s Pride and ensure the greatest construction of our lifetimes is a flourishing success for all. The Virtuous must create what none can rival. This is our highest calling.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (34-132)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune. Refers to the [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way|Grand Inspiration of the Way]].

===Judgement 44===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Dr Lysimachus
* '''Judgement:''' At recent summits, we’ve had Wanderer Tulpas showing up in Anvil. Going round tossing out curses as if they were handing out sweets on t’sweet corner, and just generally being a bloody nuisance. This includes cursing some of us as a “Lesson in Hubris”. After asking us for directions.. Now some may say ‘who are we to question the workings of the minds of such lofty and unknowable entities?’ And I says Bugger That! If some Pretentious Polestar-Wannabe Pillock is gonna curse Virtuous folk for “Hubris” because they’re the one who had to stop and ask Us for directions, then I’ve got too much Imperial Pride to let their folly slide. Besides I thought the Stars were meant to be Bright? So Sod off to these Sneering Stellar Snobs Says !. Tha’s not welcome in our lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (166-68)

===Judgement 47===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Kellin Embercast
* '''Judgement:''' Bloodcrow Meep is campaigning to rebuild Thornsong House in Skarsind, where it can benefit from the expertise of the Yerende. I know that this will not sit easy with some in Navarr. Last Spring, Travid Longest Path’s statement that Thornsong House is “the living legacy of Therunin”, the heart of Navarr’s potioncraft, was upheld in this Assembly with a greater majority. But Courage tells us to respond to defeat by adapting our strategy and trying anew. We do not know when Therunin will return to us, but we do know that Skarsind is secure from the grasping hands of the Druj. Our nation already has an enclave there, thanks to the Ashen Tears and their Wayhouse. I urge this Assembly to throw its support behind Meep’s plan. Let us share the fruits of Therunin’s proud legacy, and forge a new one together in the forests of Skarsind.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (225-16)

===Judgement 53===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Eli of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' The completion of the Grand Inspiration of the Way is the highest calling of the nation of Highguard. Through its completion we will lay the foundations necessary to inspire pilgrims to spread the Way across the known world. It will be the greatest tool we will leave our future lives and a legacy that will endure.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (750-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way|Grand Inspiration of the Way]]. Further information on highest callings can be found in the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 54===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Mael of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' BEHOLD: VIRTUE! As the MARSHALL of the FAITH, I bid ye witness that the following were multiply commended by diverse FIELD MARSHALLS and COMMANDERS for their WISDOM and BRAVERY in recent battles: EIRA LARKSONG and ROWAN BELLWOOD, GUNTHER, VESPASIAN of TROPAION CITADEL, AKSEL REZNOV RAZORADZE, THE VINES OF NAVARR, THE IRON BASTARDS, THE “RITUAL HUNTERS” covens destroying miasma pillars in the SARANGRAVE. And for the enchantment of TEN ARMIES in one summit the Warcaster commends: The COVEN of BARABBAS. A fuller list may be found on the Synod Notices.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (260-16)

===Judgement 66===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Khan i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' Great deeds are eternal, and pride teaches us to lift up our fellows. Lady Emberlyn Brontide of Dawn solo cast Piranhas Devour the Kraken on 40 Imperial Captains at the Autumn Equinox, bolstering our Navy with the strength of another entire Imperial Navy of summer magic. Let this master of summer magic forever be remembered for her loyalty to the Imperial people of the Bay of Catazar. We are in your debt.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (108-0)

===Judgement 67===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Kay i Orzezz i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' For the rebuilding of the Celesti Lighthouse of Oran, a symbol of Freeborn Pride, we the Freeborn Assembly seek to thank those who contributed, as we could not name them all on the Senate motion. Sadiq i Isa i Erigo. The Fleet Hubs of the Empire. Iago & Shivanna i Erigo. Esk i Erigo. Bakar i Riqueza. Argento i Erigo. Ghisli the Provider. Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra. Velasco i Guerra. Estevanico i Hayim i Riqueza. Let their prosperity be recorded.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (106-24)

===Judgement 68===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Rafe
* '''Judgement:''' We welcome the bell bearers of Highguard into Wintermark. They each carry a bell hallowed by those of all nations. They seek to gather the stories of our heroes so they can be used to inspire all nations. We must all seek them out and share our stories. The heroes of Wintermark should be recognised as the shining example of virtue to all that they are to us.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (308-0)

===Judgement 74===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Maja Świętosława Przewałski
* '''Judgement:''' Years ago, a (now dead) Varushkan destroyed the Jotun meeting place at the request of their patron Agramant. It has now been built anew as a place of hospitality to further closing the Jotun front. Sulkavaris is satisfied and no longer angry with our nation. Now is the time for the peoples of the north to come together as per J67 Autumn 387. Let us work <u>together</u> to prepare for the war with the Thule.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (168-52)

===Judgement 77===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Melchior of Adina's Charge
* '''Judgement:''' While we recognise virtue, we must also face the unwelcome truths of the empire's role in actions past. Whilst we vote to declare Rahvin as an exemplar, extolling his virtue and the virtuous inspiration we believe he can teach others. We also wish to recognise the Empire as responsible for his death. In the heat of battle, a case of mistaken identity, Imperial citizens killed Rahvin and those he was with. We face this truth not only in the action that it occurred, but also recognise that it was the Empire's actions which drove Rahvin's followers into this situation and back into captivity under the Druj for years to come. Where rwe have failed before, the light of courage teaches us to see our mistakes and expose them to overcome them in future.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (226-0)

===Judgement 78===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Aldwyn the Glorious
* '''Judgement:''' The rebuilding of the Hall of the Soturi represents the start of a bold new story, no matter what is built there. When we rebuild it, let it be witnessed and remembered as a site of import. As the legacy of the new army grows, let this become a place of pilgrimage and a sinecure established there.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (140-70)
* '''Notes:''' The Hall of the Soturi would serve to allow an army raised in the Kallavesi tradition to become fearless. More information can be found in the '''[[Flight of birds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 80===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Kasmira Milankova Ygrev
* '''Judgement:''' Two years ago, the Cold Sun came to Varushka. Volodmartz was left two options: Burn in the light of the Cold Sun or condemn Livardz to ruin. Our cousins made this sacrifice for the defense of all Varushka. Now, let us aid the people of Livards in their efforts to rise from ruin to prosperity.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (202-0)

===Judgement 82===
* '''Assembly:''' The Way
* '''Raised By:''' Yosephus Morningson
* '''Judgement:''' We are the Assembly of the Way. Our purpose is to bring new souls to knowledge of the whole Way, and lead them to full understanding. There are Seven Virtues that guide the spirit, Seven that lead to Great and Inspiring deeds. Yet there are Asaveans who know but one, others who know but six, while others claim a physical Labyrinth. This is our highest calling - to enlighten all souls, beginning with Asavea, that they may know the Seven Virtues, the Eight Doctrines, and the One True Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (62-84)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 91===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Task
* '''Judgement:''' The Empire has changed in the last hundred years more than could possibly be imagined. We have orc citizens now... And thus we should shape our laws to reflect that. The Prosperity assembly suggests that the religious crime of idolatry be amended to include orc citizens of the Empire. Correcting the wording as follows: Subsuming a sapients' will and destiny to any inhuman entity or force. This includes the worship, veneration or exaltation of any such being or power. Anything less than this in law is seen as an affront to the virtue of orcish citizens.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (308-0)

===Judgement 94===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Building on this Assembly's recognition of the Exemplar Lady Elenor Novarion, we hold the growth and prospering of her legacy, the Proffered Hand Network of sanctuaries for refugees and freed slaves, to be the greatest present opportunity for spreading Pride across the Empire and beyond, and seek to make it this Assembly's focus for the coming year. We support the Network in completing its ambition to build a sanctuary in every nation, with only facilities in the Marches and the League remaining to be built. We encourage the Prideful to look further for new ways to support the Network in its mission to heal deep-cut scars of slavery, to offer compassion and an open hand to those in need, to uplift those who have suffered to future greatness. This is the highest calling of our assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (52-122)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 95===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Wulfric
* '''Judgement:''' I Wulfric, Ambition Priest, Marcher. With the support of both Assemblies and approval of the AO9. Call for a Symposium with the purpose of discussing proscriptions and ensuring we employ wisdom and vigilance in creating a Solid foundation to build and spread virtue on.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1226-170)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement was elevated by '''Lenarius Ankarien''', the [[Cardinal of Ambition]]

===Judgement 98===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Solas of the Spire of the Waxin Sun
* '''Judgement:''' Seers of the Spires! We call on your expertise. The crushing dread of the miasma in the Sarangrave inhibits virtuous action and impedes our aspirations in the territory. Use your arete to locate the pillars that anchor this miasma, and send this information to those most able to leverage it.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (250-10)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement follows on from the '''[[Everything is trying to kill us]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 100===
* '''Assembly:''' The Way
* '''Raised By:''' Tabris, Son of Armisael
* '''Judgement:''' Fintan Nighthaven's life has ended, and his spirit has returned to the Labyrinth. The delegation from Axos who wish to collect his body are welcome to do so. This in accordance with the Nighthaven family's wishes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (76-58)

===Judgement 104===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista of the Dark Shard
* '''Judgement:''' We have given our assurances to the Urizen "rebels" of Spiral - who have <u>courageously</u> chosen to leave the Empire rather than cede their ancestral homes to the League - such as the Silver Flame - that we hold them to be Urizen. Invoking the Chalice that rejoins us, we encourage our <u>Wise</u> magicians with imperial lore mastery to assist them with their research, as well as our <u>vigilant</u> priests to advise and aid them in their dealings with pernicious eternals.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (192-0)

===Judgement 106===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Gwendoloena de Sarroi
* '''Judgement:''' The Dawnish national assembly, now that the time is right, encourages Dawnish citizens to set forth and settle the regions of the Barrens that are not ceded to foreigners. With the important exception of the Bleaks as we are not settling to harass the Karass, we are settling to promote virtue for Dawn and Dawnish citizens.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (334-32)

===Judgement 111===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Ignacio i Zuhri i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' Gisli the Provider stands accused of Blasphemy; in this matter he is not a criminal but a victim. This assembly celebrates his peerless contributions to the rebuilding of the Brass Coast. His virtue and Prosperity is unquestionable.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (94-0)

===Judgement 112===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Halkyon of the Myriad Stream
* '''Judgement:''' Children of the spires, the Lost haunt the dark places of <u>Spiral</u>. The malice of the Druj and Grendel lingers. In Courage and Vigilance let us raise our SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS and make this part of the Sanctum of Stars a place for the virtuous to prosper.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (226-0)
* '''Notes:''' A call to action for Urizen to clear out the threats present in Spiral, as per the '''[[My_friends_are_my_estate#Swords_Against_Darkness|My friends are my estate]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 114===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Yrkja Riansson Sigeing
* '''Judgement:''' The vision that led us to Gull Isle showed godhi and mystic fostering each other's children, Jotun and Imperial learning from each other as equals. This is not a place for preaching, and we do not intend to do so. Rather let us <u>display</u> virtue through our words and deeds in this place. And likewise witness how the inspiration of the ancestors is borne out in the acts of those we meet with.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (256-14)

===Judgement 117===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Eskah Swift Hart
* '''Judgement:''' Over the winter, all Navarri have heard the song "Painted", we reveal to you now that the writer and singer of "Painted" is Idwynn Splitroot, through ritual Idwynn sang "Painted" directly to Navarr & Thorn so they know we continue their great ambition to destroy the vallorn. Many have heard two voices singing back to Idwynn; they were Navarr & Thorn themselves. Know that we have heard their voices singing in unison with Idwynn & all our nation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (138-24)
* '''Notes:''' References the song spread across the Empire, as per the '''[[The_tune_without_the_words#An_Ode_To_Blood_And_Sacrifice|The tune without words]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 119===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Jesper Luukasson
* '''Judgement:''' At the Summer Solstice of 383YE, Rane Sherarding plead clemency for the members of Zepheniah's Lament, who had shattered the mirrors of Sarvos to free thousands of souls being kept from the labyrinth by Skathe, then raised funds towards their fine. Sharing in the burdens of the necessary deed earned her name Shardbearer. Since then she has borne not only the shards of Sarvos but the weight of duty to the Empire; serving as the Inquisitor of Pride and then as Senator Kallavesa. She has fiercely fought for Wintermark's interests and often asked of us the hard and necessary questions. Her voice will echo in eternity as the priest who consecrated our sacred marsh. Her wisdom has reached out across the Empire time and again in Senate, Synod and in the Imperial Address. We see the burdens you bear and we name you the pride of our nation. We name Rane Shardbearer to the Chronicle of Heroism.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (308-0)
* '''Notes:''' Rane Shardbearer has been added to the [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]]

===Judgement 122===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Molly Mae of Mitwold
* '''Judgement:''' The walls of Meade must be built, the people of Mitwold have spilt their blood for their land and the Marches. Bree Shaw fought with courage, spilt her blood on Marcher soil and died fighting for her Loyalty to the Marches. The Marches must come together as neighbours to help defend Marcher land. Bree has always shown her pride in the Marches, as proud and loyal Marchers we owe it to her memory to build the walls, and call them Brees' Stand.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (154-0)

===Judgement 125===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Sister Juliette of Balthazar's Vineyard
* '''Judgement:''' Our siblings in Varushka have called for Livardz to rise from the ashes. In <u>peerless kinship</u>, Highguard answers their call. In Loyalty, let all those who can be spared from their duties journey north to help erase the stain of the Cold Sun and support the pride and prosperity of Varushka, in accordance with judgement 80.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (474-22)

===Judgement 126===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Pete Tong
* '''Judgement:''' Imperial citizens themselves humour malign agents by consorting amongst them. Beware <u>the enemy within</u>. Expermination does not justify reckless acts by mages which threaten the safety of the Empire. Do not fail to call into question those who knowingly endanger us by engaging with the Whisper Gallery or any other such entity. Hold them to account.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (172-32)

===Judgement 127===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Lenore Hearthweaver
* '''Judgement:''' Veikko Bondforger is a name known all across Anvil. It is known to be the name of a hero who has built up others and forged bonds of Loyalty that stretch across every nation of the Empire. They have inspired pilgrims of Loyalty across the Empire leading the Loyalty Assembly, and raised the funds to rebuild the Hall of Rund, restoring it to the Stormcrows of Wintermark. Veikko has delved into their own skein and learned wisdom from a past life and from a Krampus curse, then returned to share that wisdom with others, sparing no effort to bind the broken and forge them stronger. The very name of Bondforger is precious to us - Wintermark rose in fury when the memory of it was threatened. We therefore name Veikko Bondforger to the Chronicle of Heroism.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (304-0)
* '''Notes:''' Veikko Bondforger has been added to the [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]]

===Judgement 130===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Dagonet de Gauvain
* '''Judgement:''' The Karass are foreigners, not barbarians. They are friends of the Empire, not enemies. To fight an enemy is to display virtue and win glory. To bully a friend displays the exact opposite. No true Dawnish folk will hurt, molest, or harass the Karass.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (206-20)

===Judgement 131===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Laudine duLac
* '''Judgement:''' We send the Silent Bell to the Bay of Catazar to investigate the Grendel spy networks in the area
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-34) Margin of 116
* '''Notes:''' This judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 132|Judgement 132]]. References an offer made by the Silent Bell in the '''[[Finding_is_the_final_act#How_Many_Fields?|Finding is the final act]]''' wind of fortune. The report of the Silent Bell will be delivered before the Summer Solstice 388YE.

===Judgement 132===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Adelorna Ordraig
* '''Judgement:''' We send the Silent Bell to the Barrens to investigate the Karass and their motivations, interactions and nature of collaboration with the Druj
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (122-16) Margin of 106
* '''Notes:''' This judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 132|Judgement 132]]

===Judgement 133===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Torin
* '''Judgement:''' Naming is our greatest tradition that leads us to Virtue. The Wintermark Assembly believe our new Kallavesi army should exemplify that. We support building a Hall of Names to both honour the Kallavesi fighting spirit, and chronicle the names and deeds of heroes both living and dead. Let this Hall encourage named warriors to show their Virtue, and show that there is no place for savagery or cruelty, that Wintermark fights with honour. To be named is to make our ancestors proud.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (310-10)
* '''Notes:''' More information on the Hall of Names can be found in the '''[[Flight of birds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Jared of the Sentinels Tower
* '''Judgement:''' It is virtuous to send military forces to combat the heralds of any eternals with enmity. It is important we do not dilute our efforts. Look to the Vigilance Assembly for direction to the immediate threat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (246-0)

===Judgement 135===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Illya Nikovitch Volkov
* '''Judgement:''' Citizens of Varushka, the Varushkan children at Anvil have been investigating the lack of bees in Karov. Honey Bee of the Sovereign's Head asked the coven 'Moonlight Finds the Mountain Pass' to petition Sung for aid in this endeavour. As a result of this investigation, the National Assembly of Varushka urges all Prosperous citizens to aid in re-flowering Karov. Plant flowers, send seeds. Make Karov bloom again.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (228-0)

===Judgement 136===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lepidina
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise and welcome the statement by the Navarr National Assembly (Judgement 71) and its highest calling to assist in defeating the vallorn. Urizen welcomes their aid and expertise.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (162-0)

===Judgement 139===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Larkin Otterways
* '''Judgement:''' The enemy are in our heartland. Just as we did in the Mourn, so shall we do in Upwold. Open your doors to Mitwold refugees, share the food from your table, and the labour with your neighbours. We encourage the people of Upwold to open your their doors to welcome Mitwold refugees. In Loyalty, we left others up.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (106-0)

===Judgement 140===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Echo of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' I, Echo of the House of the Wanderer, on behalf of the Urizen National Assembly wish to condemn Aspar of Urizen by promoting the False Virtue, PURITY, by offering to give clemency to Severus of the Blinding Sun, under a virtue not recognised by Imperial Law. This action sets not only a poor example, but encourage other priests to follow his foolish actions. WISDOM DEMANDS WE CHASTISE THE <U>FOOL</U>.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (74-82)

===Judgement 144===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement:''' The Urizen National Assembly supports the efforts of the Gryphon's Pride in improving the Empire's relationship with the septs of the Sarangrave; the Bloodwater Spears, the Waterwalkers, and the free folk who have no sept. Let us uplift each other in Pride and prove the Empire are not the masters they think we are.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (244-0)

===Judgement 147===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Amaro d'Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' Since parting ways with Varushka, Temeschwar has forged its own identity as the League's city of craft and commerce. The city is more than its rats. Temeschwari citizens deserve to celebrate their achievements. The National Assembly encourages them to demand Giselle's Tomb to become the Pride of Temeschwar.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (184-0)

===Judgement 151===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Knott
* '''Judgement:''' The Unshackled National Assembly thanks the Illarawm for the opportunity to create the annals of ancestors. Let the first words carved into the side of the Ossuary be: "When faced with the choice between death or protecting what is worthy, we face no choice at all. For if we stand our ground, our ancestors will welcome us on the other side of the abyss". - Jannik of the Rahvin, slaughtered by the Gryphon's Pride, ancestor of Bloodcrow Knott. His words speak of facing a force determined to wipe out your culture. The Rahvin still live due to the ultimate sacrifice of their heroes.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)

===Judgement 156===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Gralka
* '''Judgement:''' I was afraid, I broke my ties to the general in the dark, cut marks that made me his from my skin, then fled into the Sarangrave swamp to escape, the mud was deep and stank of poison. I was alone, the banners painted Druj did not matter here. And then came the sound of Drums, I followed that sound. I did not want to be alone. I saw a light. In that light the shaman and preachers of the Summer Storm passionately spoke of worth and virtue and I wanted for what they had. The Imperial Orc National Assembly encourages the shaman and preachers of the second legion to guide the lost and those who have escaped the Druj.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)

===Judgement 157===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Meep
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly extends its thanks to the Black Tillers for their careful cultivation of Hearkerner's Hope; and for the insight and intention that guides its creation. Alas, the yield of the Legion's Rookery has already been committed to a competing opportunity, and cannot be turned aside. Even so, we recognise the worth of this work and would still seek access to Hearkener's Hope. The Assembly therefore asks whether the Black Tillers might consider an alternative for example, allowing orc priests to purchase it through the exchange of liao. Let no good root go untended.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Black Tillers presented an offer to the Imperial Orcs to take ownership of the Legion's Rookery in the '''[[Every day of your life]]''' wind of fortune.

===Judgement 159===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Enchantress Areloe Larmallevés
* '''Judgement:''' People of Dawn, our cousins in the Marches need our help: They need to raise their fifth army. However they can't due to their obligation to feed the Thule. Our senators and I ask us to help, this is not a permanent fixture. Once the breadbasket is expanded they have promised to take the obligation back. Let us help! Let us work with our cousins! Let us show what Dawn does for our Empire! Our National Assembly endorse feeding the Thule!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (420-0)
* '''Notes:''' References the [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Replace_Food_to_Thule|motion]] raised by the Senator for Semmerholm and passed by the Senate that replaced the food sent to the Thule as part of the ongoing [[Ratify Thule Treaty Spring 387YE|Thule treaty]]

===Judgement 160===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Fredegar Bloodmouth
* '''Judgement:''' Courageous Marchers of the Gullet! The end is in sight for the plague of coral husks. The National Assembly calls for citizens along the Gullet's coast to collect samples of coral wisely and with vigilance. If this task is undertaken and an infection is present, seek the assistance of a shatter magician and qualified physick. Samples, alive or dead, should go to Houses Goatsbridge and Myrtle for further investigation. Noting the loyalty and pride of the bold marchers, the Assembly also warns special vigilance in this task. If it comes between Marcher lives or husks samples, choose life every time.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (168-0)

==Mandate==
===Judgement 9===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament
* '''Judgement:''' Be alert to all dangers; within and without. We send Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament with 50 doses of liao to encourage our courageous soldiers to stand apart from these servants of eternals. Seek out falsehood and expose the truth.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (678-12)
* '''Enacted''' Highborn soldiers [[The_thing_with_feathers#In_the_Fields_of_Glory_(Eleonaris)|will deliberately keep their distance from any heralds]] sent to fight alongside them.

===Judgement 70===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The Terunael city of Hacynian has passed into history, ruined by the vallorn. We send Towlen Nighthaven with 25 liao to urge the folk of Hercynia. To swear an oath that neither they nor their ancestors will seek to rebuild Hacynian. Accept its passing as a sacrifice for future free of the folly of Terunael.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (223-16)
* '''Enacted:''' Kaela will provide her support for the construction of [[Every_path_you_know#Beware_of_Dog|the Grim Pryamid]] in the Starless Vale.

===Judgement 71===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Teleri Thornweaver
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Brynn Tendfallen with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with Urizen to prepare to finish the fight.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (267-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Navarr from all walks of life [[Every_path_you_know#Thanks_for_Sharing|will travel to the named nation looking for ways to help]]. This will generate at least one opportunity for a new Imperial title to help the Vallornguard prepare for the fight with the enemy.

===Judgement 79===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Azir i Shartha i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Beware the seduction of the false virtue of Anarchy! We send Azir i Shartha i Riqueza with 150 doses of liao to rally the people of the Brass Coast to turn away from those who would revel in false freedoms. Reject Anarchy, lest your virtue be lost! Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (42-96)

===Judgement 88===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Joran of Reikos
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Joran of Reikos with 25 doses of liao to rally the people of Highguard to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let Virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Highborn congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 107===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Viviane Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Viviane Barossa with 25 liao to rally the people of the League to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' League congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 109===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to deploy the Eyes of Loyalty to embolden the following mandate: The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Halkyon of the Myriad Stream with 25 liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with Urizen to prepare to finish the fight
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (316-28)
* '''Enacted:''' The loyal will seek to assist with [[#Judgement 71|Judgement 71]]

===Judgement 116===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Creighton Blackewater
* '''Judgement:''' Pride in small things, Loyalty to great ones. We send Richard with 50 doses of liao to encourage Marcher citizens to settle the land. War is a thrice-ploughed field.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (144-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|Marcher citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a farm]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 118===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Paulus Adelaar van Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' Nothing great without cost. We send Frideswide Adelaar van Holberg with 50 doses of liao to encourage League citizens to invest in business. Coin counts and everything costs!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (230-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|League citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a business]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 124===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Aemon of the Suns of Couros
* '''Judgement:''' The Sarcophan folk of Alivetti estates celebrate their enclave, but we must all remain vigilant to the threats it may represent. While they seem to be honest traders, their ways are not our ways, and their faith is very different to ours. Their refusal to acknowledge Imperial law is a challenge to the Empire. We send Exarch Aemon with 25 doses of liao to urge all virtuous citizens who must attend this gathering to keep their wits about them and remain alert for threats within and without.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (338-54)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends a message to the Alivetti estates that [[A_wild_night_and_a_new_road#Party_Planning|while that nation tolerates them, they do not welcome further engagement]].

===Judgement 158===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Rykana
* '''Judgement:''' Ambition is much more than lines on a map. We send Jim with 15 crowns to lead a delegation of mystics and shamans to discover more of the ancestors the Karass.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Jim will lead a group of willing orcs [[Every_day_of_your_life#Spanning_the_Abyss|in search of information and lore about the ancestors of the Karass]].

==Writ of Consecration==
Two [[writ of consecration|writs of consecration]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Martin Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' We have the exemplar, now where is their tomb? This assembly authorises and applauds the creation of an inspirational site to memorialise the <u>EXEMPLAR OF VIGILANCE, RAVADI FOUNDERS’ DANCE</u> (consecrated to vigilance, of course).
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (334-20)

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Skáldsgrým Dunhearth
* '''Judgement:''' Following the recent destruction of the historic meeting stone where the Jotun and Empire could meet. We the Loyalty Assembly seek a 'writ of consecration' to dedicate part of the newly built feasting hall on Gull Island to Loyalty. We wish to recognise it's importance and protect from future harm as a place of both virtue and honour. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but the unity of both.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (534-0)

==Revocation==
One [[revocation]] was presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 142===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Rosanna Vtrachenich
* '''Judgement:''' It is the unwise boyar who leaves none to tend the hearth. Sirka Parakgoosier Bashnya, Senator for Karsk, has abandoned their post and left no named proxy. It is your prerogative however there is no excuse in not providing a contingency. We in the Varushkan Assembly move for revocation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (174-0)

==Proscription==
Fifteen judgements of [[proscription]] were raised in the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 4===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the use of the ceremony of excommunication without authorisation by writ of the Synod as an abuse of powers.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1522-684)

===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes as blasphemy the act of dedicating any person to a false virtue or of creating an aura of a false virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (2301-370)

===Judgement 6===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The desecration or destruction of any relics associated with a paragon or exemplar, or the destruction of any memorial associated with them, is proscribed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1744-290)

===Judgement 7===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Excessionist Heresy - the claim that too much of a Virtue can be as bad as too little.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1532-580)

===Judgement 8===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues in the likeness of any eternal. It is idolatry to commission a structure designed to honour an inhuman entity.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (1094-1254)

===Judgement 17===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Yaelian Heresy - the belief in the Land Without Tears and in Yael as a rebirth of the First Empress. These have shown to be false.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1880-110)

===Judgement 24===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti
* '''Judgement:''' The Eternal Sadogua, the Brother of Wizards, has boasted of being the same entity known in the Iron Confederacy as Dumon, Father of Lies, a god within the Suranni pantheon. Nonetheless, he constantly seeks tribute, veneration, and adulation from the citizens of the Empire. The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues, fanes, or edifices created in honour of Sadogua. It is idolatry to commission or to build such a thing.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (860-992)

===Judgement 97===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the receiving of a False Virtue Anointing or a False Virtue Dedication as BLASPHEMY.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1252-536)

===Judgement 110===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Syene
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the act of ceding land to those who are not sentient beings of this world, such as eternals or tulpas, as an act of idolatry. We make clear that it is the act of ceding itself that is idolatrous, and those who are responsible for such places are not de facto idolators.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (698-864)

===Judgement 128===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Felix Saltspire
* '''Judgement:''' Venerating an icon of an Eternal is Idolatry. Producing an Image of one is just Art. To make art exalts your pride. To venerate an eternal subsumes your will.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (496-244)

===Judgement 145===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes entering into the service of an eternal or tulpa, where the service subsumes the individual's free will. This is idolatry. This is different from bartering for limited boons in service to your virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1010-102)

===Judgement 152===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Alessi of the Basilisks of the Labyrinth
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of vengeance
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (804-46)

===Judgement 153===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of understanding
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (770-70)

===Judgement 154===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of hatred
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (842-46)

===Judgement 155===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Theodora
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of freedom
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (790-70)

==Inquisition==
Nine [[inquisition|inquisitions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 18===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Cato Hypation
* '''Judgement:''' I call <u>Severus of the Blinding Sun</u> to inquisition, at a time to be arranged at the convenience of the magistrates at this summit. Let him be provided with an opportunity to defend his creed under Imperial scrutiny, having failed to defend it under Sword Scholar tradition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-0)

===Judgement 29===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' I call Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer to inquisition Saturday 16:00 at the Wanderers camp. Concerning her courage involving the autumn realm, raising an army for her nation and other matters that come up.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (118-10)

===Judgement 30===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement:''' Raising a Statement of revocation as the adjutant of the general you are targeting is an action worthy of Scrutiny. I call Harwyn Eternal to Inquisition, to tell me the loyalty in his action and answer to the treachery it appears to be. Woven roots camp Saturday 5:00pm in Navarr (right by Songs and Stories).
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (202-0)

===Judgement 48===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Arvel Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' I call Silas of the Cenotaph to inquisition at the Tendfallen camp in Navarr at 11am on the Saturday of this summit to discuss the virtue of his decision to canvas against a certain judgement last summit.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-16)

===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' Magistrate Sayid i Zurhi i Erigo. I call you to inquisition on the matter of a spontaneous aura upon your soul and its unclear virtuous nature. We will test what virtuous guidance it offers you. 14:00. The hub annex.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (248-0)

===Judgement 85===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement:''' Iniska Ashwood, I am interested in testing whether you have been wise during your time as Inquisitor. I fear you take the words of fools too seriously. Saturday 14:00-:1500. Woven Roots.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (332-10)

===Judgement 96===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement:''' I call Neve Dreadshield, of the Quiet Step to inquisition. This winter Neve has sacrificed all her oaths to save the people. As Navarr, our tattoos make us one nation. Let her speak if her Loyalties lie with Navarr or her actions lead to her being foresworn. Drunken Goose meeting room 5:00pm Navarr
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (233-0)

===Judgement 101===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Donato of the Crucible
* '''Judgement:''' I call Cosme i Guerra, magistrate, to discuss: their role in cursing Veikko Bondforger; the virtue in this action; how this was not acting in the spirit of <u>retribution</u>. Wanderer's camp, Urizen, Sat 5pm
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 150===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' I call to Inquisition Mendicant Garev of Highguard to investigate his claims of Prosperity while refusing to pay those who saved his life. This will occur at the spring summit when he is available (there will be cake)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (334-20)

===Writs of Inquisition===
The following writs of inquisition were issued this summit:
{|
| '''Called by''' || '''Subject''' || '''Judgement or Title''' || '''Matter'''
|-
| Cato Hypation || [[To_fight_aloud#Fallen_Hero|Severus of the Blinding Sun]] || [[#Judgement 18|Judgement 18]] || His [[The_deepest_cut#Interred_With_Their_Bones|creed]]
|-
| Maarit Suvidottir || Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer || [[#Judgement 29|Judgement 29]] || Her [[Courage]] involving the [[Realm#Autumn|Autumn realm]] and raising an army
|-
| Eirlys Ashes Blaze || Harwyn Eternal || [[#Judgement 30|Judgement 30]] || Calling for the revocation of his [[general]] as [[General#Appoint an Adjutant|adjutant]]
|-
| Arvel Tendfallen || Silas of the Cenotaph || [[#Judgement 48 |Judgement 48]] || Canvassing against a [[Judgement]] at the previous summit
|-
| Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost || [[Civil_Service#Imperial_Magistracy|Magistrate]] Sayid i Zurhi i Erigo || [[#Judgement 57|Judgement 57]] || A spontaneous aura
|-
| Nim of Ebon's Hall || Iniska Ashwood || [[#Judgement 85|Judgement 85]] || Their [[Wisdom]] as [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor]]
|-
| Brynmor Rootround || Neve Dreadshield || [[#Judgement 96|Judgement 96]] || Sacrificing her oaths
|-
| Donato of the Crucible || [[Civil_Service#Imperial_Magistracy|Chief Magistrate]] Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra || [[#Judgement 101|Judgement 101]] || Cursing Veikko Bondforger
|-
| Iniska Ashwood || [[Apparently_with_no_surprise#Whatever_Happened_to_Mendicant_Garev?|Mendicant Garev]] || [[#Judgement 150|Judgement 150]] || Refusing to pay those who saved his life, at the Spring summit
|-
| Galene Netherwatch || Mirella of the Twisted Rose || [[Arcane Inquisitor]] || Her work as [[Archmage of Summer]], especially with regards to [[Knights of Glory]]
|-
| Vauraus "Prosperity's Forge" Korppitkotka || Natalia "The Falcon" Barossa || [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]] || Their work as [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]]
|-
| Alfred Eawolfson || Tristan Ramson von Holberg || [[Basilisk of the Bourse]] || Virtue and Economics, at the Spring summit
|-
| Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost || Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose || [[Imperial Inquisitor]] || Their dealings with [[Irra Harah]]
|-
| Maarit Suvidottir || (the Face of) the Earl of Fools || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]] || Taking [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
|-
| Eevi of the Gadrai || Bloodcrow Rasp || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Loyalty]] || Bonds built across the Empire
|-
| Iniska Ashwood || [[Emperor Vesna|Emperor Vesna Borkovna Prochnost]] || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Prosperty]] || Their [[Prosperity]]
|-
| Jedediah Boon || Brother Geoffrey Orchard || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Pride]] || Words and acts of questionable virtue
|-
| Brother Geoffrey Orchard || Ibiss Briarheart || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Vigilance]] || [[Realm#Spring|Spring]], its perils & lessons, at the Spring summit
|-
|}

==Sanction==
Twenty-four [[sanction|sanctions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Sabella of the Silent Tide; Only a person’s own actions may be judged under an Inquisitor’s gaze, and each action you have taken has been guided by Virtue. The Proud embrace their past acts and strive to repeat - or learn from - them going forward. You did not earn the steadfast Loyalty of your Chapter for nothing; your trust in them to conduct themselves with Virtue is testament to that Loyalty returned. You have shown unfaltering Pride in taking the path you deem Virtuous and continuing to walk it. Your Chapter walks with you. The shared desire expressed to let sleeping dogs lie has been accepted Virtuously. Inquisition is our sacred tool for raising the sword when required, just as it is one for putting down the sword where needed - let this Vindication acknowledge the Pride in your actions and bring conclusion to previous division.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (126-34)

===Judgement 15===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Myshki Marishka Letuchaya, Little Boyar of Levski, Senator for Miekarova, Leader of the Vale’s Heart, lighter of the lamp in the dark. Your visage is etched in stone, your hand now and always fortifying Delev. The Little Boyar’s Welcome stands; your Legacy stands with it. It is clear as a cloudless day that you have carved out your Benevolence in defiance of the Cold Sun, building refuge for those displaced by its hatred. Stories follow you from Anvil; how you have raised castle walls, been the architect of armies. What Inspiration this will become will be for your friends and followers to witness. Pride uplifts. Inquisition tests. The Signs of the Exemplar have ignited themselves in your actions. Surely as you pursue Virtue closer to home, your future deeds will be watched closer still.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (160-0)

===Judgement 31===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating J231, Summer 387. I inquisited Viviane Barossa about the courage of her past year of challenges to fulfil a vow to carry a hallowing. I however failed because it became incredibly clear throughout this inquisition that what motivates the soul and body of Viviane is the burning flame of Ambition. Excessionism is a heresy and one that she does not follow, she committed to this challenge with her whole self. Her ambition in this act is the salvation of Axos and bringing them to the Way and out of their misunderstanding of the world. Her route is reaching out to them so they can see we can be worked with before encouraging them to come to us, to learn from our schools of thought in exchange knowing that this will help expose the failings in their philosophy and use of these dangerous auras. While intellectually she understood this aura she told me she was still not prepared enough for the way it pushed her to freeze up, to fawn to threats, to want to give everything over and just perform what the other person wanted. She condemns this aura as unvirtuous and has and I’m sure will again speak at length against its use. She seemed justifiably angry that she has had to spend a year wasting political capital and time being inquisited, doing penance, being threatened and assaulted, and having to avoid helping reform doctrine but I think felt it worthwhile to build this bridge with Axos.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (166-10)

===Judgement 32===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating Judgement 226 Summer 387 - I clear Genoveva and Rafael Barossa d’Apulian of any nonsense about running a “dark crusade” sacrificing virtue of innocents. If debate and discussion be the food of priests I have eaten well in this inquisition. These are courageous citizens of the Empire who are dedicating themselves to both the material and spiritual conditions of human souls both inside and outside of our borders and facing the challenges and problems we are in with courage, without pretending such obstacles do not exist. While they appear to disagree on Asavea they are both devoted to liberation and protection of souls and spreading The Way, and work towards such things even occasionally at the expense of personal relationships. These views may also stem from their cooperation enabling the Night Fane to Sung in Spiral going through Senate, they however have clear views on the dangers of this and how it is being overseen to understand the role that Fanes may play in the future of the Empire and wish us to understand them. They’re both magicians with above board dealings with a handful of Eternals. If you wish to understand their virtue talk to them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (236-10)

===Judgement 37===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I vindicate Sakari, Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield for raising a Declaration to uninterdict Rivers Run Red. His Ambition to achieve his goals through any means is clear. Just because you disagree with a person’s actions does not mean they are unvirtuous.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (742-96)

===Judgement 39===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Escalating from Judgement 39 of Autumn 387: LUCA I TAZIEL I RIQUEZA, CARDINAL OF PROSPERITY, offered a clear description of the circumstances around Aunty Hem’s Dedication to Anarchy, her subsequent Inquisition, and the fact that he was aware of her status for a full season before undertaking any action. This was a failing of Vigilance, and in so failing the Cardinal missed an opportunity to pull Aunty Hem back from the brink. I have proposed - and the Cardinal has agreed - that the right Penance is for the Cardinal to SPEND A YEAR UNDER ANOINTINGS OF VIGILANCE. This will allow Luca to better know this Virtue, without interfering with the Cardinal’s duties to Prosperity. In Escalating I ask the Synod to ENDORSE this course of action and to SUPPORT Luca in knowing Prosperity better. Full Inquisition reports available from me and from the citizen noticeboard. (ON OPPOSITE WALL.)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1128-54)

===Judgement 41===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Lars Makarov
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' I Lars Makarov present my findings of following the inquisition in Autumn 387. My aim was to examine if the 5 named members of the Guard, who had taken Dark Wine and were seen to bite fallen Jotun in battle during Spring and Summer, were using it as a cover for worship of Blood in the Snow. Conclusion - None of those named in Autumn 387 serve Agramant, but by following Virtue you will all stand better prepared for the trails to come. Judgement has been provided to Molli to bear the weight of a either the Hallowing of Permion or of Isaella’s Resolve for a year and for Slark to carry a Hallowing of the Questor, to remind you of the importance of asking questions. To help continue to live with virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-0)

===Judgement 45===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lepidina, Chaplain Consular. I find your actions and virtue beyond reproach on the matter of Fintan Nighthaven. I look forward to watching the progression of your career.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (862-52)

===Judgement 46===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Aster Acae. You served as Chaplain Consular during the most critical juncture of Fintan Nighthaven’s tenure as Ambassador to Axos and found yourself ill-equipped for the necessities of the position. There is little point in wondering what could have been avoided had you acted. You did not. But you have done something few are capable of - you own your mistakes and learn from them. These lessons have cost much. Do not squander them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (812-72)

===Judgement 62===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Teodore Dusesna of the Camorra Dusesna, you have been inquisited regarding your accusations of idolatry against Genoveva Barossa d’Apulian, Sofonisba Amilcara, Cesare di Tassato and Raphael Barossa d’Apulian and have been found wanting. You admitted you knew your accusations had no basis in fact or as anything other than unfounded gossip yet you repeated them as factual truth. The Virtuous do not tear down others nor demean them, yet you spent your time in baseless accusations. Your penance is to spend the next three months speaking with those you spread your accusations to, advising them of the lack of substance and apologising for misleading them. Following this you will attend Anvil to make a public apology to those you wronged, at the League Assembly meeting 7pm Friday of the Spring Solstice.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (304-0)

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Elagabala
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' The Loyal serve without concern for reward, ignore qualms of actions they take for their loyalty, defend that which they care about, and protect those they love from harm regardless of any cost. Knight-Captain Alethia Wooder was not only willing to pay that cost, but did. I find no fault in their Virtue when treating with Agramant. It was impeccable. Her heart was guided by the true Loyalty of her soul, in accordance with all appropriate teachings and auras thereof. As she continues her journey on the path, she should remember that whilst the Loyal are ready to pay this cost, she should be conscious it never strays to acting as the Peaceful Martyr, willing to suffer to alleviate the suffering of others, as this, as she knows, is a malign spiritual intent.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (888-58)

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I called General Jean d'Apulian to inquisition as my first act as Inquisitor of Prosperity, as asked by members of House de Gauvain. Jean was open and honest about what happened to the permanent enchantment of Bound by Common Cause on the Wolves of War. His Loyalty shone through his words and actions. His Prosperity is also unquestionable; when the enchantment changed, the Empire would have had to pay to remove it. Jean was able to engineer another option, that saw the army able to resupply and stand stronger for the Empire. I would, however, prevail upon his virtue and ask that he find a way to remember Maurice de Gauvain to the League and the Empire
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (182-20)

===Judgement 75===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lugh Llaw Whisperleaf, I am not sure what I expected when I called you to Inquisition. Please thank your friends again for the song. I cannot call into question your virtue, your Prosperity, Loyalty, or Pride. You took heretical icons out of the grasping hands of would-be cultists, ensuring you did not impoverish those who found them, and show your work with Pride. Your decision to Hallow them to True Virtues and share them with fellow Magpies who prove themselves Virtuous and worthy is a good one. I look forwards to hearing from whoever investigates the Vallorn flowers you wear on your hat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (197-10)

===Judgement 76===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Cadenza i Fontanilla i Riqueza, Nation's Hearth, I called you to Inquisition to investigate your Prosperity and I have not been left wanting. You work hard at the Spilled Tea each day, and do not rest on your laurels with the money you make. You give so much to your Nation, to your Empire, and you deserve recognition. So many see Prosperity as the act of making money, but you make sure it keeps moving, going where it needs to go. You remind people what a single soul can do when it chooses to. You walk the path of Prosperity well, and I seek to learn your example.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (207-0)

===Judgement 84===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement - Condemnation:''' Gisli, you told me that beneath a shroud of your own creation lay one of the true Virtues of the Way - but I found only Anarchy. For this, we condemn you for Blasphemy. The Institutions of the Casinean Empire will do well without your malign influence
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (256-32)

===Judgement 102===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Emperor Vesna, you asked me to inquisit you to judge and recognise your Prosperity, and I am honoured that you did. Your work in Ossium gave freed slaves the opportunities to become Prosperous citizens, and you have continued this on the grandest scale across and beyond the Empire. Your foresight into the only path to take to bring the Way to the world is inspiring, and as a Navarri, your willingness to make the hard choices resonates. There is only one thing I disagree with you on - you <u>are</u> loved by your Empire. To remind you of this, the Prosperity Assembly wish to Testimony you as "Beloved" with the strength of 7 priests.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (171-30)

===Judgement 108===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pete Tong
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Juniper du Froste, Merchant of the Fangs, in your inquisition you showed me and my co-council of your virtue. Not only are you ambitious, wise, and Prosperous - your intentions and competency are clear - but your loyalty to the Empire's duty to the Rahvin and your commitment to them is commendable. Maybe one day more bourse seat holders may be like you, and we might live in a better world.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (734-20)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' T i Dahr i Riqueza
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Gisli (Judgement 84 Wisdom) is not guilty of Blasphemy because it is not yet a crime. We condemn people for the crimes we have written down - and in fact he was wise in his efforts to remove the effects of his experiments with the aura "to trust his own judgement." Gisli is wise, knows the law, knows magic, and makes very good business decisions. He is an asset to the Empire, and it would be wise to see the fault of his actions, which were not illegal as dedication itself is not blasphemy. Fintan Nighthaven's poison must be cleared from the Empire, but not by killing all those he poisoned.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (266-924)
* '''Notes:''' Scrutiny was extended on this judgement by '''Silas of the Cenotaph''', the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]]

===Judgement 137===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer (J29) and found her courage evident. She has a strong theology and practical virtue is important to her. She is fully aware of what she needs courage to face and what challenges are within her capabilities more easily. She faces things clearly and knows when to press forward and when to try new approaches and I feel she will continue to work on her soul, improve this empire and inspire others to act for a long time.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 138===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited Ida the River today at 15:00 about courage. She spoke well of her virtue and the challenges she faces in life, the ways she faces dangers and failures. Others of the hospital spoke well of her, Tiberius described her as his rock, the most steadfast mother and north star Kellen of Kingstoke attributed Ida's courage with her continuing at the hospital. Ambrove di Sarvos talked of Ida pushing them forwards to establish connections. Emileo di Sarvos talked of her not hesitating. Isolde said she gives others courage, not aiming to inspire just doing a ripple of virtue from her actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (130-00)

===Judgement 143===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Harwyn Eternal described his loyalty and conviction in seeing Navarr best represented in military council. I think that this conviction is a testament to his loyalty to Navarr. However, his actions have not build up the people and team that forms the Navarr contingent of the military council. I call Harwyn to tell me in a years time of the actions that he takes from today to act with his virtue to aid this team and the goals of the military council team, in the interest of elevating his words with actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (66-0)

===Judgement 146===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Following the inquisition of Dagon Barossa it was clear that whilst his intention was virtuous, his decision to give away the shield intended for the Champion of Loyalty lacked loyalty. It tore down his fellows and his words and deeds not united. I task Dagon to suffer the curse Bitter Mantle of the Leaden Crown next season. Even the strongest may err, the truly great learn from what scars them
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (208-0)

===Judgement 148===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Neve, over the long dark, lost all her oaths in sacrifice to the Empire. SHE decided the price was of worth against the Duvanku. Without her, all of Sarangrave would have been plunged into the depths of a winter curse upon the lands. She took this great sacrifice in loyalty to the Dreadshields, to Navarr, and to the Empire, with Pride and great Courage. May she be Branded to honour her actions, knowing they will be remembered and respected, and testimony her with "Oathsworn Renewed"
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (142-0)

===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited the Earl of Fools, along with several others. He was pleasant if nervous and demonstrated a clear growth of virtue and courage to acknowledge his actions. I wish him well in future endeavours and look forward to his benevolence in his virtue and in the future
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (84-0)

==Recognition==
Two judgements of [[recognition]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 72===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Luca i Taziel i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' To recognise Zemress i Ezamara i Erigo as a Paragon of Prosperity. Her Exemplardom is known. There is no question of Benevolence, Inspiration, Pilgrimage, Salvation and Legacy. There never has been. No voices have spoken out against her Liberation. No Past Life Visions to be seen, and no ashes yet found. For Miracles we need only look. Look to the past. The Kraken's Bane returning to post. She was thought lost in the bay with her captain. But there She came. Un-crewed. Bound for home. Look to the present. The Captain's Touch, a treasure trove of True Auras tied to Zemress. Hallows a-plenty, easy to find by simply asking an enthusiastic Zemress at Anvil. The Sumaah already recognise our captain. In times of uncertainty, let us look to stories we know are true; a Paragon that already teaches the Known World what a Prosperity looks like
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (223-30)

===Judgement 83===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Masha Sigeling
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Rahvin as an Exemplar of Courage and the first Ancestor Exemplar. <u>Inspiration</u> Fighting against the Druj, surrounded on all fronts, he inspired his people and thousands of others to fight to the bitter end, courageously standing for what they believed in, time and again. <u>Benevolence</u> Rahvin suffered greatly in the fight for the freedom of the Barrens, committing his life to bring about a better future for his people. <u>Liberation</u> Many individuals close to Rahvin report hearing his voice as an Ancestor, proof that, from his courageous actions he has crossed the Howling Abyss. <u>Legacy</u> Though the Rahvin (people) were thought destroyed by the Druj, they lived on, and fight now in his name to drive the Druj east into the sea. <u>Salvation</u> Rahvin was the driving force behind the uprising against the Druj in the Barrens, sending them to the howling abyss and ultimately leading to his followers working with the Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (238-10)

==Appointment==
Twenty one [[appointment|appointments]] were raised by the [[Tribune of the Synod]] during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 1===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Prosperity]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Heilyn Bronwen’s Rest''' was appointed with 126 votes; Gorwen received 20 votes; Mabel received 20 votes; Syene received 12 votes

===Judgement 2===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of the Way]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Volya Nebov''' was appointed with 78 votes; Yosephus Morningson received 42 votes; Kosta-Konstanin Rabovich Bolotnikov received 30 votes; Tabris, Son or Armisael received 22 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 10 votes

===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean Library]] dose of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' was selected with 426 votes; Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg received 170 votes; Aspar received 150 votes; Gaelen Embercast received 146 votes; Claudia Varkulova Remislav received 132 votes; Mirella of the Twisted Rose received 106 votes; Starac Sijed Orzel received 74 votes; Mel of the Mourn received 44 votes; Frater Pontius of Adoniran’s Temple received 42 votes; Tom Appleseed received 30 votes

===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Loyalty]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Talos of the Silent Tide''' was appointed with 206 votes; Skaldsgrym Dunhearth received 40 votes; Haungar Oakenlegs received 38 votes; Shibboleth Tzipporah received 36 votes

===Judgement 23===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Arbiter of the Four Winds]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Donato of the Crucible''' was appointed with 98 votes

===Judgement 28===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand to the Dance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Farren Silver Streams''' was appointed with 90 votes; Emrys Barbbearer Edgestalker received 41 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 28 votes

===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Barbs]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Eirlys Ashes Blaze''' was appointed with 187 votes

===Judgement 43===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nicodemus of Balthazar’s Vineyard''' was appointed with 404 votes

===Judgement 49===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Fabio Costas d’Apulian''' was appointed with 106 votes

===Judgement 50===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Ambition]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ser Purslane Artorigus''' was appointed with 116 votes; Lord Roland de Lagriffe received 86 votes; Earl Cerys de Rosier received 70 votes

===Judgement 51===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Pride]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Katchiana Razorradze''' was appointed with 80 votes; Vespasian received 48 votes; Kali Keen-Eye received 34 votes

===Judgement 59===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lantern Wolf]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nadia von Holberg''' was appointed with 176 votes; Katarina Palantini received 60 votes; Savi Avocatt received 34 votes

===Judgement 60===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of the Orchard]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Basil Goodbeard''' was appointed with 150 votes

===Judgement 61===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of Oaths]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Veikko Bondforger''' was appointed with 398 votes

===Judgement 64===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Masha Sigeling''' was appointed with 110 votes; Ada of House Meliora received 32 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Grieftender of the Forgotten]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Miroslav Temnavoda''' was appointed with 142 votes

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[High Exorcist]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Belial de Courtenay-Wyldrose''' was appointed with 6 votes. Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun received 1 vote

===Judgement 86===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Wisdom]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nim of Ebons Hall''' was appointed with 132 votes. Gwen Tendfallen received 22 votes

===Judgement 89===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Basilisk of the Bourse]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Alfred Aewulfson''' was appointed with 7 votes

===Judgement 93===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand of Guerra]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''' was appointed with 74 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Vigilance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Bryce the Hare''' was appointed with 94 votes

==Rewarding==
Fourteen judgements of [[rewarding]] were presented to the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Valentin Ivarovich Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' The Inspirational Tomb of Ozren de Orzel has been chosen and will include an Academy of the Arts and Apartments for the High Bard of the Empire! At the formal consecration with True Liao the Culwich Witches of Weirwater have promised gifts and recognition to the Eighty-One (81) named musicians and poets chosen by the High Bard in early 386. Nearly half the funding for this Virtuous endeavour is secured. The True Liao is held in preparation. We are almost there! I request the General Assembly’s support in a Rewarding from the Virtue fund of 40 Thrones to complete the purchase of white granite to build the Bardic Academy of the Exemplar Ozren to support the ongoing work of the High Bards of the Empire and secure the Proud legacy of the 81 named performers celebrating Imperial Virtue and wonderous deeds!
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (470-662)

===Judgement 12===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ioan Longshadow
* '''Judgement:''' Since the death of Empress Britta, the Anvil Hospital has stood as a beacon of Quiet Courage and Virtue. It has not been sustained by the Empire’s coffers, but by the Prosperity of private citizens and the relentless goodwill of volunteers. These individuals face the brutal aftermath of battle, keep soldiers in the fight, and tend to those who support them on and off the battlefield. Their Courage is not loud - but it is unyielding. And it has been overlooked for far too long. I seek the aid of the General Assembly for this Virtuous cause and request a rewarding from the Virtue Fund of 10 thrones for the purchase of herbs, mana, liao, and other essential resources in support of the Hospital - and by extension, the Empire. Let us honour the Quiet Courage of those who give their time, effort, and resources to the Hospital. Courage does not only charge - it heals, it endures, and it refuses to break.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (1242-106)

===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Lorell Copiste
* '''Judgement:''' It is no secret that with Dawn’s deficiency in wealth, the nation struggles to build anything of use. So that this issue may be solved, Lord Morgann de Vere, ever prideful of his homeland, ambitiously seeks 8 wains of Weirwood from the Virtue Fund, to help in constructing a great work that benefits not only Weirwater, but the nation of Dawn entire. Let Lord Morgann be rewarded, and your prosperity shall greatly aid the Dawnish people.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (300-808)

===Judgement 52===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' I seek to reward VITTORE van TEMESCHWAR The sum of TWENTY-TWO THRONES From the virtue fund for having prosperously created multiple items of office and regalia for Imperial titles and to assist in his further works in this endeavour
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (382-628)

===Judgement 55===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Erasmo di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Bledri Eternal with fifteen thrones. Bledri has spent more than 40 thrones of his own funds on codifying two rituals. Stars Mantle has already been added to Imperial Lore. Revelations of the Past, which shares a vision of an item’s past beyond the ritualist’s coven, will be added to Imperial Lore shortly after being loaned to the Academy for a period. This kind of generous prosperity should be encouraged and rewarded.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (400-582)

===Judgement 58===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Laurencio di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' Over 150 Imperial Fleet Captains forwent personal prosperity to support the Unguerdoned Red Wind Corsairs in destroying the pirate-cultist navy of the Children of Wrecks effectively closing a front. We reward them with 40 Thrones to be shared between them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (620-424)

===Judgement 87===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Anatolij Paukov Zorkin
* '''Judgement:''' I am seeking 6 wains of white granite to create a monument to the Silent Bell sodality to reward their tireless work Vigilantly and Courageously defending this Empire and furthering our knowledge of the Way. I have the Senate announcement, I have the labour costs, all I need is the white granite
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, partial (three white granite) (528-334)

===Judgement 90===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Oleander Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Geraint Bronwen's Rest with 16 weirwood to be put towards the City of Dreams. This is an investment in to the future of Navarr and will allow us to seek new ways to use liao
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (434-389)

===Judgement 99===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lia Adelaar
* '''Judgement:''' The Kleists of Holberg have, through their ingenuity and tireless effort, succeeded in raising the walls of Holberg to be the greatest fortification in the known world. Funds for this great work (500T) come from the Kleists' efforts co-ordinating the prosperity of our citizens and from their own pockets. We ask for a rewarding of 8 white granite in recognition of their great Ambition and Prosperity, and to support future projects including the Imperatrix docks.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (408-380)

===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork
* '''Judgement:''' We award Naomi of Felix's Watch, 5 wains of white granite towards the restoration of Berechiah's Basilica in Bastion, which is in a dangerous state of disrepair, and is a threat to the life and limb of pilgrims. It was consecrated with true liao in 385YE and has provided only a fraction of the benefit it might have. Now, when we need Berechiah's inspiration to fight foreign espionage rings is the perfect time to complete the work and create a new title to be appointed by the Vigilance Assembly
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (672-214)

===Judgement 115===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Catena
* '''Judgement:''' To bring the Way to the hermit kingdom of Tsark, we must <u>talk</u> to them. An opportunity to build that bridge has arisen in the form of the Garden of the Perfect World - this will allow us to trade weirwood to them for white granite and improve the Prosperity of us both. This door was opened by Abel the Rounder, and I ask that this Assembly provide him 8 wains of weirwood in order that it may be built as soon as possible.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (188-154)

===Judgement 120===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Emrys Fleurir
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Ser Raine Fisher with 16 Weirwood for their efforts in rousing Dawnish fleets to aid the Red Wind Corsairs, so that they may fund Ambitious projects to increase the Empire's naval strength.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (178-248)

===Judgement 121===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Xandor Trodbroker
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Eleri Bronwen's Rest with 6 wains of mithril to be put towards the army currently mustering in Hercynia. The army will be put to use defending the Empire's borders to help safeguard the spiritual centre of the Way
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (261-106)

===Judgement 123===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Neala Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Halwyn Splitroot for achieving the great ambition of rebuilding and consecrating First Voice Glade and School inspiring pride and increasing prosperity within the Empire. We grant him 16 weirwood as reward for this great work and in the knowledge that this will support his efforts to further improve the Glade and School to benefit the prosperity and herbal knowledge of the Vallornguard
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (144-146)

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Winter Solstice.
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Assembly'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Consideration'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Link'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Duration'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]]<br>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Wintermark unless enacted by the Wintermark Assembly. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in the nation, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[The_final_cut#Questions_for_Wintermark|The final cut]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that stress the need to follow Imperial law rather than virtue will be unlikely to lead to a mandate.</td><td>[[Knocking_on_every_door#A_Paper_Shield|Knocking on every door]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>League Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the League Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#The League|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushkan Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the Varushkan Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#Varushka|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
</table>

==The Virtue Fund==
At the start of the Winter Solstice 387YE summit, the Virtue Fund stood as follows:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>88 thrones, 15 rings</td><td>6 wains</td><td>8 wains</td><td>16 wains</td><td>1 dose</td>
</table>

Total donations made were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>65 thrones, 7 crowns, 16 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

The total amounts carried forward to the next summit were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>104 thrones, 11 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations received prior to the start of the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 1 throne, 2 crowns at the [[Rewarding#Counting Houses|counting house]] of [[Reikos]]
* 2 thrones at the counting house of [[Tassato]]
* 1 throne, 3 crowns at the counting house of [[Semmerholm]]
* 1 throne, 4 crowns at the counting house of [[Karsk]]
* 6 wains of mithril, 8 wains of white granite and 8 wains of weirwood from [[The_greatest_plurality#One_Empire|various donations]]
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of Rewardings made at the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 10 thrones to '''Ioan Longshadow''' following [[#Judgement 12|Judgement 12]] being upheld (margin 1136)
* 5 wains of white granite to '''Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork''' following [[#Judgement 103|Judgement 103]] being upheld (margin 458)
* 40 thrones to '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' following [[#Judgement 58|Judgement 8]] being upheld (margin 196)
* 3 wains of white granite to '''Anatolij''' following [[#Judgement 87|Judgement 87]] being upheld (margin 194)
* 6 wains of mithril to '''Xandor Trodbroker''' following [[#Judgement 121|Judgement 121]] being upheld (margin 155)
* 16 wains of weirwood to '''Oleander Ashwood''' following [[#Judgement 90|Judgement 90]] being upheld (margin 45)
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations made during the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 65 thrones for the Bourse dose of True Liao from '''Umbar'''
* 6 crowns from '''Rafael Barossa d'Apulian'''
* 1 crown from '''Berith Martel'''
* 16 rings in small donations
</div>

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose to '''Vesna Borkovna Prochnost''' as [[the Throne]]
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' via [[#Judgement 3|Judgement 3]]
* One dose to '''Umbar''' by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to '''Ashborn Trosk''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Amberlain P. Black''' by decision of the Gatekeepers

==Assembly Strength==
The table below shows the size, total voting strength and greater majority thresholds for each assembly as calculated at the start of the summit.

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | Virtue Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Ambition || 53 || 742 || 372
|-
|Courage || 41 || 492 || 247
|-
|Loyalty || 61 || 788 || 395
|-
|Pride || 36 || 440 || 221
|-
|Prosperity || 42 || 513 || 257
|-
|Vigilance || 47 || 532 || 267
|-
|Wisdom || 41 || 554 || 278
|-
|The Way || 29 || 320 || 161
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | National Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Brass Coast || 15 || 166 || 84
|-
|Dawn || 51 || 672 || 337
|-
|Highguard || 74 || 940 || 471
|-
|Imperial Orcs || 9 || 138 || 70
|-
|League || 36 || 514 || 258
|-
|Marches || 22 || 250 || 126
|-
|Navarr || 43 || 499 || 250
|-
|Urizen || 27 || 314 || 158
|-
|Varushka || 31 || 398 || 200
|-
|Wintermark || 42 || 490 || 246
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

387YE Winter Solstice Synod judgements

2026-05-04T19:43:02Z

Noserenda: /* Judgement 54 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]][[Category: 387YE Winter]]
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Winter 387 Synod judgements.jpg|align=right|width=400|caption=The Synod raised a hundred and ninety-one judgements.}}</div>
==Overview==
During the Winter Solstice 387YE, the Imperial Synod raised 156 judgements.

==Statement of Principle==
Fifty-seven [[Statement of Principle|statements of principle]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 11===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Brynn Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' The crises of recent years have exposed a weakness in the Imperial Way. Wisdom teaches us to test what we know. We must work to build a Way that is strengthened by truth, not threatened by it. This is the highest calling of our Assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (46-100)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 13===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Luke
* '''Judgement:''' The scars of Whittle run deep. A people massacred due to zealotry. The Marchers know too well the risks of following your traditions. While the Marchers have no intent of undermining the Synod’s spiritual authority, the fact of the matter remains; A Marcher, A Marcher. Should the Synod proscribe the beliefs of the Marcher Orcs as heretical, the Marches as a whole will defend their neighbours as they would any other Marcher unduly persecuted. To echo the words of the First Empress: “You will take all of us, or none of us.” The Synod may make it’s choice.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (146-50)
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">
{|
|+ <big>'''Judgement Quick Links'''</big>
! Judgement Type
! Amount
|-
|[[#Statement of Principle|Statement of Principle]]|| 57
|-
|[[#Mandate|Mandate]] || 11
|-
|[[#Writ of Consecration|Writ of Consecration]] || 2
|-
|[[#Revocation|Revocation]] || 1
|-
|[[#Proscription|Proscription]] || 15
|-
|[[#Inquisition|Inquisition]] || 9
|-
|[[#Sanction|Sanction]] || 24
|-
|[[#Recognition|Recognition]] || 2
|-
|[[#Appointment|Appointment]] || 21
|-
|[[#Rewarding|Rewarding]] || 14
|-
|}
</div>
===Judgement 16===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement:''' The sacred Hallowed Bells of Virtue have come to gather Marcher Inspiration, shepherded by Ardeniel of the Woodwych Harts! To Upwold, the Bell of Prosperity will chime the work song, keeping the ploughs in line; the Bell of Wisdom will turn minds to tactics to fortify our land. To Bregasland, the Bell of Loyalty will follow General Amberlain, echoing her call; the Bell of Ambition will sound with the Strong Reeds as they rise. To Mournwold, the Bell of Pride will ring from the hillside of Rebellion’s Ridge, for the miners’ cause; the Bell of Vigilance will beat the bounds, readying for attack. To Mitwold, where we would send others, we send only one; the Bell of Courage. Sound it on the border. Sound it over Fort Fidelis. Sound it where the Jotun will hear. We are a Nation of hospitality and a Nation at war. We will protect these Bells with our lives and honour carrying them on their journey.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (196-0)

===Judgement 20===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Eurybia of the Wanderers
* '''Judgement:''' The Urizen national assembly approves the awarding of the Golden Cascade to Darien Numbers. Their use of the Eyes of Prosperity upon Zenith, and their generous support in building the benefice of the Golden Cascade proves themselves a virtuous friend and ally of Urizen. Citizens of Zenith - witness your donations in use.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (206-0)
__TOC__
===Judgement 21===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Rafael Barossa d’Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' The Hallowing of the Master teaches us to use others as tools to further our own aspirations: spreading the Way across the world. We should therefore seek a way to incorporate neighbouring foreign powers, and defeated barbarian nations, into the Empire as vassal-states, using them as a buffer against external aggression while their culture adapts to Imperial rule. Ultimately, this may allow them to join the Empire as an eleventh, twelfth, or twentieth nation once they have learned the Way and their place in it. We should look first to apply this to the Druj septs once we defeat their leaders, the vile Buruk-Tepel. This is our Highest Calling.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (368-80)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 22===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Dagon Barossa of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' The truly virtuous are loyal even through hardship and misfortune. The Loyalty Assembly took the first step to anchor the Way in Asavea and we will not falter now! We search for Loyalty sects inspired by the actions of Exemplar Alberto Acciai that we might support to help further anchor the Way in Asavea. This is our Highest Calling.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (302-162)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 25===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Samantha “Tongs” Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' As PRELATE OF ADELMAR’S SHRINE, I CALL ALL LEAGUISH BRAVO’S and MERCENARIES TO RAISE THEIR SWORDS AGAINST THE DARKNESS IN THE WILD PLACES OF SPIRAL.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (302-22)
* '''Notes:''' A call to action for the League to clear out the threats present in Spiral, as per the '''[[My_friends_are_my_estate#Swords_Against_Darkness|My friends are my estate]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Isario i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Live brazenly, fiercely, and truthfully; so that your life becomes proof of what is right. Cast down the chains of tyranny, fear and empty tradition wherever you find them! Act with Courage to choose what you know is true and moral, and confront the world when it stands against you. By inspired by the Exemplar Ahraz, who had the Courage to champion freedom, dignity, and prosperity, and seized them for all, through daring action and unflinching conviction. We were brave, wise, and ambitious enough to reject slavery, break it’s chains on our Empire and then on the world. We are the Freeborn heirs of a legacy of brazen passion, morality, and liberty. We do not just think it, or believe it, we live it. <u>We are fiercely proud of our culture and its freedom of ideas. We must protect and nurture both so that they can flourish. This is our Highest Calling.</u>
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (32-116)

===Judgement 35===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Gwen Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' The Way as it exists is built upon a crumbling foundation of hearsay. The truth was supposedly contained in High Guard libraries, but those have been burned on the accusation of falsehood. It is paramount to the goals of the Way and the Empire that this hearsay be challenged. To test what we think we know about the nature of Virtue, the labyrinth, and the Way is the highest calling of this assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (248-96)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 36===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Nathair Autumngale
* '''Judgement:''' From the very heartlands of this Empire, to the furthest lands touched by Virtue. We are the blood of the Empire, we are Shepherds of the Great Dance and we find ourselves entwined with our fellow Nations as never before. Paths in the dance braided together in these moments. Bring our voice through the veins of the trods that cross the lands while they resonate with our song. In the midst of winter we gather at the hearth, at home. At Wayhouse, Stead, and Tarry. We trade Song and Story with one another, and regales our history, our tale, our culture. Take heed these words, commit to memory these songs, and as winter turns to spring, bring them as a chord along these resonant trods. Bring them to our closest allies and the furthest reaches of our Empire both, so that all know that even when this magic has faded. As sure as the seasons do change. Where Navarr go, music follows.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (265-0)

===Judgement 38===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Nere
* '''Judgement:''' With the new year Highguard reaffirms its claim on the Salt Flats of Sanath once more. Necropolis is our past. Bastion is our present. Leen will be our future. These 3 cities will become the defining Pilgrimage path of our faith. And Leen itself will be our gateway to lands far across the sea and through its virtuous rebirth we will show the world the power of our faith. Highguard, there will be challenges in this endeavor, so we call on you to plan ahead. Consider the challenges we will face and how we may prepare to face them. We shall sow Virtue where they wrought filth.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (542-10)
* '''Notes:''' References a previous [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_111|judgement]] from the Summer Solstice 386YE

===Judgement 40===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Hans
* '''Judgement:''' During the Fall of Therunin, Great Forest Orcs were taken by the Druj and are now enslaved accross the Salt Flats and The Mallum. Viture calls for us to show that the Empire will do anything to never allow slavery to happen under our watch. Our unconquered and military units, use your expertise to liberate the Great Forest Orcs who where enslaved by the Druj. We have laid claim on the salt flats - this is one step of many to inspire the inhabitants and our allies with our virtuous deed
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (500-0)

===Judgement 42===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Nicodemus of Balthazar’s Vineyard
* '''Judgement:''' The Grand Inspiration is now two-thirds complete. In those stones lie a promise. Designed by an Orc and a Marcher and funded by contributions from citizens of all ten nations of the Empire, this peerless structure proves to the world that in the Way of Virtue, and in this Empire, all people can achieve their highest destiny. Let us ignite the Empire’s Pride and ensure the greatest construction of our lifetimes is a flourishing success for all. The Virtuous must create what none can rival. This is our highest calling.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (34-132)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune. Refers to the [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way|Grand Inspiration of the Way]].

===Judgement 44===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Dr Lysimachus
* '''Judgement:''' At recent summits, we’ve had Wanderer Tulpas showing up in Anvil. Going round tossing out curses as if they were handing out sweets on t’sweet corner, and just generally being a bloody nuisance. This includes cursing some of us as a “Lesson in Hubris”. After asking us for directions.. Now some may say ‘who are we to question the workings of the minds of such lofty and unknowable entities?’ And I says Bugger That! If some Pretentious Polestar-Wannabe Pillock is gonna curse Virtuous folk for “Hubris” because they’re the one who had to stop and ask Us for directions, then I’ve got too much Imperial Pride to let their folly slide. Besides I thought the Stars were meant to be Bright? So Sod off to these Sneering Stellar Snobs Says !. Tha’s not welcome in our lands.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (166-68)

===Judgement 47===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Kellin Embercast
* '''Judgement:''' Bloodcrow Meep is campaigning to rebuild Thornsong House in Skarsind, where it can benefit from the expertise of the Yerende. I know that this will not sit easy with some in Navarr. Last Spring, Travid Longest Path’s statement that Thornsong House is “the living legacy of Therunin”, the heart of Navarr’s potioncraft, was upheld in this Assembly with a greater majority. But Courage tells us to respond to defeat by adapting our strategy and trying anew. We do not know when Therunin will return to us, but we do know that Skarsind is secure from the grasping hands of the Druj. Our nation already has an enclave there, thanks to the Ashen Tears and their Wayhouse. I urge this Assembly to throw its support behind Meep’s plan. Let us share the fruits of Therunin’s proud legacy, and forge a new one together in the forests of Skarsind.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (225-16)

===Judgement 53===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Eli of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' The completion of the Grand Inspiration of the Way is the highest calling of the nation of Highguard. Through its completion we will lay the foundations necessary to inspire pilgrims to spread the Way across the known world. It will be the greatest tool we will leave our future lives and a legacy that will endure.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (750-0)
* '''Notes:''' Refers to the [[Construct Grand Inspiration of the Way|Grand Inspiration of the Way]]. Further information on highest callings can be found in the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 54===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Mael of the Shattered Tower
* '''Judgement:''' BEHOLD: VIRTUE! As the MARSHALL of the FAITH, I bid ye witness that the following were multiply commended by diverse FIELD MARSHALLS and COMMANDERS for their WISDOM and BRAVERY in recent battles: EIRA LARKSONG and ROWAN BELLWOOD, GUNTHER, VESPASIAN of TROPAION CITADEL, AKSEL REZNOV RAZORADZE, THE VINES OF NAVARR, THE IRON BASTARDS, THE “RITUAL HUNTERS” covens destroying miasma pillars in the SARANGRAVE. And for the enchantment of TEN ARMIES in one summit the Warcaster commends: The COVEN of BARABBAS. A fuller list may be found on the Synod Notices.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (260-16)

===Judgement 66===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Khan i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' Great deeds are eternal, and pride teaches us to lift up our fellows. Lady Emberlyn Brontide of Dawn solo cast Piranhas Devour the Kraken on 40 Imperial Captains at the Autumn Equinox, bolstering our Navy with the strength of another entire Imperial Navy of summer magic. Let this master of summer magic forever be remembered for her loyalty to the Imperial people of the Bay of Catazar. We are in your debt.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (108-0)

===Judgement 67===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Kay i Orzezz i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' For the rebuilding of the Celesti Lighthouse of Oran, a symbol of Freeborn Pride, we the Freeborn Assembly seek to thank those who contributed, as we could not name them all on the Senate motion. Sadiq i Isa i Erigo. The Fleet Hubs of the Empire. Iago & Shivanna i Erigo. Esk i Erigo. Bakar i Riqueza. Argento i Erigo. Ghisli the Provider. Esteban i Del Rio Blanco i Guerra. Velasco i Guerra. Estevanico i Hayim i Riqueza. Let their prosperity be recorded.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (106-24)

===Judgement 68===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Rafe
* '''Judgement:''' We welcome the bell bearers of Highguard into Wintermark. They each carry a bell hallowed by those of all nations. They seek to gather the stories of our heroes so they can be used to inspire all nations. We must all seek them out and share our stories. The heroes of Wintermark should be recognised as the shining example of virtue to all that they are to us.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (308-0)

===Judgement 74===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Maja Świętosława Przewałski
* '''Judgement:''' Years ago, a (now dead) Varushkan destroyed the Jotun meeting place at the request of their patron Agramant. It has now been built anew as a place of hospitality to further closing the Jotun front. Sulkavaris is satisfied and no longer angry with our nation. Now is the time for the peoples of the north to come together as per J67 Autumn 387. Let us work <u>together</u> to prepare fro the war with the Thule.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (168-52)

===Judgement 77===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Melchior of Adina's Charge
* '''Judgement:''' While we recognise virtue, we must also face the unwelcome truths of the empire's role in actions past. Whilst we vote to declare Rahvin as an exemplar, extolling his virtue and the virtuous inspiration we believe he can teach others. We also wish to recognise the Empire as responsible for his death. In the heat of battle, a case of mistaken identity, Imperial citizens killed Rahvin and those he was with. We face this truth not only in the action that it occurred, but also recognise that it was the Empire's actions which drove Rahvin's followers into this situation and back into captivity under the Druj for years to come. Where rwe have failed before, the light of courage teaches us to see our mistakes and expose them to overcome them in future.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (226-0)

===Judgement 78===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Aldwyn the Glorious
* '''Judgement:''' The rebuilding of the Hall of the Soturi represents the start of a bold new story, no matter what is built there. When we rebuild it, let it be witnessed and remembered as a site of import. As the legacy of the new army grows, let this become a place of pilgrimage and a sinecure established there.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (140-70)
* '''Notes:''' The Hall of the Soturi would serve to allow an army raised in the Kallavesi tradition to become fearless. More information can be found in the '''[[Flight of birds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 80===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Kasmira Milankova Ygrev
* '''Judgement:''' Two years ago, the Cold Sun came to Varushka. Volodmartz was left two options: Burn in the light of the Cold Sun or condemn Livardz to ruin. Our cousins made this sacrifice for the defense of all Varushka. Now, let us aid the people of Livards in their efforts to rise from ruin to prosperity.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (202-0)

===Judgement 82===
* '''Assembly:''' The Way
* '''Raised By:''' Yosephus Morningson
* '''Judgement:''' We are the Assembly of the Way. Our purpose is to bring new souls to knowledge of the whole Way, and lead them to full understanding. There are Seven Virtues that guide the spirit, Seven that lead to Great and Inspiring deeds. Yet there are Asaveans who know but one, others who know but six, while others claim a physical Labyrinth. This is our highest calling - to enlighten all souls, beginning with Asavea, that they may know the Seven Virtues, the Eight Doctrines, and the One True Way.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (62-84)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 91===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Task
* '''Judgement:''' The Empire has changed in the last hundred years more than could possibly be imagined. We have orc citizens now... And thus we should shape our laws to reflect that. The Prosperity assembly suggests that the religious crime of idolatry be amended to include orc citizens of the Empire. Correcting the wording as follows: Subsuming a sapients' will and destiny to any inhuman entity or force. This includes the worship, veneration or exaltation of any such being or power. Anything less than this in law is seen as an affront to the virtue of orcish citizens.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (308-0)

===Judgement 94===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra
* '''Judgement:''' Building on this Assembly's recognition of the Exemplar Lady Elenor Novarion, we hold the growth and prospering of her legacy, the Proffered Hand Network of sanctuaries for refugees and freed slaves, to be the greatest present opportunity for spreading Pride across the Empire and beyond, and seek to make it this Assembly's focus for the coming year. We support the Network in completing its ambition to build a sanctuary in every nation, with only facilities in the Marches and the League remaining to be built. We encourage the Prideful to look further for new ways to support the Network in its mission to heal deep-cut scars of slavery, to offer compassion and an open hand to those in need, to uplift those who have suffered to future greatness. This is the highest calling of our assembly.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (52-122)
* '''Notes:''' An Assembly's call to action requires a greater majority, as per the '''[[The highest calling]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 95===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Wulfric
* '''Judgement:''' I Wulfric, Ambition Priest, Marcher. With the support of both Assemblies and approval of the AO9. Call for a Symposium with the purpose of discussing proscriptions and ensuring we employ wisdom and vigilance in creating a Solid foundation to build and spread virtue on.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1226-170)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement was elevated by '''Lenarius Ankarien''', the [[Cardinal of Ambition]]

===Judgement 98===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Solas of the Spire of the Waxin Sun
* '''Judgement:''' Seers of the Spires! We call on your expertise. The crushing dread of the miasma in the Sarangrave inhibits virtuous action and impedes our aspirations in the territory. Use your arete to locate the pillars that anchor this miasma, and send this information to those most able to leverage it.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (250-10)
* '''Notes:''' This judgement follows on from the '''[[Everything is trying to kill us]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 100===
* '''Assembly:''' The Way
* '''Raised By:''' Tabris, Son of Armisael
* '''Judgement:''' Fintan Nighthaven's life has ended, and his spirit has returned to the Labyrinth. The delegation from Axos who wish to collect his body are welcome to do so. This in accordance with the Nighthaven family's wishes.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (76-58)

===Judgement 104===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Callista of the Dark Shard
* '''Judgement:''' We have given our assurances to the Urizen "rebels" of Spiral - who have <u>courageously</u> chosen to leave the Empire rather than cede their ancestral homes to the League - such as the Silver Flame - that we hold them to be Urizen. Invoking the Chalice that rejoins us, we encourage our <u>Wise</u> magicians with imperial lore mastery to assist them with their research, as well as our <u>vigilant</u> priests to advise and aid them in their dealings with pernicious eternals.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (192-0)

===Judgement 106===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Gwendoloena de Sarroi
* '''Judgement:''' The Dawnish national assembly, now that the time is right, encourages Dawnish citizens to set forth and settle the regions of the Barrens that are not ceded to foreigners. With the important exception of the Bleaks as we are not settling to harass the Karass, we are settling to promote virtue for Dawn and Dawnish citizens.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (334-32)

===Judgement 111===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Ignacio i Zuhri i Erigo
* '''Judgement:''' Gisli the Provider stands accused of Blasphemy; in this matter he is not a criminal but a victim. This assembly celebrates his peerless contributions to the rebuilding of the Brass Coast. His virtue and Prosperity is unquestionable.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (94-0)

===Judgement 112===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Halkyon of the Myriad Stream
* '''Judgement:''' Children of the spires, the Lost haunt the dark places of <u>Spiral</u>. The malice of the Druj and Grendel lingers. In Courage and Vigilance let us raise our SWORDS AGAINST DARKNESS and make this part of the Sanctum of Stars a place for the virtuous to prosper.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (226-0)
* '''Notes:''' A call to action for Urizen to clear out the threats present in Spiral, as per the '''[[My_friends_are_my_estate#Swords_Against_Darkness|My friends are my estate]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 114===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Yrkja Riansson Sigeing
* '''Judgement:''' The vision that led us to Gull Isle showed godhi and mystic fostering each other's children, Jotun and Imperial learning from each other as equals. This is not a place for preaching, and we do not intend to do so. Rather let us <u>display</u> virtue through our words and deeds in this place. And likewise witness how the inspiration of the ancestors is borne out in the acts of those we meet with.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (256-14)

===Judgement 117===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Eskah Swift Hart
* '''Judgement:''' Over the winter, all Navarri have heard the song "Painted", we reveal to you now that the writer and singer of "Painted" is Idwynn Splitroot, through ritual Idwynn sang "Painted" directly to Navarr & Thorn so they know we continue their great ambition to destroy the vallorn. Many have heard two voices singing back to Idwynn; they were Navarr & Thorn themselves. Know that we have heard their voices singing in unison with Idwynn & all our nation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (138-24)
* '''Notes:''' References the song spread across the Empire, as per the '''[[The_tune_without_the_words#An_Ode_To_Blood_And_Sacrifice|The tune without words]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 119===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Jesper Luukasson
* '''Judgement:''' At the Summer Solstice of 383YE, Rane Sherarding plead clemency for the members of Zepheniah's Lament, who had shattered the mirrors of Sarvos to free thousands of souls being kept from the labyrinth by Skathe, then raised funds towards their fine. Sharing in the burdens of the necessary deed earned her name Shardbearer. Since then she has borne not only the shards of Sarvos but the weight of duty to the Empire; serving as the Inquisitor of Pride and then as Senator Kallavesa. She has fiercely fought for Wintermark's interests and often asked of us the hard and necessary questions. Her voice will echo in eternity as the priest who consecrated our sacred marsh. Her wisdom has reached out across the Empire time and again in Senate, Synod and in the Imperial Address. We see the burdens you bear and we name you the pride of our nation. We name Rane Shardbearer to the Chronicle of Heroism.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (308-0)
* '''Notes:''' Rane Shardbearer has been added to the [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]]

===Judgement 122===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Molly Mae of Mitwold
* '''Judgement:''' The walls of Meade must be built, the people of Mitwold have spilt their blood for their land and the Marches. Bree Shaw fought with courage, spilt her blood on Marcher soil and died fighting for her Loyalty to the Marches. The Marches must come together as neighbours to help defend Marcher land. Bree has always shown her pride in the Marches, as proud and loyal Marchers we owe it to her memory to build the walls, and call them Brees' Stand.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (154-0)

===Judgement 125===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Sister Juliette of Balthazar's Vineyard
* '''Judgement:''' Our siblings in Varushka have called for Livardz to rise from the ashes. In <u>peerless kinship</u>, Highguard answers their call. In Loyalty, let all those who can be spared from their duties journey north to help erase the stain of the Cold Sun and support the pride and prosperity of Varushka, in accordance with judgement 80.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (474-22)

===Judgement 126===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Pete Tong
* '''Judgement:''' Imperial citizens themselves humour malign agents by consorting amongst them. Beware <u>the enemy within</u>. Expermination does not justify reckless acts by mages which threaten the safety of the Empire. Do not fail to call into question those who knowingly endanger us by engaging with the Whisper Gallery or any other such entity. Hold them to account.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (172-32)

===Judgement 127===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Lenore Hearthweaver
* '''Judgement:''' Veikko Bondforger is a name known all across Anvil. It is known to be the name of a hero who has built up others and forged bonds of Loyalty that stretch across every nation of the Empire. They have inspired pilgrims of Loyalty across the Empire leading the Loyalty Assembly, and raised the funds to rebuild the Hall of Rund, restoring it to the Stormcrows of Wintermark. Veikko has delved into their own skein and learned wisdom from a past life and from a Krampus curse, then returned to share that wisdom with others, sparing no effort to bind the broken and forge them stronger. The very name of Bondforger is precious to us - Wintermark rose in fury when the memory of it was threatened. We therefore name Veikko Bondforger to the Chronicle of Heroism.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (304-0)
* '''Notes:''' Veikko Bondforger has been added to the [[Heroism#Chronicle_of_Heroism|Chronicle of Heroism]]

===Judgement 130===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Dagonet de Gauvain
* '''Judgement:''' The Karass are foreigners, not barbarians. They are friends of the Empire, not enemies. To fight an enemy is to display virtue and win glory. To bully a friend displays the exact opposite. No true Dawnish folk will hurt, molest, or harass the Karass.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (206-20)

===Judgement 131===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Lady Laudine duLac
* '''Judgement:''' We send the Silent Bell to the Bay of Catazar to investigate the Grendel spy networks in the area
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-34) Margin of 116
* '''Notes:''' This judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 132|Judgement 132]]. References an offer made by the Silent Bell in the '''[[Finding_is_the_final_act#How_Many_Fields?|Finding is the final act]]''' wind of fortune. The report of the Silent Bell will be delivered before the Summer Solstice 388YE.

===Judgement 132===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Adelorna Ordraig
* '''Judgement:''' We send the Silent Bell to the Barrens to investigate the Karass and their motivations, interactions and nature of collaboration with the Druj
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (122-16) Margin of 106
* '''Notes:''' This judgement was in competition with [[#Judgement 132|Judgement 132]]

===Judgement 133===
* '''Assembly:''' Wintermark
* '''Raised By:''' Torin
* '''Judgement:''' Naming is our greatest tradition that leads us to Virtue. The Wintermark Assembly believe our new Kallavesi army should exemplify that. We support building a Hall of Names to both honour the Kallavesi fighting spirit, and chronicle the names and deeds of heroes both living and dead. Let this Hall encourage named warriors to show their Virtue, and show that there is no place for savagery or cruelty, that Wintermark fights with honour. To be named is to make our ancestors proud.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (310-10)
* '''Notes:''' More information on the Hall of Names can be found in the '''[[Flight of birds]]''' wind of fortune

===Judgement 134===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Jared of the Sentinels Tower
* '''Judgement:''' It is virtuous to send military forces to combat the heralds of any eternals with enmity. It is important we do not dilute our efforts. Look to the Vigilance Assembly for direction to the immediate threat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (246-0)

===Judgement 135===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Illya Nikovitch Volkov
* '''Judgement:''' Citizens of Varushka, the Varushkan children at Anvil have been investigating the lack of bees in Karov. Honey Bee of the Sovereign's Head asked the coven 'Moonlight Finds the Mountain Pass' to petition Sung for aid in this endeavour. As a result of this investigation, the National Assembly of Varushka urges all Prosperous citizens to aid in re-flowering Karov. Plant flowers, send seeds. Make Karov bloom again.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (228-0)

===Judgement 136===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Lepidina
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise and welcome the statement by the Navarr National Assembly (Judgement 71) and its highest calling to assist in defeating the vallorn. Urizen welcomes their aid and expertise.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (162-0)

===Judgement 139===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Larkin Otterways
* '''Judgement:''' The enemy are in our heartland. Just as we did in the Mourn, so shall we do in Upwold. Open your doors to Mitwold refugees, share the food from your table, and the labour with your neighbours. We encourage the people of Upwold to open your their doors to welcome Mitwold refugees. In Loyalty, we left others up.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (106-0)

===Judgement 140===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Echo of the House of the Wanderer
* '''Judgement:''' I, Echo of the House of the Wanderer, on behalf of the Urizen National Assembly wish to condemn Aspar of Urizen by promoting the False Virtue, PURITY, by offering to give clemency to Severus of the Blinding Sun, under a virtue not recognised by Imperial Law. This action sets not only a poor example, but encourage other priests to follow his foolish actions. WISDOM DEMANDS WE CHASTISE THE <U>FOOL</U>.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (74-82)

===Judgement 144===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement:''' The Urizen National Assembly supports the efforts of the Gryphon's Pride in improving the Empire's relationship with the septs of the Sarangrave; the Bloodwater Spears, the Waterwalkers, and the free folk who have no sept. Let us uplift each other in Pride and prove the Empire are not the masters they think we are.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (244-0)

===Judgement 147===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Amaro d'Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' Since parting ways with Varushka, Temeschwar has forged its own identity as the League's city of craft and commerce. The city is more than its rats. Temeschwari citizens deserve to celebrate their achievements. The National Assembly encourages them to demand Giselle's Tomb to become the Pride of Temeschwar.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (184-0)

===Judgement 151===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Knott
* '''Judgement:''' The Unshackled National Assembly thanks the Illarawm for the opportunity to create the annals of ancestors. Let the first words carved into the side of the Ossuary be: "When faced with the choice between death or protecting what is worthy, we face no choice at all. For if we stand our ground, our ancestors will welcome us on the other side of the abyss". - Jannik of the Rahvin, slaughtered by the Gryphon's Pride, ancestor of Bloodcrow Knott. His words speak of facing a force determined to wipe out your culture. The Rahvin still live due to the ultimate sacrifice of their heroes.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)

===Judgement 156===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Gralka
* '''Judgement:''' I was afraid, I broke my ties to the general in the dark, cut marks that made me his from my skin, then fled into the Sarangrave swamp to escape, the mud was deep and stank of poison. I was alone, the banners painted Druj did not matter here. And then came the sound of Drums, I followed that sound. I did not want to be alone. I saw a light. In that light the shaman and preachers of the Summer Storm passionately spoke of worth and virtue and I wanted for what they had. The Imperial Orc National Assembly encourages the shaman and preachers of the second legion to guide the lost and those who have escaped the Druj.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)

===Judgement 157===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Bloodcrow Meep
* '''Judgement:''' The National Assembly extends its thanks to the Black Tillers for their careful cultivation of Hearkerner's Hope; and for the insight and intention that guides its creation. Alas, the yield of the Legion's Rookery has already been committed to a competing opportunity, and cannot be turned aside. Even so, we recognise the worth of this work and would still seek access to Hearkener's Hope. The Assembly therefore asks whether the Black Tillers might consider an alternative for example, allowing orc priests to purchase it through the exchange of liao. Let no good root go untended.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)
* '''Notes:''' The Black Tillers presented an offer to the Imperial Orcs to take ownership of the Legion's Rookery in the '''[[Every day of your life]]''' wind of fortune.

===Judgement 159===
* '''Assembly:''' Dawnish
* '''Raised By:''' Enchantress Areloe Larmallevés
* '''Judgement:''' People of Dawn, our cousins in the Marches need our help: They need to raise their fifth army. However they can't due to their obligation to feed the Thule. Our senators and I ask us to help, this is not a permanent fixture. Once the breadbasket is expanded they have promised to take the obligation back. Let us help! Let us work with our cousins! Let us show what Dawn does for our Empire! Our National Assembly endorse feeding the Thule!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (420-0)
* '''Notes:''' References the [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Replace_Food_to_Thule|motion]] raised by the Senator for Semmerholm and passed by the Senate that replaced the food sent to the Thule as part of the ongoing [[Ratify Thule Treaty Spring 387YE|Thule treaty]]

===Judgement 160===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Fredegar Bloodmouth
* '''Judgement:''' Courageous Marchers of the Gullet! The end is in sight for the plague of coral husks. The National Assembly calls for citizens along the Gullet's coast to collect samples of coral wisely and with vigilance. If this task is undertaken and an infection is present, seek the assistance of a shatter magician and qualified physick. Samples, alive or dead, should go to Houses Goatsbridge and Myrtle for further investigation. Noting the loyalty and pride of the bold marchers, the Assembly also warns special vigilance in this task. If it comes between Marcher lives or husks samples, choose life every time.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (168-0)

==Mandate==
===Judgement 9===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament
* '''Judgement:''' Be alert to all dangers; within and without. We send Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament with 50 doses of liao to encourage our courageous soldiers to stand apart from these servants of eternals. Seek out falsehood and expose the truth.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (678-12)
* '''Enacted''' Highborn soldiers [[The_thing_with_feathers#In_the_Fields_of_Glory_(Eleonaris)|will deliberately keep their distance from any heralds]] sent to fight alongside them.

===Judgement 70===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The Terunael city of Hacynian has passed into history, ruined by the vallorn. We send Towlen Nighthaven with 25 liao to urge the folk of Hercynia. To swear an oath that neither they nor their ancestors will seek to rebuild Hacynian. Accept its passing as a sacrifice for future free of the folly of Terunael.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (223-16)
* '''Enacted:''' Kaela will provide her support for the construction of [[Every_path_you_know#Beware_of_Dog|the Grim Pryamid]] in the Starless Vale.

===Judgement 71===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Teleri Thornweaver
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Brynn Tendfallen with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with Urizen to prepare to finish the fight.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (267-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Navarr from all walks of life [[Every_path_you_know#Thanks_for_Sharing|will travel to the named nation looking for ways to help]]. This will generate at least one opportunity for a new Imperial title to help the Vallornguard prepare for the fight with the enemy.

===Judgement 79===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Azir i Shartha i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Beware the seduction of the false virtue of Anarchy! We send Azir i Shartha i Riqueza with 150 doses of liao to rally the people of the Brass Coast to turn away from those who would revel in false freedoms. Reject Anarchy, lest your virtue be lost! Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (42-96)

===Judgement 88===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Joran of Reikos
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Joran of Reikos with 25 doses of liao to rally the people of Highguard to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let Virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Highborn congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 107===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Viviane Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Viviane Barossa with 25 liao to rally the people of the League to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' League congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 109===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Veikko Bondforger
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to deploy the Eyes of Loyalty to embolden the following mandate: The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Halkyon of the Myriad Stream with 25 liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with Urizen to prepare to finish the fight
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (316-28)
* '''Enacted:''' The loyal will seek to assist with [[#Judgement 71|Judgement 71]]

===Judgement 116===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Creighton Blackewater
* '''Judgement:''' Pride in small things, Loyalty to great ones. We send Richard with 50 doses of liao to encourage Marcher citizens to settle the land. War is a thrice-ploughed field.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (144-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|Marcher citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a farm]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 118===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Paulus Adelaar van Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' Nothing great without cost. We send Frideswide Adelaar van Holberg with 50 doses of liao to encourage League citizens to invest in business. Coin counts and everything costs!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (230-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|League citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a business]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 124===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Aemon of the Suns of Couros
* '''Judgement:''' The Sarcophan folk of Alivetti estates celebrate their enclave, but we must all remain vigilant to the threats it may represent. While they seem to be honest traders, their ways are not our ways, and their faith is very different to ours. Their refusal to acknowledge Imperial law is a challenge to the Empire. We send Exarch Aemon with 25 doses of liao to urge all virtuous citizens who must attend this gathering to keep their wits about them and remain alert for threats within and without.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (338-54)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends a message to the Alivetti estates that [[A_wild_night_and_a_new_road#Party_Planning|while that nation tolerates them, they do not welcome further engagement]].

===Judgement 158===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Rykana
* '''Judgement:''' Ambition is much more than lines on a map. We send Jim with 15 crowns to lead a delegation of mystics and shamans to discover more of the ancestors the Karass.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Jim will lead a group of willing orcs [[Every_day_of_your_life#Spanning_the_Abyss|in search of information and lore about the ancestors of the Karass]].

==Writ of Consecration==
Two [[writ of consecration|writs of consecration]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Martin Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' We have the exemplar, now where is their tomb? This assembly authorises and applauds the creation of an inspirational site to memorialise the <u>EXEMPLAR OF VIGILANCE, RAVADI FOUNDERS’ DANCE</u> (consecrated to vigilance, of course).
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (334-20)

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Skáldsgrým Dunhearth
* '''Judgement:''' Following the recent destruction of the historic meeting stone where the Jotun and Empire could meet. We the Loyalty Assembly seek a 'writ of consecration' to dedicate part of the newly built feasting hall on Gull Island to Loyalty. We wish to recognise it's importance and protect from future harm as a place of both virtue and honour. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but the unity of both.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (534-0)

==Revocation==
One [[revocation]] was presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 142===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Rosanna Vtrachenich
* '''Judgement:''' It is the unwise boyar who leaves none to tend the hearth. Sirka Parakgoosier Bashnya, Senator for Karsk, has abandoned their post and left no named proxy. It is your prerogative however there is no excuse in not providing a contingency. We in the Varushkan Assembly move for revocation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (174-0)

==Proscription==
Fifteen judgements of [[proscription]] were raised in the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 4===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the use of the ceremony of excommunication without authorisation by writ of the Synod as an abuse of powers.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1522-684)

===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes as blasphemy the act of dedicating any person to a false virtue or of creating an aura of a false virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (2301-370)

===Judgement 6===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The desecration or destruction of any relics associated with a paragon or exemplar, or the destruction of any memorial associated with them, is proscribed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1744-290)

===Judgement 7===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Excessionist Heresy - the claim that too much of a Virtue can be as bad as too little.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1532-580)

===Judgement 8===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues in the likeness of any eternal. It is idolatry to commission a structure designed to honour an inhuman entity.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (1094-1254)

===Judgement 17===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Yaelian Heresy - the belief in the Land Without Tears and in Yael as a rebirth of the First Empress. These have shown to be false.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1880-110)

===Judgement 24===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti
* '''Judgement:''' The Eternal Sadogua, the Brother of Wizards, has boasted of being the same entity known in the Iron Confederacy as Dumon, Father of Lies, a god within the Suranni pantheon. Nonetheless, he constantly seeks tribute, veneration, and adulation from the citizens of the Empire. The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues, fanes, or edifices created in honour of Sadogua. It is idolatry to commission or to build such a thing.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (860-992)

===Judgement 97===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the receiving of a False Virtue Anointing or a False Virtue Dedication as BLASPHEMY.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1252-536)

===Judgement 110===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Syene
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the act of ceding land to those who are not sentient beings of this world, such as eternals or tulpas, as an act of idolatry. We make clear that it is the act of ceding itself that is idolatrous, and those who are responsible for such places are not de facto idolators.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (698-864)

===Judgement 128===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Felix Saltspire
* '''Judgement:''' Venerating an icon of an Eternal is Idolatry. Producing an Image of one is just Art. To make art exalts your pride. To venerate an eternal subsumes your will.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (496-244)

===Judgement 145===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes entering into the service of an eternal or tulpa, where the service subsumes the individual's free will. This is idolatry. This is different from bartering for limited boons in service to your virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1010-102)

===Judgement 152===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Alessi of the Basilisks of the Labyrinth
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of vengeance
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (804-46)

===Judgement 153===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of understanding
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (770-70)

===Judgement 154===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of hatred
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (842-46)

===Judgement 155===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Theodora
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of freedom
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (790-70)

==Inquisition==
Nine [[inquisition|inquisitions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 18===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Cato Hypation
* '''Judgement:''' I call <u>Severus of the Blinding Sun</u> to inquisition, at a time to be arranged at the convenience of the magistrates at this summit. Let him be provided with an opportunity to defend his creed under Imperial scrutiny, having failed to defend it under Sword Scholar tradition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-0)

===Judgement 29===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' I call Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer to inquisition Saturday 16:00 at the Wanderers camp. Concerning her courage involving the autumn realm, raising an army for her nation and other matters that come up.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (118-10)

===Judgement 30===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement:''' Raising a Statement of revocation as the adjutant of the general you are targeting is an action worthy of Scrutiny. I call Harwyn Eternal to Inquisition, to tell me the loyalty in his action and answer to the treachery it appears to be. Woven roots camp Saturday 5:00pm in Navarr (right by Songs and Stories).
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (202-0)

===Judgement 48===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Arvel Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' I call Silas of the Cenotaph to inquisition at the Tendfallen camp in Navarr at 11am on the Saturday of this summit to discuss the virtue of his decision to canvas against a certain judgement last summit.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-16)

===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' Magistrate Sayid i Zurhi i Erigo. I call you to inquisition on the matter of a spontaneous aura upon your soul and its unclear virtuous nature. We will test what virtuous guidance it offers you. 14:00. The hub annex.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (248-0)

===Judgement 85===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement:''' Iniska Ashwood, I am interested in testing whether you have been wise during your time as Inquisitor. I fear you take the words of fools too seriously. Saturday 14:00-:1500. Woven Roots.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (332-10)

===Judgement 96===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement:''' I call Neve Dreadshield, of the Quiet Step to inquisition. This winter Neve has sacrificed all her oaths to save the people. As Navarr, our tattoos make us one nation. Let her speak if her Loyalties lie with Navarr or her actions lead to her being foresworn. Drunken Goose meeting room 5:00pm Navarr
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (233-0)

===Judgement 101===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Donato of the Crucible
* '''Judgement:''' I call Cosme i Guerra, magistrate, to discuss: their role in cursing Veikko Bondforger; the virtue in this action; how this was not acting in the spirit of <u>retribution</u>. Wanderer's camp, Urizen, Sat 5pm
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 150===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' I call to Inquisition Mendicant Garev of Highguard to investigate his claims of Prosperity while refusing to pay those who saved his life. This will occur at the spring summit when he is available (there will be cake)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (334-20)

===Writs of Inquisition===
The following writs of inquisition were issued this summit:
{|
| '''Called by''' || '''Subject''' || '''Judgement or Title''' || '''Matter'''
|-
| Cato Hypation || [[To_fight_aloud#Fallen_Hero|Severus of the Blinding Sun]] || [[#Judgement 18|Judgement 18]] || His [[The_deepest_cut#Interred_With_Their_Bones|creed]]
|-
| Maarit Suvidottir || Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer || [[#Judgement 29|Judgement 29]] || Her [[Courage]] involving the [[Realm#Autumn|Autumn realm]] and raising an army
|-
| Eirlys Ashes Blaze || Harwyn Eternal || [[#Judgement 30|Judgement 30]] || Calling for the revocation of his [[general]] as [[General#Appoint an Adjutant|adjutant]]
|-
| Arvel Tendfallen || Silas of the Cenotaph || [[#Judgement 48 |Judgement 48]] || Canvassing against a [[Judgement]] at the previous summit
|-
| Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost || [[Civil_Service#Imperial_Magistracy|Magistrate]] Sayid i Zurhi i Erigo || [[#Judgement 57|Judgement 57]] || A spontaneous aura
|-
| Nim of Ebon's Hall || Iniska Ashwood || [[#Judgement 85|Judgement 85]] || Their [[Wisdom]] as [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor]]
|-
| Brynmor Rootround || Neve Dreadshield || [[#Judgement 96|Judgement 96]] || Sacrificing her oaths
|-
| Donato of the Crucible || [[Civil_Service#Imperial_Magistracy|Chief Magistrate]] Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra || [[#Judgement 101|Judgement 101]] || Cursing Veikko Bondforger
|-
| Iniska Ashwood || [[Apparently_with_no_surprise#Whatever_Happened_to_Mendicant_Garev?|Mendicant Garev]] || [[#Judgement 150|Judgement 150]] || Refusing to pay those who saved his life, at the Spring summit
|-
| Galene Netherwatch || Mirella of the Twisted Rose || [[Arcane Inquisitor]] || Her work as [[Archmage of Summer]], especially with regards to [[Knights of Glory]]
|-
| Vauraus "Prosperity's Forge" Korppitkotka || Natalia "The Falcon" Barossa || [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]] || Their work as [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]]
|-
| Alfred Eawolfson || Tristan Ramson von Holberg || [[Basilisk of the Bourse]] || Virtue and Economics, at the Spring summit
|-
| Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost || Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose || [[Imperial Inquisitor]] || Their dealings with [[Irra Harah]]
|-
| Maarit Suvidottir || (the Face of) the Earl of Fools || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]] || Taking [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
|-
| Eevi of the Gadrai || Bloodcrow Rasp || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Loyalty]] || Bonds built across the Empire
|-
| Iniska Ashwood || [[Emperor Vesna|Emperor Vesna Borkovna Prochnost]] || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Prosperty]] || Their [[Prosperity]]
|-
| Jedediah Boon || Brother Geoffrey Orchard || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Pride]] || Words and acts of questionable virtue
|-
| Brother Geoffrey Orchard || Ibiss Briarheart || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Vigilance]] || [[Realm#Spring|Spring]], its perils & lessons, at the Spring summit
|-
|}

==Sanction==
Twenty-four [[sanction|sanctions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Sabella of the Silent Tide; Only a person’s own actions may be judged under an Inquisitor’s gaze, and each action you have taken has been guided by Virtue. The Proud embrace their past acts and strive to repeat - or learn from - them going forward. You did not earn the steadfast Loyalty of your Chapter for nothing; your trust in them to conduct themselves with Virtue is testament to that Loyalty returned. You have shown unfaltering Pride in taking the path you deem Virtuous and continuing to walk it. Your Chapter walks with you. The shared desire expressed to let sleeping dogs lie has been accepted Virtuously. Inquisition is our sacred tool for raising the sword when required, just as it is one for putting down the sword where needed - let this Vindication acknowledge the Pride in your actions and bring conclusion to previous division.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (126-34)

===Judgement 15===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Myshki Marishka Letuchaya, Little Boyar of Levski, Senator for Miekarova, Leader of the Vale’s Heart, lighter of the lamp in the dark. Your visage is etched in stone, your hand now and always fortifying Delev. The Little Boyar’s Welcome stands; your Legacy stands with it. It is clear as a cloudless day that you have carved out your Benevolence in defiance of the Cold Sun, building refuge for those displaced by its hatred. Stories follow you from Anvil; how you have raised castle walls, been the architect of armies. What Inspiration this will become will be for your friends and followers to witness. Pride uplifts. Inquisition tests. The Signs of the Exemplar have ignited themselves in your actions. Surely as you pursue Virtue closer to home, your future deeds will be watched closer still.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (160-0)

===Judgement 31===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating J231, Summer 387. I inquisited Viviane Barossa about the courage of her past year of challenges to fulfil a vow to carry a hallowing. I however failed because it became incredibly clear throughout this inquisition that what motivates the soul and body of Viviane is the burning flame of Ambition. Excessionism is a heresy and one that she does not follow, she committed to this challenge with her whole self. Her ambition in this act is the salvation of Axos and bringing them to the Way and out of their misunderstanding of the world. Her route is reaching out to them so they can see we can be worked with before encouraging them to come to us, to learn from our schools of thought in exchange knowing that this will help expose the failings in their philosophy and use of these dangerous auras. While intellectually she understood this aura she told me she was still not prepared enough for the way it pushed her to freeze up, to fawn to threats, to want to give everything over and just perform what the other person wanted. She condemns this aura as unvirtuous and has and I’m sure will again speak at length against its use. She seemed justifiably angry that she has had to spend a year wasting political capital and time being inquisited, doing penance, being threatened and assaulted, and having to avoid helping reform doctrine but I think felt it worthwhile to build this bridge with Axos.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (166-10)

===Judgement 32===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating Judgement 226 Summer 387 - I clear Genoveva and Rafael Barossa d’Apulian of any nonsense about running a “dark crusade” sacrificing virtue of innocents. If debate and discussion be the food of priests I have eaten well in this inquisition. These are courageous citizens of the Empire who are dedicating themselves to both the material and spiritual conditions of human souls both inside and outside of our borders and facing the challenges and problems we are in with courage, without pretending such obstacles do not exist. While they appear to disagree on Asavea they are both devoted to liberation and protection of souls and spreading The Way, and work towards such things even occasionally at the expense of personal relationships. These views may also stem from their cooperation enabling the Night Fane to Sung in Spiral going through Senate, they however have clear views on the dangers of this and how it is being overseen to understand the role that Fanes may play in the future of the Empire and wish us to understand them. They’re both magicians with above board dealings with a handful of Eternals. If you wish to understand their virtue talk to them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (236-10)

===Judgement 37===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I vindicate Sakari, Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield for raising a Declaration to uninterdict Rivers Run Red. His Ambition to achieve his goals through any means is clear. Just because you disagree with a person’s actions does not mean they are unvirtuous.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (742-96)

===Judgement 39===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Escalating from Judgement 39 of Autumn 387: LUCA I TAZIEL I RIQUEZA, CARDINAL OF PROSPERITY, offered a clear description of the circumstances around Aunty Hem’s Dedication to Anarchy, her subsequent Inquisition, and the fact that he was aware of her status for a full season before undertaking any action. This was a failing of Vigilance, and in so failing the Cardinal missed an opportunity to pull Aunty Hem back from the brink. I have proposed - and the Cardinal has agreed - that the right Penance is for the Cardinal to SPEND A YEAR UNDER ANOINTINGS OF VIGILANCE. This will allow Luca to better know this Virtue, without interfering with the Cardinal’s duties to Prosperity. In Escalating I ask the Synod to ENDORSE this course of action and to SUPPORT Luca in knowing Prosperity better. Full Inquisition reports available from me and from the citizen noticeboard. (ON OPPOSITE WALL.)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1128-54)

===Judgement 41===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Lars Makarov
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' I Lars Makarov present my findings of following the inquisition in Autumn 387. My aim was to examine if the 5 named members of the Guard, who had taken Dark Wine and were seen to bite fallen Jotun in battle during Spring and Summer, were using it as a cover for worship of Blood in the Snow. Conclusion - None of those named in Autumn 387 serve Agramant, but by following Virtue you will all stand better prepared for the trails to come. Judgement has been provided to Molli to bear the weight of a either the Hallowing of Permion or of Isaella’s Resolve for a year and for Slark to carry a Hallowing of the Questor, to remind you of the importance of asking questions. To help continue to live with virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-0)

===Judgement 45===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lepidina, Chaplain Consular. I find your actions and virtue beyond reproach on the matter of Fintan Nighthaven. I look forward to watching the progression of your career.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (862-52)

===Judgement 46===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Aster Acae. You served as Chaplain Consular during the most critical juncture of Fintan Nighthaven’s tenure as Ambassador to Axos and found yourself ill-equipped for the necessities of the position. There is little point in wondering what could have been avoided had you acted. You did not. But you have done something few are capable of - you own your mistakes and learn from them. These lessons have cost much. Do not squander them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (812-72)

===Judgement 62===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Teodore Dusesna of the Camorra Dusesna, you have been inquisited regarding your accusations of idolatry against Genoveva Barossa d’Apulian, Sofonisba Amilcara, Cesare di Tassato and Raphael Barossa d’Apulian and have been found wanting. You admitted you knew your accusations had no basis in fact or as anything other than unfounded gossip yet you repeated them as factual truth. The Virtuous do not tear down others nor demean them, yet you spent your time in baseless accusations. Your penance is to spend the next three months speaking with those you spread your accusations to, advising them of the lack of substance and apologising for misleading them. Following this you will attend Anvil to make a public apology to those you wronged, at the League Assembly meeting 7pm Friday of the Spring Solstice.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (304-0)

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Elagabala
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' The Loyal serve without concern for reward, ignore qualms of actions they take for their loyalty, defend that which they care about, and protect those they love from harm regardless of any cost. Knight-Captain Alethia Wooder was not only willing to pay that cost, but did. I find no fault in their Virtue when treating with Agramant. It was impeccable. Her heart was guided by the true Loyalty of her soul, in accordance with all appropriate teachings and auras thereof. As she continues her journey on the path, she should remember that whilst the Loyal are ready to pay this cost, she should be conscious it never strays to acting as the Peaceful Martyr, willing to suffer to alleviate the suffering of others, as this, as she knows, is a malign spiritual intent.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (888-58)

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I called General Jean d'Apulian to inquisition as my first act as Inquisitor of Prosperity, as asked by members of House de Gauvain. Jean was open and honest about what happened to the permanent enchantment of Bound by Common Cause on the Wolves of War. His Loyalty shone through his words and actions. His Prosperity is also unquestionable; when the enchantment changed, the Empire would have had to pay to remove it. Jean was able to engineer another option, that saw the army able to resupply and stand stronger for the Empire. I would, however, prevail upon his virtue and ask that he find a way to remember Maurice de Gauvain to the League and the Empire
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (182-20)

===Judgement 75===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lugh Llaw Whisperleaf, I am not sure what I expected when I called you to Inquisition. Please thank your friends again for the song. I cannot call into question your virtue, your Prosperity, Loyalty, or Pride. You took heretical icons out of the grasping hands of would-be cultists, ensuring you did not impoverish those who found them, and show your work with Pride. Your decision to Hallow them to True Virtues and share them with fellow Magpies who prove themselves Virtuous and worthy is a good one. I look forwards to hearing from whoever investigates the Vallorn flowers you wear on your hat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (197-10)

===Judgement 76===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Cadenza i Fontanilla i Riqueza, Nation's Hearth, I called you to Inquisition to investigate your Prosperity and I have not been left wanting. You work hard at the Spilled Tea each day, and do not rest on your laurels with the money you make. You give so much to your Nation, to your Empire, and you deserve recognition. So many see Prosperity as the act of making money, but you make sure it keeps moving, going where it needs to go. You remind people what a single soul can do when it chooses to. You walk the path of Prosperity well, and I seek to learn your example.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (207-0)

===Judgement 84===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement - Condemnation:''' Gisli, you told me that beneath a shroud of your own creation lay one of the true Virtues of the Way - but I found only Anarchy. For this, we condemn you for Blasphemy. The Institutions of the Casinean Empire will do well without your malign influence
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (256-32)

===Judgement 102===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Emperor Vesna, you asked me to inquisit you to judge and recognise your Prosperity, and I am honoured that you did. Your work in Ossium gave freed slaves the opportunities to become Prosperous citizens, and you have continued this on the grandest scale across and beyond the Empire. Your foresight into the only path to take to bring the Way to the world is inspiring, and as a Navarri, your willingness to make the hard choices resonates. There is only one thing I disagree with you on - you <u>are</u> loved by your Empire. To remind you of this, the Prosperity Assembly wish to Testimony you as "Beloved" with the strength of 7 priests.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (171-30)

===Judgement 108===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pete Tong
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Juniper du Froste, Merchant of the Fangs, in your inquisition you showed me and my co-council of your virtue. Not only are you ambitious, wise, and Prosperous - your intentions and competency are clear - but your loyalty to the Empire's duty to the Rahvin and your commitment to them is commendable. Maybe one day more bourse seat holders may be like you, and we might live in a better world.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (734-20)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' T i Dahr i Riqueza
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Gisli (Judgement 84 Wisdom) is not guilty of Blasphemy because it is not yet a crime. We condemn people for the crimes we have written down - and in fact he was wise in his efforts to remove the effects of his experiments with the aura "to trust his own judgement." Gisli is wise, knows the law, knows magic, and makes very good business decisions. He is an asset to the Empire, and it would be wise to see the fault of his actions, which were not illegal as dedication itself is not blasphemy. Fintan Nighthaven's poison must be cleared from the Empire, but not by killing all those he poisoned.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (266-924)
* '''Notes:''' Scrutiny was extended on this judgement by '''Silas of the Cenotaph''', the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]]

===Judgement 137===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer (J29) and found her courage evident. She has a strong theology and practical virtue is important to her. She is fully aware of what she needs courage to face and what challenges are within her capabilities more easily. She faces things clearly and knows when to press forward and when to try new approaches and I feel she will continue to work on her soul, improve this empire and inspire others to act for a long time.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 138===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited Ida the River today at 15:00 about courage. She spoke well of her virtue and the challenges she faces in life, the ways she faces dangers and failures. Others of the hospital spoke well of her, Tiberius described her as his rock, the most steadfast mother and north star Kellen of Kingstoke attributed Ida's courage with her continuing at the hospital. Ambrove di Sarvos talked of Ida pushing them forwards to establish connections. Emileo di Sarvos talked of her not hesitating. Isolde said she gives others courage, not aiming to inspire just doing a ripple of virtue from her actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (130-00)

===Judgement 143===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Harwyn Eternal described his loyalty and conviction in seeing Navarr best represented in military council. I think that this conviction is a testament to his loyalty to Navarr. However, his actions have not build up the people and team that forms the Navarr contingent of the military council. I call Harwyn to tell me in a years time of the actions that he takes from today to act with his virtue to aid this team and the goals of the military council team, in the interest of elevating his words with actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (66-0)

===Judgement 146===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Following the inquisition of Dagon Barossa it was clear that whilst his intention was virtuous, his decision to give away the shield intended for the Champion of Loyalty lacked loyalty. It tore down his fellows and his words and deeds not united. I task Dagon to suffer the curse Bitter Mantle of the Leaden Crown next season. Even the strongest may err, the truly great learn from what scars them
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (208-0)

===Judgement 148===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Neve, over the long dark, lost all her oaths in sacrifice to the Empire. SHE decided the price was of worth against the Duvanku. Without her, all of Sarangrave would have been plunged into the depths of a winter curse upon the lands. She took this great sacrifice in loyalty to the Dreadshields, to Navarr, and to the Empire, with Pride and great Courage. May she be Branded to honour her actions, knowing they will be remembered and respected, and testimony her with "Oathsworn Renewed"
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (142-0)

===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited the Earl of Fools, along with several others. He was pleasant if nervous and demonstrated a clear growth of virtue and courage to acknowledge his actions. I wish him well in future endeavours and look forward to his benevolence in his virtue and in the future
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (84-0)

==Recognition==
Two judgements of [[recognition]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 72===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Luca i Taziel i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' To recognise Zemress i Ezamara i Erigo as a Paragon of Prosperity. Her Exemplardom is known. There is no question of Benevolence, Inspiration, Pilgrimage, Salvation and Legacy. There never has been. No voices have spoken out against her Liberation. No Past Life Visions to be seen, and no ashes yet found. For Miracles we need only look. Look to the past. The Kraken's Bane returning to post. She was thought lost in the bay with her captain. But there She came. Un-crewed. Bound for home. Look to the present. The Captain's Touch, a treasure trove of True Auras tied to Zemress. Hallows a-plenty, easy to find by simply asking an enthusiastic Zemress at Anvil. The Sumaah already recognise our captain. In times of uncertainty, let us look to stories we know are true; a Paragon that already teaches the Known World what a Prosperity looks like
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (223-30)

===Judgement 83===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Masha Sigeling
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Rahvin as an Exemplar of Courage and the first Ancestor Exemplar. <u>Inspiration</u> Fighting against the Druj, surrounded on all fronts, he inspired his people and thousands of others to fight to the bitter end, courageously standing for what they believed in, time and again. <u>Benevolence</u> Rahvin suffered greatly in the fight for the freedom of the Barrens, committing his life to bring about a better future for his people. <u>Liberation</u> Many individuals close to Rahvin report hearing his voice as an Ancestor, proof that, from his courageous actions he has crossed the Howling Abyss. <u>Legacy</u> Though the Rahvin (people) were thought destroyed by the Druj, they lived on, and fight now in his name to drive the Druj east into the sea. <u>Salvation</u> Rahvin was the driving force behind the uprising against the Druj in the Barrens, sending them to the howling abyss and ultimately leading to his followers working with the Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (238-10)

==Appointment==
Twenty one [[appointment|appointments]] were raised by the [[Tribune of the Synod]] during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 1===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Prosperity]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Heilyn Bronwen’s Rest''' was appointed with 126 votes; Gorwen received 20 votes; Mabel received 20 votes; Syene received 12 votes

===Judgement 2===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of the Way]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Volya Nebov''' was appointed with 78 votes; Yosephus Morningson received 42 votes; Kosta-Konstanin Rabovich Bolotnikov received 30 votes; Tabris, Son or Armisael received 22 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 10 votes

===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean Library]] dose of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' was selected with 426 votes; Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg received 170 votes; Aspar received 150 votes; Gaelen Embercast received 146 votes; Claudia Varkulova Remislav received 132 votes; Mirella of the Twisted Rose received 106 votes; Starac Sijed Orzel received 74 votes; Mel of the Mourn received 44 votes; Frater Pontius of Adoniran’s Temple received 42 votes; Tom Appleseed received 30 votes

===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Loyalty]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Talos of the Silent Tide''' was appointed with 206 votes; Skaldsgrym Dunhearth received 40 votes; Haungar Oakenlegs received 38 votes; Shibboleth Tzipporah received 36 votes

===Judgement 23===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Arbiter of the Four Winds]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Donato of the Crucible''' was appointed with 98 votes

===Judgement 28===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand to the Dance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Farren Silver Streams''' was appointed with 90 votes; Emrys Barbbearer Edgestalker received 41 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 28 votes

===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Barbs]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Eirlys Ashes Blaze''' was appointed with 187 votes

===Judgement 43===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nicodemus of Balthazar’s Vineyard''' was appointed with 404 votes

===Judgement 49===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Fabio Costas d’Apulian''' was appointed with 106 votes

===Judgement 50===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Ambition]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ser Purslane Artorigus''' was appointed with 116 votes; Lord Roland de Lagriffe received 86 votes; Earl Cerys de Rosier received 70 votes

===Judgement 51===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Pride]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Katchiana Razorradze''' was appointed with 80 votes; Vespasian received 48 votes; Kali Keen-Eye received 34 votes

===Judgement 59===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lantern Wolf]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nadia von Holberg''' was appointed with 176 votes; Katarina Palantini received 60 votes; Savi Avocatt received 34 votes

===Judgement 60===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of the Orchard]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Basil Goodbeard''' was appointed with 150 votes

===Judgement 61===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of Oaths]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Veikko Bondforger''' was appointed with 398 votes

===Judgement 64===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Masha Sigeling''' was appointed with 110 votes; Ada of House Meliora received 32 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Grieftender of the Forgotten]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Miroslav Temnavoda''' was appointed with 142 votes

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[High Exorcist]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Belial de Courtenay-Wyldrose''' was appointed with 6 votes. Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun received 1 vote

===Judgement 86===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Wisdom]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nim of Ebons Hall''' was appointed with 132 votes. Gwen Tendfallen received 22 votes

===Judgement 89===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Basilisk of the Bourse]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Alfred Aewulfson''' was appointed with 7 votes

===Judgement 93===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand of Guerra]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''' was appointed with 74 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Vigilance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Bryce the Hare''' was appointed with 94 votes

==Rewarding==
Fourteen judgements of [[rewarding]] were presented to the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Valentin Ivarovich Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' The Inspirational Tomb of Ozren de Orzel has been chosen and will include an Academy of the Arts and Apartments for the High Bard of the Empire! At the formal consecration with True Liao the Culwich Witches of Weirwater have promised gifts and recognition to the Eighty-One (81) named musicians and poets chosen by the High Bard in early 386. Nearly half the funding for this Virtuous endeavour is secured. The True Liao is held in preparation. We are almost there! I request the General Assembly’s support in a Rewarding from the Virtue fund of 40 Thrones to complete the purchase of white granite to build the Bardic Academy of the Exemplar Ozren to support the ongoing work of the High Bards of the Empire and secure the Proud legacy of the 81 named performers celebrating Imperial Virtue and wonderous deeds!
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (470-662)

===Judgement 12===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ioan Longshadow
* '''Judgement:''' Since the death of Empress Britta, the Anvil Hospital has stood as a beacon of Quiet Courage and Virtue. It has not been sustained by the Empire’s coffers, but by the Prosperity of private citizens and the relentless goodwill of volunteers. These individuals face the brutal aftermath of battle, keep soldiers in the fight, and tend to those who support them on and off the battlefield. Their Courage is not loud - but it is unyielding. And it has been overlooked for far too long. I seek the aid of the General Assembly for this Virtuous cause and request a rewarding from the Virtue Fund of 10 thrones for the purchase of herbs, mana, liao, and other essential resources in support of the Hospital - and by extension, the Empire. Let us honour the Quiet Courage of those who give their time, effort, and resources to the Hospital. Courage does not only charge - it heals, it endures, and it refuses to break.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (1242-106)

===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Lorell Copiste
* '''Judgement:''' It is no secret that with Dawn’s deficiency in wealth, the nation struggles to build anything of use. So that this issue may be solved, Lord Morgann de Vere, ever prideful of his homeland, ambitiously seeks 8 wains of Weirwood from the Virtue Fund, to help in constructing a great work that benefits not only Weirwater, but the nation of Dawn entire. Let Lord Morgann be rewarded, and your prosperity shall greatly aid the Dawnish people.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (300-808)

===Judgement 52===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' I seek to reward VITTORE van TEMESCHWAR The sum of TWENTY-TWO THRONES From the virtue fund for having prosperously created multiple items of office and regalia for Imperial titles and to assist in his further works in this endeavour
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (382-628)

===Judgement 55===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Erasmo di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Bledri Eternal with fifteen thrones. Bledri has spent more than 40 thrones of his own funds on codifying two rituals. Stars Mantle has already been added to Imperial Lore. Revelations of the Past, which shares a vision of an item’s past beyond the ritualist’s coven, will be added to Imperial Lore shortly after being loaned to the Academy for a period. This kind of generous prosperity should be encouraged and rewarded.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (400-582)

===Judgement 58===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Laurencio di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' Over 150 Imperial Fleet Captains forwent personal prosperity to support the Unguerdoned Red Wind Corsairs in destroying the pirate-cultist navy of the Children of Wrecks effectively closing a front. We reward them with 40 Thrones to be shared between them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (620-424)

===Judgement 87===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Anatolij Paukov Zorkin
* '''Judgement:''' I am seeking 6 wains of white granite to create a monument to the Silent Bell sodality to reward their tireless work Vigilantly and Courageously defending this Empire and furthering our knowledge of the Way. I have the Senate announcement, I have the labour costs, all I need is the white granite
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, partial (three white granite) (528-334)

===Judgement 90===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Oleander Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Geraint Bronwen's Rest with 16 weirwood to be put towards the City of Dreams. This is an investment in to the future of Navarr and will allow us to seek new ways to use liao
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (434-389)

===Judgement 99===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lia Adelaar
* '''Judgement:''' The Kleists of Holberg have, through their ingenuity and tireless effort, succeeded in raising the walls of Holberg to be the greatest fortification in the known world. Funds for this great work (500T) come from the Kleists' efforts co-ordinating the prosperity of our citizens and from their own pockets. We ask for a rewarding of 8 white granite in recognition of their great Ambition and Prosperity, and to support future projects including the Imperatrix docks.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (408-380)

===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork
* '''Judgement:''' We award Naomi of Felix's Watch, 5 wains of white granite towards the restoration of Berechiah's Basilica in Bastion, which is in a dangerous state of disrepair, and is a threat to the life and limb of pilgrims. It was consecrated with true liao in 385YE and has provided only a fraction of the benefit it might have. Now, when we need Berechiah's inspiration to fight foreign espionage rings is the perfect time to complete the work and create a new title to be appointed by the Vigilance Assembly
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (672-214)

===Judgement 115===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Catena
* '''Judgement:''' To bring the Way to the hermit kingdom of Tsark, we must <u>talk</u> to them. An opportunity to build that bridge has arisen in the form of the Garden of the Perfect World - this will allow us to trade weirwood to them for white granite and improve the Prosperity of us both. This door was opened by Abel the Rounder, and I ask that this Assembly provide him 8 wains of weirwood in order that it may be built as soon as possible.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (188-154)

===Judgement 120===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Emrys Fleurir
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Ser Raine Fisher with 16 Weirwood for their efforts in rousing Dawnish fleets to aid the Red Wind Corsairs, so that they may fund Ambitious projects to increase the Empire's naval strength.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (178-248)

===Judgement 121===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Xandor Trodbroker
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Eleri Bronwen's Rest with 6 wains of mithril to be put towards the army currently mustering in Hercynia. The army will be put to use defending the Empire's borders to help safeguard the spiritual centre of the Way
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (261-106)

===Judgement 123===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Neala Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Halwyn Splitroot for achieving the great ambition of rebuilding and consecrating First Voice Glade and School inspiring pride and increasing prosperity within the Empire. We grant him 16 weirwood as reward for this great work and in the knowledge that this will support his efforts to further improve the Glade and School to benefit the prosperity and herbal knowledge of the Vallornguard
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (144-146)

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Winter Solstice.
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Assembly'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Consideration'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Link'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Duration'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]]<br>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Wintermark unless enacted by the Wintermark Assembly. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in the nation, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[The_final_cut#Questions_for_Wintermark|The final cut]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that stress the need to follow Imperial law rather than virtue will be unlikely to lead to a mandate.</td><td>[[Knocking_on_every_door#A_Paper_Shield|Knocking on every door]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>League Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the League Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#The League|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushkan Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the Varushkan Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#Varushka|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
</table>

==The Virtue Fund==
At the start of the Winter Solstice 387YE summit, the Virtue Fund stood as follows:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>88 thrones, 15 rings</td><td>6 wains</td><td>8 wains</td><td>16 wains</td><td>1 dose</td>
</table>

Total donations made were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>65 thrones, 7 crowns, 16 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

The total amounts carried forward to the next summit were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>104 thrones, 11 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations received prior to the start of the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 1 throne, 2 crowns at the [[Rewarding#Counting Houses|counting house]] of [[Reikos]]
* 2 thrones at the counting house of [[Tassato]]
* 1 throne, 3 crowns at the counting house of [[Semmerholm]]
* 1 throne, 4 crowns at the counting house of [[Karsk]]
* 6 wains of mithril, 8 wains of white granite and 8 wains of weirwood from [[The_greatest_plurality#One_Empire|various donations]]
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of Rewardings made at the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 10 thrones to '''Ioan Longshadow''' following [[#Judgement 12|Judgement 12]] being upheld (margin 1136)
* 5 wains of white granite to '''Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork''' following [[#Judgement 103|Judgement 103]] being upheld (margin 458)
* 40 thrones to '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' following [[#Judgement 58|Judgement 8]] being upheld (margin 196)
* 3 wains of white granite to '''Anatolij''' following [[#Judgement 87|Judgement 87]] being upheld (margin 194)
* 6 wains of mithril to '''Xandor Trodbroker''' following [[#Judgement 121|Judgement 121]] being upheld (margin 155)
* 16 wains of weirwood to '''Oleander Ashwood''' following [[#Judgement 90|Judgement 90]] being upheld (margin 45)
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations made during the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 65 thrones for the Bourse dose of True Liao from '''Umbar'''
* 6 crowns from '''Rafael Barossa d'Apulian'''
* 1 crown from '''Berith Martel'''
* 16 rings in small donations
</div>

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose to '''Vesna Borkovna Prochnost''' as [[the Throne]]
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' via [[#Judgement 3|Judgement 3]]
* One dose to '''Umbar''' by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to '''Ashborn Trosk''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Amberlain P. Black''' by decision of the Gatekeepers

==Assembly Strength==
The table below shows the size, total voting strength and greater majority thresholds for each assembly as calculated at the start of the summit.

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | Virtue Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Ambition || 53 || 742 || 372
|-
|Courage || 41 || 492 || 247
|-
|Loyalty || 61 || 788 || 395
|-
|Pride || 36 || 440 || 221
|-
|Prosperity || 42 || 513 || 257
|-
|Vigilance || 47 || 532 || 267
|-
|Wisdom || 41 || 554 || 278
|-
|The Way || 29 || 320 || 161
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | National Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Brass Coast || 15 || 166 || 84
|-
|Dawn || 51 || 672 || 337
|-
|Highguard || 74 || 940 || 471
|-
|Imperial Orcs || 9 || 138 || 70
|-
|League || 36 || 514 || 258
|-
|Marches || 22 || 250 || 126
|-
|Navarr || 43 || 499 || 250
|-
|Urizen || 27 || 314 || 158
|-
|Varushka || 31 || 398 || 200
|-
|Wintermark || 42 || 490 || 246
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

387YE Winter Solstice Synod judgements

2026-05-03T19:16:44Z

Noserenda: /* Judgement 15 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]][[Category: 387YE Winter]]
==Overview==
During the Winter Solstice 387YE, the Imperial Synod raised TBC judgements.

<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">
{|
|+ <big>'''Judgement Quick Links'''</big>
! Judgement Type
! Amount
|-
|[[#Statement of Principle|Statement of Principle]]|| ??
|-
|[[#Mandate|Mandate]] || 10
|-
|[[#Writ of Consecration|Writ of Consecration]] || 2
|-
|[[#Revocation|Revocation]] || 1
|-
|[[#Proscription|Proscription]] || 15
|-
|[[#Inquisition|Inquisition]] || 11
|-
|[[#Sanction|Sanction]] || 15
|-
|[[#Recognition|Recognition]] || 2
|-
|[[#Appointment|Appointment]] || 21
|-
|[[#Rewarding|Rewarding]] || 14
|-
|}
</div>

==Mandate==
===Judgement 9===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament
* '''Judgement:''' Be alert to all dangers; within and without. We send Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament with 50 doses of liao to encourage our courageous soldiers to stand apart from these servants of eternals. Seek out falsehood and expose the truth.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (678-12)
* '''Enacted''' Highborn soldiers [[The_thing_with_feathers#In_the_Fields_of_Glory_(Eleonaris)|will deliberately keep their distance from any heralds]] sent to fight alongside them.

===Judgement 70===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The Terunael city of Hacynian has passed into history, ruined by the vallorn. We send Towlen Nighthaven with 25 liao to urge the folk of Hercynia. To swear an oath that neither they nor their ancestors will seek to rebuild Hacynian. Accept its passing as a sacrifice for future free of the folly of Terunael.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (223-16)
* '''Enacted:''' Kaela will provide her support for the construction of [[Every_path_you_know#Beware_of_Dog|the Grim Pryamid]] in the Starless Vale.
__TOC__
===Judgement 71===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Teleri Thornweaver
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Brynn Tendfallen with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with Urizen to prepare to finish the fight.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (267-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Navarr from all walks of life [[Every_path_you_know#Thanks_for_Sharing|will travel to the named nation looking for ways to help]]. This will generate at least one opportunity for a new Imperial title to help the Vallornguard prepare for the fight with the enemy.

===Judgement 79===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Azir i Shartha i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Beware the seduction of the false virtue of Anarchy! We send Azir i Shartha i Riqueza with 150 doses of liao to rally the people of the Brass Coast to turn away from those who would revel in false freedoms. Reject Anarchy, lest your virtue be lost! Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (42-96)

===Judgement 88===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Joran of Reikos
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Joran of Reikos with 25 doses of liao to rally the people of Highguard to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let Virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Highborn congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 107===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Viviane Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Viviane Barossa with 25 liao to rally the people of the League to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' League congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 116===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Creighton Blackewater
* '''Judgement:''' Pride in small things, Loyalty to great ones. We send Richard with 50 doses of liao to encourage Marcher citizens to settle the land. War is a thrice-ploughed field.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (144-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|Marcher citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a farm]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 118===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Paulus Adelaar van Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' Nothing great without cost. We send Frideswide Adelaar van Holberg with 50 doses of liao to encourage League citizens to invest in business. Coin counts and everything costs!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (230-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|League citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a business]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 124===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Aemon of the Suns of Couros
* '''Judgement:''' The Sarcophan folk of Alivetti estates celebrate their enclave, but we must all remain vigilant to the threats it may represent. While they seem to be honest traders, their ways are not our ways, and their faith is very different to ours. Their refusal to acknowledge Imperial law is a challenge to the Empire. We send Exarch Aemon with 25 doses of liao to urge all virtuous citizens who must attend this gathering to keep their wits about them and remain alert for threats within and without.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (338-54)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends a message to the Alivetti estates that [[A_wild_night_and_a_new_road#Party_Planning|while that nation tolerates them, they do not welcome further engagement]].

===Judgement 158===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Rykana
* '''Judgement:''' Ambition is much more than lines on a map. We send Jim with 15 crowns to lead a delegation of mystics and shamans to discover more of the ancestors the Karass.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Jim will lead a group of willing orcs [[Every_day_of_your_life#Spanning_the_Abyss|in search of information and lore about the ancestors of the Karass]].

==Writ of Consecration==
Two [[writ of consecration|writs of consecration]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Martin Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' We have the exemplar, now where is their tomb? This assembly authorises and applauds the creation of an inspirational site to memorialise the <u>EXEMPLAR OF VIGILANCE, RAVADI FOUNDERS’ DANCE</u> (consecrated to vigilance, of course).
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (334-20)

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Skáldsgrým Dunhearth
* '''Judgement:''' Following the recent destruction of the historic meeting stone where the Jotun and Empire could meet. We the Loyalty Assembly seek a 'writ of consecration' to dedicate part of the newly built feasting hall on Gull Island to Loyalty. We wish to recognise it's importance and protect from future harm as a place of both virtue and honour. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but the unity of both
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (534-0)

==Revocation==
One [[revocation]] was presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 142===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Rosanna Vtrachenich
* '''Judgement:''' It is the unwise boyar who leaves none to tend the hearth. Sirka Parakgoosier Bashnya, Senator for Karsk, has abandoned their post and left no named proxy. It is your prerogative however there is no excuse in not providing a contingency. We in the Varushkan Assembly move for revocation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (174-0)

==Proscription==
Fifteen judgements of [[proscription]] were raised in the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 4===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the use of the ceremony of excommunication without authorisation by writ of the Synod as an abuse of powers.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1522-684)

===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes as blasphemy the act of dedicating any person to a false virtue or of creating an aura of a false virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (2301-370)

===Judgement 6===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The desecration or destruction of any relics associated with a paragon or exemplar, or the destruction of any memorial associated with them, is proscribed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1744-290)

===Judgement 7===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Excessionist Heresy - the claim that too much of a Virtue can be as bad as too little.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1532-580)

===Judgement 8===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues in the likeness of any eternal. It is idolatry to commission a structure designed to honour an inhuman entity.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (1094-1254)

===Judgement 17===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Yaelian Heresy - the belief in the Land Without Tears and in Yael as a rebirth of the First Empress. These have shown to be false.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1880-110)

===Judgement 24===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti
* '''Judgement:''' The Eternal Sadogua, the Brother of Wizards, has boasted of being the same entity known in the Iron Confederacy as Dumon, Father of Lies, a god within the Suranni pantheon. Nonetheless, he constantly seeks tribute, veneration, and adulation from the citizens of the Empire. The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues, fanes, or edifices created in honour of Sadogua. It is idolatry to commission or to build such a thing.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (860-992)

===Judgement 97===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the receiving of a False Virtue Anointing or a False Virtue Dedication as BLASPHEMY
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1252-536)

===Judgement 110===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Syene
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the act of ceding land to those who are not sentient beings of this world, such as eternals or tulpas, as an act of idolatry. We make clear that it is the act of ceding itself that is idolatrous, and those who are responsible for such places are not de facto idolators
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (698-864)

===Judgement 128===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Felix Saltspire
* '''Judgement:''' Venerating an icon of an Eternal is Idolatry. Producing an Image of one is just Art. To make art exalts your pride. To venerate an eternal subsumes your will.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (496-244)

===Judgement 145===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes entering into the service of an eternal or tulpa, where the service subsumes the individual's free will. This is idolatry. This is different from bartering for limited boons in service to your virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1010-102)

===Judgement 152===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Alessi of the Basilisks of the Labyrinth
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of vengeance
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (804-46)

===Judgement 153===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of understanding
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (770-70)

===Judgement 154===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of hatred
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (842-46)

===Judgement 155===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Theodora
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of freedom
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (790-70)

==Inquisition==
XXXXX [[inquisition|inquisitions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 18===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Cato Hypation
* '''Judgement:''' I call <u>Severus of the Blinding Sun</u> to inquisition, at a time to be arranged at the convenience of the magistrates at this summit. Let him be provided with an opportunity to defend his creed under Imperial scrutiny, having failed to defend it under Sword Scholar tradition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-0)

===Judgement 14===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rafael Barossa d’Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' Yosephus Morningson preaches the creed of the Temple of Balance, asserting that citizens should seek balance between all seven Virtues, and that an excess of just one Virtue becomes vice instead, as in aphorisms like “Courage pursued without Wisdom is Foolhardiness.” I have concerns about this belief, specifically whether it meets the definition of the heresies of Excessionism and/or Unitarianism; and whether its application to the paragons reaches the standard of blasphemy. With that in mind, I call Yosephus Morningson to inquisition at 1530 on Saturday of the Summer Solstice 387YE, at the Shattered Tower tent in Highguard. Anyone with an interest in these topics is welcome to attend, but this does not imply permission to participate.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (320-0)

===Judgement 22===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' I call Teodore duSesna of the Camorra DuSesna to Inquisition at the Autumn Summit 387YE, at a time and place to be arranged, that their accusations against Genoveva Barossa d’Apulian, Sofonisba Amilcara, Cesare Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato and Rafael Barossa d’Apulian may be thoroughly examined.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (292-0)

===Judgement 29===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' I call Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer to inquisition Saturday 16:00 at the Wanderers camp. Concerning her courage involving the autumn realm, raising an army for her nation and other matters that come up.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (118-10)

===Judgement 30===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement:''' Raising a Statement of revocation as the adjutant of the general you are targeting is an action worthy of Scrutiny. I call Harwin Eternal to Inquisition, to tell me the loyalty in his action and answer to the treachery it appears to be. Woven roots camp Saturday 5:00pm in Navarr (right by Songs and Stories).
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (202-0)

===Judgement 48===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Arvel Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' I call Silas of the Cenotaph to inquisition at the Tendfallen camp in Navarr at 11am on the Saturday of this summit to discuss the virtue of his decision to canvas against a certain judgement last summit.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-16)

===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' Magistrate Sayid i Zurhi i Erigo. I call you to inquisition on the matter of a spontaneous aura upon your soul and its unclear virtuous nature. We will test what virtuous guidance it offers you. 14:00. The hub annex.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (248-0)

===Judgement 85===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement:''' Iniska Ashwood, I am interested in testing whether you have been wise during your time as Inquisitor. I fear you take the words of fools too seriously. Saturday 14:00-:1500. Woven Roots.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (332-10)

===Judgement 96===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement:''' I call Neve Dreadshield, of the Quiet Step to inquisition. This winter Neve has sacrificed all her oaths to save the people. As Navarr, our tattoos make us one nation. Let her speak if her Loyalties lie with Navarr or her actions lead to her being foresworn. Drunken Goose meeting room 5:00pm Navarr
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (233-0)

===Judgement 101===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Donato of the Crucible
* '''Judgement:''' I call Cosme i Guerra, magistrate, to discuss: their role in cursing Veikko Bondforger; the virtue in this action; how this was not acting in the spirit of <u>retribution</u>. Wanderer's camp, Urizen, Sat 5pm
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 150===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' I call to Inquisition Mendicant Garev of Highguard to investigate his claims of Prosperity while refusing to pay those who saved his life. This will occur at the spring summit when he is available (there will be cake)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (334-20)

==Sanction==
XXXXX [[sanction|sanctions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Sabella of the Silent Tide; Only a person’s own actions may be judged under an Inquisitor’s gaze, and each action you have taken has been guided by Virtue. The Proud embrace their past acts and strive to repeat - or learn from - them going forward. You did not earn the steadfast Loyalty of your Chapter for nothing; your trust in them to conduct themselves with Virtue is testament to that Loyalty returned. You have shown unfaltering Pride in taking the path you deem Virtuous and continuing to walk it. Your Chapter walks with you. The shared desire expressed to let sleeping dogs lie has been accepted Virtuously. Inquisition is our sacred tool for raising the sword when required, just as it is one for putting down the sword where needed - let this Vindication acknowledge the Pride in your actions and bring conclusion to previous division.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (126-34)

===Judgement 15===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Myshki Marishka Letuchaya, Little Boyar of Levski, Senator for Miekarova, Leader of the Vale’s Heart, lighter of the lamp in the dark. Your visage is etched in stone, your hand now and always fortifying Delev. The Little Boyar’s Welcome stands; your Legacy stands with it. It is clear as a cloudless day that you have carved out your Benevolence in defiance of the Cold Sun, building refuge for those displaced by its hatred. Stories follow you from Anvil; how you have raised castle walls, been the architect of armies. What Inspiration this will become will be for your friends and followers to witness. Pride uplifts. Inquisition tests. The Signs of the Exemplar have ignited themselves in your actions. Surely as you pursue Virtue closer to home, your future deeds will be watched closer still.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (160-0)

===Judgement 31===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating J231, Summer 387. I inquisited Viviane Barrossa about the courage of her past year of challenges to fulfil a vow to carry a hallowing. I however failed because it became incredibly clear throughout this inquisition that what motivates the soul and body of Viviane is the burning flame of Ambition. Excessionism is a heresy and one that she does not follow, she committed to this challenge with her whole self. Her ambition in this act is the salvation of Axos and bringing them to the Way and out of their misunderstanding of the world. Her route is reaching out to them so they can see we can be worked with before encouraging them to come to us, to learn from our schools of thought in exchange knowing that this will help expose the failings in their philosophy and use of these dangerous auras. While intellectually she understood this aura she told me she was still not prepared enough for the way it pushed her to freeze up, to fawn to threats, to want to give everything over and just perform what the other person wanted. She condemns this aura as unvirtuous and has and I’m sure will again speak at length against its use. She seemed justifiably angry that she has had to spend a year wasting political capital and time being inquisited, doing penance, being threatened and assaulted, and having to avoid helping reform doctrine but I think felt it worthwhile to build this bridge with Axos.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (166-10)

===Judgement 32===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating Judgement 226 Summer 387 - I clear Genoveva and Rafael Barossa d’Apulian of any nonsense about running a “dark crusade” sacrificing virtue of innocents. If debate and discussion be the food of priests I have eaten well in this inquisition. These are courageous citizens of the Empire who are dedicating themselves to both the material and spiritual conditions of human souls both inside and outside of our borders and facing the challenges and problems we are in with courage, without pretending such obstacles do not exist. While they appear to disagree on Asavea they are both devoted to liberation and protection of souls and spreading The Way, and work towards such things even occasionally at the expense of personal relationships. These views may also stem from their cooperation enabling the Night Fane to Sung in Spiral going through Senate, they however have clear views on the dangers of this and how it is being overseen to understand the role that Fanes may play in the future of the Empire and wish us to understand them. They’re both magicians with above board dealings with a handful of Eternals. If you wish to understand their virtue talk to them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (236-10)

===Judgement 37===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I vindicate Sakari, Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield for raising a Declaration to uninterdict Rivers Run Red. His Ambition to achieve his goals through any means is clear. Just because you disagree with a person’s actions does not mean they are unvirtuous.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (742-96)

===Judgement 39===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Escalating from Judgement 39 of Autumn 387: LUCA I TAZIEL I RIQUEZA, CARDINAL OF PROSPERITY, offered a clear description of the circumstances around Aunty Hem’s Dedication to Anarchy, her subsequent Inquisition, and the fact that he was aware of her status for a full season before undertaking any action. This was a failing of Vigilance, and in so failing the Cardinal missed an opportunity to pull Aunty Hem back from the brink. I have proposed - and the Cardinal has agreed - that the right Penance is for the Cardinal to SPEND A YEAR UNDER ANOINTINGS OF VIGILANCE. This will allow Luca to better know this Virtue, without interfering with the Cardinal’s duties to Prosperity. In Escalating I ask the Synod to ENDORSE this course of action and to SUPPORT Luca in knowing Prosperity better.
Full Inquisition reports available from me and from the citizen noticeboard. (ON OPPOSITE WALL.)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1128-54)

===Judgement 41===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Lars Makarov
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' I Lars Makarov present my findings of following the inquisition in Autumn 387. My aim was to examine if the 5 named members of the Guard, who had taken Dark Wine and were seen to bite fallen Jotun in battle during Spring and Summer, were using it as a cover for worship of Blood in the Snow. Conclusion - None of those named in Autumn 387 serve Agramant, but by following Virtue you will all stand better prepared for the trails to come. Judgement has been provided to Molli to bear the weight of a either the Hallowing of Permion or of Isaella’s Resolve for a year and for Slark to carry a Hallowing of the Questor, to remind you of the importance of asking questions. To help continue to live with virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-0)

===Judgement 45===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lepidina, Chaplain Consular. I find your actions and virtue beyond reproach on the matter of Fintan Nighthaven. I look forward to watching the progression of your career.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (862-52)

===Judgement 46===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Aster Acae. You served as Chaplain Consular during the most critical juncture of Fintan Nighthaven’s tenure as Ambassador to Axos and found yourself ill-equipped for the neccessities of the position. There is little point in wondering what could have been avoided had you acted. You did not. But you have done something few are capable of - you own your mistakes and learn from them. These lessons have cost much. Do not squander them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (812-72)

===Judgement 62===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Teodore Dusesna of the Camorra Dusesna, you have been inquisited regarding your accusations of idolatry against Genoveva Barossa d’Apulian, Sofonisba Amilcara, Cesare di Tassato and Raphael Barossa d’Apulian and have been found wanting. You admitted you knew your accusations had no basis in fact or as anything other than unfounded gossip yet you repeated them as factual truth. The Virtuous do not tear down others nor demean them, yet you spent your time in baseless accusations. Your penance is to spend the next three months speaking with those you spread your accusations to, advising them of the lack of substance and apologising for misleading them. Following this you will attend Anvil to make a public apology to those you wronged, at the League Assembly meeting 7pm Friday of the Spring Solstice.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (304-0)

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Elagabala
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' The Loyal serve without concern for reward, ignore qualms of actions they take for their loyalty, defend that which they care about, and protect those they love from harm regardless of any cost. Knight-Captain Alethia Wooder was not only willing to pay that cost, but did. I find no fault in their Virtue when treating with Agramant. It was impeccable. Her heart was guided by the true Loyalty of her soul, in accordance with all appropriate teachings and auras thereof. As she continues her journey on the path, she should remember that whilst the Loyal are ready to pay this cost, she should be conscious it never strays to acting as the Peaceful Martyr, willing to suffer to alleviate the suffering of others, as this, as she knows, is a malign spiritual intent.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (888-58)

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I called General Jean d'Apulian to inquisition as my first act as Inquisitor of Prosperity, as asked by members of House de Guavain. Jean was open and honest about what happened to the permanent enchantment of Bound by Common Cause on the Wolves of War. His Loyalty shone through his words and actions. His Prosperity is also unquestionable; when the enchantment changed, the Empire would have had to pay to remove it. Jean was able to engineer another option, that saw the army able to resupply and stand stronger for the Empire. I would, however, prevail upon his virtue and ask that he find a way to remember Maurice de Guavain to the League and the Empire
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (182-20)

===Judgement 75===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lugh Llaw Whisperleaf, I am not sure what I expected when I called you to Inquisition. Please thank your friends again for the song. I cannot call into question your virtue, your Prosperity, Loyalty, or Pride. You took heretical icons out of the grasping hands of would-be cultists, ensuring you did not impoverish those who found them, and show your work with Pride. Your decision to Hallow them to True Virtues and share them with fellow Magpies who prove themselves Virtuous and worthy is a good one. I look forwards to hearing from whoever investigates the Vallorn flowers you wear on your hat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (197-10)

===Judgement 76===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Cadenza i Fontanilla i Riqueza, Nation's Hearth, I called you to Inquisition to investigate your Prosperity and I have not been left wanting. You work hard at the Spilled Tea each day, and do not rest on your laurels with the money you make. You give so much to your Nation, to your Empire, and you deserve recognition. So many see Prosperity as the act of making money, but you make sure it keeps moving, going where it needs to go. You remind people what a single soul can do when it chooses to. You walk the path of Prosperity well, and I seek to learn your example.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (207-0)

===Judgement 84===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement - Condemnation:''' Gisli, you told me that beneath a shroud of your own creation lay one of the true Virtues of the Way - but I found only Anarchy. For this, we condemn you for Blasphemy. The Institutions of the Casinean Empire will do well without your malign influence
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (256-32)

===Judgement 102===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Emperor Vesna, you asked me to inquisit you to judge and recognise your Prosperity, and I am honoured that you did. Your work in Ossium gave freed slaves the opportunities to become Prosperous citizens, and you have continued this on the grandest scale across and beyond the Empire. Your foresight into the only path to take to bring the Way to the world is inspiring, and as a Navarri, your willingness to make the hard choices resonates. There is only one thing I disagree with you on - you <u>are</u> loved by your Empire. To remind you of this, the Prosperity Assembly wish to Testimony you as "Beloved" with the strength of 7 priests.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (171-30)

===Judgement 108===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pete Tong
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Juniper du Froste, Merchant of the Fangs, in your inquisition you showed me and my co-council of your virtue. Not only are you ambitious, wise, and Prosperous - your intentions and competency are clear - but your loyalty to the Empire's duty to the Rhavin and your commitment to them is commendable. Maybe one day more bourse seat holders may be like you, and we might live in a better world.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (734-20)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' T i Dahr i Riqueza
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Gisli (Judgement 84 Wisdom) is not guilty of Blasphemy because it is not yet a crime. We condemn people for the crimes we have written down - and in fact he was wise in his efforts to remove the effects of his experiments with the aura "to trust his own judgement." Gisli is wise, knows the law, knows magic, and makes very good business decisions. He is an asset to the Empire, and it would be wise to see the fault of his actions, which were not illegal as dedication itself is not blasphemy. Fintan Nighthaven's poison must be cleared from the Empire, but not by killing all those he poisoned.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (266-924)
* '''Notes:''' Scrutiny was extended on this judgement by '''Silas of the Cenotaph''', the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]]

===Judgement 137===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisisted Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer (J29) and found her courage evident. She has a strong theology and practical virtue is important to her. She is fully aware of what she needs courage to face and what challenges are within her capabilities more easily. She faces things clearly and knows when to press forward and when to try new approaches and I feel she will continue to work on her soul, improve this empire and inspire others to act for a long time.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 138===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited Ida the River today at 15:00 about courage. She spoke well of her virtue and the challenges she faces in life, the ways she faces dangers and failures. Others of the hospital spoke well of her, Tiberius described her as his rock, the most steadfast mother and north star Kellen of Kingstoke attributed Ida's courage with her continuing at the hospital. Ambrove di Sarvos talked of Ida pushing them forwards to establish connections. Emileo di Sarvos talked of her not hesitating. Isolde said she gives others courage, not aiming to inspire just doing a ripple of virtue from her actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (130-00)

===Judgement 143===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Harwyn Eternal described his loyalty and conviction in seeing Navarr best represented in military council. I think that this conviction is a testament to his loyalty to Navarr. However, his actions have not build up the people and team that forms the Navarr contingent of the military council. I call Harwyn to tell me in a years time of the actions that he takes from today to act with his virtue to aid this team and the goals of the military council team, in the interest of elevating his words with actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (66-0)

===Judgement 146===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Following the inquisition of Dagon Barossa it was clear that whilst his intention was virtuous, his decision to give away the shield intended for the Champion of Loyalty lacked loyalty. It tore down his fellows and his words and deeds not united. I task Dagon to suffer the curse Bitter Mantle of the Leaden Crown next season. Even the strongest may err, the truly great learn from what scars them
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (208-0)

===Judgement 148===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Neve, over the long dark, lost all her oaths in sacrifice to the Empire. SHE decided the price was of worth against the Duvanku. Without her, all of Sarangrave would have been plunged into the depths of a winter curse upon the lands. She tooks this great sacrifice in loyalty to the Dreadshields, to Navarr, and to the Empire, with Pride and great Courage. May she be Branded to honour her actions, knowing they will be remembered and respected, and testimony her with "Oathsworn Renewed"
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (142-0)

===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited the Earl of Fools, along with several others. He was pleasant if nervous and demonstrated a clear growth of virtue and courage to acknowledge his actions. I wish him well in future endeavours and look forward to his benevolence in his virtue and in the future
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (84-0)

==Recognition==
Two judgements of [[recognition]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 72===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Luca i Taziel i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' To recognise Zemress i Ezamara i Erigo as a Paragon of Prosperity. Her Exemplardom is known. There is no question of Benevolence, Inspiration, Pilgrimage, Salvation and Legacy. There never has been. No voices have spoken out against her Liberation. No Past Life Visions to be seen, and no ashes yet found. For Miracles we need only look. Look to the past. The Kraken's Bane returning to post. She was thought lost in the bay with her captain. But there She came. Un-crewed. Bound for home. Look to the present. The Captain's Touch, a treasure trove of True Auras tied to Zemress. Hallows a-plenty, easy to find by simply asking an enthusiastic Zemress at Anvil. The Summah already recognise our captain. In times of uncertainty, let us look to stories we know are true; a Paragon that already teaches the Known World what a Prosperity looks like
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (223-30)

===Judgement 83===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Masha Sigeling
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Rahvin as an Exemplar of Courage and the first Ancestor Exemplar. <u>Inspiration</u> Fighting against the Druj, surrounded on all fronts, he inspired his people and thousands of others to fight to the bitter end, courageously standing for what they believed in, time and again. <u>Benevolence</u> Rahvin suffered greatly in the fight for the freedom of the Barrens, committing his life to bring about a better future for his people. <u>Liberation</u> Many individuals close to Rahvin report hearing his voice as an Ancestor, proof that, from his courageous actions he has crossed the Howling Abyss. <u>Legacy</u> Though the Rahvin (people) were thought destroyed by the Druj, they lived on, and fight now in his name to drive the Druj east into the sea. <u>Salvation</u> Rahvin was the driving force behind the uprising against the Druj in the Barrens, sending them to the howling abyss and ultimately leading to his followers working with the Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (238-10)

==Appointment==
Twenty one [[appointment|appointments]] were raised by the [[Tribune of the Synod]] during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 1===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Prosperity]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Heilyn Bronwen’s Rest''' was appointed with 126 votes; Gorwen received 20 votes; Mabel received 20 votes; Syene received 12 votes

===Judgement 2===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of the Way]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Volya Nebov''' was appointed with 78 votes; Yosephus Morningson received 42 votes; Kosta-Konstanin Rabovich Bolotnikov received 30 votes; Tabris, Son or Armisael received 22 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 10 votes

===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean Library]] dose of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' was selected with 426 votes; Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg received 170 votes; Aspar received 150 votes; Gaelen Embercast received 146 votes; Claudia Varkulova Remislav received 132 votes; Mirella of the Twisted Rose received 106 votes; Starac Sijed Orzel received 74 votes; Mel of the Mourn received 44 votes; Frater Pontius of Adoniran’s Temple received 42 votes; Tom Appleseed received 30 votes

===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Loyalty]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Talos of the Silent Tide''' was appointed with 206 votes; Skaldsgrym Dunhearth received 40 votes; Haungar Oakenlegs received 38 votes; Shibboleth Tzipporah received 36 votes

===Judgement 23===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Arbiter of the Four Winds]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Donato of the Crucible''' was appointed with 98 votes

===Judgement 28===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand to the Dance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Farren Silver Streams''' was appointed with 90 votes; Emrys Barbbearer Edgestalker received 41 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 28 votes

===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Barbs]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Eirlys Ashes Blaze''' was appointed with 187 votes

===Judgement 43===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nicodemus of Balthazar’s Vineyard''' was appointed with 404 votes

===Judgement 49===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Fabio Costas d’Apulian''' was appointed with 106 votes

===Judgement 50===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Ambition]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ser Purslane Artorigus''' was appointed with 116 votes; Lord Roland de Lagriffe received 86 votes; Earl Cerys de Rosier received 70 votes

===Judgement 51===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Pride]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Katchiana Razorradze''' was appointed with 80 votes; Vespasian received 48 votes; Kali Keen-Eye received 34 votes

===Judgement 59===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lantern Wolf]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nadia von Holberg''' was appointed with 176 votes; Katarina Palantini received 60 votes; Savi Avocatt received 34 votes

===Judgement 60===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of the Orchard]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Basil Goodbeard''' was appointed with 150 votes

===Judgement 61===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of Oaths]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Veikko Bondforger''' was appointed with 398 votes

===Judgement 64===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Masha Sigeling''' was appointed with 110 votes; Ada of House Meliora received 32 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Grieftender of the Forgotten]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Miroslav Temnavoda''' was appointed with 142 votes

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[High Exorcist]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Belial de Courtenay-Wyldrose''' was appointed with 6 votes. Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun received 1 vote

===Judgement 86===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Wisdom]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nim of Ebons Hall''' was appointed with 132 votes. Gwen Tendfallen received 22 votes

===Judgement 89===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Basilisk of the Bourse]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Alfred Aewulfson''' was appointed with 7 votes

===Judgement 93===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand of Guerra]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''' was appointed with 74 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Vigilance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Bryce the Hare''' was appointed with 94 votes

==Rewarding==
Fourteen judgements of [[rewarding]] were presented to the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Valentin Ivarovich Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' The Inspirational Tomb of Ozren de Orzel has been chosen and will include an Academy of the Arts and Apartments for the High Bard of the Empire! At the formal consecration with True Liao the Culwich Witches of Weirwater have promised gifts and recognition to the Eighty-One (81) named musicians and poets chosen by the High Bard in early 386. Nearly half the funding for this Virtuous endeavour is secured. The True Liao is held in preparation. We are almost there! I request the General Assembly’s support in a Rewarding from the Virtue fund of 40 Thrones to complete the purchase of white granite to build the Bardic Academy of the Exemplar Ozren to support the ongoing work of the High Bards of the Empire and secure the Proud legacy of the 81 named performers celebrating Imperial Virtue and wonderous deeds!
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (470-662)

===Judgement 12===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ioan Longshadow
* '''Judgement:''' Since the death of Empress Britta, the Anvil Hospital has stood as a beacon of Quiet Courage and Virtue. It has not been sustained by the Empire’s coffers, but by the Prosperity of private citizens and the relentless goodwill of volunteers. These individuals face the brutal aftermath of battle, keep soldiers in the fight, and tend to those who support them on and off the battlefield. Their Courage is not loud - but it is unyielding. And it has been overlooked for far too long. I seek the aid of the General Assembly for this Virtuous cause and request a rewarding from the Virtue Fund of 10 thrones for the purchase of herbs, mana, liao, and other essential resources in support of the Hospital - and by extension, the Empire. Let us honour the Quiet Courage of those who give their time, effort, and resources to the Hospital. Courage does not only charge - it heals, it endures, and it refuses to break.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (1242-106)

===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Lorell Copiste
* '''Judgement:''' It is no secret that with Dawn’s deficiency in wealth, the nation struggles to build anything of use. So that this issue may be solved, Lord Morgann de Vere, ever prideful of his homeland, ambitiously seeks 8 wains of Weirwood from the Virtue Fund, to help in constructing a great work that benefits not only Weirwater, but the nation of Dawn entire. Let Lord Morgann be rewarded, and your prosperity shall greatly aid the Dawnish people.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (300-808)

===Judgement 52===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' I seek to reward VITTORE van TEMESCHWAR The sum of TWENTY-TWO THRONES From the virtue fund for having prosperously created multiple items of office and regalia for Imperial titles and to assist in his further works in this endeavour
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (382-628)

===Judgement 55===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Erasmo di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Bleddri Eternal with fifteen thrones. Bleddri has spent more than 40 thrones of his own funds on codifying two rituals. Stars Mantle has already been added to Imperial Lore. Revelations of the Past, which shares a vision of an item’s past beyond the ritualist’s coven, will be added to Imperial Lore shortly after being loaned to the Academy for a period. This kind of generous prosperity should be encouraged and rewarded.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (400-582)

===Judgement 58===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Laurencio di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' Over 150 Imperial Fleet Captains forwent personal prosperity to support the Unguerdoned Red Wind Corsairs in destroying the pirate-cultist navy of the Children of Wrecks effectively closing a front. We reward them with 40 Thrones to be shared between them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (620-424)

===Judgement 87===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Anatolij Paukov Zorkin
* '''Judgement:''' I am seeking 6 wains of white granite to create a monument to the Silent Bell sodality to reward their tireless work Vigilantly and Courageously defending this Empire and furthering our knowledge of the Way. I have the Senate announcement, I have the labour costs, all I need is the white granite
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, partial (three white granite) (528-334)

===Judgement 90===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Oleander Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Geraint Bronwyns Rest with 16 weirwood to be put towards the City of Dreams. This is an investment in to the future of Navarr and will allow us to seek new ways to use liao
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (434-389)

===Judgement 99===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lia Adelaar
* '''Judgement:''' The Kleists of Holberg have, through their ingenuity and tireless effort, succeeded in raising the walls of Holberg to be the greatest fortification in the known world. Funds for this great work (500T) come from the Kleists' efforts co-ordinating the prosperity of our citizens and from their own pockets. We ask for a rewarding of 8 white granite in recognition of their great Ambition and Prosperity, and to support future projects including the Imperatrix docks.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (408-380)

===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork
* '''Judgement:''' We award Naomi of Felix's Watch, 5 wains of white granite towards the restoration of Berechiah's Basilica in Bastion, which is in a dangerous state of disrepair, and is a threat to the life and limb of pilgrims. It was consecrated with true liao in 385YE and has provided only a fraction of the benefit it might have. Now, when we need Berechiah's inspiration to fight foreign espionage rings is the perfect time to complete the work and create a new title to be appointed by the Vigilance Assembly
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (672-214)

===Judgement 115===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Catena
* '''Judgement:''' To bring the Way to the hermit kingdom of Tsark, we must <u>talk</u> to them. An opportunity to build that bridge has arisen in the form of the Garden of the Perfect World - this will allow us to trade weirwood to them for white granite and improve the Prosperity of us both. This door was opened by Abel the Rounder, and I ask that this Assembly provide him 8 wains of weirwood in order that it may be built as soon as possible.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (188-154)

===Judgement 120===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Emrys Fleurir
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Ser Raine Fisher with 16 Weirwood for their efforts in rousing Dawnish fleets to aid the Red Wind Corsairs, so that they may fund Ambitious projects to increase the Empire's naval strength.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (178-248)

===Judgement 121===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Xandor Trodbroker
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Eleri Bronwyns Rest with 6 wains of mithril to be put towards the army currently mustering in Hercynia. The army will be put to use defending the Empire's borders to help safeguard the spiritual centre of the Way
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (261-106)

===Judgement 123===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Neala Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Halwyn Splitroot for achieving the great ambition of rebuilding and consecrating First Voice Glade and School inspiring pride and increasing prosperity within the Empire. We grant him 16 weirwood as reward for this great work and in the knowledge that this will support his efforts to further improve the Glade and School to benefit the prosperity and herbal knowledge of the Vallornguard
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (144-146)

==Inquisition==
===Writs of Inquisition===
The following writs of inquisition were issued this summit:
{|
| '''Called by''' || '''Subject''' || '''Judgement or Title''' || '''Matter'''
|-
| Iniska Ashwood || [[Emperor Vesna|Emperor Vesna Borkovna Prochnost]] || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Prosperty]] || Their [[Prosperity]]
|-
| Maarit Suvidottir || (the Face of) the Earl of Fools || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]] || Taking [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
|-
| Arvel Tendfallen || Silas of the Cenotaph || TBC || Canvassing against a [[Judgement]] at the previous summit
|-
| Brother Geoffrey Orchard || Ibiss Briarheart || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Vigilance]] || [[Realm#Spring|Spring]], its perils & lessons, at the Spring summit
|-
| Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost || Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose || [[Imperial Inquisitor]] || Their dealings with [[Irra Harah]]
|-
| Cato Hypation || [[To_fight_aloud#Fallen_Hero|Severus of the Blinding Sun]] || TBC || His [[The_deepest_cut#Interred_With_Their_Bones|creed]]
|-
| Vauraus "Prosperity's Forge" Korppitkotka || Natalia "The Falcon" Barossa || [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]] || Their work as [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]]
|-
| Galene Netherwatch || Mirella of the Twisted Rose || [[Arcane Inquisitor]] || Her work as [[Archmage of Summer]], especially with regards to [[Knights of Glory]]
|-
| Jedediah Boon || Brother Geoffrey Orchard || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Pride]] || Words and acts of questionable virtue
|-
| Alfred Eawolfson || Tristan Ramson von Holberg || [[Basilisk of the Bourse]] || Virtue and Economics, at the Spring summit
|-
| Eevi of the Gadrai || Bloodcrow Rasp || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Loyalty]] || Bonds built across the Empire
|}

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Winter Solstice.
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Assembly'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Consideration'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Link'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Duration'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]]<br>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Wintermark unless enacted by the Wintermark Assembly. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in the nation, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[The_final_cut#Questions_for_Wintermark|The final cut]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that stress the need to follow Imperial law rather than virtue will be unlikely to lead to a mandate.</td><td>[[Knocking_on_every_door#A_Paper_Shield|Knocking on every door]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>League Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the League Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#The League|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushkan Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the Varushkan Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#Varushka|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
</table>

==The Virtue Fund==
At the start of the Winter Solstice 387YE summit, the Virtue Fund stood as follows:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>88 thrones, 15 rings</td><td>6 wains</td><td>8 wains</td><td>16 wains</td><td>1 dose</td>
</table>

Total donations made were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>65 thrones, 7 crowns, 16 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

The total amounts carried forward to the next summit were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>104 thrones, 11 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations received prior to the start of the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 1 throne, 2 crowns at the [[Rewarding#Counting Houses|counting house]] of [[Reikos]]
* 2 thrones at the counting house of [[Tassato]]
* 1 throne, 3 crowns at the counting house of [[Semmerholm]]
* 1 throne, 4 crowns at the counting house of [[Karsk]]
* 6 wains of mithril, 8 wains of white granite and 8 wains of weirwood from [[The_greatest_plurality#One_Empire|various donations]]
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of Rewardings made at the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 10 thrones to '''Ioan Longshadow''' following [[#Judgement 12|Judgement 12]] being upheld (margin 1136)
* 5 wains of white granite to '''Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork''' following [[#Judgement 103|Judgement 103]] being upheld (margin 458)
* 40 thrones to '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' following [[#Judgement 58|Judgement 8]] being upheld (margin 196)
* 3 wains of white granite to '''Anatolij''' following [[#Judgement 87|Judgement 87]] being upheld (margin 194)
* 6 wains of mithril to '''Xandor Trodbroker''' following [[#Judgement 121|Judgement 121]] being upheld (margin 155)
* 16 wains of weirwood to '''Oleander Ashwood''' following [[#Judgement 90|Judgement 90]] being upheld (margin 45)
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations made during the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 65 thrones for the Bourse dose of True Liao from '''Umbar'''
* 6 crowns from '''Rafael Barossa d'Apulian'''
* 1 crown from '''Berith Martel'''
* 16 rings in small donations
</div>

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose to '''Vesna Borkovna Prochnost''' as [[the Throne]]
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' via [[#Judgement 3|Judgement 3]]
* One dose to '''Umbar''' by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to '''Ashborn Trosk''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Amberlain P. Black''' by decision of the Gatekeepers

==Assembly Strength==
The table below shows the size, total voting strength and greater majority thresholds for each assembly as calculated at the start of the summit.

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | Virtue Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Ambition || 53 || 742 || 372
|-
|Courage || 41 || 492 || 247
|-
|Loyalty || 61 || 788 || 395
|-
|Pride || 36 || 440 || 221
|-
|Prosperity || 42 || 513 || 257
|-
|Vigilance || 47 || 532 || 267
|-
|Wisdom || 41 || 554 || 278
|-
|The Way || 29 || 320 || 161
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | National Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Brass Coast || 15 || 166 || 84
|-
|Dawn || 51 || 672 || 337
|-
|Highguard || 74 || 940 || 471
|-
|Imperial Orcs || 9 || 138 || 70
|-
|League || 36 || 514 || 258
|-
|Marches || 22 || 250 || 126
|-
|Navarr || 43 || 499 || 250
|-
|Urizen || 27 || 314 || 158
|-
|Varushka || 31 || 398 || 200
|-
|Wintermark || 42 || 490 || 246
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

387YE Winter Solstice Synod judgements

2026-05-03T19:01:15Z

Noserenda: /* Judgement 30 */

[[Category: Synod]] [[Category:Synod Results]] [[Category: Synod Judgements]][[Category: 387YE Winter]]
==Overview==
During the Winter Solstice 387YE, the Imperial Synod raised TBC judgements.

<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">
{|
|+ <big>'''Judgement Quick Links'''</big>
! Judgement Type
! Amount
|-
|[[#Statement of Principle|Statement of Principle]]|| ??
|-
|[[#Mandate|Mandate]] || 10
|-
|[[#Writ of Consecration|Writ of Consecration]] || 2
|-
|[[#Revocation|Revocation]] || 1
|-
|[[#Proscription|Proscription]] || 15
|-
|[[#Inquisition|Inquisition]] || 11
|-
|[[#Sanction|Sanction]] || 15
|-
|[[#Recognition|Recognition]] || 2
|-
|[[#Appointment|Appointment]] || 21
|-
|[[#Rewarding|Rewarding]] || 14
|-
|}
</div>

==Mandate==
===Judgement 9===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament
* '''Judgement:''' Be alert to all dangers; within and without. We send Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament with 50 doses of liao to encourage our courageous soldiers to stand apart from these servants of eternals. Seek out falsehood and expose the truth.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (678-12)
* '''Enacted''' Highborn soldiers [[The_thing_with_feathers#In_the_Fields_of_Glory_(Eleonaris)|will deliberately keep their distance from any heralds]] sent to fight alongside them.

===Judgement 70===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Harwyn Eternal
* '''Judgement:''' The Terunael city of Hacynian has passed into history, ruined by the vallorn. We send Towlen Nighthaven with 25 liao to urge the folk of Hercynia. To swear an oath that neither they nor their ancestors will seek to rebuild Hacynian. Accept its passing as a sacrifice for future free of the folly of Terunael.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (223-16)
* '''Enacted:''' Kaela will provide her support for the construction of [[Every_path_you_know#Beware_of_Dog|the Grim Pryamid]] in the Starless Vale.
__TOC__
===Judgement 71===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Teleri Thornweaver
* '''Judgement:''' The Virtuous raise up their fellows. Any nation willing to raise arms and join the Vallornguard shall have our full support. We send Brynn Tendfallen with 50 doses of liao to lead our people in sharing everything we have with Urizen to prepare to finish the fight.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (267-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Navarr from all walks of life [[Every_path_you_know#Thanks_for_Sharing|will travel to the named nation looking for ways to help]]. This will generate at least one opportunity for a new Imperial title to help the Vallornguard prepare for the fight with the enemy.

===Judgement 79===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Azir i Shartha i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' Beware the seduction of the false virtue of Anarchy! We send Azir i Shartha i Riqueza with 150 doses of liao to rally the people of the Brass Coast to turn away from those who would revel in false freedoms. Reject Anarchy, lest your virtue be lost! Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' Not upheld (42-96)

===Judgement 88===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Joran of Reikos
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Joran of Reikos with 25 doses of liao to rally the people of Highguard to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let Virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Highborn congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 107===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Viviane Barossa
* '''Judgement:''' Seek out falsehood and expose the truth! We send Viviane Barossa with 25 liao to rally the people of the League to use their well-earned skills to find those who betray the people of Sarvos. Let virtue reveal the deceiver!
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (552-0)
* '''Enacted:''' League congregations can [[Finding_is_the_final_act#Expose_the_Truth|lecture to citizens to investigate Sarvos]].

===Judgement 116===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Creighton Blackewater
* '''Judgement:''' Pride in small things, Loyalty to great ones. We send Richard with 50 doses of liao to encourage Marcher citizens to settle the land. War is a thrice-ploughed field.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (144-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|Marcher citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a farm]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 118===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Paulus Adelaar van Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' Nothing great without cost. We send Frideswide Adelaar van Holberg with 50 doses of liao to encourage League citizens to invest in business. Coin counts and everything costs!
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (230-0)
* '''Enacted:''' For one year, [[The_circle_game#Stirring_the_Pot|League citizens can change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a business]] of the same resource level in the same territory without incurring a cost. Players wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should {{plot}}.

===Judgement 124===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Exarch Aemon of the Suns of Couros
* '''Judgement:''' The Sarcophan folk of Alivetti estates celebrate their enclave, but we must all remain vigilant to the threats it may represent. While they seem to be honest traders, their ways are not our ways, and their faith is very different to ours. Their refusal to acknowledge Imperial law is a challenge to the Empire. We send Exarch Aemon with 25 doses of liao to urge all virtuous citizens who must attend this gathering to keep their wits about them and remain alert for threats within and without.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (338-54)
* '''Enacted:''' Sends a message to the Alivetti estates that [[A_wild_night_and_a_new_road#Party_Planning|while that nation tolerates them, they do not welcome further engagement]].

===Judgement 158===
* '''Assembly:''' Imperial Orc
* '''Raised By:''' Skywise Rykana
* '''Judgement:''' Ambition is much more than lines on a map. We send Jim with 15 crowns to lead a delegation of mystics and shamans to discover more of the ancestors the Karass.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (110-0)
* '''Enacted:''' Jim will lead a group of willing orcs [[Every_day_of_your_life#Spanning_the_Abyss|in search of information and lore about the ancestors of the Karass]].

==Writ of Consecration==
Two [[writ of consecration|writs of consecration]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Martin Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' We have the exemplar, now where is their tomb? This assembly authorises and applauds the creation of an inspirational site to memorialise the <u>EXEMPLAR OF VIGILANCE, RAVADI FOUNDERS’ DANCE</u> (consecrated to vigilance, of course).
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (334-20)

===Judgement 56===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Skáldsgrým Dunhearth
* '''Judgement:''' Following the recent destruction of the historic meeting stone where the Jotun and Empire could meet. We the Loyalty Assembly seek a 'writ of consecration' to dedicate part of the newly built feasting hall on Gull Island to Loyalty. We wish to recognise it's importance and protect from future harm as a place of both virtue and honour. Loyalty is not displayed by words or deeds alone, but the unity of both
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (534-0)

==Revocation==
One [[revocation]] was presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 142===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Rosanna Vtrachenich
* '''Judgement:''' It is the unwise boyar who leaves none to tend the hearth. Sirka Parakgoosier Bashnya, Senator for Karsk, has abandoned their post and left no named proxy. It is your prerogative however there is no excuse in not providing a contingency. We in the Varushkan Assembly move for revocation.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (174-0)

==Proscription==
Fifteen judgements of [[proscription]] were raised in the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 4===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the use of the ceremony of excommunication without authorisation by writ of the Synod as an abuse of powers.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1522-684)

===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes as blasphemy the act of dedicating any person to a false virtue or of creating an aura of a false virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (2301-370)

===Judgement 6===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The desecration or destruction of any relics associated with a paragon or exemplar, or the destruction of any memorial associated with them, is proscribed.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1744-290)

===Judgement 7===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Excessionist Heresy - the claim that too much of a Virtue can be as bad as too little.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1532-580)

===Judgement 8===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues in the likeness of any eternal. It is idolatry to commission a structure designed to honour an inhuman entity.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (1094-1254)

===Judgement 17===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Corey Wayfarer
* '''Judgement:''' The General Assembly proscribes the Yaelian Heresy - the belief in the Land Without Tears and in Yael as a rebirth of the First Empress. These have shown to be false.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1880-110)

===Judgement 24===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti
* '''Judgement:''' The Eternal Sadogua, the Brother of Wizards, has boasted of being the same entity known in the Iron Confederacy as Dumon, Father of Lies, a god within the Suranni pantheon. Nonetheless, he constantly seeks tribute, veneration, and adulation from the citizens of the Empire. The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues, fanes, or edifices created in honour of Sadogua. It is idolatry to commission or to build such a thing.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (860-992)

===Judgement 97===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the receiving of a False Virtue Anointing or a False Virtue Dedication as BLASPHEMY
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1252-536)

===Judgement 110===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Syene
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes the act of ceding land to those who are not sentient beings of this world, such as eternals or tulpas, as an act of idolatry. We make clear that it is the act of ceding itself that is idolatrous, and those who are responsible for such places are not de facto idolators
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (698-864)

===Judgement 128===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Felix Saltspire
* '''Judgement:''' Venerating an icon of an Eternal is Idolatry. Producing an Image of one is just Art. To make art exalts your pride. To venerate an eternal subsumes your will.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (496-244)

===Judgement 145===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement:''' The Synod proscribes entering into the service of an eternal or tulpa, where the service subsumes the individual's free will. This is idolatry. This is different from bartering for limited boons in service to your virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1010-102)

===Judgement 152===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Alessi of the Basilisks of the Labyrinth
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of vengeance
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (804-46)

===Judgement 153===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of understanding
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (770-70)

===Judgement 154===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Silas of the Cenotaph
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of hatred
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (842-46)

===Judgement 155===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Theodora
* '''Judgement:''' We proscribe as blasphemy the preaching or promotion of the false virtue of freedom
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (790-70)

==Inquisition==
XXXXX [[inquisition|inquisitions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 18===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Cato Hypation
* '''Judgement:''' I call <u>Severus of the Blinding Sun</u> to inquisition, at a time to be arranged at the convenience of the magistrates at this summit. Let him be provided with an opportunity to defend his creed under Imperial scrutiny, having failed to defend it under Sword Scholar tradition.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-0)

===Judgement 14===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Rafael Barossa d’Apulian
* '''Judgement:''' Yosephus Morningson preaches the creed of the Temple of Balance, asserting that citizens should seek balance between all seven Virtues, and that an excess of just one Virtue becomes vice instead, as in aphorisms like “Courage pursued without Wisdom is Foolhardiness.” I have concerns about this belief, specifically whether it meets the definition of the heresies of Excessionism and/or Unitarianism; and whether its application to the paragons reaches the standard of blasphemy. With that in mind, I call Yosephus Morningson to inquisition at 1530 on Saturday of the Summer Solstice 387YE, at the Shattered Tower tent in Highguard. Anyone with an interest in these topics is welcome to attend, but this does not imply permission to participate.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (320-0)

===Judgement 22===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg
* '''Judgement:''' I call Teodore duSesna of the Camorra DuSesna to Inquisition at the Autumn Summit 387YE, at a time and place to be arranged, that their accusations against Genoveva Barossa d’Apulian, Sofonisba Amilcara, Cesare Sanguineo Rezia di Tassato and Rafael Barossa d’Apulian may be thoroughly examined.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (292-0)

===Judgement 29===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement:''' I call Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer to inquisition Saturday 16:00 at the Wanderers camp. Concerning her courage involving the autumn realm, raising an army for her nation and other matters that come up.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (118-10)

===Judgement 30===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement:''' Raising a Statement of revocation as the adjutant of the general you are targeting is an action worthy of Scrutiny. I call Harwin Eternal to Inquisition, to tell me the loyalty in his action and answer to the treachery it appears to be. Woven roots camp Saturday 5:00pm in Navarr (right by Songs and Stories).
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (202-0)

===Judgement 48===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Arvel Tendfallen
* '''Judgement:''' I call Silas of the Cenotaph to inquisition at the Tendfallen camp in Navarr at 11am on the Saturday of this summit to discuss the virtue of his decision to canvas against a certain judgement last summit.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (30-16)

===Judgement 57===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement:''' Magistrate Sayid i Zurhi i Erigo. I call you to inquisition on the matter of a spontaneous aura upon your soul and its unclear virtuous nature. We will test what virtuous guidance it offers you. 14:00. The hub annex.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (248-0)

===Judgement 85===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement:''' Iniska Ashwood, I am interested in testing whether you have been wise during your time as Inquisitor. I fear you take the words of fools too seriously. Saturday 14:00-:1500. Woven Roots.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (332-10)

===Judgement 96===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement:''' I call Neve Dreadshield, of the Quiet Step to inquisition. This winter Neve has sacrificed all her oaths to save the people. As Navarr, our tattoos make us one nation. Let her speak if her Loyalties lie with Navarr or her actions lead to her being foresworn. Drunken Goose meeting room 5:00pm Navarr
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (233-0)

===Judgement 101===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Donato of the Crucible
* '''Judgement:''' I call Cosme i Guerra, magistrate, to discuss: their role in cursing Veikko Bondforger; the virtue in this action; how this was not acting in the spirit of <u>retribution</u>. Wanderer's camp, Urizen, Sat 5pm
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 150===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' I call to Inquisition Mendicant Garev of Highguard to investigate his claims of Prosperity while refusing to pay those who saved his life. This will occur at the spring summit when he is available (there will be cake)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (334-20)

==Sanction==
XXXXX [[sanction|sanctions]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 5===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Sabella of the Silent Tide; Only a person’s own actions may be judged under an Inquisitor’s gaze, and each action you have taken has been guided by Virtue. The Proud embrace their past acts and strive to repeat - or learn from - them going forward. You did not earn the steadfast Loyalty of your Chapter for nothing; your trust in them to conduct themselves with Virtue is testament to that Loyalty returned. You have shown unfaltering Pride in taking the path you deem Virtuous and continuing to walk it. Your Chapter walks with you. The shared desire expressed to let sleeping dogs lie has been accepted Virtuously. Inquisition is our sacred tool for raising the sword when required, just as it is one for putting down the sword where needed - let this Vindication acknowledge the Pride in your actions and bring conclusion to previous division.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (126-34)

===Judgement 15===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Jedidiah Boon
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Myshki Marishka Letuchaya, Little Boyar of Levski, Senator for Miekarova, Leader of the Vale’s Heart, lighter of the lamp in the dark. Your visage is etched in stone, your hand now and always fortifying Delev. The Little Boyar’s Welcome stands; your LEgacy stands with it. It is clear as a cloudless day that you have carved out your Benevolence in defiance of the Cold Sun, building refuge for those displaced by its hatred. Stories follow you from Anvil; how you have raised castle walls, been the architect of armies. What Inspiration this will become will be for your friends and followers to witness. Pride uplifts. Inquisition tests. The Signs of the Exemplar have ignited themselves in your actions. Surely as you pursue Virtue closer to home, your future deeds will be watched closer still.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (160-0)

===Judgement 31===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating J231, Summer 387. I inquisited Viviane Barrossa about the courage of her past year of challenges to fulfil a vow to carry a hallowing. I however failed because it became incredibly clear throughout this inquisition that what motivates the soul and body of Viviane is the burning flame of Ambition. Excessionism is a heresy and one that she does not follow, she committed to this challenge with her whole self. Her ambition in this act is the salvation of Axos and bringing them to the Way and out of their misunderstanding of the world. Her route is reaching out to them so they can see we can be worked with before encouraging them to come to us, to learn from our schools of thought in exchange knowing that this will help expose the failings in their philosophy and use of these dangerous auras. While intellectually she understood this aura she told me she was still not prepared enough for the way it pushed her to freeze up, to fawn to threats, to want to give everything over and just perform what the other person wanted. She condemns this aura as unvirtuous and has and I’m sure will again speak at length against its use. She seemed justifiably angry that she has had to spend a year wasting political capital and time being inquisited, doing penance, being threatened and assaulted, and having to avoid helping reform doctrine but I think felt it worthwhile to build this bridge with Axos.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (166-10)

===Judgement 32===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Escalating Judgement 226 Summer 387 - I clear Genoveva and Rafael Barossa d’Apulian of any nonsense about running a “dark crusade” sacrificing virtue of innocents. If debate and discussion be the food of priests I have eaten well in this inquisition. These are courageous citizens of the Empire who are dedicating themselves to both the material and spiritual conditions of human souls both inside and outside of our borders and facing the challenges and problems we are in with courage, without pretending such obstacles do not exist. While they appear to disagree on Asavea they are both devoted to liberation and protection of souls and spreading The Way, and work towards such things even occasionally at the expense of personal relationships. These views may also stem from their cooperation enabling the Night Fane to Sung in Spiral going through Senate, they however have clear views on the dangers of this and how it is being overseen to understand the role that Fanes may play in the future of the Empire and wish us to understand them. They’re both magicians with above board dealings with a handful of Eternals. If you wish to understand their virtue talk to them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (236-10)

===Judgement 37===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Galene Netherwatch
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I vindicate Sakari, Grandmaster of the Rod and Shield for raising a Declaration to uninterdict Rivers Run Red. His Ambition to achieve his goals through any means is clear. Just because you disagree with a person’s actions does not mean they are unvirtuous.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (742-96)

===Judgement 39===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Brother Geoffrey Orchard
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Escalating from Judgement 39 of Autumn 387: LUCA I TAZIEL I RIQUEZA, CARDINAL OF PROSPERITY, offered a clear description of the circumstances around Aunty Hem’s Dedication to Anarchy, her subsequent Inquisition, and the fact that he was aware of her status for a full season before undertaking any action. This was a failing of Vigilance, and in so failing the Cardinal missed an opportunity to pull Aunty Hem back from the brink. I have proposed - and the Cardinal has agreed - that the right Penance is for the Cardinal to SPEND A YEAR UNDER ANOINTINGS OF VIGILANCE. This will allow Luca to better know this Virtue, without interfering with the Cardinal’s duties to Prosperity. In Escalating I ask the Synod to ENDORSE this course of action and to SUPPORT Luca in knowing Prosperity better.
Full Inquisition reports available from me and from the citizen noticeboard. (ON OPPOSITE WALL.)
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (1128-54)

===Judgement 41===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Lars Makarov
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' I Lars Makarov present my findings of following the inquisition in Autumn 387. My aim was to examine if the 5 named members of the Guard, who had taken Dark Wine and were seen to bite fallen Jotun in battle during Spring and Summer, were using it as a cover for worship of Blood in the Snow. Conclusion - None of those named in Autumn 387 serve Agramant, but by following Virtue you will all stand better prepared for the trails to come. Judgement has been provided to Molli to bear the weight of a either the Hallowing of Permion or of Isaella’s Resolve for a year and for Slark to carry a Hallowing of the Questor, to remind you of the importance of asking questions. To help continue to live with virtue.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (150-0)

===Judgement 45===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lepidina, Chaplain Consular. I find your actions and virtue beyond reproach on the matter of Fintan Nighthaven. I look forward to watching the progression of your career.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (862-52)

===Judgement 46===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Aster Acae. You served as Chaplain Consular during the most critical juncture of Fintan Nighthaven’s tenure as Ambassador to Axos and found yourself ill-equipped for the neccessities of the position. There is little point in wondering what could have been avoided had you acted. You did not. But you have done something few are capable of - you own your mistakes and learn from them. These lessons have cost much. Do not squander them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (812-72)

===Judgement 62===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Teodore Dusesna of the Camorra Dusesna, you have been inquisited regarding your accusations of idolatry against Genoveva Barossa d’Apulian, Sofonisba Amilcara, Cesare di Tassato and Raphael Barossa d’Apulian and have been found wanting. You admitted you knew your accusations had no basis in fact or as anything other than unfounded gossip yet you repeated them as factual truth. The Virtuous do not tear down others nor demean them, yet you spent your time in baseless accusations. Your penance is to spend the next three months speaking with those you spread your accusations to, advising them of the lack of substance and apologising for misleading them. Following this you will attend Anvil to make a public apology to those you wronged, at the League Assembly meeting 7pm Friday of the Spring Solstice.
* '''Outcome:''' {{GM}} (304-0)

===Judgement 63===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Elagabala
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' The Loyal serve without concern for reward, ignore qualms of actions they take for their loyalty, defend that which they care about, and protect those they love from harm regardless of any cost. Knight-Captain Alethia Wooder was not only willing to pay that cost, but did. I find no fault in their Virtue when treating with Agramant. It was impeccable. Her heart was guided by the true Loyalty of her soul, in accordance with all appropriate teachings and auras thereof. As she continues her journey on the path, she should remember that whilst the Loyal are ready to pay this cost, she should be conscious it never strays to acting as the Peaceful Martyr, willing to suffer to alleviate the suffering of others, as this, as she knows, is a malign spiritual intent.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (888-58)

===Judgement 73===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I called General Jean d'Apulian to inquisition as my first act as Inquisitor of Prosperity, as asked by members of House de Guavain. Jean was open and honest about what happened to the permanent enchantment of Bound by Common Cause on the Wolves of War. His Loyalty shone through his words and actions. His Prosperity is also unquestionable; when the enchantment changed, the Empire would have had to pay to remove it. Jean was able to engineer another option, that saw the army able to resupply and stand stronger for the Empire. I would, however, prevail upon his virtue and ask that he find a way to remember Maurice de Guavain to the League and the Empire
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (182-20)

===Judgement 75===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Lugh Llaw Whisperleaf, I am not sure what I expected when I called you to Inquisition. Please thank your friends again for the song. I cannot call into question your virtue, your Prosperity, Loyalty, or Pride. You took heretical icons out of the grasping hands of would-be cultists, ensuring you did not impoverish those who found them, and show your work with Pride. Your decision to Hallow them to True Virtues and share them with fellow Magpies who prove themselves Virtuous and worthy is a good one. I look forwards to hearing from whoever investigates the Vallorn flowers you wear on your hat.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (197-10)

===Judgement 76===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Cadenza i Fontanilla i Riqueza, Nation's Hearth, I called you to Inquisition to investigate your Prosperity and I have not been left wanting. You work hard at the Spilled Tea each day, and do not rest on your laurels with the money you make. You give so much to your Nation, to your Empire, and you deserve recognition. So many see Prosperity as the act of making money, but you make sure it keeps moving, going where it needs to go. You remind people what a single soul can do when it chooses to. You walk the path of Prosperity well, and I seek to learn your example.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (207-0)

===Judgement 84===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Nim of Ebon's Hall
* '''Judgement - Condemnation:''' Gisli, you told me that beneath a shroud of your own creation lay one of the true Virtues of the Way - but I found only Anarchy. For this, we condemn you for Blasphemy. The Institutions of the Casinean Empire will do well without your malign influence
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (256-32)

===Judgement 102===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Iniska Ashwood
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Emperor Vesna, you asked me to inquisit you to judge and recognise your Prosperity, and I am honoured that you did. Your work in Ossium gave freed slaves the opportunities to become Prosperous citizens, and you have continued this on the grandest scale across and beyond the Empire. Your foresight into the only path to take to bring the Way to the world is inspiring, and as a Navarri, your willingness to make the hard choices resonates. There is only one thing I disagree with you on - you <u>are</u> loved by your Empire. To remind you of this, the Prosperity Assembly wish to Testimony you as "Beloved" with the strength of 7 priests.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (171-30)

===Judgement 108===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Pete Tong
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Juniper du Froste, Merchant of the Fangs, in your inquisition you showed me and my co-council of your virtue. Not only are you ambitious, wise, and Prosperous - your intentions and competency are clear - but your loyalty to the Empire's duty to the Rhavin and your commitment to them is commendable. Maybe one day more bourse seat holders may be like you, and we might live in a better world.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (734-20)

===Judgement 113===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' T i Dahr i Riqueza
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Gisli (Judgement 84 Wisdom) is not guilty of Blasphemy because it is not yet a crime. We condemn people for the crimes we have written down - and in fact he was wise in his efforts to remove the effects of his experiments with the aura "to trust his own judgement." Gisli is wise, knows the law, knows magic, and makes very good business decisions. He is an asset to the Empire, and it would be wise to see the fault of his actions, which were not illegal as dedication itself is not blasphemy. Fintan Nighthaven's poison must be cleared from the Empire, but not by killing all those he poisoned.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (266-924)
* '''Notes:''' Scrutiny was extended on this judgement by '''Silas of the Cenotaph''', the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]]

===Judgement 137===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisisted Clytemnestra of the House of the Wanderer (J29) and found her courage evident. She has a strong theology and practical virtue is important to her. She is fully aware of what she needs courage to face and what challenges are within her capabilities more easily. She faces things clearly and knows when to press forward and when to try new approaches and I feel she will continue to work on her soul, improve this empire and inspire others to act for a long time.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (120-0)

===Judgement 138===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited Ida the River today at 15:00 about courage. She spoke well of her virtue and the challenges she faces in life, the ways she faces dangers and failures. Others of the hospital spoke well of her, Tiberius described her as his rock, the most steadfast mother and north star Kellen of Kingstoke attributed Ida's courage with her continuing at the hospital. Ambrove di Sarvos talked of Ida pushing them forwards to establish connections. Emileo di Sarvos talked of her not hesitating. Isolde said she gives others courage, not aiming to inspire just doing a ripple of virtue from her actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (130-00)

===Judgement 143===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eirlys Ashes Blaze
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Harwyn Eternal described his loyalty and conviction in seeing Navarr best represented in military council. I think that this conviction is a testament to his loyalty to Navarr. However, his actions have not build up the people and team that forms the Navarr contingent of the military council. I call Harwyn to tell me in a years time of the actions that he takes from today to act with his virtue to aid this team and the goals of the military council team, in the interest of elevating his words with actions.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (66-0)

===Judgement 146===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Eevi of the Gadrai
* '''Judgement - Penance:''' Following the inquisition of Dagon Barossa it was clear that whilst his intention was virtuous, his decision to give away the shield intended for the Champion of Loyalty lacked loyalty. It tore down his fellows and his words and deeds not united. I task Dagon to suffer the curse Bitter Mantle of the Leaden Crown next season. Even the strongest may err, the truly great learn from what scars them
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (208-0)

===Judgement 148===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Brynmor Rootround
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' Neve, over the long dark, lost all her oaths in sacrifice to the Empire. SHE decided the price was of worth against the Duvanku. Without her, all of Sarangrave would have been plunged into the depths of a winter curse upon the lands. She tooks this great sacrifice in loyalty to the Dreadshields, to Navarr, and to the Empire, with Pride and great Courage. May she be Branded to honour her actions, knowing they will be remembered and respected, and testimony her with "Oathsworn Renewed"
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (142-0)

===Judgement 149===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Maarit Suvvidottir
* '''Judgement - Vindication:''' I inquisited the Earl of Fools, along with several others. He was pleasant if nervous and demonstrated a clear growth of virtue and courage to acknowledge his actions. I wish him well in future endeavours and look forward to his benevolence in his virtue and in the future
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (84-0)

==Recognition==
Two judgements of [[recognition]] were presented to the assemblies during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 72===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Luca i Taziel i Riqueza
* '''Judgement:''' To recognise Zemress i Ezamara i Erigo as a Paragon of Prosperity. Her Exemplardom is known. There is no question of Benevolence, Inspiration, Pilgrimage, Salvation and Legacy. There never has been. No voices have spoken out against her Liberation. No Past Life Visions to be seen, and no ashes yet found. For Miracles we need only look. Look to the past. The Kraken's Bane returning to post. She was thought lost in the bay with her captain. But there She came. Un-crewed. Bound for home. Look to the present. The Captain's Touch, a treasure trove of True Auras tied to Zemress. Hallows a-plenty, easy to find by simply asking an enthusiastic Zemress at Anvil. The Summah already recognise our captain. In times of uncertainty, let us look to stories we know are true; a Paragon that already teaches the Known World what a Prosperity looks like
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (223-30)

===Judgement 83===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Masha Sigeling
* '''Judgement:''' We recognise Rahvin as an Exemplar of Courage and the first Ancestor Exemplar. <u>Inspiration</u> Fighting against the Druj, surrounded on all fronts, he inspired his people and thousands of others to fight to the bitter end, courageously standing for what they believed in, time and again. <u>Benevolence</u> Rahvin suffered greatly in the fight for the freedom of the Barrens, committing his life to bring about a better future for his people. <u>Liberation</u> Many individuals close to Rahvin report hearing his voice as an Ancestor, proof that, from his courageous actions he has crossed the Howling Abyss. <u>Legacy</u> Though the Rahvin (people) were thought destroyed by the Druj, they lived on, and fight now in his name to drive the Druj east into the sea. <u>Salvation</u> Rahvin was the driving force behind the uprising against the Druj in the Barrens, sending them to the howling abyss and ultimately leading to his followers working with the Empire.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (238-10)

==Appointment==
Twenty one [[appointment|appointments]] were raised by the [[Tribune of the Synod]] during the Winter Solstice

===Judgement 1===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of Prosperity]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Heilyn Bronwen’s Rest''' was appointed with 126 votes; Gorwen received 20 votes; Mabel received 20 votes; Syene received 12 votes

===Judgement 2===
* '''Assembly:''' Way
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Cardinal of the Way]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Volya Nebov''' was appointed with 78 votes; Yosephus Morningson received 42 votes; Kosta-Konstanin Rabovich Bolotnikov received 30 votes; Tabris, Son or Armisael received 22 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 10 votes

===Judgement 3===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean Library]] dose of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' was selected with 426 votes; Kaspar Yakovitch von Holberg received 170 votes; Aspar received 150 votes; Gaelen Embercast received 146 votes; Claudia Varkulova Remislav received 132 votes; Mirella of the Twisted Rose received 106 votes; Starac Sijed Orzel received 74 votes; Mel of the Mourn received 44 votes; Frater Pontius of Adoniran’s Temple received 42 votes; Tom Appleseed received 30 votes

===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Loyalty]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Talos of the Silent Tide''' was appointed with 206 votes; Skaldsgrym Dunhearth received 40 votes; Haungar Oakenlegs received 38 votes; Shibboleth Tzipporah received 36 votes

===Judgement 23===
* '''Assembly:''' Urizen
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Arbiter of the Four Winds]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Donato of the Crucible''' was appointed with 98 votes

===Judgement 28===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand to the Dance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Farren Silver Streams''' was appointed with 90 votes; Emrys Barbbearer Edgestalker received 41 votes; Brynn Tendfallen received 28 votes

===Judgement 33===
* '''Assembly:''' Navarr
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Barbs]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Eirlys Ashes Blaze''' was appointed with 187 votes

===Judgement 43===
* '''Assembly:''' Highborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Speaker of the Highborn Assembly]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nicodemus of Balthazar’s Vineyard''' was appointed with 404 votes

===Judgement 49===
* '''Assembly:''' Prosperity
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Fabio Costas d’Apulian''' was appointed with 106 votes

===Judgement 50===
* '''Assembly:''' Ambition
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Ambition]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Ser Purslane Artorigus''' was appointed with 116 votes; Lord Roland de Lagriffe received 86 votes; Earl Cerys de Rosier received 70 votes

===Judgement 51===
* '''Assembly:''' Pride
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Champion of Pride]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Katchiana Razorradze''' was appointed with 80 votes; Vespasian received 48 votes; Kali Keen-Eye received 34 votes

===Judgement 59===
* '''Assembly:''' League
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Lantern Wolf]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nadia von Holberg''' was appointed with 176 votes; Katarina Palantini received 60 votes; Savi Avocatt received 34 votes

===Judgement 60===
* '''Assembly:''' Marcher
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of the Orchard]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Basil Goodbeard''' was appointed with 150 votes

===Judgement 61===
* '''Assembly:''' Loyalty
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Keeper of Oaths]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Veikko Bondforger''' was appointed with 398 votes

===Judgement 64===
* '''Assembly:''' Courage
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Masha Sigeling''' was appointed with 110 votes; Ada of House Meliora received 32 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Varushkan
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Grieftender of the Forgotten]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Miroslav Temnavoda''' was appointed with 142 votes

===Judgement 69===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[High Exorcist]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Belial de Courtenay-Wyldrose''' was appointed with 6 votes. Solas of the Spire of the Waxing Sun received 1 vote

===Judgement 86===
* '''Assembly:''' Wisdom
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Virtue inquisitor|Inquisitor of Wisdom]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Nim of Ebons Hall''' was appointed with 132 votes. Gwen Tendfallen received 22 votes

===Judgement 89===
* '''Assembly:''' Nine
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Basilisk of the Bourse]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Alfred Aewulfson''' was appointed with 7 votes

===Judgement 93===
* '''Assembly:''' Freeborn
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Hand of Guerra]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''' was appointed with 74 votes

===Judgement 65===
* '''Assembly:''' Vigilance
* '''Raised By:''' Tribune
* '''Judgement:''' Appointment of the [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Vigilance]]
* '''Outcome:''' '''Bryce the Hare''' was appointed with 94 votes

==Rewarding==
Fourteen judgements of [[rewarding]] were presented to the General Assembly during the Winter Solstice
===Judgement 10===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Valentin Ivarovich Orzel
* '''Judgement:''' The Inspirational Tomb of Ozren de Orzel has been chosen and will include an Academy of the Arts and Apartments for the High Bard of the Empire! At the formal consecration with True Liao the Culwich Witches of Weirwater have promised gifts and recognition to the Eighty-One (81) named musicians and poets chosen by the High Bard in early 386. Nearly half the funding for this Virtuous endeavour is secured. The True Liao is held in preparation. We are almost there! I request the General Assembly’s support in a Rewarding from the Virtue fund of 40 Thrones to complete the purchase of white granite to build the Bardic Academy of the Exemplar Ozren to support the ongoing work of the High Bards of the Empire and secure the Proud legacy of the 81 named performers celebrating Imperial Virtue and wonderous deeds!
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (470-662)

===Judgement 12===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ioan Longshadow
* '''Judgement:''' Since the death of Empress Britta, the Anvil Hospital has stood as a beacon of Quiet Courage and Virtue. It has not been sustained by the Empire’s coffers, but by the Prosperity of private citizens and the relentless goodwill of volunteers. These individuals face the brutal aftermath of battle, keep soldiers in the fight, and tend to those who support them on and off the battlefield. Their Courage is not loud - but it is unyielding. And it has been overlooked for far too long. I seek the aid of the General Assembly for this Virtuous cause and request a rewarding from the Virtue Fund of 10 thrones for the purchase of herbs, mana, liao, and other essential resources in support of the Hospital - and by extension, the Empire. Let us honour the Quiet Courage of those who give their time, effort, and resources to the Hospital. Courage does not only charge - it heals, it endures, and it refuses to break.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (1242-106)

===Judgement 26===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Ser Lorell Copiste
* '''Judgement:''' It is no secret that with Dawn’s deficiency in wealth, the nation struggles to build anything of use. So that this issue may be solved, Lord Morgann de Vere, ever prideful of his homeland, ambitiously seeks 8 wains of Weirwood from the Virtue Fund, to help in constructing a great work that benefits not only Weirwater, but the nation of Dawn entire. Let Lord Morgann be rewarded, and your prosperity shall greatly aid the Dawnish people.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (300-808)

===Judgement 52===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Serrusto Caeli Rezia di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' I seek to reward VITTORE van TEMESCHWAR The sum of TWENTY-TWO THRONES From the virtue fund for having prosperously created multiple items of office and regalia for Imperial titles and to assist in his further works in this endeavour
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (382-628)

===Judgement 55===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Erasmo di Tassato
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Bleddri Eternal with fifteen thrones. Bleddri has spent more than 40 thrones of his own funds on codifying two rituals. Stars Mantle has already been added to Imperial Lore. Revelations of the Past, which shares a vision of an item’s past beyond the ritualist’s coven, will be added to Imperial Lore shortly after being loaned to the Academy for a period. This kind of generous prosperity should be encouraged and rewarded.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (400-582)

===Judgement 58===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Laurencio di Sarvos
* '''Judgement:''' Over 150 Imperial Fleet Captains forwent personal prosperity to support the Unguerdoned Red Wind Corsairs in destroying the pirate-cultist navy of the Children of Wrecks effectively closing a front. We reward them with 40 Thrones to be shared between them.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld (620-424)

===Judgement 87===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Anatolij Paukov Zorkin
* '''Judgement:''' I am seeking 6 wains of white granite to create a monument to the Silent Bell sodality to reward their tireless work Vigilantly and Courageously defending this Empire and furthering our knowledge of the Way. I have the Senate announcement, I have the labour costs, all I need is the white granite
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, partial (three white granite) (528-334)

===Judgement 90===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Oleander Ashwood
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Geraint Bronwyns Rest with 16 weirwood to be put towards the City of Dreams. This is an investment in to the future of Navarr and will allow us to seek new ways to use liao
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (434-389)

===Judgement 99===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Lia Adelaar
* '''Judgement:''' The Kleists of Holberg have, through their ingenuity and tireless effort, succeeded in raising the walls of Holberg to be the greatest fortification in the known world. Funds for this great work (500T) come from the Kleists' efforts co-ordinating the prosperity of our citizens and from their own pockets. We ask for a rewarding of 8 white granite in recognition of their great Ambition and Prosperity, and to support future projects including the Imperatrix docks.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (408-380)

===Judgement 103===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork
* '''Judgement:''' We award Naomi of Felix's Watch, 5 wains of white granite towards the restoration of Berechiah's Basilica in Bastion, which is in a dangerous state of disrepair, and is a threat to the life and limb of pilgrims. It was consecrated with true liao in 385YE and has provided only a fraction of the benefit it might have. Now, when we need Berechiah's inspiration to fight foreign espionage rings is the perfect time to complete the work and create a new title to be appointed by the Vigilance Assembly
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (672-214)

===Judgement 115===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Catena
* '''Judgement:''' To bring the Way to the hermit kingdom of Tsark, we must <u>talk</u> to them. An opportunity to build that bridge has arisen in the form of the Garden of the Perfect World - this will allow us to trade weirwood to them for white granite and improve the Prosperity of us both. This door was opened by Abel the Rounder, and I ask that this Assembly provide him 8 wains of weirwood in order that it may be built as soon as possible.
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, but none remain (188-154)

===Judgement 120===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Emrys Fleurir
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Ser Raine Fisher with 16 Weirwood for their efforts in rousing Dawnish fleets to aid the Red Wind Corsairs, so that they may fund Ambitious projects to increase the Empire's naval strength.
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (178-248)

===Judgement 121===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Xandor Trodbroker
* '''Judgement:''' We seek to reward Eleri Bronwyns Rest with 6 wains of mithril to be put towards the army currently mustering in Hercynia. The army will be put to use defending the Empire's borders to help safeguard the spiritual centre of the Way
* '''Outcome:''' Upheld, full amount (261-106)

===Judgement 123===
* '''Assembly:''' General
* '''Raised By:''' Neala Blackhawk
* '''Judgement:''' We reward Halwyn Splitroot for achieving the great ambition of rebuilding and consecrating First Voice Glade and School inspiring pride and increasing prosperity within the Empire. We grant him 16 weirwood as reward for this great work and in the knowledge that this will support his efforts to further improve the Glade and School to benefit the prosperity and herbal knowledge of the Vallornguard
* '''Outcome:''' Not Upheld (144-146)

==Inquisition==
===Writs of Inquisition===
The following writs of inquisition were issued this summit:
{|
| '''Called by''' || '''Subject''' || '''Judgement or Title''' || '''Matter'''
|-
| Iniska Ashwood || [[Emperor Vesna|Emperor Vesna Borkovna Prochnost]] || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Prosperty]] || Their [[Prosperity]]
|-
| Maarit Suvidottir || (the Face of) the Earl of Fools || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Courage]] || Taking [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]]
|-
| Arvel Tendfallen || Silas of the Cenotaph || TBC || Canvassing against a [[Judgement]] at the previous summit
|-
| Brother Geoffrey Orchard || Ibiss Briarheart || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Vigilance]] || [[Realm#Spring|Spring]], its perils & lessons, at the Spring summit
|-
| Kalina Jadwigowna Piosnkowa Prochnost || Ser Guy of the Twisted Rose || [[Imperial Inquisitor]] || Their dealings with [[Irra Harah]]
|-
| Cato Hypation || [[To_fight_aloud#Fallen_Hero|Severus of the Blinding Sun]] || TBC || His [[The_deepest_cut#Interred_With_Their_Bones|creed]]
|-
| Vauraus "Prosperity's Forge" Korppitkotka || Natalia "The Falcon" Barossa || [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]] || Their work as [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]]
|-
| Galene Netherwatch || Mirella of the Twisted Rose || [[Arcane Inquisitor]] || Her work as [[Archmage of Summer]], especially with regards to [[Knights of Glory]]
|-
| Jedediah Boon || Brother Geoffrey Orchard || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Pride]] || Words and acts of questionable virtue
|-
| Alfred Eawolfson || Tristan Ramson von Holberg || [[Basilisk of the Bourse]] || Virtue and Economics, at the Spring summit
|-
| Eevi of the Gadrai || Bloodcrow Rasp || [[Virtue Inquisitor|Inquisitor of Loyalty]] || Bonds built across the Empire
|}

==Special Considerations==
The following considerations should be borne in mind when bringing judgements before the Imperial Synod during the Winter Solstice.
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Assembly'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Consideration'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Link'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Duration'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that prioritise the greater good over personal loyalties are less effective.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that try to compel Loyalty will fail.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Revocations and Excommunications for disloyalty to the nation or Empire risk causing dissent.</td><td>[[Cardinal_of_Loyalty#Additional_Powers_-_The_Eyes_of_Loyalty|Eyes of Loyalty]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Urizen or Varushka. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in one of the two nations, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Urizen_Assembly|Urizen Link]]<br>[[Hard_and_suspecting#The_Varushkan_Assembly|Varushka Link]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Any mandate that does not pass with a greater majority will have limited or no effect on Wintermark unless enacted by the Wintermark Assembly. It is not impossible that a mandate might lead to a response in the nation, but it won't lead to any immediate consequences for the people of the nation. </td><td>[[The_final_cut#Questions_for_Wintermark|The final cut]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>All Assemblies</td><td>Statements that stress the need to follow Imperial law rather than virtue will be unlikely to lead to a mandate.</td><td>[[Knocking_on_every_door#A_Paper_Shield|Knocking on every door]]</td><td>Ongoing</td>
<tr><td>League Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the League Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#The League|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
<tr><td>Varushkan Assembly</td><td>No statement of principle raised by the Varushkan Assembly that calls on citizens to support a different cause will have an effect.</td><td>[[The war of thorns and flowers#Varushka|The war of thorns and flowers]]</td><td>Until Winter 387YE</td>
</table>

==The Virtue Fund==
At the start of the Winter Solstice 387YE summit, the Virtue Fund stood as follows:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>88 thrones, 15 rings</td><td>6 wains</td><td>8 wains</td><td>16 wains</td><td>1 dose</td>
</table>

Total donations made were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>65 thrones, 7 crowns, 16 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

The total amounts carried forward to the next summit were:
<table class='wikitable sortable'><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Money'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Mithril'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''White Granite'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Weirwood'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''True Liao'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>104 thrones, 11 rings</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td><td>nil</td>
</table>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations received prior to the start of the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 1 throne, 2 crowns at the [[Rewarding#Counting Houses|counting house]] of [[Reikos]]
* 2 thrones at the counting house of [[Tassato]]
* 1 throne, 3 crowns at the counting house of [[Semmerholm]]
* 1 throne, 4 crowns at the counting house of [[Karsk]]
* 6 wains of mithril, 8 wains of white granite and 8 wains of weirwood from [[The_greatest_plurality#One_Empire|various donations]]
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of Rewardings made at the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 10 thrones to '''Ioan Longshadow''' following [[#Judgement 12|Judgement 12]] being upheld (margin 1136)
* 5 wains of white granite to '''Cyrus of Athaliah's Handiwork''' following [[#Judgement 103|Judgement 103]] being upheld (margin 458)
* 40 thrones to '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' following [[#Judgement 58|Judgement 8]] being upheld (margin 196)
* 3 wains of white granite to '''Anatolij''' following [[#Judgement 87|Judgement 87]] being upheld (margin 194)
* 6 wains of mithril to '''Xandor Trodbroker''' following [[#Judgement 121|Judgement 121]] being upheld (margin 155)
* 16 wains of weirwood to '''Oleander Ashwood''' following [[#Judgement 90|Judgement 90]] being upheld (margin 45)
</div>

Click ''Expand'' to see a list of donations made during the summit.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
* 65 thrones for the Bourse dose of True Liao from '''Umbar'''
* 6 crowns from '''Rafael Barossa d'Apulian'''
* 1 crown from '''Berith Martel'''
* 16 rings in small donations
</div>

==Doses of True Liao==

Six doses of [[Liao#True Liao|True Liao]] were disbursed this summit:
* One dose to '''Vesna Borkovna Prochnost''' as [[the Throne]]
* One dose in connection to the [[Lepidean Librarian|Lepidean University]] to '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' via [[#Judgement 3|Judgement 3]]
* One dose to '''Umbar''' by purchase in the [[Public auction|Public Auction]]
* One dose to '''Ashborn Trosk''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark''' by decision of the Gatekeepers
* One dose to '''Amberlain P. Black''' by decision of the Gatekeepers

==Assembly Strength==
The table below shows the size, total voting strength and greater majority thresholds for each assembly as calculated at the start of the summit.

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | Virtue Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Ambition || 53 || 742 || 372
|-
|Courage || 41 || 492 || 247
|-
|Loyalty || 61 || 788 || 395
|-
|Pride || 36 || 440 || 221
|-
|Prosperity || 42 || 513 || 257
|-
|Vigilance || 47 || 532 || 267
|-
|Wisdom || 41 || 554 || 278
|-
|The Way || 29 || 320 || 161
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

{|
! scope=""col"" style=""width: 320px;"" | National Assembly
! Assembly Size
! Total Voting Strength
! Greater Majority Threshold
|-
|Brass Coast || 15 || 166 || 84
|-
|Dawn || 51 || 672 || 337
|-
|Highguard || 74 || 940 || 471
|-
|Imperial Orcs || 9 || 138 || 70
|-
|League || 36 || 514 || 258
|-
|Marches || 22 || 250 || 126
|-
|Navarr || 43 || 499 || 250
|-
|Urizen || 27 || 314 || 158
|-
|Varushka || 31 || 398 || 200
|-
|Wintermark || 42 || 490 || 246
|-
|General || 350 || 4381 || 2191
|-
|}

Poets light but lamps

2026-04-21T20:37:44Z

Noserenda: /* Zaboravi */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sumaah]] [[Category:Iron Confederacy]][[Category:Faraden]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]]
<ic>“Do you believe it?”

Tchinua Ganbatar, Liege of the Five Winds, gave a slight snort. “Which part?”

Mistress Karadragha looked down at her papers with a heavy sigh. “At this point? Any of it.”

“I’ll have no words of fear spoken in this meeting, Singhua.” The Liege leaned forwards to refill their cup of tea. “Give me focus, and don’t jump at shadows. What are we informally discussing today?”

“As you say, my Liege.” The Trade Advisor adjusted her spectacles before continuing. “To start with, rumours of the Asaveans involving themselves with the Cinders and other anti-Imperial factions.”

A quiet figure sat off to one side of the meeting room spoke up. “We have no intelligence to confirm the notion, but it would resolve some unanswered questions if it were true. The Cinders are surprisingly well-funded. Even after their condemnation scared off their moderate supporters they still seem to be active across the border. Foreign support would certainly account for that.”

The Liege stroked their chin thoughtfully. “It would also suit the interests of the Asaveans to use Faraden extremists to anger the Empire, especially if they can do it without getting their hands dirty or inviting censure from the Court. What evidence does the Ambassador present?”

“Divinations of the flame, mostly, which means presumably a great deal of interpretation is involved which at best makes them suspect and at worst...”

“Very well. Contact the wizards of the Faces in Fire. They write down all their visions, so see if they have anything that might support this Imperial claim. Let them know we are asking, and they'll see the advantage in being in our good graces. Especially with the matter of the entertainments for my birthday celebrations on the horizon. In the meantime, set your agents prying around any Asavean interests here, especially the quiet ones we might have overlooked. There’s no way that the embassy would be foolish enough to be caught out by this. What next?”

The quiet figure spoke. “Related to the Cinders, the Sansar bounty.”

“Remind me?”

“The Sansar sent three of their family to negotiate for another trade enclave within the Empire. Our agents discovered that one of the three had been radicalised by the Cinders and intended to murder the other two for associating with heretics. Imperial law enforcement identified the guilty party before he struck, and Solongo Sansar has issued a bounty against the Cinders for their actions against her kin. We could potentially convince her to stand down, but it would upset the priesthood and risk emboldening the Cinders further.”

The Liege scowled. “No. The Cinders encouraged kinslaying so let them face the consequences. Tell Solongo that we support her without actually saying the words, and make sure our functionaries at court spread the story as far as they can. We can’t drive the reactionaries away entirely, but we need to keep them isolated. Anyone who can stand up in public and say that they support this kind of treacherous behaviour can reap their rewards.”

The Liege’s companions nodded and made various notes. Mistress Karadragha spoke up again. “I’m hearing on the wind that the Imperial priests are sending dire warnings about Cinders mounting some kind of concerted attacks within Imperial borders. The ambassador didn’t mention it, do we know anything about that?”

The quiet figure responded. “It’s almost certainly true. Gossip and coded messages have been pointing to them planning something big. We haven't been able to identify any targets so far, but their attention being centred within Imperial borders that would account for the lack of information.”

"The ambassador has asked for any information we have," observed Mistress Karadragha in a neutral tone. Both turned their attention to the Liege, expectantly.

There was a long pause before they responded, which they spent carefully stirring a spoonful of honey into their tea. The tinkling of the little silver spoon sounded like distant bells.

“I think it is time for the Cinders to encounter a significant setback.” They drained the dregs of their teacup, winced at the bitterness despite the sweetener. “Retain as much distance as you can, but set your best agents to scouring known Cinder hideouts for information. When you find it, no matter how tenuous, even if it means nothing to you, make sure it reaches the Ambassador. It's the least we can do, and we will just have to trust the Pride and Courage of the Empire to do the rest.”</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Candles flame in the wind.jpg|align=left|caption=Peace is all too often a candleflame in the wind.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
There are six great powers in the known world whose influence and reach rivals that of the Empire. There also innumerable lesser powers who do not have the might to shake the world, but who are nonetheless important to those with whom they share a border. The ambitions of these nearby nations are no less relevant to the Empire. Sometimes diplomatic relations require in-depth analysis; sometimes there is an opportunity to catch one's breath and let the drama move slowly towards the next crisis point.

There are [[ambassador|ambassadors]] to some of these nations - the [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]], [[Axos]], the [[Thule]], and [[Faraden]] in particular. Other nations are dealt with by the [[Imperial Consul]]. Sometimes a neighbouring nation focuses on diplomacy with the Empire, and requires an in-depth discussion. The '''[[Death leaves us homesick]]''' wind of fortune covers relations with Axos for example, while '''[[Invited with asperity]]''' focuses on the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]]. Sometimes however there is less going on and diplomacy can be part of a wider, more surface, roundup. For example '''[[Each age a lens]]''' covers nearly half a dozen of the orc nations that lie near the Empire.

Here we can read about several neighbouring nations to the Empire not covered in detail elsewhere - the [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], and even the more powerful nation of the [[Sumaah Republic]].
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Yak.jpg|align=right|caption=The yak of western Faraden are like very hairy oxen but adapted to live at high altitudes and in cold weather. Their wool, milk, and meat is much prized.|width=400}}</div>
==Faraden==
* '''Faraden remains caught between Imperial and Asavean interests
* '''The Liege of Five Winds appears to favour the Empire but there are powerful factions in Faraden that prefer closer ties with Asavea
* '''Faraden and the Empire are at peace, and trade ties between them are being strengthened
The lifeblood of [[Faraden]] is trade, but it is also a country of canny wizards, courageous warriors, and proud (albeit heretical) priests. They currently do not share a border with the Empire, lying beyond the [[Jotun]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]], but that does not stop them sending their caravans to Imperial markets despite the high tariffs they must pay to pass through the lands between. Diplomatic relations between the Court of the Five Winds and the Imperial Senate are changeable - warm one moment cool the next - but it has never come to open warfare. Right now Faraden is squeezed between two competing interests - the Empire on one side and the angry Plenum of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] on the other - and they must walk a knife-edge between the two powerful nations.
{{Nation|nation=[[Faraden]]|port=[[Sea_of_Snow#Pelabuhan|Caitun]]|ambassador=Ebenezer of [[the Marches]]|status=Foreigner}}
The Faraden ambassador to the Empire is ''Mistress Singua Karadragha''. Mistress Singua advises the Court of the Five Winds on all diplomatic matters, and speaks on their behalf to foreign ambassadors. Her attitude to the Empire appears to be cool but professional, and heavily informed by the wishes of the Liege and their court, who seek more opportunities to trade with the Empire.
===General Diplomacy===
* '''Communications between Faraden and the Empire are civil and constructive
* '''The Faraden seek closer trade ties with the Empire as a route to shared prosperity
Ambassador Ebeneezer has raised the matter of the Cinders with Mistress Karadragha. As [[We give the future to the winds#Ashes On The Breeze|previously mentioned]], this sect of violent zealots have been condemned by the Liege of the Five Winds, and the organisation has been driven underground. Yet there is still concern that the Cinders intend to continue their vendetta against the Empire.

Mistress Karadragha confirms that wizards versed in the art of Flame have also offered warnings about the Cinders, but the problem is that their [[divination|divinations]] are fundamentally symbolic and need careful interpretation. No doubt the Empire's adepts of [[Night magic]] have encountered the same challenges. Regardless, the Liege of the Five Winds sees no reason not to share whatever intelligence the Faraden have about the Cinders' operations in the Empire. Several reports have been dispatched by special courier to help Imperial citizens plot the movements of the Cinders.

The Court of the Five Winds is apparently very pleased with the news that work on [[Wild_is_the_wind#Yakholme_Grange|Yakholme Grange]] [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Construct_Yakholme_Grange|has begun]], and that there is a good chance Faraden [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Richest_Wines|trade with Dawn]] may be moving forward. Prosperous trade ties with the Empire strengthen the position of the Liege of the Five Winds, and reinforce their pro-Imperial agenda. The fact that trade with the Empire can be undertaken without the need to trust to ships and boats and the dangers of the [[Sea of Snow]], as compared to trade with the Asaveans, which relies on long shipping routes, means it has particular appeal to the merchant-families of the nation.
===War and the Jotun===
* '''Mistress Karadragha declines to send Faraden mercenaries to fight in the Empire
* '''The Liege of the Five Winds is apparently in negotiation with another power to attack southern Reinos
* '''They propose that the Empire attack the northern regions of the Lasambrian Hills following the Winter Solstice
Ambassador Ebeneezer has clearly presented the idea that the Empire and Faraden could form an alliance against the Jotun. The current truce with the Jotun is the result of a treaty, but as Mistress Karadragha has [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Hills_of_Reinos|already said]], that treaty is due to be renewed or renegotiated at the Summer Solstice. The situation has not changed; Faraden cannot afford to go to war with the Jotun, and as near as the Court of Five Winds can tell the Jotun would prefer to focus their efforts on fighting the Empire. The Ambassador's suggestion that Faraden troops might fight against the [[Druj]] or the [[vallorn|peculiar plant monsters]] that infest parts of the Empire are interesting, but unappealing; the distances are too great and the dangers are too unknown.

However, it may be that the Faraden and the Empire could both get what they want. The [[Iron Confederacy]] has reached out to the Court of the Five Winds and informed them that the Suranni intend to conquer southern [[Reinos]]. This is not the ideal situation, in that it swaps Jotun control of their trade routes to the Empire for Suranni control; but that is still preferable to the stranglehold the barbarian orcs have over them.

If the Empire is serious about a joint effort, then the Military Council could dispatch a force to attack [[Reinos#Ribeira|Riberia]] and [[Reinos#Pedreira|Pedreira]] after the Winter Solstice. A powerful force would be able to smash through the defences there and claim both regions. At the same time, the Iron Confederacy will be attacking in the south, catching Jotun defenders between the hammer and the anvil.

There are further benefits to the Faraden of course. If a serious force of soldiers were attacking the hills of Reinos they would be in a much better position to renegotiate or even abandon their treaty with the Jotun. The benefits to the Empire are less clear - but Mistress Karadragha points out that control of Pedreira would give the Empire control of the [[white granite]] quarry at [[Reinos#Cantera_Balanka|Cantera Balanka]] as well as protecting the entire western border of [[Segura]] from future Jotun invasion.
===Faith and Flame===
* '''The Gatekeepers have provided a dose of true liao to the Faraden priest Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree
* '''The Temple of the High Flames will receive a true consecration during the Winter Solstice
* '''There are concerns that Asavean assassins may try to disrupt the ceremony
* '''If the consecration is successful, it will end opportunities for Asavean religion to spread in Faraden
Last season ''Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree'', priest of the Five Flames, [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#Flames_and_Faith|petitioned the Synod]] for a dose of [[liao#True Liao|True Liao]]. Their intent was to use the true liao to create a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] of the [[Auras_of_Pride#Partner_of_Greatness|Flame of Honour]]; a powerful aura to help anchor the true faith of Faraden in the face of [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] syncretism. During the Equinox, the [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]] met and discussed the matter, and ultimately [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Doses_of_True_Liao|chose to provide]] one of the seven doses available to them. With the particular aid of '''Nisha Strazcovich''', a former Gatekeeper of Pride who Ebeneezer notes as being instrumental in ensuring the dose was available, the Ambassadors office ensured the true liao was safely delivered to Faraden.

During the Winter Solstice, a grand ceremony marking the end of one year and the beginning of another will take place at the ''Temple of the High Flames'', the most prestigious seat of the Faraden faith. Mistress Karadragha believes representatives of all the [[On_Faraden_faith#The Priest Families|priestly families]] of Faraden will attend, whatever their individual attitudes to the Empire. it is, to put it mildly, a big deal for the faithful of Faraden. No outside priests will be present as this is a ceremony for the Faraden. The Faraden Ambassador, however, has let the Ambassador know that the Liege of the Five Wind has ensured that warriors loyal to them will be present to protect the festivities. There is some concern that the Asaveans might attempt to disrupt the ceremony; there are rumours of assassin-priests of the twin-gods of vengeance, Tlangg and Sanit being present in Faraden.

Assuming the ceremony goes off without a hitch, it will create a potent site of pilgrimage for the faithful of Faraden. The Temple of the High Flames is to the Faraden what the Basilica of Seven Doors is to the Highborn, or the marshes of the Sovennan are to the Winterfolk - a central location sacred to all denominations of their faith. There is no doubt that the true aura will serve as a powerful prophylactic against the influence of Asavean priests, sufficient to put an end to the spread of their influence in the western nation.

It is, of course, illegal for Imperial citizens to trade true liao to citizens of foreign nations; there is no suggestion that either the Liege of the Five Winds or the priest families of Faraden will offer any payment for the liao. All they can offer in return is the profound gratitude of those who take Pride in [[On Faraden faith|their faith]], and who welcome this return to the true values of their own historic religion.
===Fire Fighters===
* '''Zealous crusaders from Faraden have attempted to destroy the Azure Chorus, the docks at Fisk, and the docks at Meade'''
* '''Thanks to prompt warnings from the Imperial Synod two of the three attacks have been thwarted'''
* '''The Jotun have restored the Docks at Meade but made cosmetic changes'''
* '''These attacks have been widely condemned within Faraden'''
In the days following the Autumn Equinox, hasty warnings are carried to Wintermark, the Marches, and the Brass Coast. '''Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum''', the Cardinal of Pride, has issued a dire warning, backed by a greater majority of the Assembly of Nine: the Cinders, a violent group of ultra-conservative Faraden who decry the Empire and all its citizens as irredeemable heretics, have infiltrated the Empire, and intend to wreak havoc upon the innocent. The three targets – the docks at both Fisk and Meade, and the Azure Chorus – are of obvious symbolic value, each one serving as a site where the people of the Empire and the people of Faraden can meet in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. Further hue and cry is raised in Marches specifically, as the statement of '''Father Edmund''' warns the people of Meade that the attackers have already infiltrated the city. Likewise, the Freeborn Assembly upheld a statement from '''Dayanara i Cabeza i Erigo''' warning of the planned attack in Kahraman. Whichever statement people hear first, the warnings are the same: be Vigilant. Lives are at stake.

The situation in Fisk is well contained. A local magistrate, already visiting the town to try an unrelated case, moves quickly to deputise nearby citizens and take control of the Market Hall. While the Faraden workers there are initially outraged by the accusations that there may be violent fanatics among their number, the outrage turns to panic when one of the porters draws a knife and slashes the magistrate’s face. What follows is a brief, ugly brawl, as other infiltrators from the Cinders reveal themselves and attempt to break out and flee. An effort is made to take suspects alive for trial and questioning, but comes to nothing. Even after the Cinders are disarmed, they do nothing but hurl abuse at their captors and their fellow Faraden alike, refusing to cooperate. Aside from vague hints that there are more of them in the Empire and that there will be more violence to follow, they give nothing useful, and are executed on the spot.

Chaos, unfortunately, reigns at the Azure Chorus. The densely packed tents of visiting pilgrims make conducting an orderly investigation all but impossible. Rumours spread through the camp like wildfire, leaving the Courageous and Vigilant citizens of the Brass Coast unable to take their targets by surprise. Some fear that the Cinders may simply flee, but the truth turns out to be much darker. A visiting priest comes running from the Parador of Wind and Flame, shouting that some Faraden pilgrims have barred the doors and begun massacring everyone inside, screaming condemnations against the “lovers of false flames.” The scene is set for tragedy, but nobody present is minded to accept such an outcome. Faraden and Freeborn alike take up arms and storm the Parador in defence of the priests and pilgrims trapped inside, fighting room to room and shedding blood to defend one another. There are many deaths, but fewer than might have been expected, given the grim circumstances.

Things go equally badly in Meade, where the situation is complicated by the the arrival of the Jotun. There is some question among those who stay behind as to whether or not to alert the Jotun to the plans of the Cinders. Would passing on such information be providing treasonous aid to an enemy, or acting with Vigilance to undermine a different enemy?

Unfortunately, the Cinders use the chaos of the invasion to attack before anyone can make a decision one way or the other. The dock front quickly descends into chaos as the Cinders fire the pier and try to murder the Faraden and Marcher merchants working there. Initially stunned by the madness, a Jotun patrol quickly composes themselves and within minutes Jotun and Marchers are fighting side-by-side to take the Cinders down.

At first the Jotun assume that the assassins are under some terrible Night magic curse. Three Cinders were captured alive during the attack - once the Jotun discover there was no magic involved they are appalled. A jarl is summoned and after the briefest trial imaginable, the three men are taken out into the bay and summarily drowned. It is apparently the worst death imaginable as far as the Jotun are concerned.

Once the Cinders have been dealt with, the Jarl gives orders to the Jotun for the docks to be restored. The work is done quickly, most of the docks can be salvaged and materials are shipped in to replace the parts that are too far gone. By the start of the Winter Solstice, the dock front is almost as good as new. Almost... because the Jotun artisans take it on themselves to add a monolithic stone carved in the likeness of an orc warrior - not the Jarl but an idol of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Skjaldir|Skjaldir]], one of the Jotun faðir.

When word reaches the Faraden Embassy, the response is quick and firm: an absolute and total condemnation of the Cinders' actions. The Liege of the Five Winds had previously spoken out against the Cinders after their failed attempt on the life of the Champion of Vigilance, but this has ignited fury across all of Faraden society. Even conservative thinkers who have never truly reconciled with the differences of faith between the Empire and Faraden are forced to publicly acknowledge that this has gone too far. The Liege of the Five Winds makes a speech before their court, committing to personally pay for any repairs to the sites of the attack, a gesture that earns widespread praise for its even-handed measure of Pride, Prosperity and Justice.

Embassy staff supply one slightly testy clarification to public perceptions of the Cinders: they are not 'Justice cultists', any more than a devout citizen of the Empire is an 'Ambition cultist'. The Cinders follow the Five Flames, just as the people of the Empire follow the Imperial Way. The Cinders are not bad because they follow a specific Virtue, they are bad because they are violent xenophobes who decry the possibility of coexistence and mutual Prosperity in favour of a chauvinistic vision of total cultural purity. Excessive dwelling on religious differences is what led to this problem in the first place, and the last thing anyone needs is someone stoking the flames.

====Raking Over The Ashes====
* '''The infiltrators in Fisk, Meade and the Azure Chorus were not the only Cinders present within the Empire.'''
* '''The attackers will cause further havoc unless they are prevented from doing so.'''
* '''Questions remain over how the group were able to acquire their supplies.'''
In the aftermath, cooler heads begin to dig deeper in both of the locations still controlled by the Empire. What emerges in each case is a similar story. The Cinders arrived as individuals or small groups over the course of the last year, staying and quietly blending in with their countryfolk. They did not disguise their conservative religious views, but did not speak of their violent aims to anyone outside of the conspiracy. The reasons for this are not hard to determine. Not only has the Liege of the Five Winds condemned the sect for their extremism, but many Faraden actively disagree with their attacks on people who did not harm them first. It seems that the Cinders consider other Faraden who deal with the ‘lovers of False Flames’ to be just as bad as heretics themselves. The Cinders are not, it seems, especially good at blending in with the people around them.

Ambassador Ebeneezer's request to Mistress Karadragha has borne fruit with a series of missives detailing what Faraden investigators were able to determine from their own efforts to suppress the sect. In conjunction with Imperial scouts, the two nations are able to put together a list of targets. It seems that the groups already dealt with are not the only ones active within Imperial borders. It's clear that the Cinders have made good use of the resources provided to them - although there is some question about precisely who their rich patrons are. Rumour suggests it is agents of the Asavean plenum who have been funding the Cinders, wielding their hatred of the Empire as a weapon.

===Wildfire (Conjunctions)===
* '''The Cinders have been spotted moving to attack the House of Guerra, the Anvil Library Scriptorium, and Benson's Orchard.'''
* '''Imperial heroes have the opportunity to act before the Cinders can cause any serious harm.'''
The Faraden reports include coded letters that speak of Cinders agents spying out "the Orchard" in the Marches and it is a relatively simple matter to deduce that this is probably a reference to [[Pruning_shears#Benson's_Orchard|Benson's Orchard]], the memorial to [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]] [[Known exemplars#Joshua Benson|'Major' Joshua Benson]]. From the other reports the Faraden are able to provide, it becomes clear the last Cinders are planning to assault the [[Armarius_of_the_Anvil_Library#The_Library_Scriptorium|Anvil Library Scriptorium]] and the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]].

By any analysis, these attacks are ultimately doomed to failure. The aura at Benson's Orchard was created with true liao, and there is no way that the Cinders have access to that most valuable substance. The Anvil Library Scriptorium sits in a fortified compound to protect against assaults from agents of the Whisper Gallery, and the House of Guerra is in Calvos town itself, surrounded by Kohan and Corsairs on shore leave. None of these sites are in danger of being destroyed. However, the Cinders are heavily armed and prepared to fight to the death. If they are allowed to work their will unmolested, they will kill a great many people and cause a lot of damage before they are stopped. Fortunately, with the advance warning provided by Faraden to Ambassador Ebeneezer, and the results of Imperial investigations, there is enough notice for the prognosticators to find conjunctions of the [[Sentinel Gate]] that heroes may be able to intervene and prevent loss of life.

====Burn The Books (Sarvos)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the Anvil Library Scriptorium'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Armarius of the Anvil Library'' is responsible for protecting the Scriptorium'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''

The Anvil Library stands dedicated to the cause of Wisdom and learning across the Empire, fighting back against the terrible losses inflicted by Emperor Nicovar and his book-burning ways. This cause elicits no sympathy from the Cinders, who decry Wisdom as the False Virtue of Doubt. They would love nothing more than to burn the books and massacre the scribes. The mercenaries engaged in the defence of the compound are trusted veterans, but even one enemy with a lit match could wreak havoc if they broke through.

The main group of Cinders are approaching fast along Vintner's Way in Foracci. It is the responsibility of '''Ricardo Glostari di Sarvos''', the Armarius of the Anvil Library, to cut them off before any damage can be done.

====Sever The Hand (Madruga)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the House of Guerra'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Hand of Guerra'' is responsible for protecting the House'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
The House of Guerra stands as a testament to the Empire's commitment to taking care of those in need of shelter. Operated by a well-paid staff noted for their practicality and compassion, this thoroughly benign institution seems an odd target for the religiously-motivated Cinders. Things come into focus when the other duty of the Hand of Guerra is pointed out. Spreading the philosophy of Guerra is not especially controversial in the Empire, but rumours have persisted for a long time of her connection to the False Virtue of Anarchy, which the Cinders despise as much as any Imperial citizen. While the general consensus is that these rumours are historical fabrications, it is doubtful that the Cinders would listen if anyone tried to explain to them.

If the attackers are to be intercepted, the easiest place would be along the Corsair's Road in Calvos Sound. It is the responsibility of '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''', the Hand of Guerra, to prevent any harm coming to their charges.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Orchard One.jpg|align=left|caption=Brother Martin Orchard is a sometimes controversial, well respected monk from Pickham Monastery. in Upwold|width=400}}</div>
====Silence The Bell (Upwold)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to desecrate Benson's Orchard'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* ''' ''Martin Orchard'', who carried out the consecration, is responsible for protecting the memorial'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
'Major' Joshua Benson is an aspirational figure for many dedicants of Vigilance, especially in the Marches. A man without flashy miracles and tall tales to his name, he simply defended his community with absolute and unwavering commitment. Jackie Longshanks, the Beater who was able to sneak up on the Cinders to eavesdrop on their plans, cited the Bellringer as an inspiration for her deeds. The Vigilant pilgrims coming to soak up the aura that surrounds the exemplar's resting place have taken up arms and are ready to defend the holy site to the death, but such a fight would be a bloodbath. If the Cinders should spill blood on such a sacred memorial, the response from irate pilgrims of Vigilance would not bear thinking about.

As the Cinders move to attack Benson's Orchard, they must first move through the area of Tower March known as Benson's Bawn. It is the responsibility of '''Martin Orchard''', the priest who consecrated Benson's Orchard, to thwart their malice before it can strike.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Delicacies.jpg|caption=The Faraden are proud of their own fine victuals, but also keen to bring the best food and drink from around the world to their tables..|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Days Of Wine And Mooncheese===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Moonsong Market'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], [[the Barrens]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 [[weirwood]] and 30 [[white granite]], 180 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for farms in the Barrens by one
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Moonsong Reeve''
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 4 Thrones each season
* Significantly increases the number of Faraden travelling to and visting Dawn</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Moonsong Reeve'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To serve as a liaison between the Faraden visiting Moonsong Market and the people of Dawn; to encourage Faraden merchants to trade with the nation; to smooth over any disputes; to make decisions based on any opportunities related to Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' If the Moonsong Reeve is not yeofolk, the great work benefits will be halved</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Moonsong Cheese'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>Three common mooncheese and one rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>Six common mooncheese and two rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 crowns</td><td>Nine common mooncheese and three rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 crowns</td><td>Twelve common mooncheese and four rare mooncheese</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A consortium in Faraden has established a potential deal to trade luxury food in the Barrens.'''
* '''Despite an attempt by the Cinders to sabotage this plan, the actions of Imperial Citizens have demonstrated that Faraden merchants are safe to trade with the Empire.'''

Even as further violence mars relationships between the Empire and Faraden, the siren song of commerce seeks to bring people closer together. Last season, merchants of the Sansar family came to Anvil to speak with the people of Dawn about setting up a trade enclave in the Barrens. Representing a coalition of smaller families, they sought to exploit the opportunities presented by providing rare goods to the eastern Empire and, in so doing, to raise their standing back home.

While the trade talks themselves seem to have gone well, confused reports from Anvil speak of three of the Sansar cousins attending but only two returning, and of drawn blades and plotted murders. When the surviving merchants returned home they apparently brought a tale of horrific treachery: the third of their party had been corrupted by the rage of the Cinders, and plotted to murder them on their journey back to Faraden! Only by the swift action of Imperial law enforcement was this plan foiled. The intention of the Cinders was clear, to scare merchants away from dealing with the Empire. Yet this plan has backfired spectacularly, as the Sansar have not only publicly recommitted to building closer ties with their Imperial friends, but have posted a bounty on all members of the Cinders in vengeance for their heinous acts.

Still, bloodshed makes for poor conversation over the negotiating table, so discussions with the Imperial civil service focus on business. The core of the deal is a pleasingly symmetrical arrangement: Dawnish cloth for Faraden cloth, Dawnish wine for Faraden cheese. Already Seneschals and vintners across Dawn are racing to discover the best wine pairings for the valuable Faraden Mooncheese, a development that is filling the cheesemakers of Faraden with Pride and confidence. There was also an unsurprising interest in purchasing Mithril, for which the Empire’s voracious appetite is well-known.

The plans drawn up off the back of these proposals are, in their most basic nature, similar to the Firewind Market in Holberg. The proposed Moonsong Market, named in honour of the famed Mooncheese, would take 30 wains of weirwood, 30 wains of white granite, and 180 Crowns in labour costs. The Sansar have requested that such a market be built in either [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] to be close to the well-defended centres of civilisation. Once constructed, the Moonsong Market would act as a [[great work]] increasing investment in farms across the Barrens. It would also create an [[Imperial title]] - ''Moonsong Reeve'' - that would be responsible for representing Dawn in any negotiations with the Faraden merchants, and smoothing over any issues that arise with their trade in Dawn.

There is one other matter - one that the Faraden are unaware of. As an economic position, the people of Dawn expect the ''Moonsong Reeve'' to be [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]]. If the title is held by a noble, it will result in the benefits of the great work being halved as Dawnish farmers look askance at the Faraden merchants and their association with a noble demeaning the glory of Dawn.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorIronConfederacy.png|caption='''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo''', Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==The Iron Confederacy==
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
* '''They have recently moved a major military force into the islands off the coast of Feroz
{{Nation|nation=The [[Iron Confederacy]]|port=[[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]]|status=Foreigner|ambassador=Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo}}
The Suranni lie to the south of the Empire. They are a secretive nation, bound up in tradition and suspicion. While they are currently at peace with the Empire, even accepting merchants and traders into their lands, they are certainly not ''friends''. Recent events have seen them, like the [[Faraden]], caught between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the pro-slavery Freedom Accord. Yet where Faraden feels it must play a delicate balancing act, the Suranni Dukes are more confident in their power and prepared to play Imperial and Asavean interests off against each other.

The Suranni ambassador to the Empire is ''Baroness Katerine Lavasse of Meore'', who operates from the Tour Lavasse in Chaubrette, a territory unknown to Imperial citizens that apparently lies to the west of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Veroigne|Veroigne]]. A noble [[naga]], she replaced the significantly more dogmatic Jeanne de Hibernat, a High Priestess of the Suranni god [[Suranni_pantheon#Evra_the_Smith,_Maiden_of_the_Forge|Evra the Smith, Maiden of the Forge]]. She has already indicated that she is very much more pragmatic than her predecessor and more interested in compromise. She still reports to the Dukes of the Iron Confederacy, however, and so her apparent goodwill toward the Empire cannot be relied upon.
===Suranni Pleasantries===
* '''General pleasantries and diplomatic matters have been touched on
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
Ambassador Tethros has apparently informed Baroness Katerine that the Empire intends to attack [[Skallahn]]. This receives a slightly mixed response; the Suranni ambassador is not herself familiar with northern [[Jotun]] lands. Her response is to congratulate the Empire on seeking to conquer [[orc]] lands, and indicates that the news was met with a great deal of interest among some of the more martial Dukes.

The matter of Faraden was also raised, and Baroness Katerine, perhaps a little surprisingly, agrees that Asavean influence over the neighbouring nation is less than ideal. While the Suranni are capable of keeping the agents of the Plenum at arms' length, and ensuring they gain benefits from their association without becoming tainted, they are less confident that the Faraden can achieve the same.

In somewhat delicate tones, Baroness Katerine writes that the Suranni obviously have their own relationship with Faraden - distinct from the Empire - and their own trade routes. They are exploring their own avenues to reduce Asavean influence, but at this time they are reticent about collaborating with the Empire. With the best will in the world, the Empire's tendency to - no offence - blunder in like a drunk in a glassworks, do not predispose the Suranni to share too much at this time. If the Ambassador can be more specific about proposals for joint action with regard to the Faraden that do '''not''' risk souring the Suranni relationship with the Asaveans unnecessarily, then the Dukes are certainly interested to discuss those plans.

With regard to trade, the Baroness is generally positive about trade with the port of [[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]] and entirely sees where the Ambassador is coming from when they talk of more secure overland trade routes. Suranni merchants have long seen the town of [[Feroz#Fontargenta|Bramar]] in Feroz as the ideal destination for those looking to trade with the Empire. From there the more adventurous could travel to [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]], or even further north across the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider's_Dream|Spider's Dream]] bridge. However, as the Suranni understand it a recent natural disaster has severed easy trade routes between Feroz and the rest of the Empire. Is there any news of when these will be restored? That would likely be the first step toward securing a commitment to a trade [[ministry]] in the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Kobol.PNG|caption=[[Suranni_pantheon#Kobol the Warrior, Maiden of Battle|Kobol the Warrior]] is the uncompromising [[Suranni pantheon|Iron Confederacy god]] of warriors and battle.|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Cazar and the ''Wings of Kobol''===
* '''The Iron Confederacy has smashed the Children of Wrecks in Feroz
* '''Suranni forces have claimed the Cazar Straits for the Confederacy
* '''The Dukes intend to attack Free Landing after the Spring Equinox if the Empire has not dealt with the Wreckers by then
* '''While no treaty has been agreed, Freeborn citizens are free to leave the islands and ships from Feroz can pass through the waters
The Iron Confederacy has invaded [[Feroz]]; or rather they have attacked the Children of Wrecks on the [[Feroz#Cazar Straits|Cazar Straits]]. As laid out in the '''[[Red_skies#Swords_of_the_South|Red skies]]''' wind of war, the ''Wings of Kobol'' [[navy]] brought two Suranni [[army|armies]] across the border from Kalino and smashed the Wreckers' grasp on the island chain. Those pirates and raiders who were not defeated in battle, or captured and executed, have been forced to flee. Most have gone north to [[Madruga#Free Landing|Free Landing]], but some have apparently chosen to quit the [[Bay of Catazar]] altogether. The Cazar Straits are now under the control of the Iron Confederacy.

Following the attack and "liberation" of the islands, Baroness Katerine delivers a message from the Suranni Dukes. It has been too long since the pirates invoked the power of [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Dumon]] to help them seize the islands to the north of Arbonne, which they have been using as a base to attack the coast of the Iron Confederacy. Over a year ago they launched a raid against [[bay of Catazar#Axiom Prison|Axiom Prison]] and released many dangerous prisoners including a large number of corrupt wizards. While there has been some diplomatic attempt to find common ground for a joint effort against the Children, that have come to nothing. With this decisive action, the Iron Confederacy has shown that it will not tolerate criminals and pirates threatening their borders.

Diplomatic channels were used during the Autumn Equinox to inform Imperial officials of the Suranni intentions. During that time there was discussion of a treaty, but after due consideration the Dukes believe that it is too soon to commit to any formal agreement while there is still a major Children of Wrecks presence just north of their lands - by which they pointedly mean their new holdings in the Cazar Straits. The work done at the Autumn Equinox by Baronets ''Marquette Lavasse'' and ''Vauquelin Lavasse'', during which they met informally with multiple Imperial luminaries have indicated that there is certainly a foundation for a formal treaty to secure relations between the Confederacy and the Empire; but the time to discuss it is once the immediate threat is ended.

Baroness Katerine appears to be aware that the Empire planned their own assault on the Children of Wrecks following the Autumn Equinox, but apparently expected it to be aimed at Free Landing. Her missive lays out that the Dukes plan to take a season ensuring that the last corrupt elements are removed from the islands of Cazar. Then, if the Empire has not already dealt with them, they will attack the Wreckers in Free Landing with an eye towards dealing with them as they have their "friends" in the south. It is important for Ambassador Tethros to understand that if the ''Wings of Kobol'' are called on to free the Madrugan islands, they will likewise be considered part of the Iron Confederacy. After that, though, there will be plenty of time to discuss how to proceed. In particular, she wishes to commend [[Senator]] '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' whose passionate words went some way toward reassuring the Dukes that the Empire was in the process of dealing with the Pirates of Dumon and should be given a little space to do so.

The Baroness does however reiterate that as far as the Dukes are concerned, they have taken enemy territory away from criminals who made war on the Suranni people. The islands of Cazar are now ''theirs'', by right of conquest. This, says Katerine, is not a matter for debate - the facts speak for themselves. The same will be true if they are forced to deal with the pirates of Free Landing.

However, in recognition of the historic presence of the people of [[the Brass Coast]] here, there are certain humanitarian concessions the Dukes have instructed Baroness Katerine to lay out. Any Imperial citizen that was trapped in the Cazar Straits when they were conquered by the Grendel, and then seized by the Pirates of Dumon, is absolutely free to leave; indeed they are encouraged to depart. Suranni ships stand ready to repatriate them to the mainland, and there will be no bar to Freeborn vessels that wish to come collect their countryfolk.

The Iron Confederacy is also open to suggestions about how best to arrange matters with regard to Imperial ships leaving or entering Feroz. Obviously, with control of the Cazar Straits, the Suranni could potentially cut the Freeborn territory off from the Bay of Catazar entirely. There is no reason for them to do so at the moment; indeed Baroness Katerine expresses the hope that recent successes with trade can be built on to encourage Imperial merchants to visit the Straits. This means that there will be no disadvantage to the Freeborn busy rebuilding their homes in the ruined territory from the Suranni.

The [[Civil Service|civil service]] advise that this communication should not be taken entirely at face value. Reading between the lines, it seems that Baroness Katerine isn't ''completely'' happy with the decision of the Dukes. Over the last few years, she has demonstrated a preference for a more nuanced, diplomatic approach to relations with the Empire. At the end of the day though, it is the Dukes who make the decisions. The rulers of the Iron Confederacy are [[naga]], and while they can be [[Naga#Subtle|subtle]], they are still [[Naga#Passionate|passionate]] and [[Naga#Avaricious|avaricious]].

The proposal of a treaty once the Children of Wrecks are finally beaten seems genuine, and it is possible that one of the reasons the Suranni are not rolling straight into Free Landing is to give Ambassador Tethros a chance to put forward a proposal of their own.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|caption='''Watt of Lambrook''', Minister of Historical Research|align=left|width=300}}</div>

===Marko and the March of History===
* '''Marko Siwarsbairn is ''still'' in the Iron Confederacy'''
The saga of Marko Siwarsbairn continues to drag on. Following the [[Bedight_in_veils#An_Imperial_Historian_in_the_Baronial_Court|dispute]] over the [[historical research]] the [[Wintermark]] scholar had been compiling on Iron Confederacy military history, the Ambassador passed along words from the [[Minister of Historical Research]] '''Watt Lambrook''': "''My researcher is correct that I hold the right to view such reports first. However, since this was understandably not known at the time I will oblige that this once you may also read the report Marko has written before he leaves.''"

Baroness Katerine thanks the Minister for their words, and understands that this is a concession. However as the Winter Solstice draws closer it seems Marko has ''still'' not returned from the Iron Confederacy. A late message to the Imperial embassy indicates that on reading the Siwarsbairn Report it was clear to the Baroness that there were several significant errors and misconceptions in the document. Rather than suggest Marko scrap their hard work and start again, Baroness of Meore has offered the assistance of some of her own staff to correct those errors. She is confident that the report will be much more useful as an artifact of truth, rather than something riddled with errors. She anticipates that unless anything else goes wrong, Marko will be safely back in the Empire with a well-researched document in time for the Spring Equinox.

The Minister need not worry; Baroness Katerine is more than happy to continue to serve as gracious host to Marko Siwarsbairn, and supply the support they need at her own expense. It is the least she can do as a student of history herself, committed to increasing understanding between her nation and the Empire. She also mentions that the gods clearly inspired Marko to make their errors; if they had set off from Meore on schedule this season they would doubtless have ended up caught in the events unfolding in Arbonne.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dumon.PNG|caption=Dumon the Liar, the Wicked One|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Unfolding in Arbonne===
* '''Arbonne has been subject to a serious Winter curse'''
* '''The priests of the Veiled Shrine claim an oracle has implicated Imperial citizens in the curse'''
* '''Baroness Katerine asks the Ambassador to encourage Imperial citizens to track down those responsible'''
Shortly after the Spring Equinox, the dukedom of Kalino - which the Suranni call Arbonne - was struck with a [[I_wish_you_would#Wicked curses|blight]] that withered crops and saw vermin multiply across the territory. The priests of [[Suranni_pantheon#Kavol,_the_Veiled_King|Kavol]] quickly identified that this was a [[curse]] drawn down by wicked sorcerers working with the aid of the [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Lying God]]. The curse ran its course, and despite some food shortages in Arbonne, the worst appeared to be over. This assumption was, unfortunately, premature.

Just after the Autumn Equinox another curse fell on Arbonne, and this was orders of magnitude worse than the blight that struck in Spring. The first sign was unseasonably bad weather than ruined crops before they could be gathered; it was swiftly followed by a wave of sickness that incapacitated the weak and the strong alike. Then, on the night of the first new moon, demonic angels of Dumon emerged from the shadows bent on murder and corruption. The worst of them took on the forms of dead orcs, the Lasambrians who had once squatted in the hills here. Their witchcraft brought more terror and destruction to the people and serfs of Arbonne. Worse, among their numbers were revenants that appeared in the form of dead Suranni and even in a few cases what looked to be Imperial knights.

This was again seen as a sign that the gods were angry with the Duke of Arbonne, but again the Priests of Kavol investigated the matter and determined that it was nothing more than another terrible curse from the servants of Dumon. This time, though, this reassurance has done little to quell discontent in the territory. Crops fail from time to time, as a test from the gods, but this unspeakable infestation of demons and revenants is an entirely different matter. The position of the Duke of Arbonne is extremely shaky; if a third curse strikes the territory they will have little choice but to step aside in favour of one of their heirs. Baroness Katerine confidently paints the heirs to the current Duke as competent, wise people but there is an edge to her words that suggests she is not entirely confident about what she is saying.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|Seven Locks 2.jpg|Master of Locks.png}}</div>
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|WhisperGal004.png|WhisperGal005.png}}</div>
While the curse is bad, it would normally be a matter for the Iron Confederacy to resolve. Unfortunately, there is an unlooked for wrinkle here. Among the priests of Kavol there are some sects charged with specific duties within the Confederacy. The priests of the Veiled Shrine are charged to root out heretics and servants of Dumon who consort with demons. The Veiled God has sent a sign to them, warning them that while the curse comes from the servants of the God of Corruption, they could not have achieved this terrible working without aid. Specifically, through oracles and visionary dreams, Kavol has given a warning that the power to place the curse came from the Empire.

Baroness Katerine is not a fool; she doesn't believe the Empire has cursed Arbonne. There's simply no evidence of it. Unfortunately, the priests of the Veiled Shrine are adamant that there is Imperial entanglement in this event. She asks that the Ambassador do whatever it takes to find out who has provided the Hand of Dumon with the wherewithal to lay a curse of this magnitude on Arbonne. Given that working with the Hand is a crime in the Empire, she presumes that Imperial justice likewise has a vested interest in tracking down whoever it is that is supporting these monstrous sorcerers. The Dukes cannot countenance Imperial support for the Hand of Dumon, and if it comes out that Imperial citizens were flouting the laws made by the Senate in this regard it would shake confidence in those who pointed to the agreement as a positive step in international relations. Which includes Baroness Katerine of course.

Obviously, the one thing every Imperial citizen can be '''absolutely certain''' of, is that "the Veiled God" definitely did not tell the Iron Confederacy anything, ''given they don't actually exist''. However they note that Baroness Katerine refers to "angels" more than once, which is either a [[Astronomancy#Tulpas|tulpa]] or much more likely, a [[herald]] of some [[eternal]] that is up to no good. If it is the latter, the finger of suspicion must point at either [[Basileia]] or the [[Whisper Gallery]], either of which would sell the Empire out in a heartbeat. The City of Locks trades in treachery, espionage and secrets, while the Shadow Courtiers are literally obsessed with secrets. On paper, it is more likely to be the Princess of Weirs; since the Concilium of the Perjured Throne is under enmity, the only way they could be mixed up in all this is if that was being subverted by members of the Conclave.

It's unfortunate that the Empire does not have a workable map of Arbonne, so rituals such as [[Eye of the High Places]] will not be able to find anything useful. From the description, however, it seems that the curse might have been the result of a potent Winter magic ritual of high magnitude - at least eightieth and perhaps higher.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconSumaah.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>
==Sumaah Republic==
* '''The Sumaah Republic is an empire devoted to an orthodox interpretation of the Way'''
* '''The Sumaah Republic remain allies of the Empire in the Liberty Pact
The [[Sumaah Republic]] are simultaneously allies of, and rivals to, the Empire. Their shared practice of the Way both provide them with common ground, and divides them over questions of orthodoxy. As founding members of the [[Liberty Pact]], their ties to the Empire have been strengthened, and they have been closely involved in bringing ruin to those involved in the abhorrent practice of slavery. At the moment they are focused on their [[Guide_the_spirit#Virtuous_War|war]] with the [[Asavean Archipelago]], but they remain committed to spreading the Way through the entire world. In gratitude for [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|major aid]] from the Empire in repulsing an Asavean assault against the port of [[Foreign_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]], the Sumaah have committed to sharing a dose of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] with the Empire every season "''until the Plenum falls and the Way is spread to the Archipelago''." Relations with the grateful Sumaash, which have been bumpy in the past, are now better than ever.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sumaah Republic]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]]|ambassador=Accalon of [[Highguard]]}}
The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is ''Oxtitocszin'', who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah ''präster'', but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.
===Liberty===
* '''The Sumaah are sending a representative to the Liberty Pact meeting'''
The Sumaah are, of course, sending an emissary to the [[Liberty Pact]] meeting. ''Oxtitocszin'' indicates the Sumaah attitude to the Pact has not shifted. They still intend to propose the amendment to the pact [[Drowned_in_tears#Liberty_Pact|mentioned last season]], to centre [[the Way]] in the approach of the Liberty Pact to defeating the evil of slavery. Apparently, the Sumaah representatives to the Pact are a little surprised that the Empire are not raising any amendments to the Pact themselves, but appreciate that this may simply be because the status quo serves their interests more effectively.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Accalon5901.jpg|caption='''Accalon of Felix's Watch''', Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|align=right|width=350}}</div>
Ambassador Accalon's words relating to the removal of Axos from the pact has not inspired them to revisit the matter but they wish the Ambassador to be apprised that they will vote with the Commonwealth on this matter. Unfortunately, Sumaah is not in a position to launch a full-scale invasion of the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. Were there any chance that such an attack might be practical, they would already be undertaking it. Oxtitocszin gently suggests that even if they were holding off for some reason, the Ambassador's proposal that the Empire would help remove Axos from the Pact would by no means be sufficient inducement for them to do so. The Sumaah Republic intends to let virtue guide their approach to the Pact and the Axou, as they do everything else. They would expect the Empire to do the same.

Further details of the Sumaah involvement in the Liberty Pact meeting can be found in the '''[[My soul at liberty]]''' wind of fortune.

===Gift of Pride (Redux)===
* '''The House of the People delayed their shipment of white granite at the request of Ambassador Accalon
* '''After the Winter Solstice there is an opportunity for Imperial fleet captains to escort the shipment to the Brass Coast
At the request of the people of [[the Brass Coast]], as relayed to the Sumaah by Ambassador Accalon, they have delayed the shipment intended to [[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|offer aid in rebuilding]]. The white granite is still in the Republic, waiting an escort of Imperial vessels to help it reach the shores of the Bay of Catazar. The House of the People recognises that dealing with the threat of the Children of Wrecks takes priority. The Cardinal of the House of [[Vigilance]], however does append a warning to the Freeborn not to allow the malign power of ''hevn'' to gain a foothold in their souls. "''Hevn''" is apparently an old-fashioned Sumaah term for the power of [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|vengeance]] but with elements of [[Malign spiritual presences#Hatered|Hatred]]. The Cardinal reminds their beloved Imperial cousins that to strike against enemies before they can harm you is vigilant but to pursue the destruction of those who have harmed you for selfish reasons is to invite corruption into ones soul.

Regardless, the House of the People have confirmed that the shipments of white granite await an Imperial escort. They warn, however, that they cannot afford to delay their gift for another season. The [[Asavean Archipelago]] already seems to have gotten wind of what is planned, and any further wait will surely see the Sumaah ships attacked and sunk regardless of the presence of Imperial vessels.

You can read about this opportunity in last seasons '''[[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|Drowned in tears]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=IconZemress.png |caption=Icon of Zemress|title=Icons of Zemress are popular with sailors who must travel through dangerous waters - both those from the Brass Coast, and the distant Frieøyer.|align=right|width=300}}
===Inspiration of Zemress===
* '''A renowned Frieøyer captain has come to study at the Zemress Naval Academy along Sumaah sailors and shipwrights'''
* '''Their support has helped to unlock the full potential of the Academy and the Empire's naval forces'''
While [[Red skies|war rages]] in the seas of Sarvos and Madruga, a Sumaah ship appears at the docks in [[Madruga#Calvos|Calvos]]. It looks a little the worse for wear, showing signs of having sustained significant damage recently. It turns out to be the ship of ''Bjarna Xicot'' of the Frieøyer - the former pirates [[Zemress#A_Tale_from_Sumaah|inspired]] by the paragon [[Zemress]] - who has come to study at the [[Madruga#Zemress_Naval_Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] along with a boatload of Sumaah students. Unfortunately, along the way, they fell afoul of Asavaean privateers and only just managed to escape with their lives and their vessel.

The Sumaah quickly make themselves at home; the Frieøyer among their number have all fought alongside Imperial fleet captains before, during the [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|fight against Asavea]] last year. The others are a combination of pilgrims of [[Prosperity]], scholars, and shipwrights. Sumaah does not have anything to match the naval prowess of Asavea but like the Empire they have their traditions of building warships. Without them, the Asaveans would likely have conquered swathes of their coastline in the centuries of war.

''Bjarna Xicot'' brings with her a gift - or rather, she and her companions ''are'' the gift. A gift not from the House of the People or the High Houses of Virtue but from the Frieøyer themselves. It is in part a gift of gratitude for the Imperial sailors who fought alongside them, partly a gift of Pride, but mostly a gift to recognise the shared love of Zemress between the Frieøyer and the Brass Coast. The artisans and veteran mariners who accompany Bjarna are here to stay, they are eager to study at the Academy and learn what they can from the Freeborn masters of the sea, but they also bring knowledge and skills of their own, which they are enthusiastic to share. They bring with them a small library of plans and books dedicated to the art of the shipwright, translated painstakingly from their original tongue into Imperial.

Studying together, the two groups are able to achieve a breakthrough. The Academy has been steadily creating designs for new warships, trying to match the qualities of the navies of the [[Grendel]] and the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]]. The school has done a remarkable job building up Imperial expertise, but with the information the Frieøyer have provided has helped to ''complete'' that program of study. The academy has discovered everything they can - all that remains now is to put that knowledge into practice.

That means building some navies, but it also means spreading the knowledge they have gained far and wide across the Empire. Excited at the prospects of sharing what they have learned with everyone in the Empire, the Academy soon empties out, as people make arrangements to visit one or more of the other nations. After-all - "all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it."

The main advantage of spreading this knowledge far and wide is that shipwrights will be able to build vessels better suited to a nation's ideals. Local shipwrights can build on the skills and learning shared by the staff of the former Zemress Academy to create something more in keeping with local traditions. Freeborn navies might be well-suited to plunder, while a Dawnish warship might be built for glory!

What that means now, is that any [[navy]] built by the Empire would have access to a set of three or more qualities just like an [[army]]. Going forward, similar to the [[Rules_update_2026#New_Army_Qualities|rules that cover army qualities]], the Senator who musters a navy will be given a list of qualities to choose from reflecting their nation and the narrative surrounding the navy's creation. These will be drawn from the list of standard qualities, but through [[opportunity|opportunities]] or [[appraisal|appraisals]], more unique qualities may be on offer.
<div style="float: right; width: 250px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|width=250px}}</div>
====Legacy====
* '''The Synod lists the Krakens' Bane as a memorial to Zemress'''
* '''The Wreckers destroyed the beautiful seminary constructed in her memory'''
* '''The potential exists to create a truly inspirational memorial to Zemress'''
* '''Any edifice would be more inspirational if the General Assembly recognise Zemress as a paragon'''
The Zemress Naval Academy now stands empty. Its great work complete, the staff have fanned out across the Empire, taking the new learning with them. The power to develop qualities is no longer available or needed. However, the building still stands, and it still attracts the best shipwrights from across the Brass Coast and beyond. This is the site that raised Imperial naval traditions to the point where they could rival - at least in theory - those of the Grendel or the Asaveans. The Frieøyer came half way across the world to study here.

This incredible legacy should be preserved. When the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress_(Destroyed)|Seminary of Zemress]] was destroyed, the ''Kraken's Bane'' was left untouched. It bears a [[Aura#Durable_Auras|true aura]] of Prosperity, [[A_time_of_plenty#Coin_that_Goes_Unspent|placed there by Gilah, daughter of the Chantry]] with the approval of the Assembly of Prosperity. The beautiful building that once celebrated the life of this iconic Freeborn hero was destroyed, but the potential exists to rebuild it into something even more inspirational.

No true liao would be needed, but a new [[edifice]] of some kind is needed. The more [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandiose]] the building, the more inspirational it would be. However, the other thing that would help to remind everyone of the importance of the site, is if the Freeborn were able to convince the General Assembly to recognise Zemress as a paragon. After-all... what more powerful a legacy could exist than the triumph of the Zemress Naval Academy?

Freeborn architects intend to bring a range of plans forward to create a new building to celebrate Zemress' life later this year. They want to give their fellow Freeborn time to persuade the Synod of the truth of their claims - that Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo has passed through the Labyrinth. If the Synod act to recognise Zemress as a paragon, they will publish their ideas before the next summit, otherwise they will publish them in a year's time.

===OOC Note===
The Zemress Naval Academy, and its approach to determining qualities for navies, was rooted in an earlier vision of how navies worked. As we've developed our approach to armies, it's become more clear that we should be treating navies in the same way we do armies - that they should have strong identities tied to the nation that supports them. As such, the existing abilities of the Academy to build up a small list of qualities based on the design of the ships themselves has become outmoded. The in-character rationale for the rules change is that the arrival of the Frieøyer has helped the Academy achieve its ultimate goals and allowed them to spread knowledge of advanced ship-building right across the Empire.

Rather than simply have the Naval Academy become a white elephant, we'll present an opportunity to build on the consecrated location dedicated to Zemress later this year, to give the Empire an opportunity to rededicate the site with a new purpose.

==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark keep the Empire at arms' length
* '''The Imperial Consul is technically responsible for diplomatic relations with the Mountains of the Moon
During the Autumn Equinox, a delegation from the [[Tsark|Mountains of the Moon]] visited [[Bedight_in_veils#The_People_of_the_Moon|visited Anvil]]. They spoke with a number of people, and by all accounts the discussions were somewhat fruitful. The people of Tsark - the [[orc]] nation that occupies the shallow basin surrounded by the Mountains - have so far kept the Empire very much at arms' length. Following their visit, however, they have made an approach to the civil service and asked their assistance in preparing some proposals to put before the Empire.

===Garden of the Perfect World===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Ministry</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]], [[Zenith]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 [[weirwood]], 45 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Urizen National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees the Garden of the Perfect World</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To look after the Garden of the Perfect World, and to help the people of Tsark trade with the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' The benefits are lost if the Empire and Tsark are no longer friendly</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Wood and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>4 weirwood</td><td>4 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>6 weirwood</td><td>6 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 weirwood</td><td>8 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Spirits and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 liao</td><td>1 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>90 liao</td><td>2 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 liao</td><td>3 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''There is an opportunity to build a ministry to trade for Tsark's white granite
Tsark resists the idea of an [[embassy]]. By all accounts they see the Empire as a place of chaos and turmoil, very much at odds with the ordered and harmonious life they lead in the high mountains east of [[Urizen]].For centuries they have hidden away from Imperial eyes, discouraging anyone from visiting their home with mighty fortifications and memory-altering drugs. Now, however, it seems that they are prepared to countenance some limited trade with Imperial citizens, with an eye toward acquiring substances that are rare or unknown in Tsark. With the aid of the civil service they have put forward a proposal for the grandiosely titled ''Garden of the Perfect World''.

The garden would be a special [[ministry]] built in the foothills of [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]] in southern [[Zenith]]. They expect the Empire to undertake the construction. Despite its majestic name, the actual commission requires only 15 wains of weirwood and 45 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete. It takes the form of a meditative garden, built in the style of Tsark. Quiet chimes are hung from carefully selected trees, and what appears to be a traditional Tsark meeting hall stands along the southern side of the garden. The commission also involves beautiful flowering plants, some from Urizen and some from Tsark.

Once complete the Mountains of the Moon would create the title ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' to oversee it. They would be responsible for trading with the people of Tsark, and where the folk of the Mountains of the Moon reached out to the Empire they would be asked to facilitate any diplomacy or negotiations. It sounds a little like what they really want is an ambassador, but the leaders of Tsark are clear they do not. It seems they are concerned that they would have to build a reciprocal embassy themselves, and allow Imperial citizens into their lands, which they will not do.

The garden allows the ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' access to a ministry that lets them exchange their [[white granite]] from the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Kamen_Quarry|Kamen Quarry]] for Imperial [[weirwood]]. They are also interested in acquiring some amount of [[liao]] - a substance not found in Tsark - for use by the human citizens of their nation. They are aware that the quantities they are asking for are quite significant and understand if the Empire doesn't want to take advantage of the trade.

Obviously as a ministry supported by a foreign nation, the ability to trade resources with Tsark is entirely dependant on continued diplomatic relations. Aware that the Empire is, perhaps rightly, concerned about what will happen if Tsark chooses to close itself off from the world again, they have agreed that if they end their trade with the Empire for any reason they will provide 15 wains of white granite to the Seeker of the Perfect World before they do so to pay for the resources spent in the construction of the ministry. If the Empire ends trade, of course, they will not feel the need to provide any restitution at all.

The opportunity remains available until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE.

===Zaboravi===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of Peaceful Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Wintermark]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 [[weirwood]], 36 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a sinecure and the title of ''Seeker of Quietitude''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Wintermark National or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Wintermark National Assembly or Imperial Apothecaries' Guild</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 12 doses of zaboravi each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversees the Garden of Peaceful Quietitude; help cultivate zaboravi in Wintermark</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tsark will help the people of Wintermark cultivate zaboravi
* '''The sinecure must be built in an alpine territory, in a region with hills and hot springs
The people of Tsark make use of an exotic drug called ''Zaboravi'' that has remarkable properties. Used correctly, it allows an individual to edit their own memories in a manner similar to [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]]. According to the folk from the Mountains of the Moon, [[Night magic]] is a crude tool for altering one's memories, equivalent to a spade or a pickaxe - partly because of the raw magic involved and partly because the impetus to forget comes from outside the self. Zaboravi is a more gentle, harmonious way to alter ones recollections, because all it does is empower the one who uses it to choose how to shape their own remembered past.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBWintermark.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}</div>
There has been discussion of seeing if the plant that produces zaboravi will prosper in [[Wintermark]]; the farmers there have already had some success with cultivating ''viezesmaak'' for the [[Sarcophan Delves]], and there is interest in seeing if they might be able to do the same with the Tsark drug. There is talk of zaboravi being invaluable to [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] dealing with people suffering emotional or spiritual wounds caused by terrible events. Tsark is broadly positive about facilitating such a thing - they are not jealous of their control of zaboravi and see the value of using it to help those whose spirits are in discord find peace.

Again, with the help of the civil service, they have put forward a proposal for a [[commission]] in [[Wintermark]]. The ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' is a [[sinecure]] that will require 12 wains of weirwood and 36 crowns in labour to complete, taking three months to construct. It will create a title - ''Seeker of Quietude'' - who will oversee the efforts to cultivate zaboravi. Each season, the gardeners of Tsark believe it will produce 12 doses of zaboravi for the Seeker, presuming that the location is conducive and the gardeners follow their instructions to the letter. The initial proposal from Tsark is that the Seeker of Quietude be appointed by the Wintermark National Assembly - zaboravi is after all a spiritual substance. The civil service however have pointed out that as a unique herb it might be more appropriate to see the title appointed by the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. Tsark has indicated that it is happy either way as long as the drug is treated with the reverence they feel it deserves. Notably, once the plant is established, however, its continued cultivation will require no further interaction with Tsark, so it will not be dependant on good relations continuing with the nation.

The only real restriction they place on it is that for the zaboravi to prosper it needs three things; a cool climate, as much altitude as possible, and access to geothermal hot springs. Apparently the folk of Wintermark that the visitors spoke to were confident they knew just the place.

The civil service have assessed the proposal, and indicated that the plans the people of Tsark have provided could also allow similar gardens to be built in other alpine locations - specifically [[Skarsind]], northern [[Hercynia]], and northern [[Varushka]]. The main challenge would be finding suitable locations, which would require an [[appraisal]]. The only limitation would be that such an appraisal couldn't be undertaken until the Empire had a source of the plant itself - so not until the ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' was completed.

===Ushabti and Rice===
* '''Some folk in Tsark are interested in both Ushabti and the Golden Cascade
* '''Further discussion waits the completion of the Garden of the Perfect World
During their visit, the subject of both [[Urizen_economic_interests#Ushabti|ushabti]] and the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] were raised. By all accounts the visitors from Tsark were interested, but cautious. The leaders of the nation have determined that while they are curious about both the odd constructs that seem to work best at high altitude, and the ambitious great work that provides food for much of Zenith and indeed the nation as a whole, any further discussion will have to wait until the ''Garden of the Perfect World'' is completed. Or not, as the case may be.
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tarquinius Ankarien.jpg|caption=Tarquinius Ankarien (left), former [[Ambassador to Axos]], has apparently been charged to speak with the Skourans by the Imperial Consul.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Skoura==
* '''The nation of Skoura lies to the east of Mareave
* '''While they are keeping the Empire at arms' length the two nations are at peace
* '''The Imperial Consul is responsible for diplomacy with Skoura
The message from Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, that arrives in Mareave midway through the season is neatly written on tough parchment. It begins by thanking '''Tarquinius Ankarien''' for their understanding - they would indeed prefer to deal with the [[Imperial Orcs]] as much as possible and would prefer that if the [[Imperial Consul]] chooses to delegate communication they do so with that in mind. The Unshackled are their neighbours, and there is still some distance to go before Skoura is entirely happy dealing with the wider Empire. The Delvemistress is happy to trust the good sense of '''Pathfinder Gaddak''' in this matter.

Establishing a permanent [[embassy]] would be a significant step in relations between the mountainfolk and the Empire - and one that they are not entirely sure they are ready to make. Accepting an Imperial [[ambassador]] would be a serious matter, and would mean that their interaction with Imperial citizens will have evolved beyond the point of a small number of trade agreements with the people of [[Mareave]]. The first question that Talker Garra has is, can the Imperial Consul confirm that the Empire is prepared to commit to appointing an Unshackled to the position, at least for the time being? The second question is, what form would the Empire expect an embassy to take, and what commitments would be required from Skoura? Obviously they would require any embassy to be built in Mareave; presumably the Empire would expect an embassy to be built in Skoura as well? In all honesty, writes Delvemistress Garra, the fact that the Empire changes its ambassadors often is seen as something of a problem with the more conservative members of their nation. Needing to re-establish relations each time a new ambassador is appointed represents a significant investment of time and trust.

The Skourans are pleased to hear that the Empire has no intention of sending spies into their lands. The Skourans are a private people - it is not that they have things to hide so much as that they would prefer to build their relationship with the Empire carefully, and on a foundation of mutual trust.

===Trade and Artisans===
* '''The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have confirmed they are willing to investigate further trade with the Imperial Orcs'''
* '''They require the Senate to recognise the Artisans Guild as an Imperial sodality before further plans are developed'''
There is one matter that could, apparently, increase Skouran enthusiasm for building that relationship more quickly. The ''Geltcourse Trade Security Council'' first visited Anvil six months ago, at the [[I_wish_you_would#To_Mahal_from_the_Mines|Summer Solstice 387YE]]. There, they discussed the nature of trade and the potential for long-term trade with the Imperial Orcs in Mareave. The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have finished their deliberations and is interested in a formalised arrangement.

However, the Geltcourse Trade Security Council are one and all respectful of the art of the [[artisan]], and the inherent strength that comes with a recognised central authority. As such, they are unwilling to go further with a formal arrangement unless the Artisans Guild is recognised as an [[Imperial sodality]] by the [[Senate]] and ratified by [[the Throne]]. The representative of the Geltcourse Trade Security Council makes clear that this is ''not'' a slight on the Unshackled; they sincerely hope to have future dealings with the orcs of Mareave. Unfortunately, this is a red line for the Geltcourse Trade Security Council if they are to cultivate trade with the Empire as a whole rather than just their neighbours on the lower slopes.

===Defensive War===
* '''Skoura is prepared to send 500 troops to support Rucraic's Redoubt following the Winter Solstice
* '''In return they require a payment of 50 measures of dragonbone
The discussion about armies and "defensive war" is interesting, and does indeed show how different the strategies of Skoura and the Empire have become. Most Skourans would see armies as something that supplements the sturdy [[fortification]] of a territory, an adjunct to the defence rather than the primary component. Fortunately, given that the Unshackled have completed [[Mareave#Ruicraic's Redoubt|Ruicraic's Redoubt]], it is that much more likely they will be able to resist the Grendel.

With that in mind, the Delvemistress offers to dispatch a cadre of Skouran war-engineers to Rucraic's Redoubt, to bolster the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] there and help to fight the Grendel. After some further questions, the civil service determine that a "cadre" in this case represents a fighting strength of 500, equivalent to five military units. In return, the Skouran commanders require 50 measures of [[dragonbone]], delivered in advance by either the Imperial Consul or Senator Pathfinder. Given the situation, the Delvemistress mentions that if they are prepared to provide an additional thirty crystal mana as well, she will ensure that the cadre is suitable enchanted with the might of the mountains - sufficient to increase the strength they will contribute to 1000 force. ('''OOC Note:''' If the Consul or the Senator wishes to take up this offer, they will need to ensure the resources are handed in at the end of the event and then email {{plot}} to confirm they wish them to be transferred to Skoura).

The Skouran Talker suggests that while this military support is not great given the scale the Empire works on, it is as much about testing the waters as anything else. It will also give the warrior-engineers an opportunity to examine the stonework of Rucraic's Redoubt, which they apparently see as an additional benefit.
==Further Reading==
* [[Faraden]]
* [[Iron Confederacy]]
* [[Sumaah Republic]]
* [[Tsark]]
* [[Skoura]]

Poets light but lamps

2026-04-21T20:18:23Z

Noserenda: /* Cazar and the Wings of Kobol */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sumaah]] [[Category:Iron Confederacy]][[Category:Faraden]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]]
<ic>“Do you believe it?”

Tchinua Ganbatar, Liege of the Five Winds, gave a slight snort. “Which part?”

Mistress Karadragha looked down at her papers with a heavy sigh. “At this point? Any of it.”

“I’ll have no words of fear spoken in this meeting, Singhua.” The Liege leaned forwards to refill their cup of tea. “Give me focus, and don’t jump at shadows. What are we informally discussing today?”

“As you say, my Liege.” The Trade Advisor adjusted her spectacles before continuing. “To start with, rumours of the Asaveans involving themselves with the Cinders and other anti-Imperial factions.”

A quiet figure sat off to one side of the meeting room spoke up. “We have no intelligence to confirm the notion, but it would resolve some unanswered questions if it were true. The Cinders are surprisingly well-funded. Even after their condemnation scared off their moderate supporters they still seem to be active across the border. Foreign support would certainly account for that.”

The Liege stroked their chin thoughtfully. “It would also suit the interests of the Asaveans to use Faraden extremists to anger the Empire, especially if they can do it without getting their hands dirty or inviting censure from the Court. What evidence does the Ambassador present?”

“Divinations of the flame, mostly, which means presumably a great deal of interpretation is involved which at best makes them suspect and at worst...”

“Very well. Contact the wizards of the Faces in Fire. They write down all their visions, so see if they have anything that might support this Imperial claim. Let them know we are asking, and they'll see the advantage in being in our good graces. Especially with the matter of the entertainments for my birthday celebrations on the horizon. In the meantime, set your agents prying around any Asavean interests here, especially the quiet ones we might have overlooked. There’s no way that the embassy would be foolish enough to be caught out by this. What next?”

The quiet figure spoke. “Related to the Cinders, the Sansar bounty.”

“Remind me?”

“The Sansar sent three of their family to negotiate for another trade enclave within the Empire. Our agents discovered that one of the three had been radicalised by the Cinders and intended to murder the other two for associating with heretics. Imperial law enforcement identified the guilty party before he struck, and Solongo Sansar has issued a bounty against the Cinders for their actions against her kin. We could potentially convince her to stand down, but it would upset the priesthood and risk emboldening the Cinders further.”

The Liege scowled. “No. The Cinders encouraged kinslaying so let them face the consequences. Tell Solongo that we support her without actually saying the words, and make sure our functionaries at court spread the story as far as they can. We can’t drive the reactionaries away entirely, but we need to keep them isolated. Anyone who can stand up in public and say that they support this kind of treacherous behaviour can reap their rewards.”

The Liege’s companions nodded and made various notes. Mistress Karadragha spoke up again. “I’m hearing on the wind that the Imperial priests are sending dire warnings about Cinders mounting some kind of concerted attacks within Imperial borders. The ambassador didn’t mention it, do we know anything about that?”

The quiet figure responded. “It’s almost certainly true. Gossip and coded messages have been pointing to them planning something big. We haven't been able to identify any targets so far, but their attention being centred within Imperial borders that would account for the lack of information.”

"The ambassador has asked for any information we have," observed Mistress Karadragha in a neutral tone. Both turned their attention to the Liege, expectantly.

There was a long pause before they responded, which they spent carefully stirring a spoonful of honey into their tea. The tinkling of the little silver spoon sounded like distant bells.

“I think it is time for the Cinders to encounter a significant setback.” They drained the dregs of their teacup, winced at the bitterness despite the sweetener. “Retain as much distance as you can, but set your best agents to scouring known Cinder hideouts for information. When you find it, no matter how tenuous, even if it means nothing to you, make sure it reaches the Ambassador. It's the least we can do, and we will just have to trust the Pride and Courage of the Empire to do the rest.”</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Candles flame in the wind.jpg|align=left|caption=Peace is all too often a candleflame in the wind.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
There are six great powers in the known world whose influence and reach rivals that of the Empire. There also innumerable lesser powers who do not have the might to shake the world, but who are nonetheless important to those with whom they share a border. The ambitions of these nearby nations are no less relevant to the Empire. Sometimes diplomatic relations require in-depth analysis; sometimes there is an opportunity to catch one's breath and let the drama move slowly towards the next crisis point.

There are [[ambassador|ambassadors]] to some of these nations - the [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]], [[Axos]], the [[Thule]], and [[Faraden]] in particular. Other nations are dealt with by the [[Imperial Consul]]. Sometimes a neighbouring nation focuses on diplomacy with the Empire, and requires an in-depth discussion. The '''[[Death leaves us homesick]]''' wind of fortune covers relations with Axos for example, while '''[[Invited with asperity]]''' focuses on the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]]. Sometimes however there is less going on and diplomacy can be part of a wider, more surface, roundup. For example '''[[Each age a lens]]''' covers nearly half a dozen of the orc nations that lie near the Empire.

Here we can read about several neighbouring nations to the Empire not covered in detail elsewhere - the [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], and even the more powerful nation of the [[Sumaah Republic]].
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Yak.jpg|align=right|caption=The yak of western Faraden are like very hairy oxen but adapted to live at high altitudes and in cold weather. Their wool, milk, and meat is much prized.|width=400}}</div>
==Faraden==
* '''Faraden remains caught between Imperial and Asavean interests
* '''The Liege of Five Winds appears to favour the Empire but there are powerful factions in Faraden that prefer closer ties with Asavea
* '''Faraden and the Empire are at peace, and trade ties between them are being strengthened
The lifeblood of [[Faraden]] is trade, but it is also a country of canny wizards, courageous warriors, and proud (albeit heretical) priests. They currently do not share a border with the Empire, lying beyond the [[Jotun]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]], but that does not stop them sending their caravans to Imperial markets despite the high tariffs they must pay to pass through the lands between. Diplomatic relations between the Court of the Five Winds and the Imperial Senate are changeable - warm one moment cool the next - but it has never come to open warfare. Right now Faraden is squeezed between two competing interests - the Empire on one side and the angry Plenum of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] on the other - and they must walk a knife-edge between the two powerful nations.
{{Nation|nation=[[Faraden]]|port=[[Sea_of_Snow#Pelabuhan|Caitun]]|ambassador=Ebenezer of [[the Marches]]|status=Foreigner}}
The Faraden ambassador to the Empire is ''Mistress Singua Karadragha''. Mistress Singua advises the Court of the Five Winds on all diplomatic matters, and speaks on their behalf to foreign ambassadors. Her attitude to the Empire appears to be cool but professional, and heavily informed by the wishes of the Liege and their court, who seek more opportunities to trade with the Empire.
===General Diplomacy===
* '''Communications between Faraden and the Empire are civil and constructive
* '''The Faraden seek closer trade ties with the Empire as a route to shared prosperity
Ambassador Ebeneezer has raised the matter of the Cinders with Mistress Karadragha. As [[We give the future to the winds#Ashes On The Breeze|previously mentioned]], this sect of violent zealots have been condemned by the Liege of the Five Winds, and the organisation has been driven underground. Yet there is still concern that the Cinders intend to continue their vendetta against the Empire.

Mistress Karadragha confirms that wizards versed in the art of Flame have also offered warnings about the Cinders, but the problem is that their [[divination|divinations]] are fundamentally symbolic and need careful interpretation. No doubt the Empire's adepts of [[Night magic]] have encountered the same challenges. Regardless, the Liege of the Five Winds sees no reason not to share whatever intelligence the Faraden have about the Cinders' operations in the Empire. Several reports have been dispatched by special courier to help Imperial citizens plot the movements of the Cinders.

The Court of the Five Winds is apparently very pleased with the news that work on [[Wild_is_the_wind#Yakholme_Grange|Yakholme Grange]] [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Construct_Yakholme_Grange|has begun]], and that there is a good chance Faraden [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Richest_Wines|trade with Dawn]] may be moving forward. Prosperous trade ties with the Empire strengthen the position of the Liege of the Five Winds, and reinforce their pro-Imperial agenda. The fact that trade with the Empire can be undertaken without the need to trust to ships and boats and the dangers of the [[Sea of Snow]], as compared to trade with the Asaveans, which relies on long shipping routes, means it has particular appeal to the merchant-families of the nation.
===War and the Jotun===
* '''Mistress Karadragha declines to send Faraden mercenaries to fight in the Empire
* '''The Liege of the Five Winds is apparently in negotiation with another power to attack southern Reinos
* '''They propose that the Empire attack the northern regions of the Lasambrian Hills following the Winter Solstice
Ambassador Ebeneezer has clearly presented the idea that the Empire and Faraden could form an alliance against the Jotun. The current truce with the Jotun is the result of a treaty, but as Mistress Karadragha has [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Hills_of_Reinos|already said]], that treaty is due to be renewed or renegotiated at the Summer Solstice. The situation has not changed; Faraden cannot afford to go to war with the Jotun, and as near as the Court of Five Winds can tell the Jotun would prefer to focus their efforts on fighting the Empire. The Ambassador's suggestion that Faraden troops might fight against the [[Druj]] or the [[vallorn|peculiar plant monsters]] that infest parts of the Empire are interesting, but unappealing; the distances are too great and the dangers are too unknown.

However, it may be that the Faraden and the Empire could both get what they want. The [[Iron Confederacy]] has reached out to the Court of the Five Winds and informed them that the Suranni intend to conquer southern [[Reinos]]. This is not the ideal situation, in that it swaps Jotun control of their trade routes to the Empire for Suranni control; but that is still preferable to the stranglehold the barbarian orcs have over them.

If the Empire is serious about a joint effort, then the Military Council could dispatch a force to attack [[Reinos#Ribeira|Riberia]] and [[Reinos#Pedreira|Pedreira]] after the Winter Solstice. A powerful force would be able to smash through the defences there and claim both regions. At the same time, the Iron Confederacy will be attacking in the south, catching Jotun defenders between the hammer and the anvil.

There are further benefits to the Faraden of course. If a serious force of soldiers were attacking the hills of Reinos they would be in a much better position to renegotiate or even abandon their treaty with the Jotun. The benefits to the Empire are less clear - but Mistress Karadragha points out that control of Pedreira would give the Empire control of the [[white granite]] quarry at [[Reinos#Cantera_Balanka|Cantera Balanka]] as well as protecting the entire western border of [[Segura]] from future Jotun invasion.
===Faith and Flame===
* '''The Gatekeepers have provided a dose of true liao to the Faraden priest Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree
* '''The Temple of the High Flames will receive a true consecration during the Winter Solstice
* '''There are concerns that Asavean assassins may try to disrupt the ceremony
* '''If the consecration is successful, it will end opportunities for Asavean religion to spread in Faraden
Last season ''Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree'', priest of the Five Flames, [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#Flames_and_Faith|petitioned the Synod]] for a dose of [[liao#True Liao|True Liao]]. Their intent was to use the true liao to create a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] of the [[Auras_of_Pride#Partner_of_Greatness|Flame of Honour]]; a powerful aura to help anchor the true faith of Faraden in the face of [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] syncretism. During the Equinox, the [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]] met and discussed the matter, and ultimately [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Doses_of_True_Liao|chose to provide]] one of the seven doses available to them. With the particular aid of '''Nisha Strazcovich''', a former Gatekeeper of Pride who Ebeneezer notes as being instrumental in ensuring the dose was available, the Ambassadors office ensured the true liao was safely delivered to Faraden.

During the Winter Solstice, a grand ceremony marking the end of one year and the beginning of another will take place at the ''Temple of the High Flames'', the most prestigious seat of the Faraden faith. Mistress Karadragha believes representatives of all the [[On_Faraden_faith#The Priest Families|priestly families]] of Faraden will attend, whatever their individual attitudes to the Empire. it is, to put it mildly, a big deal for the faithful of Faraden. No outside priests will be present as this is a ceremony for the Faraden. The Faraden Ambassador, however, has let the Ambassador know that the Liege of the Five Wind has ensured that warriors loyal to them will be present to protect the festivities. There is some concern that the Asaveans might attempt to disrupt the ceremony; there are rumours of assassin-priests of the twin-gods of vengeance, Tlangg and Sanit being present in Faraden.

Assuming the ceremony goes off without a hitch, it will create a potent site of pilgrimage for the faithful of Faraden. The Temple of the High Flames is to the Faraden what the Basilica of Seven Doors is to the Highborn, or the marshes of the Sovennan are to the Winterfolk - a central location sacred to all denominations of their faith. There is no doubt that the true aura will serve as a powerful prophylactic against the influence of Asavean priests, sufficient to put an end to the spread of their influence in the western nation.

It is, of course, illegal for Imperial citizens to trade true liao to citizens of foreign nations; there is no suggestion that either the Liege of the Five Winds or the priest families of Faraden will offer any payment for the liao. All they can offer in return is the profound gratitude of those who take Pride in [[On Faraden faith|their faith]], and who welcome this return to the true values of their own historic religion.
===Fire Fighters===
* '''Zealous crusaders from Faraden have attempted to destroy the Azure Chorus, the docks at Fisk, and the docks at Meade'''
* '''Thanks to prompt warnings from the Imperial Synod two of the three attacks have been thwarted'''
* '''The Jotun have restored the Docks at Meade but made cosmetic changes'''
* '''These attacks have been widely condemned within Faraden'''
In the days following the Autumn Equinox, hasty warnings are carried to Wintermark, the Marches, and the Brass Coast. '''Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum''', the Cardinal of Pride, has issued a dire warning, backed by a greater majority of the Assembly of Nine: the Cinders, a violent group of ultra-conservative Faraden who decry the Empire and all its citizens as irredeemable heretics, have infiltrated the Empire, and intend to wreak havoc upon the innocent. The three targets – the docks at both Fisk and Meade, and the Azure Chorus – are of obvious symbolic value, each one serving as a site where the people of the Empire and the people of Faraden can meet in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. Further hue and cry is raised in Marches specifically, as the statement of '''Father Edmund''' warns the people of Meade that the attackers have already infiltrated the city. Likewise, the Freeborn Assembly upheld a statement from '''Dayanara i Cabeza i Erigo''' warning of the planned attack in Kahraman. Whichever statement people hear first, the warnings are the same: be Vigilant. Lives are at stake.

The situation in Fisk is well contained. A local magistrate, already visiting the town to try an unrelated case, moves quickly to deputise nearby citizens and take control of the Market Hall. While the Faraden workers there are initially outraged by the accusations that there may be violent fanatics among their number, the outrage turns to panic when one of the porters draws a knife and slashes the magistrate’s face. What follows is a brief, ugly brawl, as other infiltrators from the Cinders reveal themselves and attempt to break out and flee. An effort is made to take suspects alive for trial and questioning, but comes to nothing. Even after the Cinders are disarmed, they do nothing but hurl abuse at their captors and their fellow Faraden alike, refusing to cooperate. Aside from vague hints that there are more of them in the Empire and that there will be more violence to follow, they give nothing useful, and are executed on the spot.

Chaos, unfortunately, reigns at the Azure Chorus. The densely packed tents of visiting pilgrims make conducting an orderly investigation all but impossible. Rumours spread through the camp like wildfire, leaving the Courageous and Vigilant citizens of the Brass Coast unable to take their targets by surprise. Some fear that the Cinders may simply flee, but the truth turns out to be much darker. A visiting priest comes running from the Parador of Wind and Flame, shouting that some Faraden pilgrims have barred the doors and begun massacring everyone inside, screaming condemnations against the “lovers of false flames.” The scene is set for tragedy, but nobody present is minded to accept such an outcome. Faraden and Freeborn alike take up arms and storm the Parador in defence of the priests and pilgrims trapped inside, fighting room to room and shedding blood to defend one another. There are many deaths, but fewer than might have been expected, given the grim circumstances.

Things go equally badly in Meade, where the situation is complicated by the the arrival of the Jotun. There is some question among those who stay behind as to whether or not to alert the Jotun to the plans of the Cinders. Would passing on such information be providing treasonous aid to an enemy, or acting with Vigilance to undermine a different enemy?

Unfortunately, the Cinders use the chaos of the invasion to attack before anyone can make a decision one way or the other. The dock front quickly descends into chaos as the Cinders fire the pier and try to murder the Faraden and Marcher merchants working there. Initially stunned by the madness, a Jotun patrol quickly composes themselves and within minutes Jotun and Marchers are fighting side-by-side to take the Cinders down.

At first the Jotun assume that the assassins are under some terrible Night magic curse. Three Cinders were captured alive during the attack - once the Jotun discover there was no magic involved they are appalled. A jarl is summoned and after the briefest trial imaginable, the three men are taken out into the bay and summarily drowned. It is apparently the worst death imaginable as far as the Jotun are concerned.

Once the Cinders have been dealt with, the Jarl gives orders to the Jotun for the docks to be restored. The work is done quickly, most of the docks can be salvaged and materials are shipped in to replace the parts that are too far gone. By the start of the Winter Solstice, the dock front is almost as good as new. Almost... because the Jotun artisans take it on themselves to add a monolithic stone carved in the likeness of an orc warrior - not the Jarl but an idol of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Skjaldir|Skjaldir]], one of the Jotun faðir.

When word reaches the Faraden Embassy, the response is quick and firm: an absolute and total condemnation of the Cinders' actions. The Liege of the Five Winds had previously spoken out against the Cinders after their failed attempt on the life of the Champion of Vigilance, but this has ignited fury across all of Faraden society. Even conservative thinkers who have never truly reconciled with the differences of faith between the Empire and Faraden are forced to publicly acknowledge that this has gone too far. The Liege of the Five Winds makes a speech before their court, committing to personally pay for any repairs to the sites of the attack, a gesture that earns widespread praise for its even-handed measure of Pride, Prosperity and Justice.

Embassy staff supply one slightly testy clarification to public perceptions of the Cinders: they are not 'Justice cultists', any more than a devout citizen of the Empire is an 'Ambition cultist'. The Cinders follow the Five Flames, just as the people of the Empire follow the Imperial Way. The Cinders are not bad because they follow a specific Virtue, they are bad because they are violent xenophobes who decry the possibility of coexistence and mutual Prosperity in favour of a chauvinistic vision of total cultural purity. Excessive dwelling on religious differences is what led to this problem in the first place, and the last thing anyone needs is someone stoking the flames.

====Raking Over The Ashes====
* '''The infiltrators in Fisk, Meade and the Azure Chorus were not the only Cinders present within the Empire.'''
* '''The attackers will cause further havoc unless they are prevented from doing so.'''
* '''Questions remain over how the group were able to acquire their supplies.'''
In the aftermath, cooler heads begin to dig deeper in both of the locations still controlled by the Empire. What emerges in each case is a similar story. The Cinders arrived as individuals or small groups over the course of the last year, staying and quietly blending in with their countryfolk. They did not disguise their conservative religious views, but did not speak of their violent aims to anyone outside of the conspiracy. The reasons for this are not hard to determine. Not only has the Liege of the Five Winds condemned the sect for their exremism, but many Faraden actively disagree with their attacks on people who did not harm them first. It seems that the Cinders consider other Faraden who deal with the ‘lovers of False Flames’ to be just as bad as heretics themselves. The Cinders are not, it seems, especially good at blending in with the people around them.

Ambassador Ebeneezer's request to Mistress Karadragha has borne fruit with a series of missives detailing what Faraden investigators were able to determine from their own efforts to suppress the sect. In conjunction with Imperial scouts, the two nations are able to put together a list of targets. It seems that the groups already dealt with are not the only ones active within Imperial borders. It's clear that the Cinders have made good use of the resources provided to them - although there is some question about precisely who their rich patrons are. Rumour suggests it is agents of the Asavean plenum who have been funding the Cinders, wielding their hatred of the Empire as a weapon.

===Wildfire (Conjunctions)===
* '''The Cinders have been spotted moving to attack the House of Guerra, the Anvil Library Scriptorium, and Benson's Orchard.'''
* '''Imperial heroes have the opportunity to act before the Cinders can cause any serious harm.'''
The Faraden reports include coded letters that speak of Cinders agents spying out "the Orchard" in the Marches and it is a relatively simple matter to deduce that this is probably a reference to [[Pruning_shears#Benson's_Orchard|Benson's Orchard]], the memorial to [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]] [[Known exemplars#Joshua Benson|'Major' Joshua Benson]]. From the other reports the Faraden are able to provide, it becomes clear the last Cinders are planning to assault the [[Armarius_of_the_Anvil_Library#The_Library_Scriptorium|Anvil Library Scriptorium]] and the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]].

By any analysis, these attacks are ultimately doomed to failure. The aura at Benson's Orchard was created with true liao, and there is no way that the Cinders have access to that most valuable substance. The Anvil Library Scriptorium sits in a fortified compound to protect against assaults from agents of the Whisper Gallery, and the House of Guerra is in Calvos town itself, surrounded by Kohan and Corsairs on shore leave. None of these sites are in danger of being destroyed. However, the Cinders are heavily armed and prepared to fight to the death. If they are allowed to work their will unmolested, they will kill a great many people and cause a lot of damage before they are stopped. Fortunately, with the advance warning provided by Faraden to Ambassador Ebeneezer, and the results of Imperial investigations, there is enough notice for the prognosticators to find conjunctions of the [[Sentinel Gate]] that heroes may be able to intervene and prevent loss of life.

====Burn The Books (Sarvos)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the Anvil Library Scriptorium'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Armarius of the Anvil Library'' is responsible for protecting the Scriptorium'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''

The Anvil Library stands dedicated to the cause of Wisdom and learning across the Empire, fighting back against the terrible losses inflicted by Emperor Nicovar and his book-burning ways. This cause elicits no sympathy from the Cinders, who decry Wisdom as the False Virtue of Doubt. They would love nothing more than to burn the books and massacre the scribes. The mercenaries engaged in the defence of the compound are trusted veterans, but even one enemy with a lit match could wreak havoc if they broke through.

The main group of Cinders are approaching fast along Vintner's Way in Foracci. It is the responsibility of '''Ricardo Glostari di Sarvos''', the Armarius of the Anvil Library, to cut them off before any damage can be done.

====Sever The Hand (Madruga)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the House of Guerra'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Hand of Guerra'' is responsible for protecting the House'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
The House of Guerra stands as a testament to the Empire's commitment to taking care of those in need of shelter. Operated by a well-paid staff noted for their practicality and compassion, this thoroughly benign institution seems an odd target for the religiously-motivated Cinders. Things come into focus when the other duty of the Hand of Guerra is pointed out. Spreading the philosophy of Guerra is not especially controversial in the Empire, but rumours have persisted for a long time of her connection to the False Virtue of Anarchy, which the Cinders despise as much as any Imperial citizen. While the general consensus is that these rumours are historical fabrications, it is doubtful that the Cinders would listen if anyone tried to explain to them.

If the attackers are to be intercepted, the easiest place would be along the Corsair's Road in Calvos Sound. It is the responsibility of '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''', the Hand of Guerra, to prevent any harm coming to their charges.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Orchard One.jpg|align=left|caption=Brother Martin Orchard is a sometimes controversial, well respected monk from Pickham Monastery. in Upwold|width=400}}</div>
====Silence The Bell (Upwold)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to desecrate Benson's Orchard'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* ''' ''Martin Orchard'', who carried out the consecration, is responsible for protecting the memorial'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
'Major' Joshua Benson is an aspirational figure for many dedicants of Vigilance, especially in the Marches. A man without flashy miracles and tall tales to his name, he simply defended his community with absolute and unwavering commitment. Jackie Longshanks, the Beater who was able to sneak up on the Cinders to eavesdrop on their plans, cited the Bellringer as an inspiration for her deeds. The Vigilant pilgrims coming to soak up the aura that surrounds the exemplar's resting place have taken up arms and are ready to defend the holy site to the death, but such a fight would be a bloodbath. If the Cinders should spill blood on such a sacred memorial, the response from irate pilgrims of Vigilance would not bear thinking about.

As the Cinders move to attack Benson's Orchard, they must first move through the area of Tower March known as Benson's Bawn. It is the responsibility of '''Martin Orchard''', the priest who consecrated Benson's Orchard, to thwart their malice before it can strike.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Delicacies.jpg|caption=The Faraden are proud of their own fine victuals, but also keen to bring the best food and drink from around the world to their tables..|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Days Of Wine And Mooncheese===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Moonsong Market'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], [[the Barrens]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 [[weirwood]] and 30 [[white granite]], 180 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for farms in the Barrens by one
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Moonsong Reeve''
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 4 Thrones each season
* Significantly increases the number of Faraden travelling to and visting Dawn</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Moonsong Reeve'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To serve as a liaison between the Faraden visiting Moonsong Market and the people of Dawn; to encourage Faraden merchants to trade with the nation; to smooth over any disputes; to make decisions based on any opportunities related to Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' If the Moonsong Reeve is not yeofolk, the great work benefits will be halved</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Moonsong Cheese'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>Three common mooncheese and one rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>Six common mooncheese and two rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 crowns</td><td>Nine common mooncheese and three rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 crowns</td><td>Twelve common mooncheese and four rare mooncheese</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A consortium in Faraden has established a potential deal to trade luxury food in the Barrens.'''
* '''Despite an attempt by the Cinders to sabotage this plan, the actions of Imperial Citizens have demonstrated that Faraden merchants are safe to trade with the Empire.'''

Even as further violence mars relationships between the Empire and Faraden, the siren song of commerce seeks to bring people closer together. Last season, merchants of the Sansar family came to Anvil to speak with the people of Dawn about setting up a trade enclave in the Barrens. Representing a coalition of smaller families, they sought to exploit the opportunities presented by providing rare goods to the eastern Empire and, in so doing, to raise their standing back home.

While the trade talks themselves seem to have gone well, confused reports from Anvil speak of three of the Sansar cousins attending but only two returning, and of drawn blades and plotted murders. When the surviving merchants returned home they apparently brought a tale of horrific treachery: the third of their party had been corrupted by the rage of the Cinders, and plotted to murder them on their journey back to Faraden! Only by the swift action of Imperial law enforcement was this plan foiled. The intention of the Cinders was clear, to scare merchants away from dealing with the Empire. Yet this plan has backfired spectacularly, as the Sansar have not only publicly recommitted to building closer ties with their Imperial friends, but have posted a bounty on all members of the Cinders in vengeance for their heinous acts.

Still, bloodshed makes for poor conversation over the negotiating table, so discussions with the Imperial civil service focus on business. The core of the deal is a pleasingly symmetrical arrangement: Dawnish cloth for Faraden cloth, Dawnish wine for Faraden cheese. Already Seneschals and vintners across Dawn are racing to discover the best wine pairings for the valuable Faraden Mooncheese, a development that is filling the cheesemakers of Faraden with Pride and confidence. There was also an unsurprising interest in purchasing Mithril, for which the Empire’s voracious appetite is well-known.

The plans drawn up off the back of these proposals are, in their most basic nature, similar to the Firewind Market in Holberg. The proposed Moonsong Market, named in honour of the famed Mooncheese, would take 30 wains of weirwood, 30 wains of white granite, and 180 Crowns in labour costs. The Sansar have requested that such a market be built in either [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] to be close to the well-defended centres of civilisation. Once constructed, the Moonsong Market would act as a [[great work]] increasing investment in farms across the Barrens. It would also create an [[Imperial title]] - ''Moonsong Reeve'' - that would be responsible for representing Dawn in any negotiations with the Faraden merchants, and smoothing over any issues that arise with their trade in Dawn.

There is one other matter - one that the Faraden are unaware of. As an economic position, the people of Dawn expect the ''Moonsong Reeve'' to be [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]]. If the title is held by a noble, it will result in the benefits of the great work being halved as Dawnish farmers look askance at the Faraden merchants and their association with a noble demeaning the glory of Dawn.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorIronConfederacy.png|caption='''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo''', Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==The Iron Confederacy==
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
* '''They have recently moved a major military force into the islands off the coast of Feroz
{{Nation|nation=The [[Iron Confederacy]]|port=[[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]]|status=Foreigner|ambassador=Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo}}
The Suranni lie to the south of the Empire. They are a secretive nation, bound up in tradition and suspicion. While they are currently at peace with the Empire, even accepting merchants and traders into their lands, they are certainly not ''friends''. Recent events have seen them, like the [[Faraden]], caught between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the pro-slavery Freedom Accord. Yet where Faraden feels it must play a delicate balancing act, the Suranni Dukes are more confident in their power and prepared to play Imperial and Asavean interests off against each other.

The Suranni ambassador to the Empire is ''Baroness Katerine Lavasse of Meore'', who operates from the Tour Lavasse in Chaubrette, a territory unknown to Imperial citizens that apparently lies to the west of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Veroigne|Veroigne]]. A noble [[naga]], she replaced the significantly more dogmatic Jeanne de Hibernat, a High Priestess of the Suranni god [[Suranni_pantheon#Evra_the_Smith,_Maiden_of_the_Forge|Evra the Smith, Maiden of the Forge]]. She has already indicated that she is very much more pragmatic than her predecessor and more interested in compromise. She still reports to the Dukes of the Iron Confederacy, however, and so her apparent goodwill toward the Empire cannot be relied upon.
===Suranni Pleasantries===
* '''General pleasantries and diplomatic matters have been touched on
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
Ambassador Tethros has apparently informed Baroness Katerine that the Empire intends to attack [[Skallahn]]. This receives a slightly mixed response; the Suranni ambassador is not herself familiar with northern [[Jotun]] lands. Her response is to congratulate the Empire on seeking to conquer [[orc]] lands, and indicates that the news was met with a great deal of interest among some of the more martial Dukes.

The matter of Faraden was also raised, and Baroness Katerine, perhaps a little surprisingly, agrees that Asavean influence over the neighbouring nation is less than ideal. While the Suranni are capable of keeping the agents of the Plenum at arms' length, and ensuring they gain benefits from their association without becoming tainted, they are less confident that the Faraden can achieve the same.

In somewhat delicate tones, Baroness Katerine writes that the Suranni obviously have their own relationship with Faraden - distinct from the Empire - and their own trade routes. They are exploring their own avenues to reduce Asavean influence, but at this time they are reticent about collaborating with the Empire. With the best will in the world, the Empire's tendency to - no offence - blunder in like a drunk in a glassworks, do not predispose the Suranni to share too much at this time. If the Ambassador can be more specific about proposals for joint action with regard to the Faraden that do '''not''' risk souring the Suranni relationship with the Asaveans unnecessarily, then the Dukes are certainly interested to discuss those plans.

With regard to trade, the Baroness is generally positive about trade with the port of [[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]] and entirely sees where the Ambassador is coming from when they talk of more secure overland trade routes. Suranni merchants have long seen the town of [[Feroz#Fontargenta|Bramar]] in Feroz as the ideal destination for those looking to trade with the Empire. From there the more adventurous could travel to [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]], or even further north across the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider's_Dream|Spider's Dream]] bridge. However, as the Suranni understand it a recent natural disaster has severed easy trade routes between Feroz and the rest of the Empire. Is there any news of when these will be restored? That would likely be the first step toward securing a commitment to a trade [[ministry]] in the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Kobol.PNG|caption=[[Suranni_pantheon#Kobol the Warrior, Maiden of Battle|Kobol the Warrior]] is the uncompromising [[Suranni pantheon|Iron Confederacy god]] of warriors and battle.|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Cazar and the ''Wings of Kobol''===
* '''The Iron Confederacy has smashed the Children of Wrecks in Feroz
* '''Suranni forces have claimed the Cazar Straits for the Confederacy
* '''The Dukes intend to attack Free Landing after the Spring Equinox if the Empire has not dealt with the Wreckers by then
* '''While no treaty has been agreed, Freeborn citizens are free to leave the islands and ships from Feroz can pass through the waters
The Iron Confederacy has invaded [[Feroz]]; or rather they have attacked the Children of Wrecks on the [[Feroz#Cazar Straits|Cazar Straits]]. As laid out in the '''[[Red_skies#Swords_of_the_South|Red skies]]''' wind of war, the ''Wings of Kobol'' [[navy]] brought two Suranni [[army|armies]] across the border from Kalino and smashed the Wreckers' grasp on the island chain. Those pirates and raiders who were not defeated in battle, or captured and executed, have been forced to flee. Most have gone north to [[Madruga#Free Landing|Free Landing]], but some have apparently chosen to quit the [[Bay of Catazar]] altogether. The Cazar Straits are now under the control of the Iron Confederacy.

Following the attack and "liberation" of the islands, Baroness Katerine delivers a message from the Suranni Dukes. It has been too long since the pirates invoked the power of [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Dumon]] to help them seize the islands to the north of Arbonne, which they have been using as a base to attack the coast of the Iron Confederacy. Over a year ago they launched a raid against [[bay of Catazar#Axiom Prison|Axiom Prison]] and released many dangerous prisoners including a large number of corrupt wizards. While there has been some diplomatic attempt to find common ground for a joint effort against the Children, that have come to nothing. With this decisive action, the Iron Confederacy has shown that it will not tolerate criminals and pirates threatening their borders.

Diplomatic channels were used during the Autumn Equinox to inform Imperial officials of the Suranni intentions. During that time there was discussion of a treaty, but after due consideration the Dukes believe that it is too soon to commit to any formal agreement while there is still a major Children of Wrecks presence just north of their lands - by which they pointedly mean their new holdings in the Cazar Straits. The work done at the Autumn Equinox by Baronets ''Marquette Lavasse'' and ''Vauquelin Lavasse'', during which they met informally with multiple Imperial luminaries have indicated that there is certainly a foundation for a formal treaty to secure relations between the Confederacy and the Empire; but the time to discuss it is once the immediate threat is ended.

Baroness Katerine appears to be aware that the Empire planned their own assault on the Children of Wrecks following the Autumn Equinox, but apparently expected it to be aimed at Free Landing. Her missive lays out that the Dukes plan to take a season ensuring that the last corrupt elements are removed from the islands of Cazar. Then, if the Empire has not already dealt with them, they will attack the Wreckers in Free Landing with an eye towards dealing with them as they have their "friends" in the south. It is important for Ambassador Tethros to understand that if the ''Wings of Kobol'' are called on to free the Madrugan islands, they will likewise be considered part of the Iron Confederacy. After that, though, there will be plenty of time to discuss how to proceed. In particular, she wishes to commend [[Senator]] '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' whose passionate words went some way toward reassuring the Dukes that the Empire was in the process of dealing with the Pirates of Dumon and should be given a little space to do so.

The Baroness does however reiterate that as far as the Dukes are concerned, they have taken enemy territory away from criminals who made war on the Suranni people. The islands of Cazar are now ''theirs'', by right of conquest. This, says Katerine, is not a matter for debate - the facts speak for themselves. The same will be true if they are forced to deal with the pirates of Free Landing.

However, in recognition of the historic presence of the people of [[the Brass Coast]] here, there are certain humanitarian concessions the Dukes have instructed Baroness Katerine to lay out. Any Imperial citizen that was trapped in the Cazar Straits when they were conquered by the Grendel, and then seized by the Pirates of Dumon, is absolutely free to leave; indeed they are encouraged to depart. Suranni ships stand ready to repatriate them to the mainland, and there will be no bar to Freeborn vessels that wish to come collect their countryfolk.

The Iron Confederacy is also open to suggestions about how best to arrange matters with regard to Imperial ships leaving or entering Feroz. Obviously, with control of the Cazar Straits, the Suranni could potentially cut the Freeborn territory off from the Bay of Catazar entirely. There is no reason for them to do so at the moment; indeed Baroness Katerine expresses the hope that recent successes with trade can be built on to encourage Imperial merchants to visit the Straits. This means that there will be no disadvantage to the Freeborn busy rebuilding their homes in the ruined territory from the Suranni.

The [[Civil Service|civil service]] advise that this communication should not be taken entirely at face value. Reading between the lines, it seems that Baroness Katerine isn't ''completely'' happy with the decision of the Dukes. Over the last few years, she has demonstrated a preference for a more nuanced, diplomatic approach to relations with the Empire. At the end of the day though, it is the Dukes who make the decisions. The rulers of the Iron Confederacy are [[naga]], and while they can be [[Naga#Subtle|subtle]], they are still [[Naga#Passionate|passionate]] and [[Naga#Avaricious|avaricious]].

The proposal of a treaty once the Children of Wrecks are finally beaten seems genuine, and it is possible that one of the reasons the Suranni are not rolling straight into Free Landing is to give Ambassador Tethros a chance to put forward a proposal of their own.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|caption='''Watt of Lambrook''', Minister of Historical Research|align=left|width=300}}</div>

===Marko and the March of History===
* '''Marko Siwarsbairn is ''still'' in the Iron Confederacy'''
The saga of Marko Siwarsbairn continues to drag on. Following the [[Bedight_in_veils#An_Imperial_Historian_in_the_Baronial_Court|dispute]] over the [[historical research]] the [[Wintermark]] scholar had been compiling on Iron Confederacy military history, the Ambassador passed along words from the [[Minister of Historical Research]] '''Watt Lambrook''': "''My researcher is correct that I hold the right to view such reports first. However, since this was understandably not known at the time I will oblige that this once you may also read the report Marko has written before he leaves.''"

Baroness Katerine thanks the Minister for their words, and understands that this is a concession. However as the Winter Solstice draws closer it seems Marko has ''still'' not returned from the Iron Confederacy. A late message to the Imperial embassy indicates that on reading the Siwarsbairn Report it was clear to the Baroness that there were several significant errors and misconceptions in the document. Rather than suggest Marko scrap their hard work and start again, Baroness of Meore has offered the assistance of some of her own staff to correct those errors. She is confident that the report will be much more useful as an artifact of truth, rather than something riddled with errors. She anticipates that unless anything else goes wrong, Marko will be safely back in the Empire with a well-researched document in time for the Spring Equinox.

The Minister need not worry; Baroness Katerine is more than happy to continue to serve as gracious host to Marko Siwarsbairn, and supply the support they need at her own expense. It is the least she can do as a student of history herself, committed to increasing understanding between her nation and the Empire. She also mentions that the gods clearly inspired Marko to make their errors; if they had set off from Meore on schedule this season they would doubtless have ended up caught in the events unfolding in Arbonne.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dumon.PNG|caption=Dumon the Liar, the Wicked One|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Unfolding in Arbonne===
* '''Arbonne has been subject to a serious Winter curse'''
* '''The priests of the Veiled Shrine claim an oracle has implicated Imperial citizens in the curse'''
* '''Baroness Katerine asks the Ambassador to encourage Imperial citizens to track down those responsible'''
Shortly after the Spring Equinox, the dukedom of Kalino - which the Suranni call Arbonne - was struck with a [[I_wish_you_would#Wicked curses|blight]] that withered crops and saw vermin multiply across the territory. The priests of [[Suranni_pantheon#Kavol,_the_Veiled_King|Kavol]] quickly identified that this was a [[curse]] drawn down by wicked sorcerers working with the aid of the [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Lying God]]. The curse ran its course, and despite some food shortages in Arbonne, the worst appeared to be over. This assumption was, unfortunately, premature.

Just after the Autumn Equinox another curse fell on Arbonne, and this was orders of magnitude worse than the blight that struck in Spring. The first sign was unseasonably bad weather than ruined crops before they could be gathered; it was swiftly followed by a wave of sickness that incapacitated the weak and the strong alike. Then, on the night of the first new moon, demonic angels of Dumon emerged from the shadows bent on murder and corruption. The worst of them took on the forms of dead orcs, the Lasambrians who had once squatted in the hills here. Their witchcraft brought more terror and destruction to the people and serfs of Arbonne. Worse, among their numbers were revenants that appeared in the form of dead Suranni and even in a few cases what looked to be Imperial knights.

This was again seen as a sign that the gods were angry with the Duke of Arbonne, but again the Priests of Kavol investigated the matter and determined that it was nothing more than another terrible curse from the servants of Dumon. This time, though, this reassurance has done little to quell discontent in the territory. Crops fail from time to time, as a test from the gods, but this unspeakable infestation of demons and revenants is an entirely different matter. The position of the Duke of Arbonne is extremely shaky; if a third curse strikes the territory they will have little choice but to step aside in favour of one of their heirs. Baroness Katerine confidently paints the heirs to the current Duke as competent, wise people but there is an edge to her words that suggests she is not entirely confident about what she is saying.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|Seven Locks 2.jpg|Master of Locks.png}}</div>
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|WhisperGal004.png|WhisperGal005.png}}</div>
While the curse is bad, it would normally be a matter for the Iron Confederacy to resolve. Unfortunately, there is an unlooked for wrinkle here. Among the priests of Kavol there are some sects charged with specific duties within the Confederacy. The priests of the Veiled Shrine are charged to root out heretics and servants of Dumon who consort with demons. The Veiled God has sent a sign to them, warning them that while the curse comes from the servants of the God of Corruption, they could not have achieved this terrible working without aid. Specifically, through oracles and visionary dreams, Kavol has given a warning that the power to place the curse came from the Empire.

Baroness Katerine is not a fool; she doesn't believe the Empire has cursed Arbonne. There's simply no evidence of it. Unfortunately, the priests of the Veiled Shrine are adamant that there is Imperial entanglement in this event. She asks that the Ambassador do whatever it takes to find out who has provided the Hand of Dumon with the wherewithal to lay a curse of this magnitude on Arbonne. Given that working with the Hand is a crime in the Empire, she presumes that Imperial justice likewise has a vested interest in tracking down whoever it is that is supporting these monstrous sorcerers. The Dukes cannot countenance Imperial support for the Hand of Dumon, and if it comes out that Imperial citizens were flouting the laws made by the Senate in this regard it would shake confidence in those who pointed to the agreement as a positive step in international relations. Which includes Baroness Katerine of course.

Obviously, the one thing every Imperial citizen can be '''absolutely certain''' of, is that "the Veiled God" definitely did not tell the Iron Confederacy anything, ''given they don't actually exist''. However they note that Baroness Katerine refers to "angels" more than once, which is either a [[Astronomancy#Tulpas|tulpa]] or much more likely, a [[herald]] of some [[eternal]] that is up to no good. If it is the latter, the finger of suspicion must point at either [[Basileia]] or the [[Whisper Gallery]], either of which would sell the Empire out in a heartbeat. The City of Locks trades in treachery, espionage and secrets, while the Shadow Courtiers are literally obsessed with secrets. On paper, it is more likely to be the Princess of Weirs; since the Concilium of the Perjured Throne is under enmity, the only way they could be mixed up in all this is if that was being subverted by members of the Conclave.

It's unfortunate that the Empire does not have a workable map of Arbonne, so rituals such as [[Eye of the High Places]] will not be able to find anything useful. From the description, however, it seems that the curse might have been the result of a potent Winter magic ritual of high magnitude - at least eightieth and perhaps higher.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconSumaah.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>
==Sumaah Republic==
* '''The Sumaah Republic is an empire devoted to an orthodox interpretation of the Way'''
* '''The Sumaah Republic remain allies of the Empire in the Liberty Pact
The [[Sumaah Republic]] are simultaneously allies of, and rivals to, the Empire. Their shared practice of the Way both provide them with common ground, and divides them over questions of orthodoxy. As founding members of the [[Liberty Pact]], their ties to the Empire have been strengthened, and they have been closely involved in bringing ruin to those involved in the abhorrent practice of slavery. At the moment they are focused on their [[Guide_the_spirit#Virtuous_War|war]] with the [[Asavean Archipelago]], but they remain committed to spreading the Way through the entire world. In gratitude for [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|major aid]] from the Empire in repulsing an Asavean assault against the port of [[Foreign_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]], the Sumaah have committed to sharing a dose of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] with the Empire every season "''until the Plenum falls and the Way is spread to the Archipelago''." Relations with the grateful Sumaash, which have been bumpy in the past, are now better than ever.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sumaah Republic]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]]|ambassador=Accalon of [[Highguard]]}}
The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is ''Oxtitocszin'', who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah ''präster'', but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.
===Liberty===
* '''The Sumaah are sending a representative to the Liberty Pact meeting'''
The Sumaah are, of course, sending an emissary to the [[Liberty Pact]] meeting. ''Oxtitocszin'' indicates the Sumaah attitude to the Pact has not shifted. They still intend to propose the amendment to the pact [[Drowned_in_tears#Liberty_Pact|mentioned last season]], to centre [[the Way]] in the approach of the Liberty Pact to defeating the evil of slavery. Apparently, the Sumaah representatives to the Pact are a little surprised that the Empire are not raising any amendments to the Pact themselves, but appreciate that this may simply be because the status quo serves their interests more effectively.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Accalon5901.jpg|caption='''Accalon of Felix's Watch''', Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|align=right|width=350}}</div>
Ambassador Accalon's words relating to the removal of Axos from the pact has not inspired them to revisit the matter but they wish the Ambassador to be apprised that they will vote with the Commonwealth on this matter. Unfortunately, Sumaah is not in a position to launch a full-scale invasion of the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. Were there any chance that such an attack might be practical, they would already be undertaking it. Oxtitocszin gently suggests that even if they were holding off for some reason, the Ambassador's proposal that the Empire would help remove Axos from the Pact would by no means be sufficient inducement for them to do so. The Sumaah Republic intends to let virtue guide their approach to the Pact and the Axou, as they do everything else. They would expect the Empire to do the same.

Further details of the Sumaah involvement in the Liberty Pact meeting can be found in the '''[[My soul at liberty]]''' wind of fortune.

===Gift of Pride (Redux)===
* '''The House of the People delayed their shipment of white granite at the request of Ambassador Accalon
* '''After the Winter Solstice there is an opportunity for Imperial fleet captains to escort the shipment to the Brass Coast
At the request of the people of [[the Brass Coast]], as relayed to the Sumaah by Ambassador Accalon, they have delayed the shipment intended to [[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|offer aid in rebuilding]]. The white granite is still in the Republic, waiting an escort of Imperial vessels to help it reach the shores of the Bay of Catazar. The House of the People recognises that dealing with the threat of the Children of Wrecks takes priority. The Cardinal of the House of [[Vigilance]], however does append a warning to the Freeborn not to allow the malign power of ''hevn'' to gain a foothold in their souls. "''Hevn''" is apparently an old-fashioned Sumaah term for the power of [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|vengeance]] but with elements of [[Malign spiritual presences#Hatered|Hatred]]. The Cardinal reminds their beloved Imperial cousins that to strike against enemies before they can harm you is vigilant but to pursue the destruction of those who have harmed you for selfish reasons is to invite corruption into ones soul.

Regardless, the House of the People have confirmed that the shipments of white granite await an Imperial escort. They warn, however, that they cannot afford to delay their gift for another season. The [[Asavean Archipelago]] already seems to have gotten wind of what is planned, and any further wait will surely see the Sumaah ships attacked and sunk regardless of the presence of Imperial vessels.

You can read about this opportunity in last seasons '''[[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|Drowned in tears]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=IconZemress.png |caption=Icon of Zemress|title=Icons of Zemress are popular with sailors who must travel through dangerous waters - both those from the Brass Coast, and the distant Frieøyer.|align=right|width=300}}
===Inspiration of Zemress===
* '''A renowned Frieøyer captain has come to study at the Zemress Naval Academy along Sumaah sailors and shipwrights'''
* '''Their support has helped to unlock the full potential of the Academy and the Empire's naval forces'''
While [[Red skies|war rages]] in the seas of Sarvos and Madruga, a Sumaah ship appears at the docks in [[Madruga#Calvos|Calvos]]. It looks a little the worse for wear, showing signs of having sustained significant damage recently. It turns out to be the ship of ''Bjarna Xicot'' of the Frieøyer - the former pirates [[Zemress#A_Tale_from_Sumaah|inspired]] by the paragon [[Zemress]] - who has come to study at the [[Madruga#Zemress_Naval_Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] along with a boatload of Sumaah students. Unfortunately, along the way, they fell afoul of Asavaean privateers and only just managed to escape with their lives and their vessel.

The Sumaah quickly make themselves at home; the Frieøyer among their number have all fought alongside Imperial fleet captains before, during the [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|fight against Asavea]] last year. The others are a combination of pilgrims of [[Prosperity]], scholars, and shipwrights. Sumaah does not have anything to match the naval prowess of Asavea but like the Empire they have their traditions of building warships. Without them, the Asaveans would likely have conquered swathes of their coastline in the centuries of war.

''Bjarna Xicot'' brings with her a gift - or rather, she and her companions ''are'' the gift. A gift not from the House of the People or the High Houses of Virtue but from the Frieøyer themselves. It is in part a gift of gratitude for the Imperial sailors who fought alongside them, partly a gift of Pride, but mostly a gift to recognise the shared love of Zemress between the Frieøyer and the Brass Coast. The artisans and veteran mariners who accompany Bjarna are here to stay, they are eager to study at the Academy and learn what they can from the Freeborn masters of the sea, but they also bring knowledge and skills of their own, which they are enthusiastic to share. They bring with them a small library of plans and books dedicated to the art of the shipwright, translated painstakingly from their original tongue into Imperial.

Studying together, the two groups are able to achieve a breakthrough. The Academy has been steadily creating designs for new warships, trying to match the qualities of the navies of the [[Grendel]] and the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]]. The school has done a remarkable job building up Imperial expertise, but with the information the Frieøyer have provided has helped to ''complete'' that program of study. The academy has discovered everything they can - all that remains now is to put that knowledge into practice.

That means building some navies, but it also means spreading the knowledge they have gained far and wide across the Empire. Excited at the prospects of sharing what they have learned with everyone in the Empire, the Academy soon empties out, as people make arrangements to visit one or more of the other nations. After-all - "all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it."

The main advantage of spreading this knowledge far and wide is that shipwrights will be able to build vessels better suited to a nation's ideals. Local shipwrights can build on the skills and learning shared by the staff of the former Zemress Academy to create something more in keeping with local traditions. Freeborn navies might be well-suited to plunder, while a Dawnish warship might be built for glory!

What that means now, is that any [[navy]] built by the Empire would have access to a set of three or more qualities just like an [[army]]. Going forward, similar to the [[Rules_update_2026#New_Army_Qualities|rules that cover army qualities]], the Senator who musters a navy will be given a list of qualities to choose from reflecting their nation and the narrative surrounding the navy's creation. These will be drawn from the list of standard qualities, but through [[opportunity|opportunities]] or [[appraisal|appraisals]], more unique qualities may be on offer.
<div style="float: right; width: 250px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|width=250px}}</div>
====Legacy====
* '''The Synod lists the Krakens' Bane as a memorial to Zemress'''
* '''The Wreckers destroyed the beautiful seminary constructed in her memory'''
* '''The potential exists to create a truly inspirational memorial to Zemress'''
* '''Any edifice would be more inspirational if the General Assembly recognise Zemress as a paragon'''
The Zemress Naval Academy now stands empty. Its great work complete, the staff have fanned out across the Empire, taking the new learning with them. The power to develop qualities is no longer available or needed. However, the building still stands, and it still attracts the best shipwrights from across the Brass Coast and beyond. This is the site that raised Imperial naval traditions to the point where they could rival - at least in theory - those of the Grendel or the Asaveans. The Frieøyer came half way across the world to study here.

This incredible legacy should be preserved. When the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress_(Destroyed)|Seminary of Zemress]] was destroyed, the ''Kraken's Bane'' was left untouched. It bears a [[Aura#Durable_Auras|true aura]] of Prosperity, [[A_time_of_plenty#Coin_that_Goes_Unspent|placed there by Gilah, daughter of the Chantry]] with the approval of the Assembly of Prosperity. The beautiful building that once celebrated the life of this iconic Freeborn hero was destroyed, but the potential exists to rebuild it into something even more inspirational.

No true liao would be needed, but a new [[edifice]] of some kind is needed. The more [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandiose]] the building, the more inspirational it would be. However, the other thing that would help to remind everyone of the importance of the site, is if the Freeborn were able to convince the General Assembly to recognise Zemress as a paragon. After-all... what more powerful a legacy could exist than the triumph of the Zemress Naval Academy?

Freeborn architects intend to bring a range of plans forward to create a new building to celebrate Zemress' life later this year. They want to give their fellow Freeborn time to persuade the Synod of the truth of their claims - that Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo has passed through the Labyrinth. If the Synod act to recognise Zemress as a paragon, they will publish their ideas before the next summit, otherwise they will publish them in a year's time.

===OOC Note===
The Zemress Naval Academy, and its approach to determining qualities for navies, was rooted in an earlier vision of how navies worked. As we've developed our approach to armies, it's become more clear that we should be treating navies in the same way we do armies - that they should have strong identities tied to the nation that supports them. As such, the existing abilities of the Academy to build up a small list of qualities based on the design of the ships themselves has become outmoded. The in-character rationale for the rules change is that the arrival of the Frieøyer has helped the Academy achieve its ultimate goals and allowed them to spread knowledge of advanced ship-building right across the Empire.

Rather than simply have the Naval Academy become a white elephant, we'll present an opportunity to build on the consecrated location dedicated to Zemress later this year, to give the Empire an opportunity to rededicate the site with a new purpose.

==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark keep the Empire at arms' length
* '''The Imperial Consul is technically responsible for diplomatic relations with the Mountains of the Moon
During the Autumn Equinox, a delegation from the [[Tsark|Mountains of the Moon]] visited [[Bedight_in_veils#The_People_of_the_Moon|visited Anvil]]. They spoke with a number of people, and by all accounts the discussions were somewhat fruitful. The people of Tsark - the [[orc]] nation that occupies the shallow basin surrounded by the Mountains - have so far kept the Empire very much at arms' length. Following their visit, however, they have made an approach to the civil service and asked their assistance in preparing some proposals to put before the Empire.

===Garden of the Perfect World===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Ministry</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]], [[Zenith]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 [[weirwood]], 45 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Urizen National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees the Garden of the Perfect World</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To look after the Garden of the Perfect World, and to help the people of Tsark trade with the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' The benefits are lost if the Empire and Tsark are no longer friendly</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Wood and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>4 weirwood</td><td>4 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>6 weirwood</td><td>6 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 weirwood</td><td>8 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Spirits and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 liao</td><td>1 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>90 liao</td><td>2 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 liao</td><td>3 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''There is an opportunity to build a ministry to trade for Tsark's white granite
Tsark resists the idea of an [[embassy]]. By all accounts they see the Empire as a place of chaos and turmoil, very much at odds with the ordered and harmonious life they lead in the high mountains east of [[Urizen]].For centuries they have hidden away from Imperial eyes, discouraging anyone from visiting their home with mighty fortifications and memory-altering drugs. Now, however, it seems that they are prepared to countenance some limited trade with Imperial citizens, with an eye toward acquiring substances that are rare or unknown in Tsark. With the aid of the civil service they have put forward a proposal for the grandiosely titled ''Garden of the Perfect World''.

The garden would be a special [[ministry]] built in the foothills of [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]] in southern [[Zenith]]. They expect the Empire to undertake the construction. Despite its majestic name, the actual commission requires only 15 wains of weirwood and 45 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete. It takes the form of a meditative garden, built in the style of Tsark. Quiet chimes are hung from carefully selected trees, and what appears to be a traditional Tsark meeting hall stands along the southern side of the garden. The commission also involves beautiful flowering plants, some from Urizen and some from Tsark.

Once complete the Mountains of the Moon would create the title ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' to oversee it. They would be responsible for trading with the people of Tsark, and where the folk of the Mountains of the Moon reached out to the Empire they would be asked to facilitate any diplomacy or negotiations. It sounds a little like what they really want is an ambassador, but the leaders of Tsark are clear they do not. It seems they are concerned that they would have to build a reciprocal embassy themselves, and allow Imperial citizens into their lands, which they will not do.

The garden allows the ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' access to a ministry that lets them exchange their [[white granite]] from the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Kamen_Quarry|Kamen Quarry]] for Imperial [[weirwood]]. They are also interested in acquiring some amount of [[liao]] - a substance not found in Tsark - for use by the human citizens of their nation. They are aware that the quantities they are asking for are quite significant and understand if the Empire doesn't want to take advantage of the trade.

Obviously as a ministry supported by a foreign nation, the ability to trade resources with Tsark is entirely dependant on continued diplomatic relations. Aware that the Empire is, perhaps rightly, concerned about what will happen if Tsark chooses to close itself off from the world again, they have agreed that if they end their trade with the Empire for any reason they will provide 15 wains of white granite to the Seeker of the Perfect World before they do so to pay for the resources spent in the construction of the ministry. If the Empire ends trade, of course, they will not feel the need to provide any restitution at all.

The opportunity remains available until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE.

===Zaboravi===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of Peaceful Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Wintermark]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 [[weirwood]], 36 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a sinecure and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Wintermark National or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Wintermark National Assembly or Imperial Apothecaries' Guild</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 12 doses of zaboravi each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversees the Garden of Peaceful Quietitude; help cultivate zaboravi in Wintermark</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tsark will help the people of Wintermark cultivate zaboravi
* '''The sinecure must be built in an alpine territory, in a region with hills and hot springs
The people of Tsark make use of an exotic drug called ''Zaboravi'' that has remarkable properties. Used correctly, it allows an individual to edit their own memories in a manner similar to [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]]. According to the folk from the Mountains of the Moon, [[Night magic]] is a crude tool for altering one's memories, equivalent to a spade or a pickaxe - partly because of the raw magic involved and partly because the impetus to forget comes from outside the self. Zaboravi is a more gentle, harmonious way to alter ones recollections, because all it does is empower the one who uses it to choose how to shape their own remembered past.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBWintermark.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}</div>
There has been discussion of seeing if the plant that produces zaboravi will prosper in [[Wintermark]]; the farmers there have already had some success with cultivating ''viezesmaak'' for the [[Sarcophan Delves]], and there is interest in seeing if they might be able to do the same with the Tsark drug. There is talk of zaboravi being invaluable to [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] dealing with people suffering emotional or spiritual wounds caused by terrible events. Tsark is broadly positive about facilitating such a thing - they are not jealous of their control of zaboravi and see the value of using it to help those whose spirits are in discord find peace.

Again, with the help of the civil service, they have put forward a proposal for a [[commission]] in [[Wintermark]]. The ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' is a [[sinecure]] that will require 12 wains of weirwood and 36 crowns in labour to complete, taking three months to construct. It will create a title - ''Seeker of Quietude'' - who will oversee the efforts to cultivate zaboravi. Each season, the gardeners of Tsark believe it will produce 12 doses of zaboravi for the Seeker, presuming that the location is conducive and the gardeners follow their instructions to the letter. The initial proposal from Tsark is that the Seeker of Quietude be appointed by the Wintermark National Assembly - zaboravi is after all a spiritual substance. The civil service however have pointed out that as a unique herb it might be more appropriate to see the title appointed by the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. Tsark has indicated that it is happy either way as long as the drug is treated with the reverence they feel it deserves. Notably, once the plant is established, however, its continued cultivation will require no further interaction with Tsark, so it will not be dependant on good relations continuing with the nation.

The only real restriction they place on it is that for the zaboravi to prosper it needs three things; a cool climate, as much altitude as possible, and access to geothermal hot springs. Apparently the folk of Wintermark that the visitors spoke to were confident they knew just the place.

The civil service have assessed the proposal, and indicated that the plans the people of Tsark have provided could also allow similar gardens to be built in other alpine locations - specifically [[Skarsind]], northern [[Hercynia]], and northern [[Varushka]]. The main challenge would be finding suitable locations, which would require an [[appraisal]]. The only limitation would be that such an appraisal couldn't be undertaken until the Empire had a source of the plant itself - so not until the ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' was completed.

===Ushabti and Rice===
* '''Some folk in Tsark are interested in both Ushabti and the Golden Cascade
* '''Further discussion waits the completion of the Garden of the Perfect World
During their visit, the subject of both [[Urizen_economic_interests#Ushabti|ushabti]] and the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] were raised. By all accounts the visitors from Tsark were interested, but cautious. The leaders of the nation have determined that while they are curious about both the odd constructs that seem to work best at high altitude, and the ambitious great work that provides food for much of Zenith and indeed the nation as a whole, any further discussion will have to wait until the ''Garden of the Perfect World'' is completed. Or not, as the case may be.
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tarquinius Ankarien.jpg|caption=Tarquinius Ankarien (left), former [[Ambassador to Axos]], has apparently been charged to speak with the Skourans by the Imperial Consul.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Skoura==
* '''The nation of Skoura lies to the east of Mareave
* '''While they are keeping the Empire at arms' length the two nations are at peace
* '''The Imperial Consul is responsible for diplomacy with Skoura
The message from Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, that arrives in Mareave midway through the season is neatly written on tough parchment. It begins by thanking '''Tarquinius Ankarien''' for their understanding - they would indeed prefer to deal with the [[Imperial Orcs]] as much as possible and would prefer that if the [[Imperial Consul]] chooses to delegate communication they do so with that in mind. The Unshackled are their neighbours, and there is still some distance to go before Skoura is entirely happy dealing with the wider Empire. The Delvemistress is happy to trust the good sense of '''Pathfinder Gaddak''' in this matter.

Establishing a permanent [[embassy]] would be a significant step in relations between the mountainfolk and the Empire - and one that they are not entirely sure they are ready to make. Accepting an Imperial [[ambassador]] would be a serious matter, and would mean that their interaction with Imperial citizens will have evolved beyond the point of a small number of trade agreements with the people of [[Mareave]]. The first question that Talker Garra has is, can the Imperial Consul confirm that the Empire is prepared to commit to appointing an Unshackled to the position, at least for the time being? The second question is, what form would the Empire expect an embassy to take, and what commitments would be required from Skoura? Obviously they would require any embassy to be built in Mareave; presumably the Empire would expect an embassy to be built in Skoura as well? In all honesty, writes Delvemistress Garra, the fact that the Empire changes its ambassadors often is seen as something of a problem with the more conservative members of their nation. Needing to re-establish relations each time a new ambassador is appointed represents a significant investment of time and trust.

The Skourans are pleased to hear that the Empire has no intention of sending spies into their lands. The Skourans are a private people - it is not that they have things to hide so much as that they would prefer to build their relationship with the Empire carefully, and on a foundation of mutual trust.

===Trade and Artisans===
* '''The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have confirmed they are willing to investigate further trade with the Imperial Orcs'''
* '''They require the Senate to recognise the Artisans Guild as an Imperial sodality before further plans are developed'''
There is one matter that could, apparently, increase Skouran enthusiasm for building that relationship more quickly. The ''Geltcourse Trade Security Council'' first visited Anvil six months ago, at the [[I_wish_you_would#To_Mahal_from_the_Mines|Summer Solstice 387YE]]. There, they discussed the nature of trade and the potential for long-term trade with the Imperial Orcs in Mareave. The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have finished their deliberations and is interested in a formalised arrangement.

However, the Geltcourse Trade Security Council are one and all respectful of the art of the [[artisan]], and the inherent strength that comes with a recognised central authority. As such, they are unwilling to go further with a formal arrangement unless the Artisans Guild is recognised as an [[Imperial sodality]] by the [[Senate]] and ratified by [[the Throne]]. The representative of the Geltcourse Trade Security Council makes clear that this is ''not'' a slight on the Unshackled; they sincerely hope to have future dealings with the orcs of Mareave. Unfortunately, this is a red line for the Geltcourse Trade Security Council if they are to cultivate trade with the Empire as a whole rather than just their neighbours on the lower slopes.

===Defensive War===
* '''Skoura is prepared to send 500 troops to support Rucraic's Redoubt following the Winter Solstice
* '''In return they require a payment of 50 measures of dragonbone
The discussion about armies and "defensive war" is interesting, and does indeed show how different the strategies of Skoura and the Empire have become. Most Skourans would see armies as something that supplements the sturdy [[fortification]] of a territory, an adjunct to the defence rather than the primary component. Fortunately, given that the Unshackled have completed [[Mareave#Ruicraic's Redoubt|Ruicraic's Redoubt]], it is that much more likely they will be able to resist the Grendel.

With that in mind, the Delvemistress offers to dispatch a cadre of Skouran war-engineers to Rucraic's Redoubt, to bolster the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] there and help to fight the Grendel. After some further questions, the civil service determine that a "cadre" in this case represents a fighting strength of 500, equivalent to five military units. In return, the Skouran commanders require 50 measures of [[dragonbone]], delivered in advance by either the Imperial Consul or Senator Pathfinder. Given the situation, the Delvemistress mentions that if they are prepared to provide an additional thirty crystal mana as well, she will ensure that the cadre is suitable enchanted with the might of the mountains - sufficient to increase the strength they will contribute to 1000 force. ('''OOC Note:''' If the Consul or the Senator wishes to take up this offer, they will need to ensure the resources are handed in at the end of the event and then email {{plot}} to confirm they wish them to be transferred to Skoura).

The Skouran Talker suggests that while this military support is not great given the scale the Empire works on, it is as much about testing the waters as anything else. It will also give the warrior-engineers an opportunity to examine the stonework of Rucraic's Redoubt, which they apparently see as an additional benefit.
==Further Reading==
* [[Faraden]]
* [[Iron Confederacy]]
* [[Sumaah Republic]]
* [[Tsark]]
* [[Skoura]]

Poets light but lamps

2026-04-21T19:11:16Z

Noserenda: /* Wildfire (Conjunctions) */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Sumaah]] [[Category:Iron Confederacy]][[Category:Faraden]][[Category:Skoura]][[Category:Tsark]]
<ic>“Do you believe it?”

Tchinua Ganbatar, Liege of the Five Winds, gave a slight snort. “Which part?”

Mistress Karadragha looked down at her papers with a heavy sigh. “At this point? Any of it.”

“I’ll have no words of fear spoken in this meeting, Singhua.” The Liege leaned forwards to refill their cup of tea. “Give me focus, and don’t jump at shadows. What are we informally discussing today?”

“As you say, my Liege.” The Trade Advisor adjusted her spectacles before continuing. “To start with, rumours of the Asaveans involving themselves with the Cinders and other anti-Imperial factions.”

A quiet figure sat off to one side of the meeting room spoke up. “We have no intelligence to confirm the notion, but it would resolve some unanswered questions if it were true. The Cinders are surprisingly well-funded. Even after their condemnation scared off their moderate supporters they still seem to be active across the border. Foreign support would certainly account for that.”

The Liege stroked their chin thoughtfully. “It would also suit the interests of the Asaveans to use Faraden extremists to anger the Empire, especially if they can do it without getting their hands dirty or inviting censure from the Court. What evidence does the Ambassador present?”

“Divinations of the flame, mostly, which means presumably a great deal of interpretation is involved which at best makes them suspect and at worst...”

“Very well. Contact the wizards of the Faces in Fire. They write down all their visions, so see if they have anything that might support this Imperial claim. Let them know we are asking, and they'll see the advantage in being in our good graces. Especially with the matter of the entertainments for my birthday celebrations on the horizon. In the meantime, set your agents prying around any Asavean interests here, especially the quiet ones we might have overlooked. There’s no way that the embassy would be foolish enough to be caught out by this. What next?”

The quiet figure spoke. “Related to the Cinders, the Sansar bounty.”

“Remind me?”

“The Sansar sent three of their family to negotiate for another trade enclave within the Empire. Our agents discovered that one of the three had been radicalised by the Cinders and intended to murder the other two for associating with heretics. Imperial law enforcement identified the guilty party before he struck, and Solongo Sansar has issued a bounty against the Cinders for their actions against her kin. We could potentially convince her to stand down, but it would upset the priesthood and risk emboldening the Cinders further.”

The Liege scowled. “No. The Cinders encouraged kinslaying so let them face the consequences. Tell Solongo that we support her without actually saying the words, and make sure our functionaries at court spread the story as far as they can. We can’t drive the reactionaries away entirely, but we need to keep them isolated. Anyone who can stand up in public and say that they support this kind of treacherous behaviour can reap their rewards.”

The Liege’s companions nodded and made various notes. Mistress Karadragha spoke up again. “I’m hearing on the wind that the Imperial priests are sending dire warnings about Cinders mounting some kind of concerted attacks within Imperial borders. The ambassador didn’t mention it, do we know anything about that?”

The quiet figure responded. “It’s almost certainly true. Gossip and coded messages have been pointing to them planning something big. We haven't been able to identify any targets so far, but their attention being centred within Imperial borders that would account for the lack of information.”

"The ambassador has asked for any information we have," observed Mistress Karadragha in a neutral tone. Both turned their attention to the Liege, expectantly.

There was a long pause before they responded, which they spent carefully stirring a spoonful of honey into their tea. The tinkling of the little silver spoon sounded like distant bells.

“I think it is time for the Cinders to encounter a significant setback.” They drained the dregs of their teacup, winced at the bitterness despite the sweetener. “Retain as much distance as you can, but set your best agents to scouring known Cinder hideouts for information. When you find it, no matter how tenuous, even if it means nothing to you, make sure it reaches the Ambassador. It's the least we can do, and we will just have to trust the Pride and Courage of the Empire to do the rest.”</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Candles flame in the wind.jpg|align=left|caption=Peace is all too often a candleflame in the wind.|width=500}}</div>
==Overview==
There are six great powers in the known world whose influence and reach rivals that of the Empire. There also innumerable lesser powers who do not have the might to shake the world, but who are nonetheless important to those with whom they share a border. The ambitions of these nearby nations are no less relevant to the Empire. Sometimes diplomatic relations require in-depth analysis; sometimes there is an opportunity to catch one's breath and let the drama move slowly towards the next crisis point.

There are [[ambassador|ambassadors]] to some of these nations - the [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]], [[Axos]], the [[Thule]], and [[Faraden]] in particular. Other nations are dealt with by the [[Imperial Consul]]. Sometimes a neighbouring nation focuses on diplomacy with the Empire, and requires an in-depth discussion. The '''[[Death leaves us homesick]]''' wind of fortune covers relations with Axos for example, while '''[[Invited with asperity]]''' focuses on the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]]. Sometimes however there is less going on and diplomacy can be part of a wider, more surface, roundup. For example '''[[Each age a lens]]''' covers nearly half a dozen of the orc nations that lie near the Empire.

Here we can read about several neighbouring nations to the Empire not covered in detail elsewhere - the [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], and even the more powerful nation of the [[Sumaah Republic]].
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=A Yak.jpg|align=right|caption=The yak of western Faraden are like very hairy oxen but adapted to live at high altitudes and in cold weather. Their wool, milk, and meat is much prized.|width=400}}</div>
==Faraden==
* '''Faraden remains caught between Imperial and Asavean interests
* '''The Liege of Five Winds appears to favour the Empire but there are powerful factions in Faraden that prefer closer ties with Asavea
* '''Faraden and the Empire are at peace, and trade ties between them are being strengthened
The lifeblood of [[Faraden]] is trade, but it is also a country of canny wizards, courageous warriors, and proud (albeit heretical) priests. They currently do not share a border with the Empire, lying beyond the [[Jotun]] and the [[Iron Confederacy]], but that does not stop them sending their caravans to Imperial markets despite the high tariffs they must pay to pass through the lands between. Diplomatic relations between the Court of the Five Winds and the Imperial Senate are changeable - warm one moment cool the next - but it has never come to open warfare. Right now Faraden is squeezed between two competing interests - the Empire on one side and the angry Plenum of the [[Asavean Archipelago]] on the other - and they must walk a knife-edge between the two powerful nations.
{{Nation|nation=[[Faraden]]|port=[[Sea_of_Snow#Pelabuhan|Caitun]]|ambassador=Ebenezer of [[the Marches]]|status=Foreigner}}
The Faraden ambassador to the Empire is ''Mistress Singua Karadragha''. Mistress Singua advises the Court of the Five Winds on all diplomatic matters, and speaks on their behalf to foreign ambassadors. Her attitude to the Empire appears to be cool but professional, and heavily informed by the wishes of the Liege and their court, who seek more opportunities to trade with the Empire.
===General Diplomacy===
* '''Communications between Faraden and the Empire are civil and constructive
* '''The Faraden seek closer trade ties with the Empire as a route to shared prosperity
Ambassador Ebeneezer has raised the matter of the Cinders with Mistress Karadragha. As [[We give the future to the winds#Ashes On The Breeze|previously mentioned]], this sect of violent zealots have been condemned by the Liege of the Five Winds, and the organisation has been driven underground. Yet there is still concern that the Cinders intend to continue their vendetta against the Empire.

Mistress Karadragha confirms that wizards versed in the art of Flame have also offered warnings about the Cinders, but the problem is that their [[divination|divinations]] are fundamentally symbolic and need careful interpretation. No doubt the Empire's adepts of [[Night magic]] have encountered the same challenges. Regardless, the Liege of the Five Winds sees no reason not to share whatever intelligence the Faraden have about the Cinders' operations in the Empire. Several reports have been dispatched by special courier to help Imperial citizens plot the movements of the Cinders.

The Court of the Five Winds is apparently very pleased with the news that work on [[Wild_is_the_wind#Yakholme_Grange|Yakholme Grange]] [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Construct_Yakholme_Grange|has begun]], and that there is a good chance Faraden [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Richest_Wines|trade with Dawn]] may be moving forward. Prosperous trade ties with the Empire strengthen the position of the Liege of the Five Winds, and reinforce their pro-Imperial agenda. The fact that trade with the Empire can be undertaken without the need to trust to ships and boats and the dangers of the [[Sea of Snow]], as compared to trade with the Asaveans, which relies on long shipping routes, means it has particular appeal to the merchant-families of the nation.
===War and the Jotun===
* '''Mistress Karadragha declines to send Faraden mercenaries to fight in the Empire
* '''The Liege of the Five Winds is apparently in negotiation with another power to attack southern Reinos
* '''They propose that the Empire attack the northern regions of the Lasambrian Hills following the Winter Solstice
Ambassador Ebeneezer has clearly presented the idea that the Empire and Faraden could form an alliance against the Jotun. The current truce with the Jotun is the result of a treaty, but as Mistress Karadragha has [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#The_Hills_of_Reinos|already said]], that treaty is due to be renewed or renegotiated at the Summer Solstice. The situation has not changed; Faraden cannot afford to go to war with the Jotun, and as near as the Court of Five Winds can tell the Jotun would prefer to focus their efforts on fighting the Empire. The Ambassador's suggestion that Faraden troops might fight against the [[Druj]] or the [[vallorn|peculiar plant monsters]] that infest parts of the Empire are interesting, but unappealing; the distances are too great and the dangers are too unknown.

However, it may be that the Faraden and the Empire could both get what they want. The [[Iron Confederacy]] has reached out to the Court of the Five Winds and informed them that the Suranni intend to conquer southern [[Reinos]]. This is not the ideal situation, in that it swaps Jotun control of their trade routes to the Empire for Suranni control; but that is still preferable to the stranglehold the barbarian orcs have over them.

If the Empire is serious about a joint effort, then the Military Council could dispatch a force to attack [[Reinos#Ribeira|Riberia]] and [[Reinos#Pedreira|Pedreira]] after the Winter Solstice. A powerful force would be able to smash through the defences there and claim both regions. At the same time, the Iron Confederacy will be attacking in the south, catching Jotun defenders between the hammer and the anvil.

There are further benefits to the Faraden of course. If a serious force of soldiers were attacking the hills of Reinos they would be in a much better position to renegotiate or even abandon their treaty with the Jotun. The benefits to the Empire are less clear - but Mistress Karadragha points out that control of Pedreira would give the Empire control of the [[white granite]] quarry at [[Reinos#Cantera_Balanka|Cantera Balanka]] as well as protecting the entire western border of [[Segura]] from future Jotun invasion.
===Faith and Flame===
* '''The Gatekeepers have provided a dose of true liao to the Faraden priest Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree
* '''The Temple of the High Flames will receive a true consecration during the Winter Solstice
* '''There are concerns that Asavean assassins may try to disrupt the ceremony
* '''If the consecration is successful, it will end opportunities for Asavean religion to spread in Faraden
Last season ''Boorra Talighar of the Silver Tree'', priest of the Five Flames, [[We_give_the_future_to_the_winds#Flames_and_Faith|petitioned the Synod]] for a dose of [[liao#True Liao|True Liao]]. Their intent was to use the true liao to create a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] of the [[Auras_of_Pride#Partner_of_Greatness|Flame of Honour]]; a powerful aura to help anchor the true faith of Faraden in the face of [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] syncretism. During the Equinox, the [[Gatekeeper|Gatekeepers]] met and discussed the matter, and ultimately [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Doses_of_True_Liao|chose to provide]] one of the seven doses available to them. With the particular aid of '''Nisha Strazcovich''', a former Gatekeeper of Pride who Ebeneezer notes as being instrumental in ensuring the dose was available, the Ambassadors office ensured the true liao was safely delivered to Faraden.

During the Winter Solstice, a grand ceremony marking the end of one year and the beginning of another will take place at the ''Temple of the High Flames'', the most prestigious seat of the Faraden faith. Mistress Karadragha believes representatives of all the [[On_Faraden_faith#The Priest Families|priestly families]] of Faraden will attend, whatever their individual attitudes to the Empire. it is, to put it mildly, a big deal for the faithful of Faraden. No outside priests will be present as this is a ceremony for the Faraden. The Faraden Ambassador, however, has let the Ambassador know that the Liege of the Five Wind has ensured that warriors loyal to them will be present to protect the festivities. There is some concern that the Asaveans might attempt to disrupt the ceremony; there are rumours of assassin-priests of the twin-gods of vengeance, Tlangg and Sanit being present in Faraden.

Assuming the ceremony goes off without a hitch, it will create a potent site of pilgrimage for the faithful of Faraden. The Temple of the High Flames is to the Faraden what the Basilica of Seven Doors is to the Highborn, or the marshes of the Sovennan are to the Winterfolk - a central location sacred to all denominations of their faith. There is no doubt that the true aura will serve as a powerful prophylactic against the influence of Asavean priests, sufficient to put an end to the spread of their influence in the western nation.

It is, of course, illegal for Imperial citizens to trade true liao to citizens of foreign nations; there is no suggestion that either the Liege of the Five Winds or the priest families of Faraden will offer any payment for the liao. All they can offer in return is the profound gratitude of those who take Pride in [[On Faraden faith|their faith]], and who welcome this return to the true values of their own historic religion.
===Fire Fighters===
* '''Zealous crusaders from Faraden have attempted to destroy the Azure Chorus, the docks at Fisk, and the docks at Meade'''
* '''Thanks to prompt warnings from the Imperial Synod two of the three attacks have been thwarted'''
* '''The Jotun have restored the Docks at Meade but made cosmetic changes'''
* '''These attacks have been widely condemned within Faraden'''
In the days following the Autumn Equinox, hasty warnings are carried to Wintermark, the Marches, and the Brass Coast. '''Olyvar of Esther's Sanctum''', the Cardinal of Pride, has issued a dire warning, backed by a greater majority of the Assembly of Nine: the Cinders, a violent group of ultra-conservative Faraden who decry the Empire and all its citizens as irredeemable heretics, have infiltrated the Empire, and intend to wreak havoc upon the innocent. The three targets – the docks at both Fisk and Meade, and the Azure Chorus – are of obvious symbolic value, each one serving as a site where the people of the Empire and the people of Faraden can meet in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation. Further hue and cry is raised in Marches specifically, as the statement of '''Father Edmund''' warns the people of Meade that the attackers have already infiltrated the city. Whichever statement people hear first, the warnings are the same: be Vigilant. Lives are at stake.

The situation in Fisk is well contained. A local magistrate, already visiting the town to try an unrelated case, moves quickly to deputise nearby citizens and take control of the Market Hall. While the Faraden workers there are initially outraged by the accusations that there may be violent fanatics among their number, the outrage turns to panic when one of the porters draws a knife and slashes the magistrate’s face. What follows is a brief, ugly brawl, as other infiltrators from the Cinders reveal themselves and attempt to break out and flee. An effort is made to take suspects alive for trial and questioning, but comes to nothing. Even after the Cinders are disarmed, they do nothing but hurl abuse at their captors and their fellow Faraden alike, refusing to cooperate. Aside from vague hints that there are more of them in the Empire and that there will be more violence to follow, they give nothing useful, and are executed on the spot.

Chaos reigns at the Azure Chorus. The densely packed tents of visiting pilgrims make conducting an orderly investigation all but impossible. Rumours spread through the camp like wildfire, leaving the Courageous and Vigilant citizens of the Brass Coast unable to take their targets by surprise. Some fear that the Cinders may simply flee, but the truth turns out to be much darker. A visiting priest comes running from the Parador of Wind and Flame, shouting that some Faraden pilgrims have barred the doors and begun massacring everyone inside, screaming condemnations again the “lovers of false flames.” The scene is set for tragedy, but nobody present is minded to accept such an outcome. Faraden and Freeborn alike take up arms and storm the Parador in defence of the priests and pilgrims trapped inside, fighting room to room and shedding blood to defend one another. There are many deaths, but fewer than might have been expected, given the grim circumstances.

Things go equally badly in Meade, where the situation is complicated by the the arrival of the Jotun. There is some question among those who stay behind as to whether or not to alert the Jotun to the plans of the Cinders. Would passing on such information be providing treasonous aid to an enemy, or acting with Vigilance to undermine a different enemy?

Unfortunately, the Cinders use the chaos of the invasion to attack before anyone can make a decision one way or the other. The dock front quickly descends into chaos as the Cinders fire the pier and try to murder the Faraden and Marcher merchants working there. Initially stunned by the madness, a Jotun patrol quickly composes themselves and within minutes Jotun and Marchers are fighting side-by-side to take the Cinders down.

At first the Jotun assume that the assassins are under some terrible Night magic curse. Three Cinders were captured alive during the attack - once the Jotun discover there was no magic involved they are appalled. A jarl is summoned and after the briefest trial imaginable, the three men are taken out into the bay and summarily drowned. It is apparently the worst death imaginable as far as the Jotun are concerned.

Once the Cinders have been dealt with, the Jarl gives orders to the Jotun for the docks to be restored. The work is done quickly, most of the docks can be salvaged and materials are shipped in to replace the parts that are too far gone. By the start of the Winter Solstice, the dock front is almost as good as new. Almost... because the Jotun artisans take it on themselves to add a monolithic stone carved in the likeness of an orc warrior - not the Jarl but an idol of [[Elite_Jotun_troops#Skjaldir|Skjaldir]], one of the Jotun faðir.

When word reaches the Faraden Embassy, the response is quick and firm: an absolute and total condemnation of the Cinders' actions. The Liege of the Five Winds had previously spoken out against the Cinders after their failed attempt on the life of the Champion of Vigilance, but this has ignited fury across all of Faraden society. Even conservative thinkers who have never truly reconciled with the differences of faith between the Empire and Faraden are forced to publicly acknowledge that this has gone too far. The Liege of the Five Winds makes a speech before their court, committing to personally pay for any repairs to the sites of the attack, a gesture that earns widespread praise for its even-handed measure of Pride, Prosperity and Justice.

Embassy staff supply one slightly testy clarification to public perceptions of the Cinders: they are not 'Justice cultists', any more than a devout citizen of the Empire is an 'Ambition cultist'. The Cinders follow the Five Flames, just as the people of the Empire follow the Imperial Way. The Cinders are not bad because they follow a specific Virtue, they are bad because they are violent xenophobes who decry the possibility of coexistence and mutual Prosperity in favour of a chauvinistic vision of total cultural purity. Excessive dwelling on religious differences is what led to this problem in the first place, and the last thing anyone needs is someone stoking the flames.

====Raking Over The Ashes====
* '''The infiltrators in Fisk, Meade and the Azure Chorus were not the only Cinders present within the Empire.'''
* '''The attackers will cause further havoc unless they are prevented from doing so.'''
* '''Questions remain over how the group were able to acquire their supplies.'''
In the aftermath, cooler heads begin to dig deeper in both of the locations still controlled by the Empire. What emerges in each case is a similar story. The Cinders arrived as individuals or small groups over the course of the last year, staying and quietly blending in with their countryfolk. They did not disguise their conservative religious views, but did not speak of their violent aims to anyone outside of the conspiracy. The reasons for this are not hard to determine. Not only has the Liege of the Five Winds condemned the sect for their exremism, but many Faraden actively disagree with their attacks on people who did not harm them first. It seems that the Cinders consider other Faraden who deal with the ‘lovers of False Flames’ to be just as bad as heretics themselves. The Cinders are not, it seems, especially good at blending in with the people around them.

Ambassador Ebeneezer's request to Mistress Karadragha has borne fruit with a series of missives detailing what Faraden investigators were able to determine from their own efforts to suppress the sect. In conjunction with Imperial scouts, the two nations are able to put together a list of targets. It seems that the groups already dealt with are not the only ones active within Imperial borders. It's clear that the Cinders have made good use of the resources provided to them - although there is some question about precisely who their rich patrons are. Rumour suggests it is agents of the Asavean plenum who have been funding the Cinders, wielding their hatred of the Empire as a weapon.

===Wildfire (Conjunctions)===
* '''The Cinders have been spotted moving to attack the House of Guerra, the Anvil Library Scriptorium, and Benson's Orchard.'''
* '''Imperial heroes have the opportunity to act before the Cinders can cause any serious harm.'''
The Faraden reports include coded letters that speak of Cinders agents spying out "the Orchard" in the Marches and it is a relatively simple matter to deduce that this is probably a reference to [[Pruning_shears#Benson's_Orchard|Benson's Orchard]], the memorial to [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]] [[Known exemplars#Joshua Benson|'Major' Joshua Benson]]. From the other reports the Faraden are able to provide, it becomes clear the last Cinders are planning to assault the [[Armarius_of_the_Anvil_Library#The_Library_Scriptorium|Anvil Library Scriptorium]] and the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]].

By any analysis, these attacks are ultimately doomed to failure. The aura at Benson's Orchard was created with true liao, and there is no way that the Cinders have access to that most valuable substance. The Anvil Library Scriptorium sits in a fortified compound to protect against assaults from agents of the Whisper Gallery, and the House of Guerra is in Calvos town itself, surrounded by Kohan and Corsairs on shore leave. None of these sites are in danger of being destroyed. However, the Cinders are heavily armed and prepared to fight to the death. If they are allowed to work their will unmolested, they will kill a great many people and cause a lot of damage before they are stopped. Fortunately, with the advance warning provided by Faraden to Ambassador Ebeneezer, and the results of Imperial investigations, there is enough notice for the prognosticators to find conjunctions of the [[Sentinel Gate]] that heroes may be able to intervene and prevent loss of life.

====Burn The Books (Sarvos)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the Anvil Library Scriptorium'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Armarius of the Anvil Library'' is responsible for protecting the Scriptorium'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''

The Anvil Library stands dedicated to the cause of Wisdom and learning across the Empire, fighting back against the terrible losses inflicted by Emperor Nicovar and his book-burning ways. This cause elicits no sympathy from the Cinders, who decry Wisdom as the False Virtue of Doubt. They would love nothing more than to burn the books and massacre the scribes. The mercenaries engaged in the defence of the compound are trusted veterans, but even one enemy with a lit match could wreak havoc if they broke through.

The main group of Cinders are approaching fast along Vintner's Way in Foracci. It is the responsibility of '''Ricardo Glostari di Sarvos''', the Armarius of the Anvil Library, to cut them off before any damage can be done.

====Sever The Hand (Madruga)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to destroy the House of Guerra'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* '''The ''Hand of Guerra'' is responsible for protecting the House'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
The House of Guerra stands as a testament to the Empire's commitment to taking care of those in need of shelter. Operated by a well-paid staff noted for their practicality and compassion, this thoroughly benign institution seems an odd target for the religiously-motivated Cinders. Things come into focus when the other duty of the Hand of Guerra is pointed out. Spreading the philosophy of Guerra is not especially controversial in the Empire, but rumours have persisted for a long time of her connection to the False Virtue of Anarchy, which the Cinders despise as much as any Imperial citizen. While the general consensus is that these rumours are historical fabrications, it is doubtful that the Cinders would listen if anyone tried to explain to them.

If the attackers are to be intercepted, the easiest place would be along the Corsair's Road in Calvos Sound. It is the responsibility of '''Sufyan i Zuhri i Guerra''', the Hand of Guerra, to prevent any harm coming to their charges.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Orchard One.jpg|align=left|caption=Brother Martin Orchard is a sometimes controversial, well respected monk from Pickham Monastery. in Upwold|width=400}}</div>
====Silence The Bell (Upwold)====
* '''A group of Cinders are trying to desecrate Benson's Orchard'''
* '''This is a combat highly likely encounter'''
* ''' ''Martin Orchard'', who carried out the consecration, is responsible for protecting the memorial'''
* '''There are [[Sentinel Gate#Imperial Law|no innocents present]] on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified'''
'Major' Joshua Benson is an aspirational figure for many dedicants of Vigilance, especially in the Marches. A man without flashy miracles and tall tales to his name, he simply defended his community with absolute and unwavering commitment. Jackie Longshanks, the Beater who was able to sneak up on the Cinders to eavesdrop on their plans, cited the Bellringer as an inspiration for her deeds. The Vigilant pilgrims coming to soak up the aura that surrounds the examplar's resting place have taken up arms and are ready to defend the holy site to the death, but such a fight would be a bloodbath. If the Cinders should spill blood on such a sacred memorial, the response from irate pilgrims of Vigilance would not bear thinking about.

As the Cinders move to attack Benson's Orchard, they must first move through the area of Tower March known as Benson's Bawn. It is the responsibility of '''Martin Orchard''', the priest who consecrated Benson's Orchard, to thwart their malice before it can strike.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Delicacies.jpg|caption=The Faraden are proud of their own fine victuals, but also keen to bring the best food and drink from around the world to their tables..|align=right|width=450}}</div>

===Days Of Wine And Mooncheese===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Moonsong Market'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]], [[the Barrens]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 [[weirwood]] and 30 [[white granite]], 180 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment for farms in the Barrens by one
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Moonsong Reeve''
* Increases the taxation raised from trade with Faraden by 4 Thrones each season
* Significantly increases the number of Faraden travelling to and visting Dawn</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Moonsong Reeve'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Dawn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To serve as a liaison between the Faraden visiting Moonsong Market and the people of Dawn; to encourage Faraden merchants to trade with the nation; to smooth over any disputes; to make decisions based on any opportunities related to Moonsong Market</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' If the Moonsong Reeve is not yeofolk, the great work benefits will be halved</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Moonsong Cheese'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 crowns</td><td>Three common mooncheese and one rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 crowns</td><td>Six common mooncheese and two rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 crowns</td><td>Nine common mooncheese and three rare mooncheese</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 crowns</td><td>Twelve common mooncheese and four rare mooncheese</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A consortium in Faraden has established a potential deal to trade luxury food in the Barrens.'''
* '''Despite an attempt by the Cinders to sabotage this plan, the actions of Imperial Citizens have demonstrated that Faraden merchants are safe to trade with the Empire.'''

Even as further violence mars relationships between the Empire and Faraden, the siren song of commerce seeks to bring people closer together. Last season, merchants of the Sansar family came to Anvil to speak with the people of Dawn about setting up a trade enclave in the Barrens. Representing a coalition of smaller families, they sought to exploit the opportunities presented by providing rare goods to the eastern Empire and, in so doing, to raise their standing back home.

While the trade talks themselves seem to have gone well, confused reports from Anvil speak of three of the Sansar cousins attending but only two returning, and of drawn blades and plotted murders. When the surviving merchants returned home they apparently brought a tale of horrific treachery: the third of their party had been corrupted by the rage of the Cinders, and plotted to murder them on their journey back to Faraden! Only by the swift action of Imperial law enforcement was this plan foiled. The intention of the Cinders was clear, to scare merchants away from dealing with the Empire. Yet this plan has backfired spectacularly, as the Sansar have not only publicly recommitted to building closer ties with their Imperial friends, but have posted a bounty on all members of the Cinders in vengeance for their heinous acts.

Still, bloodshed makes for poor conversation over the negotiating table, so discussions with the Imperial civil service focus on business. The core of the deal is a pleasingly symmetrical arrangement: Dawnish cloth for Faraden cloth, Dawnish wine for Faraden cheese. Already Seneschals and vintners across Dawn are racing to discover the best wine pairings for the valuable Faraden Mooncheese, a development that is filling the cheesemakers of Faraden with Pride and confidence. There was also an unsurprising interest in purchasing Mithril, for which the Empire’s voracious appetite is well-known.

The plans drawn up off the back of these proposals are, in their most basic nature, similar to the Firewind Market in Holberg. The proposed Moonsong Market, named in honour of the famed Mooncheese, would take 30 wains of weirwood, 30 wains of white granite, and 180 Crowns in labour costs. The Sansar have requested that such a market be built in either [[The Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]] or [[The Barrens#Murderdale|Murderdale]] to be close to the well-defended centres of civilisation. Once constructed, the Moonsong Market would act as a [[great work]] increasing investment in farms across the Barrens. It would also create an [[Imperial title]] - ''Moonsong Reeve'' - that would be responsible for representing Dawn in any negotiations with the Faraden merchants, and smoothing over any issues that arise with their trade in Dawn.

There is one other matter - one that the Faraden are unaware of. As an economic position, the people of Dawn expect the ''Moonsong Reeve'' to be [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]]. If the title is held by a noble, it will result in the benefits of the great work being halved as Dawnish farmers look askance at the Faraden merchants and their association with a noble demeaning the glory of Dawn.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorIronConfederacy.png|caption='''Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo''', Ambassador to the Iron Confederacy|align=left|width=300}}</div>
==The Iron Confederacy==
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
* '''They have recently moved a major military force into the islands off the coast of Feroz
{{Nation|nation=The [[Iron Confederacy]]|port=[[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]]|status=Foreigner|ambassador=Tethros i Zuhri i Erigo}}
The Suranni lie to the south of the Empire. They are a secretive nation, bound up in tradition and suspicion. While they are currently at peace with the Empire, even accepting merchants and traders into their lands, they are certainly not ''friends''. Recent events have seen them, like the [[Faraden]], caught between the [[Liberty Pact]] and the pro-slavery Freedom Accord. Yet where Faraden feels it must play a delicate balancing act, the Suranni Dukes are more confident in their power and prepared to play Imperial and Asavean interests off against each other.

The Suranni ambassador to the Empire is ''Baroness Katerine Lavasse of Meore'', who operates from the Tour Lavasse in Chaubrette, a territory unknown to Imperial citizens that apparently lies to the west of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Veroigne|Veroigne]]. A noble [[naga]], she replaced the significantly more dogmatic Jeanne de Hibernat, a High Priestess of the Suranni god [[Suranni_pantheon#Evra_the_Smith,_Maiden_of_the_Forge|Evra the Smith, Maiden of the Forge]]. She has already indicated that she is very much more pragmatic than her predecessor and more interested in compromise. She still reports to the Dukes of the Iron Confederacy, however, and so her apparent goodwill toward the Empire cannot be relied upon.
===Suranni Pleasantries===
* '''General pleasantries and diplomatic matters have been touched on
* '''The Iron Confederacy remains at peace with the Empire
Ambassador Tethros has apparently informed Baroness Katerine that the Empire intends to attack [[Skallahn]]. This receives a slightly mixed response; the Suranni ambassador is not herself familiar with northern [[Jotun]] lands. Her response is to congratulate the Empire on seeking to conquer [[orc]] lands, and indicates that the news was met with a great deal of interest among some of the more martial Dukes.

The matter of Faraden was also raised, and Baroness Katerine, perhaps a little surprisingly, agrees that Asavean influence over the neighbouring nation is less than ideal. While the Suranni are capable of keeping the agents of the Plenum at arms' length, and ensuring they gain benefits from their association without becoming tainted, they are less confident that the Faraden can achieve the same.

In somewhat delicate tones, Baroness Katerine writes that the Suranni obviously have their own relationship with Faraden - distinct from the Empire - and their own trade routes. They are exploring their own avenues to reduce Asavean influence, but at this time they are reticent about collaborating with the Empire. With the best will in the world, the Empire's tendency to - no offence - blunder in like a drunk in a glassworks, do not predispose the Suranni to share too much at this time. If the Ambassador can be more specific about proposals for joint action with regard to the Faraden that do '''not''' risk souring the Suranni relationship with the Asaveans unneccessarily, then the Dukes are certainly interested to discuss those plans.

With regard to trade, the Baroness is generally positive about trade with the port of [[Foreign_ports#Robec|Robec]] and entirely sees where the Ambassador is coming from when they talk of more secure overland trade routes. Suranni merchants have long seen the town of [[Feroz#Fontargenta|Bramar]] in Feroz as the ideal destination for those looking to trade with the Empire. From there the more adventurous could travel to [[Madruga#Siroc_(Ruined)|Siroc]], or even further north across the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider's_Dream|Spider's Dream]] bridge. However, as the Suranni understand it a recent natural disaster has severed easy trade routes between Feroz and the rest of the Empire. Is there any news of when these will be restored? That would likely be the first step toward securing a commitment to a trade [[ministry]] in the Empire.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Kobol.PNG|caption=[[Suranni_pantheon#Kobol the Warrior, Maiden of Battle|Kobol the Warrior]] is the uncompromising [[Suranni pantheon|Iron Confederacy god]] of warriors and battle.|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Cazar and the ''Wings of Kobol''===
* '''The Iron Confederacy has smashed the Children of Wrecks in Feroz
* '''Suranni forces have claimed the Cazar Straits for the Confederacy
* '''The Dukes intend to attack Free Landing after the Spring Equinox if the Empire has not dealt with the Wreckers by then
* '''While no treaty has been agreed, Freeborn citizens are free to leave the islands and ships from Feroz can pass through the waters
The Iron Confederacy has invaded [[Feroz]]; or rather they have attacked the Children of Wrecks on the [[Feroz#Cazar Straits|Cazar Straits]]. As laid out in the '''[[Red_skies#Swords_of_the_South|Red skies]]''' wind of war, the ''Wings of Kobol'' [[navy]] brought two Suranni [[army|armies]] across the border from Kalino and smashed the Wreckers' grasp on the island chain. Those pirates and raiders who were not defeated in battle, or captured and executed, have been forced to flee. Most have gone north to [[Madruga#Free Landing|Free Landing]], but some have apparently chosen to quit the [[Bay of Catazar]] altogether. The Cazar Straits are now under the control of the Iron Confederacy.

Following the attack and "liberation" of the islands, Baroness Katerine delivers a message from the Suranni Dukes. It has been too long since the pirates invoked the power of [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Dumon]] to help them seize the islands to the north of Arbonne, which they have been using as a base to attack the coast of the Iron Confederacy. Over a year ago they launched a raid against [[bay of Catazar#Axiom Prison|Axiom Prison]] and released many dangerous prisoners including a large number of corrupt wizards. While there has been some diplomatic attempt to find common ground for a joint effort against the Children, that have come to nothing. With this decisive action, the Iron Confederacy has shown that it will not tolerate criminals and pirates threatening their borders.

Diplomatic channels were used during the Autumn Equinox to inform Imperial officials of the Suranni intentions. During that time there was discussion of a treaty, but after due consideration the Dukes believe that it is too soon to commit to any formal agreement while there is still a major Children of Wrecks presence just north of their lands - by which they pointedly mean their new holdings in the Cazar Straits. The work done at the Autumn Equinox by Baronets ''Marquette Lavasse'' and ''Vauquelin Lavasse'', during which they met informally with multiple Imperial luminaries have indicated that there is certainly a foundation for a formal treaty to secure relations between the Confederacy and the Empire; but the time to discuss it is once the immediate threat is ended.

Baroness Katerine appears to be aware that the Empire planned their own assault on the Children of Wrecks following the Autumn Equinox, but apparently expected it to be aimed at Free Landing. Her missive lays out that the Dukes plan to take a season ensuring that the last corrupt elements are removed from the islands of Cazar. Then, if the Empire has not already dealt with them, they will attack the Wreckers in Free Landing with an eye towards dealing with them as they have their "friends" in the south. It is important for Ambassador Tethros to understand that if the ''Wings of Kobol'' are called on to free the Madrugan islands, they will likewise be considered part of the Iron Confederacy. After that, though, there will be plenty of time to discuss how to proceed. In particular, she wishes to commend [[Senator]] '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' whose passionate words went some way toward reassuring the Dukes that the Empire was in the process of dealing with the Pirates of Dumon and should be given a little space to do so.

The Baroness does however reiterate that as far as the Dukes are concerned, they have taken enemy territory away from criminals who made war on the Suranni people. The islands of Cazar are now ''theirs'', by right of conquest. This, says Katerine, is not a matter for debate - the facts speak for themselves. The same will be true if they are forced to deal with the pirates of Free Landing.

However, in recognition of the historic presents of the people of [[the Brass Coast]] here, there are certain humanitarian concessions the Dukes have instructed Baroness Katerine to lay out. Any Imperial citizen that was trapped in the Cazar Straits when they were conquered by the Grendel, and then seized by the Pirates of Dumon, is absolutely free to leave; indeed they are encouraged to depart. Suranni ships stand ready to repatriate them to the mainland, and there will be no bar to Freeborn vessels that wish to come collect their countryfolk.

The Iron Confederacy is also open to suggestions about how best to arrange matters with regard to Imperial ships leaving or entering Feroz. Obviously, with control of the Cazar Straits, the Suranni could potentially cut the Freeborn territory off from the Bay of Catazar entirely. There is no reason for them to do so at the moment; indeed Baroness Katerine expresses the hope that recent successes with trade can be built on to encourage Imperial merchants to visit the Straits. This means that there will be no disadvantage to the Freeborn busy rebuilding their homes in the ruined territory from the Suranni.

The [[Civil Service|civil service]] advise that this communication should not be taken entirely at face value. Reading between the lines, it seems that Baroness Katerine isn't ''completely'' happy with the decision of the Dukes. Over the last few years, she has demonstrated a preferance for a more nuanced, diplomatic approach to relations with the Empire. At the end of the day though, it is the Dukes who make the decisions. The rulers of the Iron Confederacy are [[naga]], and while they can be [[Naga#Subtle|subtle]], they are still [[Naga#Passionate|passionate]] and [[Naga#Avaricious|avaricious]].

The proposal of a treaty once the Children of Wrecks are finally beaten seems genuine, and it is possible that one of the reasons the Suranni are not rolling straight into Free Landing is to give Ambassador Tethros a chance to put forward a proposal of their own.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Watt of Lambrook.jpg|caption='''Watt of Lambrook''', Minister of Historical Research|align=left|width=300}}</div>
===Marko and the March of History===
* '''Marko Siwarsbairn is ''still'' in the Iron Confederacy'''
The saga of Marko Siwarsbairn continues to drag on. Following the [[Bedight_in_veils#An_Imperial_Historian_in_the_Baronial_Court|dispute]] over the [[historical research]] the [[Wintermark]] scholar had been compiling on Iron Confederacy military history, the Ambassador passed along words from the [[Minister of Historical Research]] '''Watt Lambrook''': "''My researcher is correct that I hold the right to view such reports first. However, since this was understandably not known at the time I will oblige that this once you may also read the report Marko has written before he leaves.''"

Baroness Katerine thanks the Minister for their words, and understands that this is a concession. However as the Winter Solstice draws closer it seems Marko has ''still'' not returned from the Iron Confederacy. A late message to the Imperial embassy indicates that on reading the Siwarsbairn Report it was clear to the Baroness that there were several significant errors and misconceptions in the document. Rather than suggest Marko scrap their hard work and start again, Baroness of Meore has offered the assistance of some of her own staff to correct those errors. She is confident that the report will be much more useful as an artifact of truth, rather than something riddled with errors. She anticipates that unless anything else goes wrong, Marko will be safely back in the Empire with a well-researched document in time for the Spring Equinox.

The Minister need not worry; Baroness Katerine is more than happy to continue to serve as gracious host to Marko Siwarsbairn, and supply the support they need at her own expense. It is the least she can do as a student of history herself, committed to increasing understanding between her nation and the Empire. She also mentions that the gods clearly inspired Marko to make their errors; if they had set off from Meore on schedule this season they would doubtless have ended up caught in the events unfolding in Arbonne.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dumon.PNG|caption=Dumon the Liar, the Wicked One|align=right|width=200}}</div>
===Unfolding in Arbonne===
* '''Arbonne has been subject to a serious Winter curse'''
* '''The priests of the Veiled Shrine claim an oracle has implicated Imperial citizens in the curse'''
* '''Baroness Katerine asks the Ambassador to encourage Imperial citizens to track down those responsible'''
Shortly after the Spring Equinox, the dukedom of Kalino - which the Suranni call Arbonne - was struck with a [[I_wish_you_would#Wicked curses|blight]] that withered crops and saw vermin multiply across the territory. The priests of [[Suranni_pantheon#Kavol,_the_Veiled_King|Kavol]] quickly identified that this was a [[curse]] drawn down by wicked sorcerers working with the aid of the [[Suranni_pantheon#Dumon_the_Liar,_the_Wicked_One|Lying God]]. The curse ran its course, and despite some food shortages in Arbonne, the worst appeared to be over. This assumption was, unfortunately, premature.

Just after the Autumn Equinox another curse fell on Arbonne, and this was orders of magnitude worse than the blight that struck in Spring. The first sign was unseasonably bad weather than ruined crops before they could be gathered; it was swiftly followed by a wave of sickness that incapacitated the weak and the strong alike. Then, on the night of the first new moon, demonic angels of Dumon emerged from the shadows bent on murder and corruption. The worst of them took on the forms of dead orcs, the Lasambrians who had once squatted in the hills here. Their witchcraft brought more terror and destruction to the people and serfs of Arbonne. Worse, among their numbers were revenants that appeared in the form of dead Suranni and even in a few cases what looked to be Imperial knights.

This was again seen as a sign that the gods were angry with the Duke of Arbonne, but again the Priests of Kavol investigated the matter and determined that it was nothing more than another terrible curse from the servants of Dumon. This time, though, this reassurance has done little to quell discontent in the territory. Crops fail from time to time, as a test from the gods, but this unspeakable infestation of demons and revenants is an entirely different matter. The position of the Duke of Arbonne is extremely shaky; if a third curse strikes the territory they will have little choice but to step aside in favour of one of their heirs. Baroness Katerine confidently paints the heirs to the current Duke as competent, wise people but there is an edge to her words that suggests she is not entirely confident about what she is saying.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|Seven Locks 2.jpg|Master of Locks.png}}</div>
<div style="float: right; max-width: 200px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|WhisperGal004.png|WhisperGal005.png}}</div>
While the curse is bad, it would normally be a matter for the Iron Confederacy to resolve. Unfortunately, there is an unlooked for wrinkle here. Among the priests of Kavol there are some sects charged with specific duties within the Confederacy. The priests of the Veiled Shrine are charged to root out heretics and servants of Dumon who consort with demons. The Veiled God has sent a sign to them, warning them that while the curse comes from the servants of the God of Corruption, they could not have achieved this terrible working without aid. Specifically, through oracles and visionary dreams, Kavol has given a warning that the power to place the curse came from the Empire.

Baroness Katerine is not a fool; she doesn't believe the Empire has cursed Arbonne. There's simply no evidence of it. Unfortunately, the priests of the Veiled Shrine are adamant that there is Imperial entanglement in this event. She asks that the Ambassador do whatever it takes to find out who has provided the Hand of Dumon with the wherewithal to lay a curse of this magnitude on Arbonne. Given that working with the Hand is a crime in the Empire, she presumes that Imperial justice likewise has a vested interest in tracking down whoever it is that is supporting these monstrous sorcerors. The Dukes cannot countenance Imperial support for the Hand of Dumon, and if it comes out that Imperial citizens were flouting the laws made by the Senate in this regard it would shake confidence in those who pointed to the agreement as a positive step in international relations. Which includes Baroness Katerine of course.

Obviously, the one thing every Imperial citizen can be '''absolutely certain''' of, is that "the Veiled God" definitely did not tell the Iron Confederacy anything, ''given they don't actually exist''. However they note that Baroness Katerine refers to "angels" more than once, which is either a [[Astronomancy#Tulpas|tulpa]] or much more likely, a [[herald]] of some [[eternal]] that is up to no good. If it is the latter, the finger of suspicion must point at either [[Basileia]] or the [[Whisper Gallery]], either of which would sell the Empire out in a heartbeat. The City of Locks trades in treachery, espionage and secrets, while the Shadow Courtiers are literally obsessed with secrets. On paper, it is more likely to be the Princess of Weirs; since the Concilium of the Perjured Throne is under emnity, the only way they could be mixed up in all this is if that was being subverted by members of the Conclave.

It's unfortunate that the Empire does not have a workable map of Arbonne, so rituals such as [[Eye of the High Places]] will not be able to find anything useful. From the description, however, it seems that the curse might have been the result of a potent Winter magic ritual of high magnitude - at least eightieth and perhaps higher.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconSumaah.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>
==Sumaah Republic==
* '''The Sumaah Republic is an empire devoted to an orthodox interpretation of the Way'''
* '''The Sumaah Republic remain allies of the Empire in the Liberty Pact
The [[Sumaah Republic]] are simultaneously allies of, and rivals to, the Empire. Their shared practice of the Way both provide them with common ground, and divides them over questions of orthodoxy. As founding members of the [[Liberty Pact]], their ties to the Empire have been strengthened, and they have been closely involved in bringing ruin to those involved in the abhorrent practice of slavery. At the moment they are focused on their [[Guide_the_spirit#Virtuous_War|war]] with the [[Asavean Archipelago]], but they remain committed to spreading the Way through the entire world. In gratitude for [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|major aid]] from the Empire in repulsing an Asavean assault against the port of [[Foreign_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]], the Sumaah have committed to sharing a dose of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] with the Empire every season "''until the Plenum falls and the Way is spread to the Archipelago''." Relations with the grateful Sumaash, which have been bumpy in the past, are now better than ever.
{{Nation|nation=[[Sumaah Republic]]|status=Foreigner|port=[[Sumaah_Republic_ports#Zemeh|Zemeh]]|ambassador=Accalon of [[Highguard]]}}
The Sumaah ambassador to the Empire is ''Oxtitocszin'', who holds the rank of Censor of wood, metal and stone and is a member of the High House of Pride (the Sumaah equivalent of the Pride Assembly, but with significantly more responsibility and leeway to pursue foreign diplomacy). They advise not just the Sumaah ''präster'', but the House of the People (the Sumaah equivalent of the Imperial Senate). By all accounts they are an even-handed, level-headed individual, and a devout practitioner of the Way.
===Liberty===
* '''The Summah are sending a representative to the Liberty Pact meeting'''
The Sumaah are, of course, sending an emissary to the [[Liberty Pact]] meeting. ''Oxtitocszin'' indicates the Sumaah attitude to the Pact has not shifted. They still intend to propose the amendment to the pact [[Drowned_in_tears#Liberty_Pact|mentioned last season]], to centre [[the Way]] in the approach of the Liberty Pact to defeating the evil of slavery. Apparently, the Sumaah representatives to the Pact are a little surprised that the Empire are not raising any amendments to the Pact themselves, but appreciate that this may simply be because the status quo serves their interests more effectively.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Accalon5901.jpg|caption='''Accalon of Felix's Watch''', Ambassador to the Sumaah Republic|align=right|width=350}}</div>
Ambassador Accalon's words relating to the removal of Axos from the pact has not inspired them to revisit the matter but they wish the Ambassador to be apprised that they will vote with the Commonwealth on this matter. Unfortunately, Sumaah is not in a position to launch a full-scale invasion of the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. Were there any chance that such an attack might be practical, they would already be undertaking it. Oxtitocszin gently suggests that even if they were holding off for some reason, the Ambassador's proposal that the Empire would help remove Axos from the Pact would by no means be sufficient inducement for them to do so. The Sumaah Republic intends to let virtue guide their approach to the Pact and the Axou, as they do everything else. They would expect the Empire to do the same.

Further details of the Sumaah involvement in the Liberty Pact meeting can be found in the '''[[My soul at liberty]]''' wind of fortune.

===Gift of Pride (Redux)===
* '''The House of the People delayed their shipment of white granite at the request of Ambassador Accalon
* '''After the Winter Solstice there is an opportunity for Imperial fleet captains to escort the shipment to the Brass Coast
At the request of the people of [[the Brass Coast]], as relayed to the Sumaah by Ambassador Accalon, they have delayed the shipment intended to [[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|offer aid in rebuilding]]. The white granite is still in the Republic, waiting an escort of Imperial vessels to help it reach the shores of the Bay of Catazar. The House of the People recognises that dealing with the threat of the Children of Wrecks takes priority. The Cardinal of the House of [[Vigilance]], however does append a warning to the Freeborn not to allow the malign power of ''hevn'' to gain a foothold in their souls. "''Hevn''" is apparently an old-fashioned Sumaah term for the power of [[Malign spiritual presences#Vengeance|vengeance]] but with elements of [[Malign spiritual presences#Hatered|Hatred]]. The Cardinal reminds their beloved Imperial cousins that to strike against enemies before they can harm you is vigilant but to pursue the destruction of those who have harmed you for selfish reasons is to invite corruption into ones soul.

Regardless, the House of the People have confirmed that the shipments of white granite await an Imperial escort. They warn, however, that they cannot afford to delay their gift for another season. The [[Asavean Archipelago]] already seems to have gotten wind of what is planned, and any further wait will surely see the Sumaah ships attacked and sunk regardless of the presence of Imperial vessels.

You can read about this opportunity in last seasons '''[[Drowned_in_tears#A_Gift_of_Pride|Drowned in tears]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=IconZemress.png |caption=Icon of Zemress|title=Icons of Zemress are popular with sailors who must travel through dangerous waters - both those from the Brass Coast, and the distant Frieøyer.|align=right|width=300}}
===Inspiration of Zemress===
* '''A renowned Frieøyer captain has come to study at the Zemress Naval Academy along Sumaah sailors and shipwrights'''
* '''Their support has helped to unlock the full potential of the Academy and the Empire's naval forces'''
While [[Red skies|war rages]] in the seas of Sarvos and Madruga, a Sumaah ship appears at the docks in [[Madruga#Calvos|Calvos]]. It looks a little the worse for wear, showing signs of having sustained significant damage recently. It turns out to be the ship of ''Bjarna Xicot'' of the Frieøyer - the former pirates [[Zemress#A_Tale_from_Sumaah|inspired]] by the paragon [[Zemress]] - who has come to study at the [[Madruga#Zemress_Naval_Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] along with a boatload of Sumaah students. Unfortunately, along the way, they fell afoul of Asavaean privateers and only just managed to escape with their lives and their vessel.

The Sumaah quickly make themselves at home; the Frieøyer among their number have all fought alongside Imperial fleet captains before, during the [[Two_suns_in_the_sunset#A_Bond_Between_Sailors|fight against Asavea]] last year. The others are a combination of pilgrims of [[Prosperity]], scholars, and shipwrights. Sumaah does not have anything to match the naval prowess of Asavea but like the Empire they have their traditions of building warships. Without them, the Asaveans would likely have conquered swathes of their coastline in the centuries of war.

''Bjarna Xicot'' brings with her a gift - or rather, she and her companions ''are'' the gift. A gift not from the House of the People or the High Houses of Virtue but from the Frieøyer themselves. It is in part a gift of gratitude for the Imperial sailors who fought alongside them, partly a gift of Pride, but mostly a gift to recognise the shared love of Zemress between the Frieøyer and the Brass Coast. The artisans and veteran mariners who accompany Bjarna are here to stay, they are eager to study at the Academy and learn what they can from the Freeborn masters of the sea, but they also bring knowledge and skills of their own, which they are enthusiastic to share. They bring with them a small library of plans and books dedicated to the art of the shipwright, translated painstakingly from their original tongue into Imperial.

Studying together, the two groups are able to achieve a breakthrough. The Academy has been steadily creating designs for new warships, trying to match the qualities of the navies of the [[Grendel]] and the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]]. The school has done a remarkable job building up Imperial expertise, but with the information the Frieøyer have provided has helped to ''complete'' that program of study. The academy has discovered everything they can - all that remains now is to put that knowledge into practice.

That means building some navies, but it also means spreading the knowledge they have gained far and wide across the Empire. Excited at the prospects of sharing what they have learned with everyone in the Empire, the Academy soon empties out, as people make arrangements to visit one or more of the other nations. After-all - "all that is worthwhile is shared with those who deserve it."

The main advantage of spreading this knowledge far and wide is that shipwrights will be able to build vessels better suited to a nation's ideals. Local shipwrights can build on the skills and learing shared by the staff of the former Zemress Academy to create something more in keeping with local traditions. Freeborn navys might be well-suited to plunder, while a Dawnish warship might be built for glory!

What that means now, is that any [[navy]] built by the Empire would have access to a set of three or more qualities just like an [[army]]. Going forward, similar to the [[Rules_update_2026#New_Army_Qualities|rules that cover army qualities]], the Senator who musters a navy will be given a list of qualities to choose from reflecting their nation and the narrative surrounding the navy's creation. These will be drawn from the list of standard qualities, but through [[opportunity|opportunities]] or [[appraisal|appraisals]], more unique qualities may be on offer.
<div style="float: right; width: 250px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Prosperity.png|width=250px}}</div>
====Legacy====
* '''The Synod lists the Krakens' Bane as a memorial to Zemress'''
* '''The Wreckers destroyed the beautiful seminary constructed in her memory'''
* '''The potential exists to create a truly inspirational memorial to Zemress'''
* '''Any edifice would be more inspirational if the General Assembly recognise Zemress as a paragon'''
The Zemress Naval Academy now stands empty. It's great work complete, the staff have fanned out across the Empire, taking the new learning with them. The power to develop qualities is no longer available or needed. However, the building still stands, and it still attracts the best shipwrights from across the Brass Coast and beyond. This is the site that raised Imperial naval traditions to the point where they could rival - at least in theory - those of the Grendel or the Asaveans. The Frieøyer came half way across the world to study here.

This incredible legacy should be preserved. When the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress_(Destroyed)|Seminary of Zemress]] was destroyed, the ''Kraken's Bane'' was left untouched. It bears a [[Aura#Durable_Auras|true aura]] of Prosperity, [[A_time_of_plenty#Coin_that_Goes_Unspent|placed there by Gilah, daughter of the Chantry]] with the approval of the Assembly of Prosperity. The beautiful building that once celebrated the life of this iconic Freeborn hero was destroyed, but the potential exists to rebuild it into something even more inspirational.

No true liao would be needed, but a new [[edifice]] of some kind is needed. The more [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandiose]] the building, the more inspirational it would be. However, the other thing that would help to remind everyone of the importance of the site, is if the Freeborn were able to convince the General Asembly to recognise Zemress as a paragon. After-all... what more powerful a legacy could exist than the triumph of the Zemress Naval Academy?

Freeborn architects intend to bring a range of plans forward to create a new building to celebrate Zemress' life later this year. They want to give their fellow Freeborn time to persuade the Synod of the truth of their claims - that Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo has passed through the Labyrinth. If the Synod act to recognise Zemress as a paragon, they will publish their ideas before the next summit, otherwise they will publish them in a year's time.

===OOC Note===
The Zemress Naval Academy, and its approach to determining qualities for navies, was rooted in an earlier vision of how navies worked. As we've developed our approach to armies, it's become more clear that we should be treating navies in the same way we do armies - that they should have strong identities tied to the nation that supports them. As such, the existing abilities of the Academy to build up a small list of qualities based on the design of the ships themselves has become outmoded. The in-character rationale for the rules change is that the arrival of the Frieøyer has helped the Academy achieve it's ultimate goals and allowed them to spread knowledge of advanced ship-building right across the Empire.

Rather than simply have the Naval Academy become a white elephant, we'll present an opportunity to build on the consecrated location dedicated to Zemress later this year, to give the Empire an opportunity to rededicate the site with a new purpose.

==Tsark==
* '''The people of Tsark keep the Empire at arms' length
* '''The Imperial Consul is technically responsible for diplomatic relations with the Mountains of the Moon
During the Autumn Equinox, a delegation from the [[Tsark|Mountains of the Moon]] visited [[Bedight_in_veils#The_People_of_the_Moon|visited Anvil]]. They spoke with a number of people, and by all accounts the discussions were somewhat fruitful. The people of Tsark - the [[orc]] nation that occupies the shallow basin surrounded by the Mountains - have so far kept the Empire very much at arms' length. Following their visit, however, they have made an approach to the civil service and asked their assistance in preparing some proposals to put before the Empire.

===Garden of the Perfect World===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Ministry</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]], [[Zentih]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 15 [[weirwood]], 45 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a ministry and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of the Perfect World'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Urizen National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Urizen National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Oversees the Garden of the Perfect World</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To look after the Garden of the Perfect World, and to help the people of Tsark trade with the Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Limitations:''' The benefits are lost if the Empire and Tsark are no longer friendly</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Wood and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>4 weirwood</td><td>4 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>6 weirwood</td><td>6 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>8 weirwood</td><td>8 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Spirits and Stone'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 liao</td><td>1 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>90 liao</td><td>2 white granite</td></tr>
<tr><td>150 liao</td><td>3 white granite</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''There is an opportunity to build a ministry to trade for Tsark's white granite
Tsark resists the idea of an [[embassy]]. By all accounts they see the Empire as a place of chaos and turmoil, very much at odds with the ordered and harmonious life they lead in the high mountains east of [[Urizen]].For centuries they have hidden away from Imperial eyes, discouraging anyone from visiting their home with mighty fortifications and memory-altering drugs. Now, however, it seems that they are prepared to countenance some limited trade with Imperial citizens, with an eye toward acquiring substances that are rare or unknown in Tsark. With the aid of the civil service they have put forward a proposal for the grandiosely titled ''Garden of the Perfect World''.

The garden would be a special [[ministry]] built in the foothills of [[Zenith#Occursion|Occursion]] in southern [[Zenith]]. They expect the Empire to undertake the construction. Despite it's majestic name, the actual commission requires only 15 wains of weirwood and 45 crowns in labour. It would take three months to complete. It takes the form of a meditative garden, built in the style of Tsark. Quiet chimes are hung from carefully selected trees, and what appears to be a traditional Tsark meeting hall stands along the southern side of the garden. The commission also involves beautiful flowering plants, some from Urizen and some from Tsark.

Once complete the Mountains of the Moon would create the title ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' to oversee it. They would be responsible for trading with the people of Tsark, and where the folk of the Mountains of the Moon reached out to the Empire they would be asked to facilitate any diplomacy or negotiations. It sounds a little like what they really want is an ambassador, but the leaders of Tsark are clear they do not. It seems they are concerned that they would have to build a reciprovcal embassy themselves, and allow Imperial citizens into their lands, which they will not do.

The garden allows the ''Seeker of the Perfect World'' access to a ministry that lets them exchange their [[white granite]] from the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Kamen_Quarry|Kamen Quarry]] for Imperial [[weirwood]]. They are also interested in acquiring some amount of [[liao]] - a substance not found in Tsark - for use by the human citizens of their nation. They are aware that the quantities they are asking for are quite significant and understand if the Empire doesn't want to take advantage of the trade.

Obviously as a ministry supported by a foreign nation, the ability to trade resources with Tsark is entirely dependant on continued diplomatic relations. Aware that the Empire is, perhaps rightly, concerned about what will happen if Tsark chooses to close itself off from the world again, they have agreed that if they end their trade with the Empire for any reason they will provide 15 wains of white granite to the Seeker of the Perfect World before they do so to pay for the resources spent in the construction of the ministry. If the Empire ends trade, of course, they will not feel the need to provide any restitution at all.

The opportunity remains available until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE.

===Zaboravi===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Garden of Peaceful Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Wintermark]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 12 [[weirwood]], 36 crowns labour costs</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability: Open-ended</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Creates a sinecure and the title of ''Seeker of the Perfect World''
</table></div>
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Seeker of Quietitude'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Wintermark National or Imperial</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Wintermark National Assembly or Imperial Apothecaries' Guild</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 12 doses of zaboravi each season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversees the Garden of Peaceful Quietitude; help cultivate zaboravi in Wintermark</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Tsark will help the people of Wintermark cultivate zaboravi
* '''The sinecure must be built in an alpine territory, in a region with hills and hot springs
The people of Tsark make use of an exotic drug called ''Zaboravi'' that has remarkable properties. Used correctly, it allows an individual to edit their own memories in a manner similar to [[Cast Off The Chain of Memory]]. According to the folk from the Mountains of the Moon, [[Night magic]] is a crude tool for altering one's memories, equivalent to a spade or a pickaxe - partly because of the raw magic involved and partly because the impetus to forget comes from outside the self. Zaboravi is a more gentle, harmonious way to alter ones recollections, because all it does is empower the one who uses it to choose how to shape their own remembered past.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=NBWintermark.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}</div>
There has been discussion of seeing if the plant that produces zaboravi will prosper in [[Wintermark]]; the farmers there have already had some success with cultivating ''viezesmaak'' for the [[Sarcophan Delves]], and there is interest in seeing if they might be able to do the same with the Tsark drug. There is talk of zaboravi being invaluable to [[surgical skills#Physick|physicks]] dealing with people suffering emotional or spiritual wounds caused by terrible events. Tsark is broadly positive about facilitating such a thing - they are not jealous of their control of zaboravi and see the value of using it to help those whose spirits are in discord find peace.

Again, with the help of the civil service, they have put forward a proposal for a [[commission]] in [[Wintermark]]. The ''Garden of Peaceful Quietude'' is a [[sinecure]] that will require 12 wains of weirwood and 36 crowns in labour to complete, taking three months to construct. It will create a title - ''Seeker of Quietude'' - who will oversee the efforts to cultivate zaboravi. Each season, the gardeners of Tsark believe it will produce 12 doses of zaboravi for the Seeker, presuming that the location is conducive and the gardeners follow their instructions to the letter. The initial proposal from Tsark is that the Seeker of Quietitude be appointed by the Wintermark National Assembly - zaboravi is after all a spiritual substance. The civil service however have pointed out that as a unique herb it might be more appropriate to see the title appointed by the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. Tsark has indicated that it is happy either way as long as the drug is treated with the reverence they feel it deserves. Notably, once the plant is established, however, its continued cultivation will require no further interaction with Tsark, so it will not be dependant on good relations continuing with the nation.

The only real restriction they place on it is that for the zaboravi to prosper it needs three things; a cool climate, as much altitude as possible, and access to geothermal hot springs. Apparently the folk of Wintermark that the visitors spoke to were confident they knew just the place.

The civil service have assessed the proposal, and indicated that the plans the people of Tsark have provided could alsso allow similar gardens to be built in other alpine locations - specifically [[Skarsind]], northern [[Hercynia]], and northern [[Varushka]]. The main challenge would be finding suitable locations, which would require an [[appraisal]]. The only limitation would be that such an appraisal couldn't be undertaken until the Empire had a source of the plant itself - so not until the ''Garden of Peaceful Quietitude'' was completed.

===Ushabti and Rice===
* '''Some folk in Tsark are interested in both Ushabti and the Golden Cascade
* '''Further discussion waits the completion of the Garden of the Perfect World
During their visit, the subject of both [[Urizen_economic_interests#Ushabti|ushabti]] and the [[Zenith#Proceris|Golden Cascade]] were raised. By all accounts the visitors from Tsark were interested, but cautious. The leaders of the nation have determined that while they are curious about both the odd constructs that seem to work best at high altitude, and the ambitious great work that provides food for much of Zenith and indeed the nation as a whole, any further discussion will have to wait until the ''Garden of the Perfect World'' is completed. Or not, as the case may be.
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Tarquinius Ankarien.jpg|caption=Tarquinius Ankarien (left), former [[Ambassador to Axos]], has apparently been charged to speak with the Skourans by the Imperial Consul.|align=left|width=600}}</div>
==Skoura==
* '''The nation of Skoura lies to the east of Mareave
* '''While they are keeping the Empire at arms' length the two nations are at peace
* '''The Imperial Consul is responsible for diplomacy with Skoura
The message from Talker Garra, Delvemistress of Skoura, that arrives in Mareave midway through the season is neatly written on tough parchment. It begins by thanking '''Tarquinius Ankarien''' for their understanding - they would indeed prefer to deal with the [[Imperial Orcs]] as much as possible and would prefer that if the [[Imperial Consul]] chooses to delegate communication they do so with that in mind. The Unshackled are their neighbours, and there is still some distance to go before Skoura is entirely happy dealing with the wider Empire. The Delvemistress is happy to trust the good sense of '''Pathfinder Gaddak''' in this matter.

Establishing a permanent [[embassy]] would be a significant step in relations between the mountainfolk and the Empire - and one that they are not entirely sure they are ready to make. Accepting an Imperial [[ambassador]] would be a serious matter, and would mean that their interaction with Imperial citizens will have evolved beyond the point of a small number of trade agreements with the people of [[Mareave]]. The first question that Talker Garra has is, can the Imperial Consul confirm that the Empire is prepared to commit to appointing an Unshackled to the position, at least for the time being? The second question is, what form would the Empire expect an embassy to take, and what commitments would be required from Skoura? Obviously they would require any embassy to be built in Mareave; presumably the Empire would expect an embassy to be built in Skoura as well? In all honesty, writes Delvemistress Garra, the fact that the Empire changes its ambassadors often is seen as something of a problem with the more conservative members of their nation. Needing to re-establish relations each time a new ambassador is appointed represents a significant investment of time and trust.

The Skourans are pleased to hear that the Empire has no intention of sending spies into their lands. The Skourans are a private people - it is not that they have things to hide so much as that they would prefer to build their relationship with the Empire carefully, and on a foundation of mutual trust.

===Trade and Artisans===
* '''The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have confirmed they are willing to investigate further trade with the Imperial Orcs'''
* '''They require the Senate to recognise the Artisans Guild as an Imperial sodality before further plans are developed'''
There is one matter that could, apparently, increase Skouran enthusiasm for building that relationship more quickly. The ''Geltcourse Trade Security Council'' first visited Anvil six months ago, at the [[I_wish_you_would#To_Mahal_from_the_Mines|Summer Solstice 387YE]]. There, they discussed the nature of trade and the potential for long-term trade with the Imperial Orcs in Mareave. The Geltcourse Trade Security Council have finished their deliberations and is interested in a formalised arrangement.

However, the Geltcourse Trade Security Council are one and all respectful of the art of the [[artisan]], and the inherent strength that comes with a recognised central authority. As such, they are unwilling to go further with a formal arrangement unless the Artisans Guild is recognised as an [[Imperial sodality]] by the [[Senate]] and ratified by [[the Throne]]. The representative of the Geltcourse Trade Security Council makes clear that this is ''not'' a slight on the Unshackled; they sincerely hope to have future dealings with the orcs of Mareave. Unfortunately, this is a red line for the Geltcourse Trade Security Council if they are to cultivate trade with the Empire as a whole rather than just their neighbours on the lower slopes.

===Defensive War===
* '''Skoura is prepared to send 500 troops to support Rucraic's Redoubt following the Winter Solstice
* '''In return they require a payment of 50 measures of dragonbone
The discussion about armies and "defensive war" is interesting, and does indeed show how different the strategies of Skoura and the Empire have become. Most Skourans would see armies as something that supplements the sturdy [[fortification]] of a territory, an adjunct to the defence rather than the primary component. Fortunately, given that the Unshackled have completed [[Mareave#Ruicraic's Redoubt|Ruicraic's Redoubt]], it is that much more likely they will be able to resist the Grendel.

With that in mind, the Delvemistress offers to dispatch a cadre of Skouran war-engineers to Rucraic's Redoubt, to bolster the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] there and help to fight the Grendel. After some further questions, the civil service determine that a "cadre" in this case represents a fighting strength of 500, equivalent to five military units. In return, the Skouran commanders require 50 measures of [[dragonbone]], delivered in advance by either the Imperial Consul or Senator Pathfinder. Given the situation, the Delvemistress mentions that if they are prepared to provide an additional thirty crystal mana as well, she will ensure that the cadre is suitable enchanted with the might of the mountains - sufficient to increase the strength they will contribute to 1000 force. ('''OOC Note:''' If the Consul or the Senator wishes to take up this offer, they will need to ensure the resources are handed in at the end of the event and then email {{plot}} to confirm they wish them to be transferred to Skoura).

The Skouran Talker suggests that while this military support is not great given the scale the Empire works on, it is as much about testing the waters as anything else. It will also give the warrior-engineers an opportunity to examine the stonework of Rucraic's Redoubt, which they apparently see as an additional benefit.
==Further Reading==
* [[Faraden]]
* [[Iron Confederacy]]
* [[Sumaah Republic]]
* [[Tsark]]
* [[Skoura]]

Fire and the flood

2026-04-20T16:55:47Z

Noserenda: /* Objective: Recover an Axou artefact */

[[Category:Recent History]] [[Category:387YE Winter]] [[Category:Military Council]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Late Night Burning Fire.jpg|caption=Fire and water, powerful symbols of purity harnessed all too often to bring destruction.|align=left|width=500}}</div>

==War in the East==
{{audio|link= https://youtu.be/o0E-v6ZN-ss?si=YndfxMfJFd9S2mT8}}
Sarangrave has been freed from the Druj. For the first time in centuries it is not under the oppressive boot-heel of the Buruk Tepel and their Het proxies. In theory at least, it is now Imperial; the Senate has [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Assign_Sarangrave|declared]] the wetlands are now part of [[Urizen]]. Yet as Autumn lengthens into Winter there is little sign of Urizen settlers establishing [[spire|spires]] here. Hardly a surprise given it is still a battlefield, torn between multiple factions.

Most of the Druj septs that once ruled here are scattered, their dominion shattered, but they have by no means quit the Sarangrave. The orcs of the Mallum have shown the Empire time and time again how effectively they stay behind, to hide, to skulk, to strike when their enemies least expect it and exploit their vulnerabilities. So it is here - from Turan Flats to Bloodwater Marsh, there are bands of Druj gone to ground and ready to rise up whenever the Empire might show weakness. Then there is [[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]] where the Marshlizard sept still defiantly holds sway from the great fortress known as the [[Sarangrave#Tower of the Skink|Tower of the Skink]]. It will be a challenge to dislodge the Druj from the Tower, and while they remain the Imperial claim to Sarangrave cannot help but be a fragile thing.

For its part, the Empire barely controls Sarangrave. There is a [[vallorn]] at its heart, a lost Terunael city wrapped in the fecundity and chaos of Spring corruption that waits like a coiled spring. Contained only by an ancient ring of warding stones, and the desperate ingenuity of the last Terunael, any crack in that defensive perimeter could see the thing explode across Sarangrave with a ferocity that will utterly eclipse the [[Crimson and green|situation in Therunin]]. There are rebels here as well, both former orc slaves who have risen up against their masters and smaller septs who have seized the opportunity to be free of Druj shackles. With the support of the ''[[Irra Harah|Prince with a thousand foes]]'' they have taken the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak_Forest|Nesustak Forest]] and lay claim to the rest of the territory as well. They will not bow to the Empire; they do not care what the Senate has said about Sarangrave. With the Druj still holding the Tower of the Skink, the loss of a single region would collapse the Imperial grasp on the marshes and the forests.

[[Sarangrave#Thornfen|Thornfen]], then. That immense citadel, that dreadful Tower; it dominates the vital [[Sarangrave#Path_of_the_Eye|pass]] into [[Axos]], looms over the spiralling town of Sepals, and casts its shadow over the Empire's ambitions here in the east. The fortress is old, older perhaps than the Empire itself. The Towers of the Dusk - the fort that once squatted at the eastern end of the Barrens - was but a pale shadow of this redoubt. It spreads like a stone-and-[[weirwood]] blight across the foothills of the southern mountains. Taken all together, it is mightier than the [[Astolat#The_Castle_of_Thorns|Castle of Thorns]] itself; only the [[Holberg#The_City_of_Holberg|Walls of Holberg]] could claim to surpass it. Capturing the Thornfen while the Tower still stands, while it is still in the hands of the Marshlizard sept, will be challenging indeed. More so because the battered armies of the Mallum have fled their [[Root_and_branch#Dark_Beneath_the_Boughs|disastrous attempt]] to invade [[Zenith]] to take refuge at the Tower. Under shrouds of [[Night magic]] they have slipped through Imperial lines and made it to the uncertain safety of the Tower. They will fight any and all comers, prepared to lose everything rather than accept defeat. For many of these orcs, this is ''their'' land, and they will do whatever it takes to prevent their enemies from claiming it.

''Whatever'' it takes.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">
<quote by="Serafina Semenov, General of the Boyar's Hasta">Hear me, cousins of Iron. The storm continues but the Hasta remains unbroken. Through frost and flame, we fight alongside our Axou allies to claim the Tower of the Skink. We fight for coin, but the coin buys bread for our children, warmth for our hearths, strength for the nation. Remove all arms from our enemies, be they weapons to strike us, or limbs to lift their wounded. The septs rising to assist us should be left unharmed. Let our species go in virtue. Let our spears be the point on where sun rises.</quote>
<quote by="Vojsuli Cherenkov, General of the Golden Axe">Axe, you were the vanguard into Sarangrave, and you have followed me throughout the whole campaign. I ask you now to once more assault the Druj positions. We march with our allies, the crimson Schlacta, and new allies to this struggle in the Axou. We march to aid the Axou in their claim to that land. We are taking the walls of the tower of the skink and with its falling our conquest of Sarangrave will be complete. We step forward with courage in our heart and pride in our voices! Let us add another victory to our roll of honour, and together we will crush these vermin!</quote>
<quote by="Sychar of Ebon's Hall, General of the Granite Pillar">We seized the Sarangrave in battle, now we finish it. The Tower of the Skink is the heart of Druj power here, their rites and rule gathered within its walls. With our steady conquest, we will take that tower, shatter their heresy, destroy their sources of poison, and free every soul they have bound. To those suffer under the Druj youke - take heart, we are coming. To the Druj hear this and tremble, we are coming. My soldiers, move with Courage, fight with Wisdom, hold with Loyalty, Be Vigilant in the hunt, Proud is the virtuous strike, Ambitious in victory and ensure prosperity, follow the liberated. We are inevitable. Advance, for Highguard, for the Empire, for Salvation!</quote>
<quote by="Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco, General of the Lions of Adelmar">My Lions, Sarangrave is ours. But as our allies and armies remain, so do we to take that front line. Take that final push and plant hope in what was once the heart of the Mallum. To those still under the pain, hatred and boot of the Druj in the rest of the Mallum, hear me too. We are coming to save and protect those that needs us. We will be there.</quote>
<quote by="Irontide Skorr, General of the Summer Storm">Legionnaires, we have focussed our attention on the Druj. It is time to use our training to its fullest extent. We cur down the Druj overseers and slave makers in Thornfen. Let the slaves make their own wat to Nesustak Forest and safety with their kin. Use wisdom to know when and where to strike but do not let the overseers escape. Leave the Axou to their task, they want the land. That is not what we are after.</quote></div>
==Of Virtue and Trust==
Five [[army|Imperial armies]] remain in Sarangrave to challenge the Tower of the Skink and claim Thornfen. The [[Boyar's Hasta]] and the [[Golden Axe]] of [[Varushka]] fight alongside the [[Granite Pillar]] of Highguard, the Lions of Adelmar from [[Dawn]], and the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]] orcs of the [[Summer Storm]]. They must continue to battle under the hateful [[Druj miasma]] that hangs so heavy in the air, like a choking fog that captures every little glimmer of doubt or uncertainty and transforms it into fear and dread. Unlike the barely-established miasma the Empire faced in places like Zenith, it has been here for centuries. It has sunk into the soil here, into the trees, perhaps into the people themselves. It is a constant battle for every soldier, to push through the dark feelings that cluster around them seeking to sap their will, whispering that they cannot win here, that they should flee or submit to the Druj.

Yet this hopeless magic is not the only power at work here in the Sarangrave as Autumn fades. Every drop of water in the marshes, in the rivers and the lakes, in the waterskins of the soldiers, in the dew that comes with the morning, every drop shivers with the [[Spring magic|magic of Spring]]. The [[Rivers of Life]] have been roused in Sarangrave and grant their potent healing energies to all who are injured in the fighting. Everyone, orc and human, Imperial and rebel and Druj alike.

(And if this magic tightens the spring of the vallorn another notch, it will barely make a difference. Sarangrave has been under the Rivers of Life and [[Rivers Run Red|Death]] so many times, what can one more season matter?)

The infused waters mean that any injury short of a mortal blow will heal (although it will still leave scars). The Imperial strategy, for the most part, seems intended to take advantage of the Rivers. There are no furious frontal assaults here to try and overwhelm the defenders with numbers. Varushka [[Army orders#Balanced Attack|measures risk and reward]] carefully as it moves through the Sarangrave, sacrificing speed for surety. Highguard looks first and foremost to ensure that no Highborn lives are [[Army orders#Steady Conquest|thrown away needlessly]]. The Granite Pillar measures carefully the cost of each engagement, weighing out each drop of blood against the ultimate goal - to break the hold of the Druj, to free those under its iron yoke. To bring down the Tower of the Skink.

The Summer Storm are an exception to the general tenor of the Imperial strategy. They eschew care, and throw themselves against the defenders of the Mallum, seeming to relish every opportunity to [[Army_qualities#Relentless|cut them down]]. Their tactics are less concerned with claiming the Thornfen than they are with slaughtering as many Druj as they can. They make sure that fallen enemies do not live to benefit from the healing waters, cutting a bloody wound through their foes. They pay a price in their own blood, of course, but most pay it willingly. In the end, though, the butcher's bill falls short of what it might have been even with the Spring magic. Beside the orcs fight the [[Army_qualities#Guardian|guardian knights]] of the Lions of Adelmar. Proud, resplendent despite the mud and the weariness that comes with battling beneath the miasma, they stand ready to serve as glorious shields between their allies and harm. Even as they advance, they place a barrier between the Druj and the other Imperial armies that turns back barbed spear and arrows alike. Together with the Summer Storm, the Dawnish incur the particular hatred of the Marshlizard sept, a symbol of Imperial temerity in coming to ''their'' place to take ''their'' lands.

==Echoes of Magic==
Three of the armies are [[enchantment|enchanted]] with the [[Clarity of the Master Strategist]], using [[Day magic]] to coordinate their movements and identify weaknesses in the enemy defences. The Summer Storm and the Golden Axe, however, are instead accompanied by cohorts of the [[Knights of Glory]] drawn from the [[Realms#Summer|Summer realm]]. The warriors of [[Eleonaris]] embrace the fight against the Druj. As far as the sovereigns of the Summer realm are concerned, the Mallum is a den of vermin. Indeed, the ''Lady of Pennants'' has sent two of her favoured captains to fight in Thornfen, and they bring their households with them.

To the Summer Storm comes ''Murmastis'', whose deeds are legend in the Summer realm and so she requires no courtly honorific. Stag-horned, taller than the tallest orc, this spearmaster is as relentless as those she fights alongside. She and her spear-dancers offer a stark contrast to the Unshackled soldiers, clad as they are in emerald and ruby scale armour. They urge the Imperial Orcs to strike mercilessly against their foe, inspiring them to greater and greater deeds of martial prowess against the loathsome Druj, singing unfamiliar songs of the thrill of pounding blood and the defeat of the unworthy. For some orcs, the experience of battling with Murmastis' warband rouses memories not their own, memories of distant ancestors who fought with the spear-dancers in the past.
<div style="float:left; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=GeneralGoldenAxe.jpg|caption='''Vojsuli Cherenkov''', General of the Golden Axe|align=left|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Sychar of Ebon's Hall.jpg|caption='''Sychar of Ebon's Hall''', General of the Granite Pillar|align=left|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Dame Katelyn.jpg|caption='''Dame Katelyn Quinnell De Cordraco''', General of the Lions of Adelmar|align=left|width=250}}
</div>
Meanwhile ''Ser Gaspare'' leads the proud ''schlacta'' of their domain to fight alongside the Golden Axe. In crimson plate, wrapped in a cloak made from the head and skin of an immense white bear, Gaspare has an undeniable presence and a very different attitude to many of the other more elfin knights the Varushkans have fought beside in the past. With their unbreakable adamant shields and their mighty axes, the warriors of Gaspare are less concerned with glory and splendour than they are with ''victory''. The captain does not try to conceal their disappointment at the tactics the Golden Axe have chosen; they fight as enthusiastically but at night around the fires they share stories of triumph and the joy of conquest, of the Vard and their iron spirits who tamed the wild forests, whose legacy remains the greatest nation of the Empire. Gaspare themselves clearly speaks from personal experience, and their words catch on something in the hearts of the audience that lingers.

These words linger not only in the hearts of the Golden Axe themselves; a great host of Imperial captains has gathered under the banners of the Golden Axe, fighting and marching with them. A matching host has come together to fight with the Summer Storm. They too hear the stories of Ser Gaspare and the songs of Murmastis and as the Imperial advance grinds forward, soldiers of every stripe chafe at the bit, eager to engage with the orcs of Thornfen.

==Shadow of the Tower==
On the other side, the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] of the Tower of the Skink, warriors of the Marshlizard sept, are cautious indeed. They have underestimated the Empire before, seen them sweep inexorably across Sarangrave breaking sept and shackle with equal ease. They focus their attention on Thornfen alone, leaving the rest of the Sarangrave to fend for itself. There is a kind of discipline in these defenders rarely observed among the Druj, but wedded to an almost overwhelming arrogance. Even when retreating they do nothing to hide their sneering contempt of the Varushkans and the Highborn, for the knights of Dawn, and most of all for the Imperial Orcs who they take pleasure in naming slaves of the Empire. They mock, they taunt, they needle. They attack the Pride of their foes with cutting words even as they assail their bodies with slicing steel. Like all Druj they are happiest striking quickly from surprise, inflicting as many wounds as possible, and then retreating. This has rarely been a particularly efficacious strategy under the Rivers of Life, where leaving anyone alive means they will most likely recover. But if anyone can make it work it is the orcs of the east, and the Marshlizards seem especially versed in inflicting as much pain as possible, or leaving their foes broken beyond salvation rather than simply killing them.

For all their cunning and cruelty, though, they are outmatched by the great host of Imperials. If it were just the garrison, just the people of the Marshlizard clan, and the refugees from the Thornwasp and the Banded Snake who have sought refuge in the fens, then the Tower of the Skink and the sprawling town of sepals would swiftly be overrun by the Imperial armies. The Empire knew that the [[Druj armies#Poison Crane|Poison Crane]] and the [[Druj armies#Hidden Snake|Hidden Snake]] - the warriors of the Marshlizard and the Banded Snake - had taken up positions in Thornfen, in the Tower. Their presence makes the advance more difficult, but still it is likely the Empire would easily press them back. Unfortunately, there are another six armies of the Mallum in Thornfen this season that the Imperial strategy does not entirely account for.

Earlier in the year, the armies that had conquered [[Therunin]] moved south, [[Root_and_branch#Dark_Beneath_the_Boughs|making a foray]] into northern [[Zenith]]. They cast down the [[Zenith#The_Stork's_Gaze_(Ruined)|Stork's Gaze]] but were in their turn cast down by an [[Even_darkness_must_pass#All_Seem_Accursed|Imperial counterattack]]. Caught between the armies in Zenith and those in Bloodwater Marsh, their situation looked desperate. Unfortunately, the [[Druj armies#Tainted Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] were among them, an army led by [[Druj_lore#Ghulai|ghulai]] trained at the [[Sarangrave#Palace_of_the_Sleepers|Palace of the Sleepers]]. Twisted masters of [[Night magic]], as well as the magic of Spring, they have saved the Druj armies from Zenith [[The_darkest_road#Last_Light_of_the_Sun_(Battle)|once before]]. Using an [[enchantment]] similar to that practiced by certain secretive Varushkan [[cabalists]], they wrapped themselves and the other armies in a veil of shadows that allowed them to pass through the Imperial forces in eastern and southern Sarangrave and make it to the Tower of the Skink without losses.

They are battered, weakened, but not broken - not yet. Some have no choice but to be here; their septs are in Sarangrave and if they abandon their ancestral lands to the Empire they will wither and die. No Buruk Tepel, no Het, will countenance such a fate. Better to die with your teeth in the throat of your enemy than to go quietly into the night! The other armies have no choice but to be here, forced to choose between destruction in Zenith or a desperate fight in Sarangrave, in some ways they have exchanged one prison for another. At least they have a fighting chance here. Or at least a chance of persuading the Tainted Basilisk to weave their enchantment again so that they may escape to safety in the Salt Flats to the north
{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj2.jpg|align=right|width=250}}
The [[Druj armies#Poison Crane|Poison Crane]] command the defenders, although it is likely their position is fragile at best. The septs never stop manoeuvring for power. It is likely that within the Tower of the Skink there are plots afoot already; even in the face of extinction the Druj will jockey for position. It is important never to forget that the orcs of the Mallum are only unified from the point of view from outsiders; loyalty between septs is utterly alien to their way of life, their way of seeing the world. The [[Druj armies#Tainted Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] in particular look to be chafing under the command of the Crane - none of their magicians are seen on the battlefield at all. They have chosen to remain sequestered within the walls of the Tower of the Skink. They may give the Crane cause for alarm, but there are those among the Imperials who wonder what exactly the ghulai of the Basilisk might be up to...

Politics aside, they fight. They have no choice. The Empire is coming and there will be little mercy for the Druj. They fight, and there is little subtlety to their strategy. They focus [[Army orders#Solid Defence|entirely on defence]], on keeping the Empire from claiming the town of Sepals, from advancing on the Tower itself. There is a noticeable desperation to their tactics; hide, strike, flee, hide again. Their mobile, skirmishing approach can only go so far of course. The Empire sets the tempo here, and in the end the Druj must face the reality of the invasion and actually ''fight''. Their knowledge of Marshlizard land helps them here; they are able to force engagements that favour their position more than the Empire's, at least some of the time. They're also not above mobilizing the people of Sepals in their service - barely armoured poorly armed orcs who are little better than slaves, pushed into position as distractions or literal walls of flesh and bone in the service of some cunning stratagem or the other. There is little heroic about slaughtering such hopeless folk, but the Druj know this and lie in wait to exploit any moment of "weakness" or "compassion."

In the Tower of the Skink, the Druj defenders are utterly demoralised, scrabbling to try and keep their foothold. They have nowhere to go, and while that makes them fight more viciously, it cannot help but eat away at their resolve. The Empire begins to make headway in the conquest of Thornfen, even in the face of the Druj forces arrayed against them. They push toward Sepals, and the warehouses that store the rice and dried meat taken from the farms of Thornfen. If they can reach the town before the last supplies are moved into the fortress, they will make it that much harder for the armies pressed together within its walls to survive the winter, to endure a siege. Once Sepals falls, there will be nothing between the Imperials and the walls of the Tower. After initial pessimism, it begins to look as if the Imperials will at least claim Sepals by the Winter Solstice, and begin to bring down the defences of the Marshlizard sept.

Unfortunately, the battle for the Tower of the Skink is only half the story.
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{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenAxe_Colour.png|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Lions of Adelmar.png|align=right|width=300}}
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==Out of the North==
The main thrust of the Empire's strategy is to the south. There are troops stationed in the north to keep an eye over the borders, but surely given the punishing defeat inflicted on the Druj last season, they will be licking their wounds and trying to regroup? Surely.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj3.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
Sadly not. Even as the Empire advances on Sepals, a ragged host of Druj push back into [[Sarangrave#Kroll|Kroll]] and the southern [[Sarangrave#Turan Flats|Turan Flats]]. Five more armies, with the [[Druj armies#Black Wind|Black Wind]] in the vanguard. They might have quickly overwhelmed the [[vigilance|vigilant]] watchers on the border had it not been for unlooked for aid. Warbands of former slaves and Bloodspears, out of the Nesustak Forest, appear seemingly out of nowhere to battle the invading orcs. They have no actual chance of holding the armies at bay, nowhere near the numbers, the prowess, or the organisation. Nothing like an army of their own - a handful of outlaw bands filled to the brim with the [[Merciless_Wrath_of_the_Reaver|violent magic of Spring]] - they are in the midst of launching their own raids against Druj holdouts in the north when the Black Wind bring their vengeful forces across into Sarangrave.

With their aid, many of the soldiers stationed at the watchposts, busy securing Turan Flats and Kroll, are able to get to safety. They report that the rebels aren't precisely ''friendly'', but it seems they hate the Druj much, much more than they distrust the Empire. It also appears that there are grim mortal followers and swift [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] of the [[Irra Harah|Prince with a Thousand Foes]] fighting with them. Indeed it's likely that without that additional aid, they might not have been able to help the Imperial soldiers quite so effectively.

Thanks in part to their support, messengers are able to deliver the news of the Druj return to the armies in the south. There is an emergency council and the commanders agree that they have no alternative but to split their attention. With the northern contingent drawing closer by the hour, the Imperial forces cannot risk losing Turan Flats or Kroll; being squeezed between the anvil of Thornfen and the hammer striking out of the Salt Flats will spell disaster. At least the armies from the north show the signs of a year or more of constant warfare in Therunin and the Mallum; only the [[Druj armies#White Lion|White Lion]] is anywhere near its full strength. Like bullies everywhere, the Druj are cocky and cruel when they have the advantage, but retreat almost immediately in the face of a concerted defence.

The Granite Pillar turn their attention to the north with commendable Highborn discipline. The Lions of Adelmar and the Summer Storm split their attention between the Pillar and the armies in the south. Indeed, the Storm will find it much easier to find Druj to kill in the northern marshes than they will the heavily fortified Thornfen. The rest of the Imperial advance presses the Tower of the Skink and the armies sequestered there.

There are clear signs of dissension in their ranks of the barbarians that emerge from the Salt Flats. While the Black Wind and the White Lion push forward to engage the Imperials, the Hidden Widow and Deadly Blade seem more focused on raiding the farms and villages and "making an example" of their former slaves. The Red Lizard meanwhile seem more concerned with recapturing Turan, at the urging of the widely reviled Het Traaka. The Shadow Krait sept, whose warriors make up the Red Lizard, clearly owe favours to the Banded Snake among whom Traaka enjoyed great prestige. How far they are prepared to go, however, depends on just how seriously they take those favours.

As the Imperial forces try to intercept the Red Lizard at Turan, that attracts the Black Wind and the White Lion, and a two-way battle erupts around the settlement. Days of vicious fighting see part of the town burn, but in the end the Empire is victorious and manages to push Traaka's allies back. There is little time for celebration however; every time one fire is stamped out another erupts somewhere else along the frontier.

It also helps that the Druj armies are clearly not sure what is waiting for them, and they come [[Army orders#Cautious Advance|cautiously, carefully]]. Even the Black Wind, usually so keen to terrorize their foes, keep their darker urges in check. Even in the face of the Varushkan and Dawnish soldiers they despise more than any others, they remain cautious. For all their caution, these armies are no less prepared to fight than those in the south, no less eager to kill Imperial soldiers. It may be the presence of the Rivers of Life that make them bold; it is surely the loss of the Sarangrave that makes them desperate however.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj6.jpg|align=right|width=200}}

==Jarangir's Levy==
Inevitably the need to address the armies out of the Salt Flats causes the Imperial advance in Thornfen to slow. Worse, it creates openings that allow the Marshlizard and the armies at the Tower to push back. The invasion falters, and it looks in the end as if the Imperial armies will make no headway this season at all. Through the seemingly random movements of troops back and forth, a great battle erupts around the crossroad where ''Jarangir's Levy'' meets the ''Path of the Tail'' that runs down towards Sepals and the Tower. The Druj defenders push mercilessly forward, committing their entire strength to the task of breaking the Imperial advance; of routing the virtuous forces.

With what might be the entire armed force of the Marshlizard sept fighting alongside the Poison Crane, even the Tainted Basilisk have dispatched a coven of war-sorcerer ''[[Arkad#Vikari|vikari]]'' in support. The engagement is brutal; the Summer Storm take the brunt of the casualties, but no army escapes unharmed. It is a testament to the discipline, to the commitment, of the Imperial armies that they are able to face the barbarian strike and not buckle under the pressure. The Boyar's Hasta in particular distinguish themselves, trading blows and vicious taunts with the Druj with equal facility, goading their enemies into overcommitting themselves, luring them into position where they can be cut off from their allies.

It's not clear who breaks the levy, swollen as it is with the heavy rains of winter. Some say it was a band of the Summer Storm, seeing the opportunity to wash away the Druj and win the day. Others say it was the warriors of the Flame Beetle, bringing their siege expertise to bear on the task of defeating the Empire. But breached it is, and what starts as a trickle of water swiftly turns into a deluge. Again, though, the discipline of the Empire sets them in better stead as the floodwaters cascade into the lowlands. The Lions of Adelmar in particular are responsible for saving dozens of lives, unconcerned whether those they aid are Dawnish, Unshackled, or from any other background. The Druj, though, deploy the age-old tactic of "everyone for themselves" and they suffer for it.

But the damage is done. The Imperial forces are scattered, their lines fractured by the need to avoid the waters, and the Druj are ''much'' more experienced fighting in these marshy conditions. It looks bleak for the Empire. Very bleak.

Then half the Druj forces, the Marshlizard garrison, the Poison Crane and the Tainted Basilisk, the Flame Beetle and the Jagged Claws suddenly break off. Rather than push their advantage, they take the ''Path of the Tail'' southwards at speed. The remaining forces - Hidden Snake, Hunting Scorpion, and red-painted Thorn Born - do their best to take advantage of the Empire's disarray but before they can do so the Imperial soldiers have regrouped and present an impenetrable forest of spears and swords and shields.

It is at this time that a figure appears in the Imperial command tent; a translucent shade of indeterminate gender, face hidden by a deep cowl, brazen chains for a belt, the only part of their body visible being hands that are more bone than flesh. It leaves no tracks on the sodden ground, as it delivers a message in a whispering voice that nonetheless is heard by everyone in the vicinity.

General Vasiliki Terricos sends her regards and anticipates the northern approach goes well. The Shield of Ipotavo has commenced its assault against the Tower of the Skink, and the General hopes to meet with the western armies soon.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;"><quote by="Vasiliki Terricos, General of the Shield of Ipotavo">The Sorcerer-Queen Ipotavo used to say: know your heart and what commands its devotion above all else. Listen. Do you hear the whispers of the spirits? Hear their words and know your heart and keep your oaths. We march in the name of the survivors of the siege. We march in the name of faithfulness to those that helped deliver us from the scorpion. Do not listen to gossiping snakes and traitors. They have forgotten the faces of the dead. </quote></div>

==Shield of Our Ancestors==
Up the ''Path of the Eye'' they march, soldiers clad in dark greens and purples. They have siege engines, and they approach the southern gates of the Tower of the Skink with grim resolve. This is the ''Shield of Ipotavo'', the soldiers who watch the [[Axos#Gates_of_Ipotavo|Gates]] of [[Axos]]. They have been waiting for this opportunity for quite some time and plan to make the most of it.

Many years ago Imperial mercenaries helped the Shield of Ipotavo drive the Druj out of Axos, back to the Tower of the Skink. They helped break a siege no less terrible, it is said, than the one Holberg once endured. This past aid has not been forgotten, and now the Axou come as allies in this battle against their old foe. This is not an army that is battle-weary as the Imperial armies are, and they are veterans at facing the incursions of the Mallum. Perhaps unique among the folk of Axos, the people of Ipotavo know what the Druj are, and the threat they represent.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Alikos Helio.jpg|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Most of the soldiers are of the [[Axos#Axou_Military_Concerns|Agema]] class: they are dressed in dark neatly-cut leathers, almost all equipped with the crescent shield and the long, thin sword favoured by these heavy skirmishers. In their vanguard, they deploy a battalion of the undying [[Axos#Axou_Military_Concerns|Tavos Ageli]], masked in porcelain, silent, almost impossible to harm much less kill. The body of the army is supported by sable-robed ''necromantia'' some of whom are said to come not from Ipotavo but scholarly [[Axos#Halls of Maykop|Maykop]], their services purchased for some unknown price. Not that Ipotavo is without magicians of its own, but among the citadels, the practitioners of Maykop are recognised as true masters of the arts of death and the spirit.

The Tavos Ageli are not the only undying allies the Axou have brought. At dusk and dawn, ''other'' figures wander amongst the living. Wispy shapes, translucent in the first and last rays of the sun, in burial shroud and tattered robe and ceremonial armour. They offer advice and guidance to the soldiers and officers of the Shield. When a few scouts are able to make it through the southern mountains to liaise with the commanders of the Axos force, the commanders insist on discussing strategy only in the fading twilight where the ghostly figures offer wisdom only the Axou seem to hear. These spirits are apparently veterans themselves, soldiers and officers from every major engagement with the Druj going back centuries. In the end, one Axou captain remarks, there are only so many trials that the Creator can set before you. There are few battles that have never been fought before.

The ghostly figures also bear messages throughout the ranks of the Shield: they are a membrane of spectral intellect, that helps to reinforce in every soldier an intimate awareness of their role within the army, and the needs of the army as a whole. These phantoms are the bonds of understanding that bind the parts to the whole. While they approach the Tower from the other side to their Imperial counterparts, with the aid of the symphony of the wraith's guidance they match the balanced approach of the Empire's forces.

According to the scouts who get a good look at the Shield of Ipotavo, the army practically fills the southern pass. They have established camps, erected palisades, from which they press the southern approach to the Tower. The gates and the walls are strong, but they have not been tested in a hundred years or more.

Not that the captains of the Granite Pillar and the Boyar's Hasta always appreciate the spectres of the dead appearing in their chambers at sunrise or sunset to deliver messages and take them back to their descendants to the south. Many bear the marks of the wounds that slew them, and they bring with them an unmistakable, discomfiting chill aura of the grave. The magisters and Varushkan wizards who are in a position to examine these translucent messengers say that they are in some fashion ''bound'' by the magic that enchants the army.

Without examining the Shield of Ipotavo directly they can only speculate but it is a matter of some debate as to what exactly these ghostly advisors are and whether they serve willingly or as slaves. They are chained with Autumn magic that [[Autumn#Autumn_magic#Binding|binds]] them to serve the captains of the Shield of Ipotavo. Arcane theory suggests strongly that whatever this enchantment is, however it works precisely, it has been crafted not just through Axou ''necromantia'' but with the aid of an eternal of the [[Realms#Autumn|Iron Labyrinth]]. They cannot venture a guess at who might have offered their aid here, to bind such shadows on such a scale. If they are truly ghosts as the Axou claim perhaps they would have chosen to travel with the armies when they were alive; but in death there is not even the shadow of that choice.

==Seasons End==
With the Tower of the Skink squeezed in a vice between Axos and Empire, the fighting in Sarangrave shifts again. The battle at Jarangir's Levy is indecisive, and marks the high-water line of where the Empire's advance stops. At the same time, it marks a splintering of the Druj defences that means they cannot push the invading armies back further. In the north, the Empire's soldiers and their allies face the attack out of the Salt Flats, absorb it, turn it back. After the fight at Turan, the Druj are forced back again and again and eventually have no choice but to retreat out of Sarangrave once more.

In the end, the Empire proves victorious. The deciding factor is less strength of numbers - although that plays a part - but a triumph of discipline, virtue, and trust. Even in the face of the miasma, even fighting everything the Mallum can throw at them, the Empire stands stalwart. Every nation is represented, if not in the form of armies then in the legions of soldiers that have come to fight with them. They have fought, and fought hard; they are tired, muddied, and bloodied. Yet they fight with something akin to righteousness against the scourge of the Druj. There are few grey areas here; the question of liberation and conquest is one that can wait for another day. The rulers of the Mallum have shown time and again that they are possessed of monstrous cruelty, of an urge to dominate unmatched anywhere else. They are the closest thing the Empire has ever faced to true wickedness, the antithesis of virtue.

The Imperial fighters know that their people are behind them, at least for the time being. Perhaps even more importantly they know they are united in their goals. The orcs of the Mallum by contrast know only fear - a powerful weapon when it is your own hand on the hilt but all too easily does it twist and slip and end up cutting your own flesh. The Druj cannot trust one another even in this extremis; they cannot conceive of mercy; as the Empire continues to fight, the choices for the barbarians of the east are becoming narrower and narrower.

In the end, despite the Rivers of Life, and the valiant actions of the Lions of Adelmar, the Empire and their allies lose some two and a half thousand troops in Sarangrave. The Druj likely lose around the same, between their armies and the garrison of the Tower of the Skink. The fortification is weakened, but it still stands strong. The Empire has made inroads into Thornfen, but further progress is likely to be challenging in the face of the Druj defenders, especially given they have nowhere to go.

After all, the only thing crueller than a Druj warrior is a Druj warrior with nowhere left to hide.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sarangrave Region Map.png|align=right|width=600}}</div>
==Game Information==
* '''The Empire is three-tenths of the way toward capturing Thornfen
* '''The Druj armies attacking from the north have been forced back into the Salt Flats of Sanath
* '''The Shield of Ipotavo support the Empire from the southern side of the Tower of the Skink
* '''The independent rebels, the former slaves and free septs, continue to harry the Druj
Imperial forces have achieved a dual victory; they have pushed forward into Thornfen and are three-tenths of the way toward claiming the region. They have also managed to prevent the attacking Druj force from out of the Salt Flats re-establishing any control over the northern Sarangrave. The northern armies have been pushed back into the Salt Flats, but a major force of Druj remains trapped in Thornfen, defending the region alongside the Tower of the Skink fortification.

The Shield of Ipotavo out of Axos support the Empire's attack, focusing their efforts on the Tower and its garrison. The magic employed by both sides has allowed them to effectively coordinate their strategies against the Druj.

The rebellious orcs of the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak_Forest|Nesustak Forest]] offer some assistance to the Imperial forces, but mostly in terms of offering warnings and helping individual groups avoid the northern Druj. They have committed themselves to [[Military_unit#Raiding|hunting and killing]] the left-behind barbarians. They protect their own borders, and beyond a mutual interest in resisting the attack out of the Salt Flats, have not reached out to any Imperial armies. An assessment of their strength suggests it is in the order of a half dozen or so [[military unit|military units]], nothing approaching an army, but they have the support of [[Irra Harah]] (himself barely a friend of the Empire), and aid from Imperial citizens who support their cause.

The new fortification rules come into effect at the start of the Winter Solstice, which have implications for further fighting in Thornfen. This season has seen the [[fortification#Bastion|bastion]] take some damage, and the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] be somewhat depleted, but the presence of so many armies in Sarangrave has meant that the impact on the Tower of the Skink has been comparatively minor. Our rules team is currently putting together a short [[Rules update 2026|update]] as to how the transition to the new fortification rules will affect existing campaigns, which we anticipate being presented shortly. We're asking people to hold off on queries until this goes up.

While the territory has been granted to Urizen by the Senate, it is still an active warzone. At the moment, only a handful of prominent [[Urizen_groups|Urizen citizens]] have set up new spires in the lowland marshes and forests. The civil service has also struggled to do more than make a surface assessment of the territory, thanks to the ongoing fighting and the fact that there are still miasma pillars and Druj guerrillas even in areas the Empire nominally controls. More information about the situation in the Sarangrave, with reference to the rebels, and its role as a new Urizen territory, will be included in the winds of fortune nearer the event.
{{CaptionedImage|file=EleonarisArt.jpg|align=right|width=250}}
===Participation: Murmastis and the Storm Song===
* '''Soldiers who fought alongside the Summer Storm may experience a magical boon
''Murmastis'' is one of the champions of [[Eleonaris]], and she and her spear-dancers have fought alongside the Summer Storm. This season, the Storm has committed itself to hunting down the Druj and [[Army_qualities#Relentless|cutting them down]]. While many of the knights of Eleonaris' court are interested in glorious pageantry, Murmastis is a very old [[Inhabitants of the realms#Herald|herald]] who more exemplifies the [[Summer magic#Resonance|resonance]] of [[Summer_magic#Wroth|wroth]]. She does not encourage thoughtless bloodthirst, but rather that fierce joy that comes from triumphing over a foe by might of arms and cleverness.

Any character whose military unit supported the Summer Storm this season may choose to have embraced the experience of battling alongside Murmastis and her warband. If they do, they receive a particular boon.

* If you possess the [[heroic skills#hero|hero]] skill, you may choose to increase your number of hero points by one until the end of the Winter Solstice.
* If you do not have the hero skill, you gain an additional temporary hero point which, once spent, is permanently gone. It will have faded entirely by the end of the Winter Solstice, regardless.
Anyone who chooses to gain this benefit also experiences a [[roleplaying effect]] that lasts until the end of the Winter Solstice: ''You feel the urge to seek out challenging confrontations, especially those that involve fighting, strategy, or tactics. You take particular pleasure in defeating others, whether enemies or friends, in such challenges. You feel the urge to do things that demonstrate your prowess as a powerful warrior. Being overlooked or dismissed may cause you to lose your temper.''
The effect lasts until the end of the Winter Solstice 387YE. The Summer Storm have benefitted from a number of different [[enchantment|enchantments]] over the last few years, and so far at least the presence of the Knights of Glory have not begun to influence the army to the degree it has [[Even_darkness_must_pass#The_Weight_of_Glory|impacted other armies fighting in the Mallum]].

===Participation: Gaspare and the Axe of Victory===
* '''Soldiers in the Golden Axe are becoming more attuned to the Summer realm
* '''The Golden Axe continue to be unable to use the ''Give Ground'' or ''Cautious Advance'' orders
* '''There is an opportunity for the General of the Golden Axe to change the quality of their army with the aid of Eleonaris' knights
This season Eleonaris dispatched the stoic ''Ser Gaspare'' to lead their heavily armoured forces into battle alongside the Golden Axe. While there have been a great many military captains fighting alongside the Golden Axe, the strategies they chose to employ this season have not resonated especially well with the knights of glory. They have told tales around the fire, and fought as they always do, but there has been less passionate fervour for them to inspire. Indeed, it does not seem entirely in the character of ''Ser Gaspare'' or his ''Summer schlacta'' to inspire individual soldiers in battle in the way some of the other knights of Eleonaris do. Rather, the herald and their soldiers have focused on the Golden Axe army itself.

Last season the [[Even_darkness_must_pass#The_Weight_of_Glory|increased impact]] of the [[Knights of Glory]] enchantment was made apparent. As happened in the reign of [[Empress Brannan]], repeated exposure to the glorious knights of the Summer realm is having an unlooked-for effect on Imperial soldiers. The excitement of fighting in the Mallum is starting to affect the Empire’s loyal warriors - possibly because of the oppressive aura of fear coupled with the feeling of pride and strength exposure to the heralds of the Fields of Glory brings. But also because the Knights of Glory are so effective at inspiring those who fight alongside them to pursue glory and heroism over mere victory or survival.

The Golden Axe was one of the armies already affected by this growing attunement with aspects of the Summer realm. They continue to be unable to take the [[Army orders#Cautious Advance|Cautious Advance]] or [[Army orders#Give Ground|Give Ground]] orders. If the [[general]] issues such an order it will default to [[Army orders#Balanced Attack|Balanced Attack]] or [[Army orders#Solid Defence|Solid Defence]] instead. This effect will persist until the army has spent an entire year without experiencing the Knights of Glory enchantment (each of the affected armies tracks this separately). It may be possible to ameliorate this effect by other means, but it is not clear quite how this might be done. The national or virtue assemblies of the Imperial Synod may be able to assist in this matter, perhaps with a suitably worded statement of principle.

The situation has not gotten any ''worse'' due to another season under the influence of the Knights of Glory. If anything, it has opened up a possible [[opportunity]]. The magical knights of Eleonaris encourage the soldiers of Varushka to ''[[Summer_magic#Triumph|conquer]]'' their enemies - something that is very much in keeping with their goals and ambitions. If the army is again enchanted with Knights of Glory at the Winter Solstice, and the general issues an [[Army orders#Overwhelming Assault|Overwhelming Assault]], [[Army orders#Heroic Stand|Heroic Stand]], [[Army qualities#Driven|Grinding Advance]], or [[Army qualities#Take Their Land|Take Their Land]] order against the Druj in the Mallum the knights will help enthuse the Varushkans even more. The final component required will be 12 wains of [[mithril]], which should be in the inventory of the general of the Golden Axe and used to create a set of standards in the old Vardish style, incorporating the [[Varushka_religious_beliefs#The_Virtuous_Animals|virtuous animals]], and serving as symbols of their commitment to victory and triumph.

The army quality of the Golden Axe will become ''Victorious''. They will keep the ''Take Their Land'' order and replace ''Grinding Advance'' with the ''Implacable Conquest'' order. However, they will permanently lose the ability to take the Cautious Advance or Give Ground orders.

<box>'''Implacable Conquest'''
* '''Casualties suffered by this army are reduced by a fifth'''
* '''Casualties inflicted by this army are reduced by a fifth'''
* '''The ability of this army to conquer territory is increased by a fifth'''
The army advances relentlessly, targeting key strategic points with their attacks. They do not shy away from direct engagements, harrying defenders until they force them to retreat. Securing their goal, they consolidate their gains and then select another landmark to move towards. In the end, it is the conquest that matters; the iron spirit of the Vard will be satisfied by nothing less than absolute, uncontested victory.</box>

==Battle Opportunity: The Dead Whisper==
The orcs of the Mallum are beset by the armies of the Empire who press towards their last stronghold, the ''Tower of the Skink'', and repulse their attempts to establish a foothold back in the Turan Flats. The situation only worsens when the [[Axos#Gates_of_Ipotavo|Citadel of Ipotavo]], who have decided the time is right to join the campaign, lauch a surprise attack from the South. In Thornfen, tens of thousands of Druj fighters cower with their backs to the walls, cornered like rats. Caught between the two forces, the Druj face a threat unlike any they have ever known.

Yet, these are still Druj... corner them and they turn to fight. Even the heavy ranks of knights, cataphractii, and schlacta are hard pressed to fully contain the enemy. Warbands of elite arkad fighters are able to slip the closing ring that tightens around them. These disparate forces are under the command of the het named Rethan "Fangsnapper" and the cicatrix ritualist Vekore Amberlure. Rethan's forces are moving to strike the baggage trains of the ''Sheild of Ipatavo'', looking to cut their supplies, weakening the army and dismaying the soldiers.

Cicatrix Vekor Amberlure has plans of her own to punish the Axou for their arrogance. One of the wardens of Cassad Ûln, the massive mountain fortress that stands sentinel in the mountains of the Forest of Ulnak, they are one of the few Druj practitioners of Autumn magic. Drawing on every resource they have, the Druj have paid for a detachment of Estavus' Crucible Guard and Forge Wardens, as well as a lumbering Bronze Titan, to protect the Cicatrix - a sign of just how important this plan is.

Vekor plans to use the power of the Autumn realm to seal the Pass of the Eye that leads from Thornfen out of the Sarangrave and into the Axou territory of Kabanja. This broad pass rises up from the marshes to cross the shoulder between two great peaks. Whilst wide enough for an army to easily move through, the towering flanks make it potentially vulnerable. As has been demonstrated before in Spiral, Sermersuaq, and Kahraman, narrow mountain passes are ripe targets for sabotage or powerful destructive magics to block them.

===Objective: Confront Fangsnapper's forces===
* '''Het Rethan leads forces to strike the ''Shield of Ipatavo's'' encampments'''
* '''Engage the Druj and prevent them attacking the Axou baggage trains'''
* '''Every minute the Empire engage the Druj will save Axou lives'''
* '''Engaging the Druj for an hour or more will achieve a notable diplomatic win for the Empire'''
* '''If the Empire engage the enemy for less than forty minutes, the Ipotavans will use cautious advance next season'''

The "''Fangsnapper''" is a ruthless and savage leader of elite Druj fighters. He has snuck out from the Tower of the Skink and is aiming for the weak underbelly of the Ipotavo army. With bow and spear and poisoned blade, these fighters are moving to ransack the baggage trains, cutting down any Axou guards foolish enough to get in their way, as well as destroying the specialised siege equipment that the Shield of Ipotavo are bringing up to deply against the Tower of the Skink. With typical Druj cunning, Rethan is striking where it will hurt the Axou the most.

If the Empire move to decisively engage Fangsnapper they can draw his forces away from the Axou. Every minute they fight the Druj they will save lives. If they can endure for forty-five minutes or more that will be enough to allow the Shield of Ipotavo to continue a balanced attack against the Druj this coming season. Otherwise, the casualties the Axou suffer will force them to take a [[Army_orders#Cautious_Advance|cautious advance]] next season, which could slow the progress of the war.

If they fight the barbarians for an hour or more, then they will save many, many Ipotavan lives, and the engagement will be considered a diplomatic triumph for the Military Council. The Empire have worked tirelessly for years to overcome the bad feelings resulting from the failed raid on [[Tsark]], but this is first serious attempt at military cooperation since then debacle. The Ipotavans will know that the Empire proactively moved to shield their allies from the worst of this - and that will pay dividends. Every minute counts - the longer the Empire can fight for, the stronger the Shield of Ipatavo army will be in the coming season.

How the Empire seeks to engage the Druj on the fields around ''Camp Askoun Orama'' is up to the Field Marshall and the generals of the military council. They could favour a static stance, using the defences of the camp in their favour, or adopt a more dynamic deployment that would enable them to move and counter barbarian troops as they arrive in the area.

===Objective: Seize the Druj's Resources===
* '''Mages loyal to Vekor are transporting magical resources in the area'''
* '''Capture the ingots and measures to deny the barbarian's schemes'''
* '''Seizing 150 resources will prevent the Druj from purchasing sufficient rondures from the House of Fire and Flame'''
* '''Otherwise, the Druj will collapse the Pass of the Eye and trap the ''Shield of Ipatavo'' in Thornfen'''

Cicatrix Vekor has agreed to purchase powerful magics from the Autumn realm and then deploy them high in the Pass of the Eye. Her entourage, protected by Het Rethan's forces, are making their way through the ''Shield of Ipatavo's'' camps and heading up into the mountains for a rendezvous with heralds from House of Fire and Flame. There they will exchange a cache of magical ingots and measures in return for a supply of the Flasks of Fire and Fury. These are the same destructive rondures deployed several years ago to bring down Redgate Pass in Kahraman.

Fearing treachery from Rethan's forces, as much as attack from the forces of the Empire or Axos, Vekor has ordered the cache split between [[Night_pouch|night pouches]] and then placed into small chests. These chests are with her most trusted followers who have spread themselves across the barbarian forces in the area. Each mage carrying a chest ensures Vekor knows where they are by lofting a simple green pennant in the air as they move up the pass. War scouts have already managed to recover two chests and discovered different numbers of resources within the night pouches, making the total resources being moved by the Druj uncertain.

Imperial forces will need to hunt down the groups protecting Vekor's mages during the battle and recover the chests from them. Once found, each night pouch will need to be opened by the Day ritual [[Piercing Light of Revelation]] to recover the resources inside. If the Empire can recover a further 150 ingots or measures it will deny the Druj sufficient resources to complete their own mission. Otherwise the Druj will exchange the resources with the House of Fire and Flame for enough rondures to bring down the twin peaks into the pass.

Should this happen, the route between Sarangrave and Kabanja will be severed. This will prevent further Axos forces from reaching Thornfen or the ''Shield of Ipatavo'' from returning to their own territory. Critically, it will also break the supply route for the Ipotavan army, which will begin to degrade over the coming season.

===Objective: Recover an Axou artefact===
* '''Cicatrix Vekor is in possession of a magical artefact of importance to the Axou'''
* '''The Axou have asked the Ambassador to make arrangements to return it, if they can'''

Vekor Amberlure is in possession of a rare [[Trade_goods#Masks_of_the_Citadels|citadel mask]]. Named ''"The Rebuker of the Unwanted"'', the mask is a foci that aids the casting of the winter warding rituals: [[Hold Back Frozen Hunger]], [[There Is No Welcome Here]] and [[Ward of the Black Waste]]. Crafted over four centuries ago to combat threats faced by the Axou; the knowledge of its creation was lost when the controversial artisan who fashioned it was executed as a traitor to their citadel. Unremarkable in look and appearance, it was stolen during the invasion of Axos nearly a decade ago - the Axou would very much like it back

The Axou have sent a desperate message for the attention of ''''Shacklebreaker' Thanmir Hrafnar''', the [[Ambassador to Axos|Ambassador to the Axou]] asking for help recovering the artefact. If Imperial forces are able to recover the stolen mask - the Axou expect their ambassadorial counterpart to ensure it is returned to its rightful owners. They haven't been so gauche as to put a price on the mask, but clearly the ambassador Thanmir could use the mask as leverage. That would need to be handed carefully to avoid upsetting the notoriously touchy Axou - the safer option would be to simply ask for a reward for its safe return.

===Battlefield opportunity: Rescue the Urizeni captives===
* '''Five Urizeni soldiers are being held captive by the Druj'''
* '''Who they are and why they were in the area is unknown'''
* '''Locate and free the captives, then return them to Anvil'''

War scouts have reported a small group of Urizen soldiers currently held prisoner by the Druj. The information passed to the prognosticators has so far been unable to identify the individuals or the spire from which they hail. The Urizeni egregore is also unable to identify them, suggesting that some sort of shrouding is involved, or the miasma that pervades the area is masking them from perception. That the group has not chosen to take the Gift of Kaela suggests that they either have important knowledge pertinent to their predicament and the Empire, or are hoping for rescue.

The opportunity presented here by the civil service is clear; find and free the captives, ensure they are healed and ministered to as best they can be, then return them safely to Anvil.

===Battlefield Environment: Miasma of despair===
* '''The entire battlefield is affected by an oppressive Druj miasma'''
* '''The miasma causes [[Calls#WEAKNESS|WEAKNESS]] unless you have a way to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it'''

The entire area at ''Camp Askoun Orama'', is under the effect of the [[Druj miasma]], a pall of potent fear that blankets the lands the Druj claim dominion over. Anyone entering the area will need to protect themselves from the clawing dread or succumb to a weakening terror that creeps into their mind.

The primary effect of the miasma is that it [[Calls#WEAKNESS|weakens]] anyone exposed to it who does not have the ability to [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|overcome]] it. The easiest method to overcome the miasma is to receive an [[anointing]], but particularly [[Heroic_skills#Hero|heroic]] individuals, or those in possession of certain [[enchantment|enchantments]] or [[magic items]] may also be able to counteract the effect. In particular, those of the [[changeling]] [[lineage]] are able to fight the effects of the miasma, by only by becoming ''extremely'' angry - which can cause problems all its own.

===Battlefield Environment: Whispers of the Dead===
* '''Axou ghosts move across the battlefield and offer tactical insights against the Druj'''
* '''Anyone can roleplay that they can hear the ghost's voices at any time'''
* '''Once per battle, a character can use five seconds of appropriate roleplaying to be empowered by the ghosts'''
* '''An empowered character can make a single heroic call based on the weapon they are using within the next 10 seconds, as if they were the target of the [[Empower]] spell'''

The Axou near ''Camp Askoun Orama'' have beseached the ghosts bound to the army to guide and assist their allies in battle. Invisibly passing across the battlefield, the ghosts observe and watch the orcs arrayed against them. If one is careful and concentrates on their sibilant whispers, the can impart keen tactical advice, or point out weaknesses in the defences of a foe. '''Once per battle''', this timely guidance can enable a keen warrior the [[Entangle|perfect opportunity]] to [[Heroic_skills#Mortal_Blow|bypass armour]], [[Heroic_skills#Cleaving_Strike|sever an exposed limb]], or [[Heroic_skills#Mighty_Strikedown|knock an opponent from their feet]] after five seconds of appropriate roleplaying.

Each age a lens

2026-04-19T16:11:32Z

Noserenda:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Grendel]][[Category:Jotun]][[Category:Druj]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=Advisor Frith.jpg|align=left|caption='''Frith''', Advisor on Orc Affairs|width=300}}
==Overview==
* '''Five orc nations have engaged in diplomacy of one kind or another with the Empire'''
Many of the nations that border the Empire are [[orc]] nations. Not all are barbarians; the Empire has a long-standing peace treaty with the Thule for example (see the '''[[Invited with asperity]]''' wind of fortune for more details on Thule diplomacy this season). There are also communities of orcs within the Empire's borders. Some are part of Imperial nations - the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], the former [[Grendel]] of [[the League]], the free [[Jotun]] thralls of [[the Marches]]. Others maintain a degree of independance while still being at least ambivalent to the Empire - the orcs of [[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] and the protectorate of Morasjasse - while still others keep to themselves and have an uncertain relationship with their Imperial neighbours - the [[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]] in [[the Barrens]] for example, the septs of [[Mareave]], or the remaining orc septs in [[Ossium]] who declined to move to [[Skarsind]] when the offer was made.

In most cases, diplomacy with most of these disparate orc groups is technically the responsibility of the [[Imperial Consul]], currently '''Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason''' of [[Wintermark]], perhaps advised by the [[Advisor on Orc Affairs]], '''Frith''' of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]]. In practice, many of these orc groups prefer to deal with members of certain nations with whom they have ties - the Jotun prefer to talk to the folk of Wintermark for example, while the Great Forest Orcs consider the Navarr to be their close allies.
==Jotun==
* '''The Jotun remain at war with the Empire'''
* '''Responsibility and authority for diplomacy with the Jotun falls to the Imperial Consul'''
The [[Jotun]] are a powerful, martial nation lead by the Jarl of Jarls - Queen Yrsa Jansdóttir of [[Jotun#History|Kallsea]] and King Gudmundr Arason of [[Jotun#History|Narkyst]]. The Empire has been at war with them for most of its existence, although there have been numerous short periods of peace during that time. They encroach into Imperial lands - having conquered [[Bregasland]] and [[Liathaven]] (which they name ''Ashvale''). The Empire responds with an [[Rubies in the snow|attack on Skallahn]] that threatens to take control of [[Hordalant#The_Kongegőr|the Kongegőr]], the bridge that connects the northern and southern territories of the sprawling barbarian nation.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Jotunarmy.jpg|title=Jotun banners often show the skulls of powerful creatures.|align=right|width=300}}
There is no ambassador to the Jotun. They seem never to have been especially interested in such a formalised relationship with the Empire. That is not to say that they are incapable of engaging in diplomacy or negotiation, merely that they tend to prefer to deal with individual nations rather than the Empire as a whole. Over the centuries they have had a "close" relationship with the folk of [[Wintermark]], for example, for all that the two nations clash constantly along their borders. In recent times, they have also shown a similar degree of respect for [[the Brass Coast|the Freeborn]]. When the Empire as a whole must deal with the orcs of Kallsea and Narkyst, however, the responsibility falls to the [[Imperial Consul]].

===A New Meeting Place===
* '''A new Meeting Place has been constructed on Gull Isle, a tidal island in the Gullet.'''
* '''The Wintermark National Assembly have encouraged their people to use this opportunity to build bridges with the Jotun.'''

While they are unreceptive to the more formal structures of an [[embassy]], there is nonetheless a long tradition of peaceful meeting on neutral ground between the Jotun and Wintermark. Once there was a [[Sermersuaq#The_Meeting_Place|Meeting Place]] just outside the borders of [[Sermersuaq]] where such meetings too place. Sadly in 382YE it was destroyed and defiled by a renegade [[Varushka|Varushkan]], infuriating the Jotun.

In recent years careful negotiations have been taking place regarding the creation of a new meeting place. The old stone is gone, but something new has been raised, with assistance from the Wintermark [[mystic|mystics]] and their "opposite numbers" among the Jotun, the ''[[Elite_Jotun_characters#Ghodi|ghodi]]''. A little common ground has been found, and there the Empire has helped build a great meeting hall where, it is hoped, Jotun and Imperial might be able to speak without the shadow of violence falling across them. This initiative had extensive support from the Wintermark National Assembly as seen in the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_146|statement]] raised by Hayrin at the Summer Solstice, and supported by the Wintermark Assembly.

[[Construct Meeting Place|Construction]] has taken nearly a year, but it is finally complete. A meeting hall now stands on a wave-swept island in the waters to the west of [[Kallavesa]] where barbarian and human can meet one another to talk. There are still some decisions to be made about the place, however.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><quote by="For Ustigar Jarl of Keirheim, by Iron Osric, Hammer of the West">
Where march the war-bound, the bold-hearted brethren?<br>
Where flew the banners, the fire-bright spears?<br>
Far from the fray, he stood steadfast in duty,<br>
Bound to the crown, while his kin bled and fell.<br>
Steel-fast in service, he stayed through the seasons,<br>
Honour his harness, though hunger for war<br>
Burned in his breast like buried bright ember -<br>
To rise, to reckon, to rest in the red.<br>
But fate is a falcon, fierce in its turning,<br>
It flew to his field in the fullness of time.<br>
Sword-slung and shouting, he'll stride into battle,<br>
And die with the day, as doers of old.</quote></div>
===Rules of War===
* '''Iron Osric has spoken to Igya Olgafsdottir about a meeting to better define terms of war with the Jotun'''
* '''The message has been well received and a meeting proposed for the Spring Equinox honouring Tromsan traditions'''
* '''Negotiations will occur at the new meeting place, Osric, the Golden Jarl and the Imperial Consul are invited'''
* '''The thane and the jarl are both invited to bring a small entourage; the meeting will take the form of a feast where anger is put aside'''

Shortly before the Winter Solstice, a messenger leaves the Jotun territory of ''Ashvale'' (which the Empire calls [[Liathaven]]) and makes camp at the base of the burial mound that was once [[Kahraman#Fort_Braydon_(destroyed)|Fort Braydon]]. She sits under a flag of truce and waits. The [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] who speak to her learn that she is bringing a message from ''Igya Olgafsdottir'', hero-engineer and warleader of the Jotun. The message is quickly communicated to [[Tassato]] and to the office of the [[Imperial Consul]].

Apparently [[general]] [[Heroism#Iron_Osric|Iron Osric]] of the [[Green Shield]] has requested a parley to discuss the terms of the on-going war. In particular, "to try and agree what magic we will not employ, the banning of poisons or other foul things, the protection of innocents, where our armies will clash, the number of forces and how long the conflict will endure before the feasting time." There seems to be some uncertainty as to whether Osric is speaking only on behalf of Wintermark, or for the Empire as a whole.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Iron Osric.png|caption=Iron Osric, General of the [[Green Shield]]|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Atte.png|caption=Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason of the Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd; elder statesman and [[Imperial Consul]].|align=left|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Avisena i Ezmara i Guerra.jpg|caption=Avisena i Ezmara i Guerra, the Golden Jarl|align=right|width=300}}</div></div>
What's clear from the reply is that the Jotun continue to view Iron Osric and a figure they refer to as "the Golden Jarl" in particular as exemplars of what it means to be an honourable warrior. As such they are minded to take his request very seriously. Igya proposes that it is long past time for such a meeting, and that she is eager to attend one as a representative of her Queen. A second representative will come to speak with the voice of the King, and each will bring a <u>small</u> honour guard of champions and godhi to speak for the warbands and champions of the west.

Olgafsdottir has called the meeting under the laws of hospitality of her home. In [[Tromsa#Tromsdalen|Tromsdalen]] when feuding warbands can stand one another no more and only blood will settle their anger, they engage in the ''hetjuveisla'' - the feast of heroes. Both sides bring food and drink, and bards to play music and tell tales. For a time the price of blood is set aside, so that a negotiation may be held in good faith to determine precisely how the battle-to-come will go. When the feast is over, the sun must rise and set again before violence resumes allowing both sides to safely return to their homes.

As long as Iron Osric agrees, she proposes that at the Spring Equinox - at the start of the year - Iron Osric, the Golden Jarl, and the Imperial Consul come to the new Meeting Place. Igya proposes that Osric and the Jarl each bring a small honour guard and the Consul an assistant. Both sides should bring food, drink, and bards. A negotiation will take place there that will bind both sides in agreement, and they will part peacefully.

News of this meeting is not met with universal approval. Both the Imperial Consul and Iron Osric are [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]]. The Jotun refuse to name the Golden Jarl, but it is definitely a reference to one of the Freeborn. Of [[the Marches]] in particular there is no mention - where the Jotun still dominate [[Bregasland]] - there are rumbles of discontent that Winterfolk and Freeborn will negotiate how war will take place between the Empire and the western barbarians. They're not alone - in [[Navarr]] there are a few undercurrents of unhappiness about this. While it is easy to see the sense of a general representing the [[Military Council]] and the Consul representing the [[Senate]], no-one is sure if this "Golden Jarl" even speaks for the Brass Coast. And who will speak for the other nations that must fight the Jotun?

===Virtuous Possibilities===
* '''The Jotun have constructed an ancestral shrine as part of the Meeting Place, and assume that the Empire will dedicate a space to the Way'''
* '''The Synod could pass a writ of consecration to create a true aura at the Meeting Place'''
* '''The effect would be dependant on the aura chosen, and whether it was a sacred site or a memorial'''
* '''The Jotun have requested that the Wintermark National Assembly endorse any such Consecration to soothe the worries of the Ghodi'''
* '''A true consecration will not lead any Jotun to convert to the Way of Virtue'''

With the new Meeting Place constructed, the Jotun have wasted no time in making themselves at home. Along with the wall-hangings, feasting tables, treasured ancestral weapons and other creature comforts they have brought with them, they have swiftly established dedicated spaces for their religious practice. One room of the Meeting Place has been established as a shrine to the ancestors, and is already being filled with small idols, painted images and relics of the honoured dead. As well as this, an outdoor space has been marked out as suitable for ritual combat. While raising a hand in anger against a guest or a host would be a terrible breach of hospitality, two or more warriors choosing to test their strength against one another in honour of their ancestors is not only accepted but encouraged as a demonstration of strength and piety.

Soon, word reaches the Meeting Place of a letter sent by '''Thane Erlend Gunnulfson''', who identifies himself as the person responsible for gathering the Empire's contribution of [[white granite]] towards this project. The letter bears a suggestion that the Empire might [[Consecration|consecrate]] part of the site. While most Jotun are broadly disinterested in the Way of Virtue (despite the best efforts of the Lasambrian orcs), the suggestion seems reasonable. If the Jotun can honour their ancestors, why not allow the Empire to honour their Virtues? There is agreement with the offer, at least in principle.

In practice, there are several ways that this could be done. The simplest would be to claim a specific space in the Meeting Place as a space for religious observance, and to consecrate it normally with a little [[liao]], renewing it season by season. This is how consecrated areas are maintained across the Empire, after all. This would incur no costs, lead to no downsides, and would allow the aura to be changed from season to season.

Of course there is a more costly, and more impactful, alternative. [[Liao#True Liao|True liao]] could be used to create a [[Consecration#True_Liao|true consecration]] within the new Meeting Place. One of the [[Assembly#The_Virtue_Assemblies|Virtue Assemblies]] would need to uphold a [[writ of consecration]] as normal, and that judgement would need to be upheld by a [[greater majority]] of the relevant assembly. While multiple assemblies could attempt to pass a writ to consecrate the Meeting Place, such judgements would be considered to be [[Mandate#Competing_Mandates|competing]] with one another; only the greater majority judgement with the highest margin of success would be upheld.

There are limits to the effect of such a consecration. Jotun living in, or visiting, the Meeting Place might visit the Imperial shrine out of curiosity or a desire to learn, but such things would have no wider effect on the Jotun as a nation - this would not convert the Jotun to the Way. However, a true consecration would reinforce how the Empire view their relationship with the Jotun. An [[Auras_of_Loyalty#A_Peerless_Kinship|aura of Loyalty]] for example, would remind everyone of the importance of service to others, and perhaps communicate that the Empire will always stand by their friends and allies. An [[Auras_of_Pride#Partner_of_Greatness|aura of Pride]] would encourage rock-hard self esteem, and remind Imperial visitors that they are the foundation on which future relations with the Jotun will be build, perhaps resonating with Jotun ideas of honour and integrity. There would be a degree of interpretation involved on both sides, especially since the Jotun would react to the ''actual aura'' rather than the symbolism of the virtue. But such a potent site would be seen by the Jotun as demonstrating the kind of future that the Empire desires with them.

Normally a writ of consecration would be passed with the intention of creating an [[Inspirational location]] dedicated to a [[paragons and exemplars|paragon or exemplar]]. With the Meeting Place, the writ could identify the Meeting Place as a [[Inspirational_location#Sacred_Sites|sacred site]] - significant but not associated with any particular individual, or as a [[Inspirational_location#Memorials|memorial]] dedicated to a renowned inspirational figure.

Consecrating the Meeting Place as a memorial could not help but send a much more specific message to the Jotun. The barbarians would interpret a shrine commemorating a specific figure from the Empire's past through the lens of their own faith, and likely see the inspirational figure chosen in such a way as an "honoured ancestor" of the Empire. This possibility was apparently met with a great deal of interest by the ''godhi'' visiting the construction of the Meeting Place. Some, more open-minded ghodi, would be very curious about what figures the Empire looks to for guidance, and while some elements will doubtless be lost in translation, the Jotun will look to any memorial as a statement about who the people of the Empire desire to be. Any greater effect would be highly dependent on the figure chosen, but it will doubtless be deeply meaningful.

There is a note alongside this talk of open-mindedness, however. The ghodi are as divided and cantankerous as any group of Synod priests, and while they often show unity in the face of outsiders their internal debates are just as heated. More conservative voices are already raising criticisms of allowing the Empire such leeway in the practice of their faith. The missionary zeal of the Empire is well known, and some fear that this may be the thin end of the wedge. Indeed, there are undoubtedly Imperial citizens who would love nothing more than to spread the Way among the peoples of the Jotun, whether the Jotun wanted them to or not. In order to shut this debate down before it starts causing problems, the Jotun have suggested that their neighbours in Wintermark act as guarantors of the Empire's honour. The Wintermark National Assembly could pass a suitably-worded [[statement of principle]] endorsing a writ of consecration regarding the Meeting Place. Such a statement would need to be raised before the consecration was carried out, but if passed with a greater majority it would address the fears of the more suspicious Jotun.
{{CaptionedImage|file=shark.png|align=right|width=400|}}

==Grendel==
* '''The Grendel remain at war with the Empire
* '''The Ambassador to the Grendel is Starlight Starchaser of Urizen'''
The Grendel are the dominant power on Attar and the Broken Shore, and they remain at war with the Empire. They have conquered parts of Redoubt, and continue to fight Imperial forces defending Mareave. The [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] plenum offers significant support to the Grendel in the form of warships and resources, using them as proxies for their own war with the Empire.

Speaker Morna is the primary diplomat who deals with the Empire, and reports to the Salt-Lords Council directly. They are known to be cynical, arrogant, and self-indulgent, and while they obviously participate in the ongoing-knife fight that is Grendel politics, they were chosen for their fidelity as much as their diplomatic acumen.
===Misapprehensions===
* '''They request that further correspondence about diplomatic matters come from the Ambassador to the Grendel
A single [[Call Winged Messenger|magical missive]] arrived at the offices of the Ambassador to the Grendel, '''Starlight Starchaser''' of Urizen. The letter begins by welcoming the new ambassador, but then immediately goes on to correct a misapprehension. [[Bedight in veils#Peace and Storm|Last season]], Morna simply pointed out that any discussion of peace between Grendel and Empire must take place between themselves and the Ambassador to the Grendel. This has apparently been misinterpreted as a sign that the Grendel desire an end to the conflict with the Empire. That is not the case - Speaker Morna was simply reminding '''Abel the Rounder''' of how diplomatic relations between nations must take place.

If the Empire wishes to put forward their own plan for peace, they are welcome to do so. As long as the Empire's opening offer is serious, Morna will present it to the Salt Lords for consideration. At the ''absolute minimum'' it will need to include the complete withdrawal of Imperial forces from Mareave and Redoubt. The Grendel Ambassador will not waste the Salt Lords' time with anything less.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Crab-traced-2.png|align=right|caption=It seems that many of Gallum's troops are Stone Born, the most heavily armoured and arguably the most disciplined of the Grendel [[Elite_Grendel_troops#The_Moridun|Moridun]].|width=350}}</div>
==The Protectorate of Morajasse==
* '''The Grendel controlling Morajasse have been recognised as foreigners by the Senate'''
* '''They have asked that the Imperial Consul handles communications with them rather than the Ambassador to the Grendel'''
While Feroz has mosly been liberated from the Grendel occupation, [[Feroz#Morajasse|Morajasse]] remains in the hands of the master-strategist ''[[Fake empire#Gallum Fiersach|Commander Gallum Fiersach]]''. Ably supported by ''Wind Lord Saoirse'' - his partner and a master of the [[Autumn magic|lore of Sand]] - along with a significant number of veteran Grendel soldiers, they control the fortress of [[Feroz#Mora's Rock|Mora's Rock]]. They carefully protect the borders of Morajasse, and apparently have sufficient supplies to endure a drawn-out siege if needed.

They are not just protecting their own borders. They have shown themselves more than willing to [[A_circle_sewn_with_fate#The_Battle_of_Oran|fight the Children of Wrecks]]. After the battle at [[Feroz#Oranseri|Oran]], the [[Senate]] chose to [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Recognise_Protectorate_of_Gallum_Fiersach|recognise]] Morajasse as ''a protectorate under the command of Gallum Fiersach, who will be deemed a foreigner as long as they remain independent from the Grendel''. So far, they seem to continue to be independent of the Grendel. Indeed, the protectorate has requested that all negotiations be handled by the [[Imperial Consul]] rather than the [[Ambassador to the Grendel]]. The [[Civil Service|civil service]] speculate that this request reflects a clear division between the protectorate and the Salt Lords' council... yet there are certainly other possibilities some of them quite intriguing. Given Wind Lord Saoirse has clearly mastered the art of commanding [[Call Winged Messenger|magical couriers]] its hard to believe they have not at least been in contact with the Salt Lords, but for now they appear to be operating in line with their agreement with the Senate.

Not long before the Winter Solstice, such a magical courier arrives at the Consulate in Tassato, again sent by Wind Lord Saoirse. The message is short and sweet. Commander Gallum is considering the invitation of '''Atte Arrowtongue''' to Anvil but at this time thinks he and his supporters should be focused on Feroz. Spring might be a better time to send emissaries. This would also present an opportunity for his partner to send one of her covenmates to speak with '''Khalil i Carno i Guerra''' and the Artisan's Guild.

More importantly, he wants to be clear to the Consul that while he and his soldiers only agreed to protect Feroz from the Children of Wrecks, they are also prepared to fight against the invading [[Iron Confederacy]] forces that [[Red_skies#Swords_of_the_South|currently occupy]] the islands of the [[Feroz#Cazar_Straits|Cazar Straits]], provided they are well paid. While there may be something of a ''détente'' between the Salt Lords and the Suranni Dukes, Commander Gallum Fiersach apparently sees no "legal" impediment to fighting as mercenaries against all comers.

===Ramparts of Sand===
* '''Wind Lord Saoirse is prepared to again enchant Mora's Rock if the Empire fears an attack from the Children of Wrecks or Iron Confederacy'''
Last season, Wind Lord Saoirse offered to support Feroz by drawing allied forces from the [[Realms#Autumn|Mercurial Archipelago]]. Indications are that she is referring to the enchantment the Empire knows as [[Mystic_scrolls_of_Estavus#Ramparts_of_Ashlar|Ramparts of Ashlar]]. The Imperial Conclave declined to [[Endowment|endow]] her with the mana she requested, but she wishes them to know that the offer is still open. If the Empire is at all concerned about the intentions of the Suranni, or the risk of the Children of Wrecks retaliating, she will enchant the [[fortification]] to enhance its garrison as it protects the territory.
{{SOP|statement=The Grendel on Mora's Rock have stolen the wealth of the Brass Coast. As thieves, they are to be despised. To trade with them harms the Prosperity of the Empire. It should not happen. Let them wallow in their ill-gotten gains, shunned by the Empire. Trade instead with the Freeborn. Help the honest to earn an honest living, and build the Prosperity of the Coast.|by=Dragonet de Gauvin, Prosperity Assembly|vote=137-38|when=Autumn Equninox 387YE|size=small}}
===Supplies===
* '''The orc quartermasters at Mora's Rock have been attempting to buy provisions and supplies from the Freeborn of Feroz and Segura'''
* '''The entrepreneurial Freeborn remain suspicious and uncooperative'''
For several months now, the orcs at Mora's Rock have been making attempts to trade with their Freeborn neighbours in [[Segura]] and Feroz. To date, however, they have had limited success. It is hard for the people of the Brass Coast not to see the "protectorate" and remember the cruel tyranny of former Governor Rahab. They were, after all, still part of the apparatus that enforced the authority of the despised ruler of the territory. While the garrison merchants have crowns to spend, their wealth was mostly taken from the people of Feroz one way or another.

At the Autumn Equinox, '''Dragonet de Gauvin''' proposed a statement of principle condemning the orcs of Morajasse as thieves. The Prosperity assembly upheld the judgement, but not with a greater majority, so its impact has been negligible. However, given that the majority of the Freeborn seem broadly disinclined to trade with the Grendel, the status quo sees Commander Gallum's forces continue to find it next to impossible to engage in peaceful relations with their neighbours. The Freeborn of Feroz may, perhaps grudgingly, accept their protection but they do not accept their coin.

===Spies===
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: right;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo.jpg|caption='''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo''', Imperial Spymaster|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=GMShutteredLantern.jpg|caption='''Tyburn Weaver''' (changeling), Grandmaster of the Shuttered Lantern|align=right|width=300}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Vigilance.png|align=right|width=300}}</div>
* '''There is concern that the Protectorate of Morajasse is being used as a base for Grendel spies'''
* '''A spy network could be used to gather information about both the Protectorate and the Iron Confederacy in the Cazar Straits'''
* '''If the Conclave sends mana to Morajasse, then the Shuttered Lantern could be employed to inveigle their way into the Protectorate'''
* '''A scouting army could investigate rumours of espionage rings and assess the military disposition of Gallum's forces'''
* '''The Silent Bell could be used to root out any collaborators in the area'''

Suspicion of the Protectorate of Morajasse is not restricted to matters of trade however. The Grendel are known to employ [[Rings_and_crowns|espionage rings]] throughout the [[Bay of Catazar]]. They spy on Imperial territories but they are also capable of taking direct action - a Grendel espionage ring aided the attack on [[A beacon of smoke|Siroc]] for example. Not much is actually known about the so-called Protectorate, and it is entirely possible that Commander Gallum is protecting Feroz simply to let a Grendel espionage ring dig themselves into the territory in advance of the orcs of the Broken Shore launching another attack.

There are any number of ''other'' conspiracy theories - some are looking at the request to be treated as a separate entity to the Grendel as a sign that perhaps Gallum and his forces are fractured from the Salt Lords for example. This is most likely wishful thinking but perhaps its noteworthy that they have not tried to seize ships and return to Attar.

Regardless of what one believes, there are rumblings in Feroz that what is needed is a better understanding of this Protectorate. So far, they have been reticent to travel to Anvil, and their borders are largely closed. Only the very small number of Freeborn prepared to deal with them are allowed entry and then only to a trading camp just over the border. Further information might help the Brass Coast, and the Empire, get a better idea of how to approach the Protectorate.

The [[Imperial Spymaster]] '''Rahmah i Darwisj i Erigo''' (or the Senate) could of course create a [[spy network]] in Feroz. There are, after all, two non-Imperial regions in the territory now. If at least 1,000 strength were committed to the spy network it would be enough to get a general feel for not only the Protectorate, but also the Suranni presence in the Cazar Straits. If at least 5,000 strength were committed, it would be sufficient to get detailed information about what is going on in these regions and an insight into the politics of the two foreign groups. The drawback is that this is a slow process - building a spy network takes time as does using it to uncover information. If the Spymaster began immediately, there'd be no report before the Summer Solstice at the absolute earliest.

If the Empire wants information more quickly, then there are three potential opportunities any one of which would give some insight into the Protectorate, and each of which could provide additional information.

The [[Military Council]] could direct an army to the territory to take the [[Army qualities#Scouting|Guard the Gates]] [[army orders|order]]. As long as the general indicated in their orders that the army was particularly interested in the Protectorate, they could take advantage of opportunities to speak to the [[fortification#garrison|garrison]] of Mora's Rock as they patrol outside Morajasse. This would give insight into the Grendel, their attitude to Feroz, and the broader plans of the Commander. If that army were also enchanted with [[Bound by Common Cause]], they could also work with the people of Feroz to get a better sense of their attitudes, or become aware of any underhand activity sponsored by Gallum and his supporters.

Another possibility would be to look to the wizards of the [[Conclave]]. The [[Shuttered Lantern]] are adept at negotiation and infiltration where wizards are involved, but the Grendel are too canny to just welcome them into their homes. However if the Conclave passed a declaration to send mana to the Wind Lord, then members of the the Shuttered Lantern would have the perfect cover they need to inveigle their way into the Rock. In that case, the [[Grandmaster]] could [[Concord#Guiding_an_Order|guide their order]], urging Freeborn and other members to visit Morajasse and try to get a feel for what is going on. This would require 20 mana from the font as usual, and would provide insight into feelings in the Protectorate and may reveal something of their plans. Salt-Lord Saoirse is a powerful magician, supported by a coven of adepts, so they are sure to have things to talk about.

Finally, the Synod could engage the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)|Silent Bell]] to root our any collaborators in the area. If there is an espionage ring here, it would at least confirm that, and may even provide some leads to help shut it down. If there are merchants profiteering from trade with Morajasse, it would enable the Synod to put a stop to that, if they so chose. If the Empire plans to isolate the former Grendel, then the Silent Bell might be the most effective tool in the long run.

Normally these opportunities might be exclusive, too many spies in one area would simply reveal the Empire's interest. As it happens, though, the three possibilities are each focused on different priorities. Each additional opportunity taken would provide less information overall, but would focus on different parts of the Protectorate and so still have some potential value.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Wheeling gulls.jpg|caption=Beoraidh is a tiny "nation" with great big ambitions.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
==Beoraidh==
* '''Beoraidh is a city state on the coast of Mareave that allegedly aims to remain neutral in the conflict between the Empire and the Grendel'''
* '''The Senate has recognised the orcs of Beoraidh as foreigners'''
The city state of [[mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]] in [[Mareave]] is apparently committed to neutrality between the Empire and the [[Grendel]]. The former-Salt Lord Eshan rules from the city there, and sees the place as a "free port" where traders from everywhere are welcome - provided they bring money or goods to trade. Recently, as discussed in the '''[[A_wild_night_and_a_new_road#Polite_Correspondence|A wild night and a new road]]''' wind of fortune, Beoraidh has come [[All_the_night-tide#Beoraidh|under the protection]] of the [[Sarcophan Delves]] - something that has not sat entirely easily with their Imperial neighbours. Exactly what this protection means - and how much influence the Sarcophan actually have - is not entirely clear. At the last it implies that anyone attacking Beoraidh - Imperial or otherwise - will incur the wrath of the Delves and their warships.
===Prosperity===
* '''Beoraidh has aligned itself with the Sarcophan Delves, accepting the protection of the powerful mercantile nation'''
As an independent nation, recognised by the Senate, the city-state of Beoraidh falls into the purview of the Imperial Consul. A messenger arrives at the Consulate in Tassato bearing greetings from former-Salt Lord Eshan. The first thing the missive announces is that the ruler of Beoraidh has taken the title "Eshan, Lord of Sand". This is likely an attempt to mollify the Salt Lords of the Grendel, among whose number he is no longer counted.

The meat of the letter addresses the alliance with the Sarcophan Delves. Eshan presents the decision to accept the protection of the Delves as a perfectly reasonable one prompted by reality. The Empire's Senate can be quite volatile, as can the Salt Lords. To accept the protection of one side or the other would be to risk being seen as aligned with them - something detrimental to the desire of Beoraidh to remain neutral. The Sarcophan Delves however are renowned for their refusal to pick sides, and the orcs of Beoraidh find that they have more in common with them than the Unshackled. Perhaps if the Empire had been more enthusiastic about the invitation to establish the [[I_wish_you_would#Shrine_of_the_Virtues|shrine of the virtues]], or had been more welcoming to the gladiators seeking Imperial investment, or had more decisively dealt with the armies invading Mareave, Eshan might have waited a little longer. Whatever his reason, it is clear he feels the Sarcophan are simply offering his city the best deal going.

As such, Eshan, Lord of Sand, wishes to formally inform the Imperial Consul that they have agreed a treaty with the Delves. An attack against their city, or the plains of [[Mareave#Sinfoyard|Sinfoyard]], will be treated as an attack on the Delves. However, the treaty is very clear that this agreement is not be an "exclusive" partnership. Both Beoraidh and the Delves are free to continue to pursue their own ambitions in the Bay of Catazar, with the Empire and the Grendel at the bare minimum. The tribute sent to the Empire, and the Grendel, will continue until such time as it can be renegotiated - as an assurance of Beoraidh's good faith as much as anything else. Yet the Lord of Sand is not shy about suggesting that Beoraidh will, eventually, want to discuss that tribute.

If the Consul is still interested in investing in Beoraidh, Eshan lays out three possiblities.
===Investment of Salt===
* '''The opportunity to build a temple or basilica in Beoraidh is still available'''
* '''A previous Imperial Consul agreed to purchase land for the shrine of virtue'''
* '''Even if commissioned, work cannot begin until the money for the land is paid'''

The previous Consul proposed an agreement with Lord Ehsan to [[I_wish_you_would#Beoraidh|build a Temple of the Way]] in the city-state. If the new Consul is still interested in that, opportunities to do so remain available. Eshan and his council have no interest in turning money and prosperity away, wherever it comes from. The invitation to build the shrine of the virtues remains. Either a temple or a grand basilica, depending on the level of investment the Empire wishes, can still be built. Provided the agreed on 20 Thrones for the purchase of land is delivered, of course.
===Investment of Sea===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Investment in Beoraidh'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Edifice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Beoraidh, Mareave </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 weirwood, and 108 crowns (modified by under-developed)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:''' Opens the port of Beoraidh to Imperial fleet captains</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Raises taxation in Mareave by 3 thrones and taxes from tariffs by 7 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''The Empire is welcome to invest in the docks of Beoraidh'''
The Sarcophan are interested in investing in Beoraidh's docks, and Eshan feels it would be remiss not to offer a similar opportunity to the Empire. He has, indeed, already offered this opportunity to the Grendel and his former colleagues in the council of Salt Lords seem cautiously interested. If the Imperial Consul is interested, then Eshan proposes that the Empire participate in the expansion of Beoraidh's docks with an eye towards creating docks specifically for Imperial vessels to dock, and for their merchants to do business in the marketplaces of the city. Beoraidh still produces goods of its own, but the real draw perhaps will be the opportunity to gain access to goods imported from the Broken Shore.

A standard fleet visiting Beoraidh will be able to secure assorted valuable goods worth 72 rings, as well as two doses of consumable available to the orcs of Beoraidh, the Delves, or the Grendel trading there. An [[enchantment|enchanted]] or [[fleet#upgrades|upgraded]] fleet would receive proportionally more.

Eshan intends to apply what he calls "[[Tariffs#Mercantilist|reasonable tariffs]]" and anticipates the Empire will apply the same tariffs to any Beoraidh ships visiting Imperial ports. Once the docks are completed there will certainly be Beoradhi merchants eager to do so. The [[Civil Service|civil service]] estimates that investment in the docks would also raise the taxable income of Mareave by 3 Thrones each season - increased prosperity for Beoraidh will slowly trickle across to the businesses of the territory as a whole - and bring in an additional 7 Thrones per season to the Senate treasury in the form of tariffs.
===Investment of Stone===
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Imperial Consulate in Beoraidh'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Embassy</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Beoraidh, Sinfoyard, Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 25 white granite, and 90 crowns (modified by under-developed)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 5 Thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Provides the Empire with some information on the factions in Beoraidh, local politics and recent developments
* Allows the Consul to purchase goods from Beoraidh
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Eshan proposes an Imperial consulate be built in Beoraidh'''
* '''This would not involve the appointment of a new ambassador'''
* '''The consulate would provide some limited information on the factions in the city and their machinations'''

Eshan is not naive when it comes to diplomacy; he has decades of experience as a salt lord after all. After some discussion with his advisors, and with the Sarcophan representatives, he offers the Empire the ability to establish a consulate in Beoraidh if they wish to do so. This will give them a presence in the city, and cement diplomatic relations between the city-state and the great power. They don't want embassy - they'd rather continue to deal with the Consul. But a small cadre of civil servants in Beoraidh would be able to ease representation to Beoraidh.

The Grendel have already been approached, and now Eshan makes the same offer to the Empire. A structure in the Imperial style, built near the ''[[Mareave#Palace_of_Chains|Palace of Chains]]'', with lodging for a dozen civil servants and visiting diplomats. The proposal is much more compact than a traditional Imperial embassy - only 25 white granite - but the labour costs are a little higher due to the limitations of Beoraidh.

If the new consulate were completed, it would not require the appointment of an ambassador to deal directly with Lord Ehsan. Instead the civil servants there would report to the Imperial Consul and could be instructed to acquire local goods for a small fee (assuming such things are [[The_circle_game#Diplomatic_Ministries|still acceptable]]). Perhaps more importantly, the Empire would have civil servants on the ground in Beoraidh who could assess what was happening in the city. It would provide some idea of factions within the city, what they want and any options that might exist to influence or antagonise them. It might also help the Empire to be more aware of what the Grendel and the Sarcophan were up to in the city...

===Retribution===
* '''A group of Beoraidh orc gladiators claim they were assaulted while visiting Anvil'''
* '''They are coming to Anvil to confront those they say attacked them'''

During the Summer Solstice, representatives of the Diamant Drakes [[I_wish_you_would#That's_Entertainment|visited Anvil]], to discuss opportunities for Imperial citizens to invest in the gladiatorial arena at Beoraidh. According to these orcs, while they were in Anvil they were assaulted by members of the [[Sannite]] sept of the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], accused of engaging in slavery. When the forces of law and order intervened, members of the militia flat lied about what had happened.

This obvious corruption of the Anvil militia doesn't particularly bother them - this group seem to have a very low opinion of those who enforce the laws and this has only enforced that. What the Diamant Drakes are angry about, is the beat down they claim they received at the hands of the Sannites. As news of it has spread through Beoraidh interest in visiting the Empire has declined significantly. The fact their attackers were [[Imperial Orcs]] has also soured some who were intent on seeking closer relations with their neighbours in Mareave.

After stewing on the matter for a few months, the Diamant Drakes have announced their intention to seek [[Grendel_religion#Retribution|retribution]] at the Winter Solstice. They haven't addressed exactly what this means but they're expected to reach Anvil around three in the afternoon on the Saturday of the summit, and head to the Unshackled camp to confront the Sand Vipers they are apparently holding responsible for the assault.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GeneralSeventhWave.jpeg|caption=Melkior of Balthazar's Vineyard.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=AmbassadorSarcophanDelves.jpg|caption= Dino i Riqueza, Ambassador to the Delves.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Pathfinder Gaddak.jpg|caption=Pathfinder Gaddak, Senator for Mareave.|align=left|width=250}}</div>

===Diplomatic Delegation===
* '''A delegation from Beoraidh led by Emissary Harailt intends to visit the Imperial Orcs at 11.00am on Saturday'''
* '''They are keen to speak to Pathfinder Gaddak, Senator for Mareave'''
* '''Eshan has asked the Imperial Consul and/or Melkior of Balthazar's Vineyard to ensure no unfortunate incidents happen'''
* '''Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has also asked the Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves to help ensure the meeting goes smoothly'''
During the Winter Solstice, a delegation from Beoraidh plans to visit Anvil. Their main intent is to speak to the Imperial Orcs within whose territory they live, and are especially keen to meet '''Pathfinder Gaddak'''. Gaddak is [[Senator]] for Mareave but was one of those involved in ensuring an endangered Beoraidh vessel safely returned to port. Their invitation to the folk of Beoraidh to visit Anvil was reasonable, and encouraged Eshan that the experiences of the Diamant Drakes need not be representative.

Obviously the story of the Diamant Drakes makes them a little concerned about the kind of reception they will receive. In part this has inspired their decision to ask representatives of the Sarcophan Delves to accompany them given that nations interest in smoothing relations between the city state and the Empire. To be on the safe side, Eshan asks that the Imperial Consul meet the delegation either in person or via a trusted lieutenant to further ensure that there is no repeat of the recent assault. Alternatively or additionally, '''Melkior of Balthazar's Vineyard''' could serve a similar purpose - their sensible missive contributed to the decision to undertake this delegation after all. On behalf of the Delves, Bedellar Huisbaas Annike has asked the [[Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves]] to use their influence to ensure things progress smoothly.

The delegation has been entrusted to the leadership of ''Emissary Harailt'', an experienced negotiator and merchant and one of Eshan's distant cousins. They anticipate reaching Anvil around eleven in the morning on Saturday of the coming summit, but a lot depends on their confidence with regard to their potential reception.
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Druj Flag.png|align=left|width=300}}</div>

==The Mallum==
* '''The Druj demand that the Empire withdraw all troops from Sarangrave or they will unleash the vallorn of Béantal Dol
Unexpectedly, a message has also been received at the Consulate that appears to be from the [[Druj]]. If it is taken at face value, it is a message from a buruk tepel named ''Inkagoch'' who resides in the city of [[Salt Flats of Sanath#Leen|Leen]] in the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]]. It is fairly terse and wastes no time with clever language. According to this missive, the rulers of [[the Mallum]] demand that the Empire withdraw all of its forces from the [[Sarangrave]]. If they do not, then the [[Druj lore#Ghulai|Ghulai]] of the [[Druj_armies#Tainted_Basilisk|Tainted Basilisk]] will destroy the warding stones of [[Sarangrave#Béantal_Dol|Béantal Dol]] and unleash the [[vallorn]] to claim the marshes. If the Druj cannot have the Sarangrave, nobody can...

The civil service advising the Consulate have no idea if the Druj are capable of making good on this threat but... the Tainted Basilisk are adept at [[Night magic]] so the fact the territory is largely under Imperial control may not present an obstacle to their ghulai reaching the stones. Everything the Empire knows about the [[Into_Béantal_Dol#The_Warding_Stones|warding stones]] that contain the vallorn suggests that if too many are destroyed the boundary will fail and the vallorn will explode out across the marshes like an unwinding spring. The Druj have clearly advanced their understanding of the vallorn in the last few years, as evidenced by their work in Therunin.

If they are not bluffing, the [[Sarangrave#Tower_of_the_Skink|Tower of the Skink]] is likely to be able to hold off the vallorn at least for a while but... the loss of life would potentially be apocalyptic. The vallorn would not spare anyone - rebel orc, Druj, or Imperial. This would be an absolute disaster for everyone in the Sarangrave and would mean the Druj could never recover the territory themselves. Are they really that desperate? Surely not even the Druj would be prepared to unleash such a catastrophe?

Surely?

==Further Reading==
* [[Advisor on Orc Affairs]]
* [[Ambassador to the Grendel]]
* [[Imperial Consul]]

* [[Invited with asperity]] 387YE Winter wind of fortune specifically dealing with the Thule

In harmony and unison

2026-04-18T21:40:36Z

Noserenda: /* Makeover */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>"And this, children, is the ''exact site'' the paragon Atun landed with the first Highborn all those years ago. From here the First Empress would go on to found the Empire at Anvil in Casinea and introduce all the other peoples of the continent to the seven Virtues of the Way. Now, who thinks they can name all seven Virtues for me?"

"Uhm, Steward Shem?"

"Yes, Master Japheth?"

"Did, um. Was Mrs Ah-toon very afraid of the water?" Japheth had been standing notably further away from the shore-line than the rest of the children, some of whom had already been dipping in their toes during lunch-break.

"She may well have been, Japeth, but remember that Virtue can give us the strength to face our fears! Now, about-. Yes, Japheth?"

"Even with all the bad eternals in the sea like Sha-ka and Kobe...Kobe, um, Salty-Lungs?"

"Yes Japeth, but the Empire and the Imperial Conclave will protect you from all the bad eternals, there's no need to worry."

"Does, does that mean Mr Syrup is a good Eternal?"

One of the two greatsword wielding warriors stood a little behind the group smiled and spoke up. "Oh yes Japeth, ''Prince'' Surut is a <u>very</u> good eternal. So good that your Senator and the Conclave expressly arranged for us to come and make sure you were all safe from all the bad ones." Steward Nimrod was not best pleased and re-asserted himself.

"Thank you, Warden. This is ''NOT'' magic class with Magister Shem, Japheth, this is our class field trip to Sanctuary Sands. I think it's just about time we packed up for the day anyway. Your homework is to draw a picture of Paragon Atun, including at least one of the tenets and symbols of Wisdom. Run along everyone!"

The rusted warden inclined their head to Steward Shem and continued their dutiful watch over the children and the coastline.</ic>
<div style="float: left; width: 250px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=OrderSevenfoldPath.jpg|caption=Let all power be guided by virtue.|width=300px}}</div>
==Overview==
<div style="float: right; max-width: 400px; margin-left: 10px;">
<quote by="Grandmaster Elagabala, on behalf of the Sevenfold Path">
The Conclave asks for plans for a Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path in Sanctuary, Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis. It would stand in remembrance of the magician-paragon Atun and their Virtue in voyaging to the continent, and looking to the horizon as a promise that this Empire will bring the light of Virtue to everyone, everywhere.
</quote></div>
The ongoing project to create a grand lodge for each of the [[Conclave order|Conclave orders]] proceeds apace. The recently completed grand lodge of the [[Golden Pyramid]] in [[Mareave]] was briefly in danger from the orcs of the [[Grendel|Broken Shore]], but, thankfully, the intervention of the Military Council has secured it. At least for now.

There can only be two ongoing projects at any one time, and with the completion of the first grand lodge, the [[Conclave]] declared that the [[Sevenfold Path]] would be next in line while the recently [[The shape of things to come|upgraded plans]] for the [[Silver Chalice]] are yet to be commissioned by the [[Senate]]. For the next set of plans to be prepared by Conclave, either the Silver Chalice or the Sevenfold Path must commission and finish building their grand lodges. Of course, the potential for an [[appraisal]] is still available.

==Homecoming==
The people of Sanctuary Sands are ''delighted'' to hear that the Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path decided that the site of the landing (or at least, a little inland) would be the order's chosen place for their grand lodge. Virtuous magicians from across the Empire heard the call of '''Elagabala''' and began scouting out the prime location, with the best view, to prepare the designs. So what if it's directly on the coast? So what if it's an obvious target for the Grendel? So what if the heralds of [[Siakha]] find priests delicious aperitifs? This place is to be a beacon for the light of virtue! The gleaming fortress of [[Necropolis#Reumah's_Rest|Reumah's Rest]] stands overlooking the cliffs in Coursmouth! Besides, the Military Council have protected the grand lodge in [[Mareave#Clisearn|Clisearn]], they will surely manage any lesser concerns of the material world.
__TOC__
==Dreams come true==
There are seven true virtues, and not one of them is Subtlety. Plans for an enormous [[weirwood]] vessel come together, one large enough to host a full cadre of order magicians along with not one but two small shrines to the Virtues. The vessel will sit in the water next to a small but [[Edifice#Grandeur|impressive basilica]] dedicated to [[the Way]]. A pier extends out a little further into the Catazar for pensive walks along the shoreline while meditating on the paragon-magician Atun. Two masts of [[mithril]] are to protrude from the structure, displaying sails showing the emblem of the order, ever lit by lightstones strategically placed along both the masts.

Unsurprisingly, the presence of the grand lodge would provide a big benefit for the people of [[Necropolis]]. Such a powerful reminder of the crucial role of the Highborn in bringing Wisdom and the Way to the world would benefit every [[congregation]] in the territory. More it would remind the Highborn of their naval history, that their people were once masters of the oceans. That would spark renewed interest in Highborn naval endeavours, permanently raising the capability of the nation to support one additional navy.

As with the first two lodges, the Grandmaster would gain better rates for their ministry (unless, of course, the Senate were to abrogate it as discussed in the '''[[The circle game]]''' wind of fortune) and the Conclave would see a healthy increase in the mana crystals available in the [[font]].
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Grand Lodge of the Sevenfold Path'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work (Grand Lodge)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sanctuary Sands, Necropolis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 20 white granite, 15 mithril, 65 weirwood and 300 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 5 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Adds 15 mana crystals to the Conclave font each season
* Incorporates a [[Edifice#Grandeur|grand basilica]] dedicated to the Way
* Reduces the cost of mana purchases by the Grandmaster
* Raises the level of investment of congregations in the territory by one
* Allows Highguard to raise and support one additional navy over the current limits
* Provides a dose of true liao to the order's vaults at the Summer and Winter solstice
* Provides every member of the order with a single dose of liao for a year
* Adds the Voice of the Paragons to Imperial lore for as long as [[Net of Gossamer Chains]] is interdicted
* Can request a single relic linked to an important historical figure for the Winter Solstice after the grand lodge is complete
</td></tr>
</table></div>
What excites everyone the most, however, is what a confluence of the Empire's most advanced minds of the intersection of magic and virtue might achieve. By using a combination of the divinatory magics of the [[Day]] and [[Night]] realms and the experienced hands of those who spend a lifetime handling the [[liao|purple substance]], the able to examine imperial [[liao]] production to find doses with the potential spark to be developed into [[true liao]] that might otherwise be discarded. As a result, a single dose of true liao would be handed over to the Grandmaster at Summer and Winter Solstice, to use as she and her successors see fit. There would also be a little extra normal liao for everyone in the order for a year following the completion of the grand lodge.

==Props==
* '''Voice of the Paragons is a ritual foci that helps magicians cast Mantle of the Golden Orator, Silver Tongue of Virtue and A Light That Moves'''
* '''The Paragon's Voice Chapter will add the focus to Imperial lore for as long as Net of Gossamer Chains is interdicted'''

Some enterprising benefactors from the ''Paragon's Voice Chapter'' are keen to encourage and reward this endeavour and have come to the magicians of the Sevenfold Path with an offer for when the lodge is completed. They specialise in unique [[:category:foci|foci]] that aid in the casting of rituals that enhance ones ability to [[Congregation#Downtime_Options|preach]], specifically [[Mantle of the Golden Orator]], [[Silver Tongue of Virtue]] and, [[A Light That Moves]], though they've not had the opportunity to test that one yet.

They'd be willing to allow Imperial artisans to visit their chapter house to learn how to create this item in exchange for one concession. They are strongly of the belief that while the practice and mastery of mortal magic can be be pursued and celebrated as part of one's path to transcending the labyrinth, no [[eternal]] has any place in the consecrated halls of a [[congregation]]. They will teach any Imperial artisan who wishes to learn how to make the foci for as along as [[Net of Gossamer Chains]] is [[Interdiction|interdicted]] by the Conclave. Provided [[Callidus]] cannot seek to corrupt and manipulate the teachings of the [[Synod]], the foci will effectively be in Imperial lore - it just couldn't be disseminated to anyone.

==Duets==
* '''The Black Tablet will seek out a single relic connected to a chosen historical figure suitable for casting Whispers through the Black Gate'''
The ''Paragon's Voice'' are not the only ones to have an offer for the grandmaster for choosing to build her grand lodge in the Necropolis. The ''Black Tablet'' have for some years now supported the work of the [[Imperial Necromancer]], and see their work as validation that magic that is often treated with suspicion and trepidation (that of the winter realm) can still be used for virtuous ends. Once the lodge has been built, if the Grandmaster is willing and able to pass a [[declaration]] of [[concord]] in support of the practice of necromancy, they will aim to provide some help to the magicians at Anvil.

In return for this support, they will look to the Conclave for direction towards a single past historical figure of great virtue for whom they may have some remnants in the Necropolis. They will see if they can find and prepare a relevant relic for someone who was in some way cotemporaneous, connected with or may have insight into that figure (if not the figure themselves) that is a valid target for [[Whispers through the Black Gate]] and provide it to the Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path at the start of the next Winter Solstice following the completion of the grand lodge. If multiple declarations are passed, they will default to the first one raised by the Sevenfold Path.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Atun.jpg|caption=Atun; paragon of [[Wisdom]] and magician, who led her people to safety when it seemed there was no sanctuary to be found.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
==Makeover==
* '''The impressive basilica could be consecrated with true liao, either as a basilica or as an inspirational memorial to Atun'''

The designs for the grand lodge include an impressive basilica. In theory, the plans could be expanded even further, but another 25 white granite would be needed to expand the central house of worship into a bona fide cathedral ('''OOC Note:''' Any Senate motion or announcement must be explicit if they plan to do this). Even a basilica would be impressive however, especially if it were consecrated with true liao. If that happened, there would be the potential for the Senate to create a new Imperial title to lead the worship in the basilica and minister to the needs of the magicians of the order. Such a position could be on a par with the archbishop of Capodomus Cathedral, though the Order would have to choose the virtue carefully... such a decision would naturally impact the whole Order.

The alternative might be to create an [[Inspirational_location#Memorials|inspirational memorial]] to Atun. The Paragon of Wisdom led her people to safety at Sanctuary Sand, she didn't remain here with them. According to the legends she never left her ship. On the fourth day she set sail again, allegedly alone, although most people believe that part is probably an ahistorical story. The new basilica could be consecrated to create a memorial to Atun's legendary status as a [[Paragons and exemplars|paragon]] of [[Wisdom]].

There is no requirement to use a precious dose of true liao in this manner - it is simply that the potential exists to do so, once the grand lodge is complete. The inherent grandeur of the structure would make a suitable housing for ether plan.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Elagabala Preaching.jpg|caption='''Elagabala ''', Grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path|align=right|width=500}}</div>

==Movin' out==
* '''The shipwrights propose to name the vessel Elagabala's Vision'''
* '''It could set sail and travel anywhere on the Bay of Catazar in a single season'''
* '''It would be vulnerable to attack while at sea'''
* '''The vessel would move the level of investment in congregations to the territory the season after it arrived'''

The design for the grand lodge is built around the idea of massive sea-going vessel, in a style the architects imagine captures the historical tradition of Highborn seafaring. Its much bigger than a normal Imperial [[fleet]], closer in size to one of the Asavean warships currently threatening the Empire's coasts. The original idea was that the grand lodge would be built in the ''shape'' of a ship, but as soon as someone suggests that the rejoinder from one of the Order's Freeborn magicians is "Or... we could include an actual enormous ship!"

The designers propose to call the vessel Elagabala's Vision. In fairness, it's not an uncommon strategy for architects and shipwrights who are eager to find a powerful patron who will authorise their work being built. The truth is that the vessel they have sketched would be ungainly and clumsy. It would be utter folly to risk it on an actual voyage in open waters far away from land, but it could waddle around the Bay of Catazar, clinging to the coastline, if it needed to. It would be vulnerable if the Grendel attacked (although the Grendel are often loathe to destroy valuable things), it certainly wouldn't be a lot of use in battle. That said, it could accompany a Highborn navy if one were ever launched, providing spiritual succor to the sailors and soldiers fighting for the Empire. And if Sanctuary Sands were ever seriously threatened, the vessel could put to sea to save the lives of order magicians and local inhabitants if needed.

Once complete the grandmaster of the Sevenfold Path could give orders for Elagabala's Vision to sail to any territory on the Bay of Catazar currently under Imperial control. It would take a season to get there - it couldn't do anything in the season it was sailing and it will always be vulnerable to Grendel navies while at sea. But once it made landfall, it would allow the order to project their power and influence in whatever territory they had sailed to. There are few practical benefits to this arrangement - the only one the prognosticators can find is that it would move the benefits the grand lodge provides to congregations to the new territory in the season after it arrived. But half the grand lodge would definitely be mobile and who knows when that might come in useful?

==Further Reading==
* [[Sevenfold Path]]
* [[Lit_up#Grand_Lodges|Lit up]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune introducing the concept of grand lodges

Invited with asperity

2026-04-16T23:42:26Z

Noserenda:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]][[Category:Thule]]
<ic>
"Why, Mistress Tasya, the Castellan of Krevsatyzmei is always pleased to receive you and any tidings you bring from The King Beneath the Hill. Even when, uh, so unexpectedly."

The on-duty guard, Pallad, looked up to her colleague Mor in the nest for some confidence, but received nothing but a deeply concerned glance. She-Of-The-Black-Cloak is not someone you want to walk up to you at the best of times, let alone in the middle of a harsh Karskian blizzard in the small hours of the night where it is all too easy to interpret every sound as a monster sneaking up on you. They were south of the mountains, making it much more likely that something awful was prowling nearby.

"Given the hill you stand on and who you bought it from, Pallad-daughter-of-Rith, you and your Castellan should always be prepared to engage in the tradition of hospitality. Please tell Mors-son-of-Ganax to kindly remove his hand from his crossbow lest I be made to feel ... unwelcome"

''Shit, how does she know our names?'' thought Pallad, trying not to let her fear show.

"Of course, ahem, honoured guest. May I offer you a pour of wine from my own flask, and perhaps some of this Holtfordian fruit?" The guard noted that while most of this small delegation were human, inasmuch as she could make out any details beneath their cowls and fur-lined cloak, one of them at least was a fellow orc. But not a Child of the Dragons, she through.

"That will do nicely," Tasya let a smile escape her thick hood as she slowly and clearly partook of the wine and dates, unbothered both to stand before a fully garrisoned outpost of the Thule and by the biting cold the guards were so heavily wrapped up against.

Mors regained his composure first and shouted down from the tower; "And what business does Irontooth bring to a Tower of the Dragons?" This was a Thule outpost. There was surely no doubt that the Dragons were more powerful than any Sovereign. Probably older too. There was certainly no need to be scared of a messenger! Even if she already somehow knew yours and your parents names? Right?

"Business?" Tasya crowed. "What business can there be between the Wolf and the Raven? Between the Warrior and the Grave? I am here to speak the words of the Charnel Lord, and I will do so, to your Castellan, without further delay."

Best not push it. This was clearly the Castellan's problem and the warlock would not appreciate the intervention of mere gate guards.

"Of course, Mistress Tasya, enter and be welcome in our hall in the names of the Five. I shall go waken the Castellan."

The gates swung open, and the delegation of the Broken Barrow swiftly disappeared inside.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=IconThule.jpg|align=left|caption=For all that they take a long view of events, when the Thule Dragons choose to act their nation can move with dangerous intensity.|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]] - the [[Thule]] - live to the north of the Empire. They share a long mountainous border with [[Wintermark]], with the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], and particularly with [[Varushka]]. Their magocratic nation is ruled by the five [[Thule_lore#Dragons|Dragons]] - allegedly immortal sorcerers of immense power who the folk of their nation treat as living ancestors or perhaps even gods. For much of Imperial history, they were at war with the Empire. In recent years a series of treaties have secured peace - mostly by [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|ceding]] parts of the northern Imperial nations.

It is not a universally ''popular'' peace. There are grumbles from Wintermark that the Empire keeps surrendering to the orcs of the north, although they are subdued and rarely enter the public discourse. The Imperial Orcs of [[Skarsind]] keep the Thule at arms' length where possible. It is the nation of [[Varushka]] that has been most critical of the peace treaties - and it cannot be argued that they have been called on to sacrifice more of its northern lands to the Thule than any other nation. The priests of Varushka expressed a commitment to never hand over Varushkan soil to the orcs again - with [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_57|judgement 57]] in their own assembly, and [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_67|Judgement 67]] in the General. Neither achieved a [[greater majority]] however - hardly surprising for the General but perhaps unexpected in the Varushkan assembly. It seems that '''Lenochka Zabotovna Vypalse''' and '''Father Drakov''' may not speak with a single voice on this matter.

For now, though, peace endures. The [[Ratify_Thule_Treaty_Spring_387YE|treaty has been ratified]]; it is law. Two nations - [[the Marches]] and [[Navarr]] - are sending great amounts of food north to help feed the people of Otkodov and support their armies. It is illegal to preach the Way of Virtue in Otkodov to their citizens. For their part the Thule agree to share the [[white granite]] of the [[Night Quarry]]; pay for the food delivered to them; ensure Imperial access to the
[[Guardian_of_the_Maze_of_Zoria#The_Maze_of_Zoria|Maze of Zoria]], in return for the right to send warlocks to study at the [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness#The_Icy_Crag_of_the_Eternal_Sun|Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun]]. And, of course, to maintain their current policies for the reasonable treatment of Imperial citizens choosing to remain and live in ceded lands. All that remains is for the pageantry and theatre of a formal signing.

==State Visit==
* '''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided will attend the Senate Chambers at 18:00 on Saturday to celebrate the recent signing of the [[Ratify Thule Treaty Spring 387YE | five-year peace treaty]].'''
* '''Rak intends to retire soon, and he will be accompanied by a coterie of potential successors. This may present an opportunity to shape the tenor of Imperial/Thule relations for the next few years.'''
* '''The party will discuss the future of cooperation between the two great powers, the fate of the Druj, the vallorn, and other matters of import.'''

Last season, a delegation from Otkodov was waylaid and unable to make it to Anvil as planned to formally sign the treaty. They are now on their way to complete the intended state visit. Whilst a formal signing of the treaty is not legally required (indeed Rak is satisfied that everything is in order, and the flow of merchants across the border in both directions is testament to the fact that the treaty is holding) the Thule do consider the symbolism inherent in ink and parchment to be valuable.

More pressingly, there is much to discuss as regards making the most use of the period of peace. Cooperation between nations of such might and prowess could yield great benefits, so long as fair terms can be agreed. There is the matter of the vallorn to discuss, the fate of the Druj and their territories, and the ever-present Jotun in the west. There might also be opportunities for trade, for magical cooperation or simply for friendship between peers. It would not do to pass up this opportunity for the great and good of the Empire to liaise with the representatives of Otkodov. No actual agreements will be worked on at this meeting, such things are a matter for Winged Messengers or small private meetings, but the seed of discussion bears the fruit of cooperation.

Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided has served as the Dragon's emissary to the Empire for several years now, and has decided that the time is coming to step aside. Not immediately, perhaps, but soon. To that end, he is bringing with him a selection of potential successors; apprentices and mentees who have worked with him on Imperial Diplomacy and may be poised to take up the challenge. Ultimately, the Dragons will make the final call as to who replaces Rak, but it would be foolish to assume that they will not be paying ''very'' close attention to proceedings to assess the candidates. Imperial Citizens who wish to shape the future of Thule foreign policy may benefit from attending the event.

They have informed the civil service that the Thule delegates will be:
* Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided (he/him) - Ambassador to The Empire
* Runa, of the ''Circle of Thrice-Turned Stones'' (he/him) - An accomplished Night and Autumn warlock with an interest in trade.
* Hekla, of the ''Unbroken Chain of Gilded Fire'' (he/him) - A prodigious Summer warlock specialising in military matters.
* Galk, of the ''Sunken Orb of Brilliant Sapphire'' (he/they) - A studious Winter, Spring and Day warlock at the forefront of theoretical magic.
* Orn The Scribe (he/they) - a servant bonded to the offices of the Speaker for the Dragons Undivided.

The party will arrive in Anvil at 18:00 on Saturday and proceed to the Senate building. They have asked that any interested citizen be allowed to attend, but leave the facilitation of the event itself in the capable hands of the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]], '''Kindra Surefoot'''. They expect to be in the Senate for at most an hour, but if there are still worthwhile discussions ongoing by that point, they may adjourn to the Imperial Offices for a short additional time.

==A Cultural Exchange (Redux)==
* '''Imperial storytellers are invited to meet with skuldyr in Otkodov to exchange and discuss cultural tales on the themes of Heroism and Duty.'''
* '''The [[High Bard of the Empire]] is tasked with arranging the conjunction to Leopard-Tooth Pass on Friday at 23:15.'''
* '''The warlock Hoosfa Mek offers to continue exchanging written records of folk tales in the Tome of Shared Lore.'''

[[About today#A Cultural Exchange |Last Winter]], ''skuldyr'' from Otkodov attended the Wintermark camp in Anvil to exchange stories with the scops. The event appears to have been judged a success by the warlocks, as an invitation has been sent to the Empire, via the civil service. A conjunction of the Sentinel Gate has been identified that would allow up to 12 people to take the Thule up on this invitation by travelling to Leopard-Tooth Pass in Kógur, Skuld at 23:15.

Eirikur the skuld asks for the storytellers of the empire to bring no more than five tales, which should be focused on the themes of Heroism and Duty. Last year, Eirikur spoke with many scops in Wintermark, but also spoke to some Navarri. Since then, he has been learning more about the narrative traditions of The Empire's northern peoples. For this exchange, he would like the visiting party to be composed of Wintermark Scops, Varushkan Storytellers, and Navarri bards.

The Civil Service have assigned responsibility for this conjunction to the [[High Bard of the Empire]], '''Mikael Reskovich'''. They would also like to remind any potential attendees that it is [[Ratify Thule Treaty Spring 387YE| currently illegal]] to preach [[The Way]] in Otkodov. It is not clear how strict the Thule will be on this, but guests of the Dragons might do well to avoid overtly religious messages in their stories.

At the last meeting with the skuldyr, the warlock Hoosfa Mek gave a gift to the [[Ambassador to Otkodov|Ambassador]], a book of Thule tales. They will be present at this meeting as well and have expressed that, if the Ambassador wishes, they would be happy to take custody of the book once again and have more stories added to it. They would be especially keen for this if their Imperial counterparts have been able to record some of their own tales in the tome.
==A Northern Passage==
* '''The Thule have responded negatively to a proposal to map the northern parts of the Sea of Snow and the coast of Otkodov
Ambassador Surefoot has carefully raised the matter of securing a sea-route to Otkodov through the north-eastern [[Sea of Snow]]. As they point out, there was a fleet mapping expedition of the frigid sea [[Never_be_found_at_home#Senate_Motion|a few years ago]]. While it uncovered [[Midnight_rain#Mapping_the_Sea_of_Snow|a great deal of information]] it did not manage to follow in the [[Never be found at home#Passage to Ultima Thule|wake of the ''Sea Hawk'']] and discover if there ''is'' a navigable passage to the coast of [[Otkodov#Nithoggir|Nithoggir]]. There is an invitiation for cooperation between the Empire and Otkodov, with an eye toward developing a sea trade route.

Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided explains that the Dragons recently permitted an attempt to find a trade route between western Otkodov and Wintermark, overland through the wastes of Tsirku, and it was an unmitigated disaster that cost many lives. They do not see that any attempt to open a sea route would be any more successful - there are beasts in the ice-strewn waters off the coast of Otkodov that are truly terrible even for the Sea of Snow. Weighing the risk and the reward, they see little advantage to allowing the Empire to create - and ultimately control - a maritime route to their shores. They would rather leave that door unopened at least for the time being. Rak goes further - not only will the Dragons not authorise cooperation in this endeavour they will not permit a trading post on their coast. Trade with Otkodov will continue overland, as it has done for the last decade or so.

Reading between the lines, it is very clear that no matter what Rak says, fundamentally the Dragons do not want the Empire to have a way to bring fleets to their coast. Relations may have thawed in the last decade, but not so much that the Dragons will tolerate Imperial ships sailing through open waters to the lands of the Thule.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Forest of Ulnak regions.png|caption=The Forest of Ulnak is mapped, but large parts of the territory remain a mystery.|align=right|width=400}}</div>
==Hinodir, Tathenon, and the Eastern Woods==
* '''Reports from Varushka speak of Thule armies on the move'''
* '''An agent of the Charnel Lord is speaking to the Thule in Krevsatymei'''
* '''The Thule are preparing an invasion of the Forest of Ulnak and invite Imperial warbands to accompany them'''
* '''They also welcome Imperial armies provided the generals are prepared to follow the lead of Tathenon the Gyre'''
Following the Autumn Equinox, Thule hunters swept into the [[Forest of Ulnak]], using the [[spy network]] there at the invitation of the [[Imperial Spymaster]]. One of the Dragons, ''Hinodir of the Bright Orb'', [[Bedight_in_veils#Forest_of_Ulnak|negotiated access]] allowing the orcs of Otkodov to take advantage of existing framework laid down by the Empire. There are Imperial scouts using the spy network as well, but the Thule make no effort to cooperate with them. These hunters are fairly different to the warriors more often encountered by the Empire - bow and spear warriors with thick hide armour and dark blue hoods, accompanied by battle warlocks and practitioners of [[Night magic]]. The warbands are all shrouded by an [[enchantment]] that makes them hard to spot against natural landscapes and guides them through the wild woods of the territory. Their work completed, they return to Otkodov shortly before the Winter Solstice.

Even as the hunters already sent out, the Thule are on the move. Eyewitnesses observe significant Thule military forces entering [[Ossium]] - moving into the [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]] and [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]]. Both woodlands have apparently been woven with Spring magic; at first there is a concern this is an attempt to unleash the [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]]. Rather than becoming mobile however it seems the forest is possessed of a magical awareness that causes the trees to attack intruders and trespassers in a manner more similar to [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]]. There's talk of other movements as well - ''Tasya of the Black Feathers'', the mouth-piece of the [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] known as the [[Charnel Lord]] - has been spotted visiting ''Krevsatyzmei'', the Thule fortification in Karsk. At various points in the past the Charnel Lord has allied with the Thule, betraying them with equal ease when the tides of battle shifted. It seems another cycle of diplomacy may be beginning.

Ambassador Kindra has raised the possibility of a joint effort to attack the Forest of Ulnak, but Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided politely requests that the ambassador keep the military strategists at arms length during the coming delegation. At the same time however, he issues an invitation from ''Tathenon the Gyre, Who Wields the Might of the Sky''. Any Imperial [[military unit|warband]] that wishes is welcome to join the Thule in their assault against the Druj of Ulnak. Those who wish to do so may fight alongside the ''Earthquake Drummers'', who lead the assault against the vermin of [[the Mallum]]. Any captain who brings their warband will be granted a gift of crystal mana. A standard military unit will be rewarded with 7 crystal mana, with an [[Military unit#Upgrades|upgraded]] or [[enchantment|enchanted]] military unit receiving proportionally more.

Furthermore any Imperial army that wishes to join the assault is welcome to do so ''provided'' the [[general]] acknowledges the sovereignty and strategy of Tathenon the Gyre. They will fight alongside the orcs of Otkodov, just as the orcs of Otkodov fought alongside the Empire to liberate Sermersuaq. Rak is aware that the level of secrecy requested may disincline the Military Council to support the attack but the Dragons have weighed that risk as being acceptable to ensure the Druj do not become aware of their strategy. Regardless, while the Empire fight to conquer [[Sarangrave]], and fight along the border with the [[Salt Flats of Sanath]], they help Otkodov achieve its goal even if no armies provide any aid in Ulnak.

The civil service believe there is no legal issue with Imperial military units supporting the Thule - they are foreigners and have in the past been military allies, and the Druj are definitely barbarians. They caution that sending armies into the Forest of Ulnak this season ''without'' agreeing to accept the strategy of Tathenon the Gyre will mean that the Empire's troops will act as a separate force. It's doubtful the Thule will fight the Empire directly, but depending on where a general launches their attack the possibility of Imperial and Otkodov forces clashing over the eastern Forest of Ulnak cannot be discounted - it is not feasible to predict exactly what might happen here. One thing they are certain of; even if a general does wish to support the Otkodov armies they will still be free to issue orders as to the conduct and [[army orders|tactics]] their army will employ. The only thing that will be determined by Otkodov is the order in which the regions of Ulnak are assailed.
==Caridis, Sławomir, and the Face-peelers==
* '''The Thule are prepared to have the Claws of the Dragon work with Varushkan warriors to root out the face-peelers
* '''This creates a raiding venture for Varushkan military units
* '''The consequence is disruption to draughir citizens of Karsk and Ossium
Another matter of a military flavour concerns the "face-peeling shapeshifters" known to exist in and around the Webwood, among other locales. Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided stresses again that the Thule do not consider them to be a particular concern but they are also not by any stretch allies of Otkodov. Cleaning out a den of rabid wolves is usually a good idea; while they may favour attacking humans they might easily shift their depredations to orcs. With that in mind, Rak conveys an invitation from the Dragon known as ''Caridis the Binder of Runes and Oaths'' inviting '''Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh''' to gather some bands of Varushkan warriors, [[Varushka_military_concerns#Wagon_Raiders_and_Sell_Swords|sell swords]], [[warden|wardens]] and the like to work with the ''Claws of the Dragon'' to exterminate the "trudnik" in Ossium and [[Karsk]]. The Claws of the Dragon are a small fellowship of warlocks that serve the Dragons by rooting out magical threats to Otkodov - they have recently been involved with the folk of Wintermark in dealing with both cults of [[Agramant|Blood-on-the-Snow]] and the monoliths of the Falconer. Caridis the Binder has instructed them to work with Sławomir to deal with the "face stealers" and so they have focused their efforts into eastern Varushka even as the armies of Otkodov begin to move.

Following the Winter Solstice, [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[military unit|military units]] will have the opportunity to undertake a [[military unit#Raiding|raiding]] [[venture]] called ''Root out the Face-peelers''. This will involve working with the Thule in Karsk and Ossium to track down nests of "trudnik" and, where they are found, employ axe and flame to destroy them. The Claws of the Dragon are a fairly small organisation, but they are supported here by a cadre of warriors and hunters. Regardless, the full success of this venture will depend on Varushkan involvement.

A standard military unit that undertakes this venture will receive six measures of [[Materials#Natural_Materials|forest materials]], and a phial of ''Corrupt Blood''. This latter is a vile [[potion]] brewed by the trudnik that infuses the drinker with preternatural strength and endurance. A military unit that has been upgraded or enchanted will receive proportionately more. Unfortunately, this raid comes with a cost. One of the problems is that the glamour the trudnik use makes it easy for them to masquerade as Varushkans with the [[draughir]] [[lineage]]. A thorough attack on the trudnik will cause trouble for the draughir of Karsk and Ossium; following the Winter Solstice they will receive a -1 penalty to the production of their resource unless it is a [[military unit]] taking the ''Root out the Face-peelers'' action. Even if few military units get involved, the inevitable suspicion and doubt that is seeded will be enough to unsettle the affairs of draughir in Karsk and Ossium.

If at least 7,500 strength of military units participate in the raid, the trudnik will be driven out of their lairs in Karsk and Ossium. The Empire will be able to expand their knowledge of these creatures, and finally get some reliable evidence of what they are and what they are doing. There may be some mopping up to do - at least one of the trudnik lairs in Ossium is apparently very old and extends into the earth - and if there is a dark spirit involved with the face-peelers it may fall to the Empire to deal with it. The matter of "spoils" however has already been set by Caridis - the Empire will claim whatever trudnik "loot" lies in Imperial Varushka, while the Thule will take custody of anything seized from the trudnik that lies in Thule lands. This would include Slomavetka, allegedly a lair of the trudnik set in a rich forest and with deep caverns carved into the hill beneath it, which lies just across the border in the Webwood.

Everything seems quite straightforward, at least in theory, but Rak is clear that if any problems do develop, it will fall to Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh, with the guidance of the Ambassador to Otkodov, to negotiate with the Claws of the Dragon on behalf of Caridis the Binder.

==Icy Crags and Distant Peaks==
{{WingedMessenger|address=Missives can be sent to ''Thania of the Blackstaff, Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun, Miekarova, Varushka'', who is the spokesperson for the Thule orcs living in and around the Icy Crag. She is interested only in matters related to the college and the warlocks attending; anything else should go through the Ambassador from Otkodov.}}
* '''Thule warlocks have taken up residence in Miekarova, around the Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun
* '''Their spokesperson is Thania of the Blackstaff, an aged Thule warlock
* '''Thania is interested in acquiring certain ritual texts codified at the college and prepared to offer mithril for them
The contingent of warlocks have taken up residence at the Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun, studying with the Imperial scholars. Their presence makes some magicians uneasy; many of these orcs are veterans of the various wars with the Empire. Others bring an unnervingly intense reverence for the Dragons. For the most part though they are distant, reserved, and primarily interested in researching and discussing magical concepts alongside their peers. Their "leader" is a warlock named ''Thania of the Blackstaff'', an aged orc who has made a study of all six realms of magic. She speaks on behalf of the Thule orcs on matters related to the Icy Crag, but indicates that any more political matters need to go via the Ambassador to the Empire.

A couple have attempted to introduce the Imperial students and professors to a ball-game from Otkodov that uses staves and [[Spellcasting#Offensive_Spells|offensive magic]] to keep control of a [[tempest jade]] sphere. The "excitement" of the contest comes from the fact the "ball" is enchanted to explode violently if it is struck too many times over a short period. It is very much an acquired taste but those who have participated say it is great for "getting the blood pumping" if nothing else.

The presence of the Thule reduces the costs to upkeep the Icy Crag by five Thrones each season, but they receive a copy of any [[Formulaic_ritual#Ritual_Texts|ritual text]] codified there. They've also apparently had a thorough read through the stacks, looking with interest for details of magic previously worked on here. Having learned of the existence of [[Aid Once More]], [[Bitter Mantle of the Leaden Crown]], ''Heaven's Spear Sunders the Mountain'', ''The Never-ending Lullaby'', and ''Sermersuaq Fools the Orca with a Rasp of Her Knuckles'', they are interested to find out more if the opportunity presents itself and eager to acquire ritual texts if the Empire will allow it.

For each of these rituals the Conclave is prepared to [[dissemination|disseminate]] to Thania of the Blackstaff, she will provide 6 wains of mithril to the individual who raises the [[declaration]] after it passes, or should they specify in their declaration, to the Conclave (to later be distributed with a declaration of [[endowment]]). Alternatively she can provide 35 [[vis#golden apple|golden apples]] (again, to the person who raised the declaration or the Conclave for endowment). As long as the desired payment is clear, Thania isn't concerned what form is requested as she apparently has been assigned significant resources by the Dragons.

One problem the civil service point out is that three of the rituals - ''Heaven's Spear Sunders the Mountain'', ''The Never-ending Lullaby'', and ''Sermersuaq Fools the Orca with a Rasp of Her Knuckles'' - are not actually part of [[Formulaic_ritual#Imperial_Lore_and_the_Ritual_List|Imperial lore]] and thus ''can't'' be disseminated by the Conclave. There's nothing to stop whoever has those ritual texts entering into negotiations with Thania directly for purchase of the ritual texts but it is not a simple matter to create a new copy of a text.
==Fraynir and the Black Waste==
* '''The Thule have made preparations to defend Sküld from an active vallorn
* '''Fraynir, one of the five Dragons, wishes to acquire the ''Dreadful Ending'' ritual
* '''They are offering a ritual that already seems to exist in Imperial lore under a different name'''

Ambassador Kindra has provided some guidance regarding the concerns of '''Dylan Thornweaver''' and the [[vallorn]]. It is now common knowledge that there is a vallorn in [[Otkodov#Sküld|Sküld]] - occupying the ruins of the ancient city of Emrys. Ambassador Rak offers reassurance that the Dragons' opinion on the matter has not shifted from [[A_thousand_years_of_longing#Our_Friends_in_the_North|where it was]] when the [[Great Library of Hacynian]] completed their research. Research he is keen to remind the Empire that the [[A_thousand_years_of_longing#Our_Friends_in_the_North|Thule supported]]. Otkodov remains enthusiastic about the reunification - the "ascension" - of the vallorn. They remain ready to deal with the vallorn of Sküld - but would appreciate a season of advance warning before the Empire completes the [[trods]] network and begins the transformation. They remain confident that their armies and their magic will be more than a match for it given its size and sluggishness. They've sacrificed a thousand years of prosperity in Sküld to keep it weak, after all. With the vallorn gone they would no longer need to keep Sküld under a [[Wither the Seed|shroud of Winter magic]] and could restore it to full fertility. There is also speculation that the Thule are eager to finally get at the treasures of Emrys which legends suggest was perhaps the most magically advanced city of the Terunael Empire; the warlocks refuse to be drawn.

There is some concrete news on the matter of the vallorn, however, that may be of interest to the Empire. Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided mentions that a project is underway to prepare for the vallorn's rise - it is just common sense. Rather than rely on a grand [[fortification|citadel]], The-One-Who-Waits (likely the Dragon ''Fraynir'', an acknowledged master of [[curse|curses]] and shrouding magic) has decreed the creation of several rings of [[white granite]] stones around the outskirts of the vallorn of Emrys. When they are completed, they will be warded with [[Winter magic]] and [[ilium|star metal]] to create fortified camps that will catastrophically weaken any vallornspawn that ventures within. Given the nature of all such wards, the stones themselves will be unassailable by the creatures of the vallorn and as such offer a reliable defence against the vallorn's expansion. To magicians versed in such things it seems to be a version of [[Wardens of the Black Waste]].

The reason Rak has raised this point, it quickly turns out, is that Fraynir has instructed him to offer a text containing the ritual - ''Walls of Starless Night'' - in return for a copy of a specific ritual created at the Icy Crags. Fraynir wished the Imperial Conclave to [[Dissemination|disseminate]] the ritual [[Dreadful Ending]]. This ritual destroys [[miasma pillars]] - nothing to do with the vallorn.

Fraynir is apparently unaware that ''Wardens of the Black Waste'' is a part of Imperial lore. This is understandable given the ritual was codified at the [[Dean_of_the_Lyceum#The_Lyceum|Lyceum]] by then-[[Dean of the Lyceum|Dean]] '''Simargl the Empty One'''. It's possible that the Conclave may wish to go ahead with the trade. If they do, whoever raises the Dissemination will need to pay the traditional ten Thrones, and will receive in return the ritual text of ''Walls of Starless Night''. It's very unlikely that Walls of Starless Night will be an improvement over ''Wardens of the Black Waste'', however. With that in mind, the Ambassador could facilitate negotiation on behalf of the Conclave, and perhaps the [[Vallornguard]], given it is clear that Fraynir is keen to get their hands on this very niche ritual.

==Orobus and the Bonewood==
* '''The Dragon Orobus is keen to acquire living weirwood trees'''
* '''She specifically wants living trees from the Heartwood of the Great Vale and/or the Golden Trees of Seren'''
* '''She will pay 12 rings of ilium for the ability to collect some trees and transplant them to the Bonewood
* '''Agreeing to this arrangement will reduce the production of the weirwood forest by 1 wain each season, permanently'''
Fraynir is not the only Dragon interested in Emrys, and in preparing Sküld. Orobus the Chained, said to be the Dragon most adept at negotiation and binding magic, and wielding influence over the [[Realms|eternal realms]] has also placed a proposal before the Ambassador. Orobus wishes to purchase several living [[weirwood]] trees; specifically from either the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]] in [[Hercynia]] or the [[Golden Trees of Seren]] in [[Miaren]]. The details appear to be straightforward enough. She plans to transplant the trees into the [[Ossium#Bonewood|Silent Pines]] in [[Ossium]]; she is looking for trees that "remember" the vallorn, who will be able to "share" their experiences with the trees of the Bonewood.

This sounds fairly esoteric; there's no indication about what this will do if anything but Orobus is still keen. If the current holder of the Heartwood or the Golden Trees is interested, they can instruct the Ambassador to relay their agreement. Orobus will provide warlocks versed in [[Spring magic|Spring]] and Winter magic to ensure the trees arrive and that their transplantation is successful. It's estimated that the removal of the trees will reduce the weirwood production of the forest permanently by 1 wain each season. In return Orobus will provide 12 rings of [[ilium]] to the holder of the seat as payment for the trees.

The civil service have been unable to get a clear idea of exactly what Orobus is aiming for here. It's not possible to move weirwood production around, for example. The idea of trees "remembering" the vallorn appears to be a mystical or metaphysical idea rather than one rooted in magical theory. There are suggestions however that this is part of a deal that Orobus has brokered with an eternal designed to provide some sort of protection to the Bonewood against the vallorn. It might be possible to discover more through negotiation or diplomacy, but the Dragon is playing her cards quite close to her chest.

Both the Heartwood of the Great Vale and Golden Trees of Seren are due to be appointed at the Winter Solstice summit, via the [[Auction of the Seats]]. The decision about whether to take Orobus up on her deal will need to be made by whoever has control of the seat after the auction as the weirwood forests are their responsibility.

==Further Reading==
* [[Thule]]
* [[Thule lore]]

Figure of eight

2026-04-08T21:22:14Z

Noserenda: /* Advice */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>
The exarch nodded to the two guardians standing to attention. Alert to the signal, they stepped forward and lowered their torches. The kindling stuffed into the foundation of the pyre quickly caught and the flames began to rise.

"We are gathered here to say farewell to our friend. Esther, daughter of Ruth, beloved mother of Eli, Enoch, and Ephraim. The body burns, but the soul has fled to the Labyrinth."

He paused for a moment, to catch his breath. He knew the words off by heart of course, but it was different this time, different now it was Esther. He swallowed in the cold morning air, drawing the bitter draught into his lungs. As exarch of Virtue's Ride it was his duty to conduct this ceremony with all the solemnity that he could muster. It would not do for the others to hear his voice breaking so he let the pain of the frosty morning steel him to his duty.

"The virtuous soul pushes the world aside in its wake, leaving a mark on all those it touches as it passes. Now that the soul is gone, all that remains is for us to remember Esther's virtue."

The flames were rising higher now, obscuring the shrouded body on top of the bier.

"We commend the soul of our beloved sister Esther of Virtue's Rest to the Labyrinth and beyond, to the Land Without Tears."

The audience intoned the last and then all fell silent. The only sound was the pyre itself, the wood cracking and spitting as the flames took hold.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 800px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Virtue Banners.jpg|caption=The way is a union of seven virtues, with the Synod guiding pilgrims along the path.|width=800}}</div>
==Overview==
Almost a year ago, members of the [[Synod|Imperial Synod]] provoked a constitutional crisis when the [[Vigilance]] Assembly [[condemnation|condemned]] four members of the Assembly of Nine for their [[the final cut|public embrace of the malign spiritual presence of Peace]]. The resulting trial collapsed in dramatic fashion after [[Civil_Service#Imperial_Magistracy|Chief Magistrate]] ''Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra'' ruled that it was not possible to proceed with the prosecution following [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_42|a contentious statement of principle]] that had been subsequently passed by the [[General Assembly]] that presented ambiguous guidance for the prosecution of religious crimes. After a hurried debate, the chief magistrates cancelled the trial, ultimately arguing that a fundamental philosophical principle of Imperial jurisprudence was at stake - if the magistrates can't determine if someone is guilty of [[blasphemy]] or [[heresy]], if the [[Synod]] can't agree what constitutes a [[religious crime]], how can ''any'' citizen be expected to observe the law?

To rectify this problem, the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|Constitutional Court]] announced that they would oversee a major review of how [[Imperial law]] is interpreted and upheld by the magistrates. The [[Senate]] has made crimes such as heresy and blasphemy illegal, and the [[Imperial Constitution]] dictates that it is the role of the Synod to determine what constitutes a religious crime. Traditionally that has been achieved through the use of a [[Judgement]] of [[Sanction#Condemnation|Condemnation]] - but the shortcomings of that approach have been rudely exposed by the collapse of the trial of the so-called "[[A_little_understanding#Vital_Evidence|peaceful Four]]".

Rather than rush to judgement, so to speak, the Court have taken almost a year to review current procedures before drawing up and issuing new guidance. With that process now complete, the ball will return to the Synod's court to determine what happens next.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=MagistrateKarkovich.jpg|title=Stanislav Karkovich, Chief Magistrate|caption=Stanislav Karkovich, Chief Magistrate|width=250}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=116_103_7872813_56749560_6.png|title=Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra, Chief Magistrate|caption=Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra, Chief Magistrate|width=250}}</div>
==Imperial Law==
* '''The new approach changes the way existing Imperial law on religious crime is upheld and updated'''
* '''Imperial law is set by the Imperial Senate through the use of Senate motions'''
* '''Henceforth, the scope and application of religious laws will be set by the Imperial Synod'''

Current Imperial law defines five different types of [[religious crime]]: [[Religious_crime#Abuse_of_Powers|abuse of powers]], [[blasphemy]], [[desecration]], [[heresy]], and [[idolatry]]. Each has its own definition, but in all five cases these definitions are broad, and leave a great deal of room for interpretation. Heretofore, the assumption has been that the Synod would identify when someone's actions contravene the law using a judgement of condemnation. When that happened, the magistrates would prosecute those involved.

These definitions will not change under the new proposals adopted by the magistrates. Imperial law will continue to be set by the [[Senate]]; any changes to the underlying laws can only be made by a [[senator]] unsing a succecssful [[senate motion]].

What ''is'' different is the religious crimes will be interpreted and enacted. Under the new approach laid down by the Constitutional Court, members of the General Assembly will be able to use a judgement of [[Proscription]] to identify specific actions that are illegal under the existing Imperial laws. These proscriptions will undergo [[scrutiny]] by the Constitutional Court to ensure that they are compatible with the Imperial Constitution, and with the body of Imperial law. Proscriptions that pass scrutiny, will be added to the rules employed by magistrates to determine if a crime has taken place.

The practical impact of this approach is that the Imperial Synod will effectively write how religious laws are applied, similar to the leeway that the Conclave has to determine the appropriate use of magic. Successful proscriptions will determine how Imperial law on religious crimes are applied, they will determine what is investigated and enforced by the magistrates.

The main advantage to this approach identified by the Constitutional Court is the clarity it will provide to citizens - who will be better able to judge what does or does not constitute a religious crime. In the past, some citizens have been executed for carrying a [[hallow|hallowed item]] drawn from a so-called "false virtue" or for being [[dedication|dedicated]] to a spiritual force other than one of the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_Seven|seven virtues]]. In other cases the Synod has chosen not to condemn those who have committed the same crimes. This uncertainty has made it almost impossible for anyone to determine in advance whether their actions might be considered a religious crime or not. In the example of the [[Malign spiritual presences#Peace|peace]] hallows adopted by members of the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of the Nine]], the facts of the matter were not in doubt; what was disputed was whether such actions breached the law. Ambiguity such as this is fundamentally undesirable in a judicial system - it should be as easy as possible to know in advance whether an action constitutes a crime or not.

While the approach removes the power of the Synod to stand in judgement of individuals, it provides more control of Imperial law as it relates to the Virtues and [[the Way]]. The Synod will be able to proscribe specific [[Schisms and Heresies|actions and beliefs]] that they judge to be fundamentally incompatible with the Way. They will need to rely on the magistrates to enforce their proscriptions, but the magistrates will then be able to act without further recourse to the Synod, allowing them to pursue heretics, blasphemers, and idolators across the Empire. People will no longer be able to escape justice by committing their crimes beyond the watchful eyes of the Synod.

===Transition===
* '''Imperial law remains unchanged until the end of the Winter Solstice'''
* '''Magistrates will pursue a criminal investigation against any citizen who is condemned at the Winter Solstice'''
* '''Any judgement of proscription submitted at this summit will take effect from the end of the Winter Solstice'''

The Constitutional Court have confirmed that no part of Imperial law will change before the end of the Winter Solstice. That means that the Synod may condemn citizens for any religious crimes they have committed at the coming Solstice. The magistrates will respond accordingly by trying anyone who has been condemend by the Synod.

Any judgement of proscription that is submitted at this summit will not take effect until the end of the Solstice. To keep things simple the Tribune will ensure that all proscriptions are open for judgement until the end of the final session on Sunday. In future, a proscription will come into effect as soon as it passes the Synod.

From the end of the summit onwards, the magistrates will use whatever proscriptions the Synod have passed to prosecute religious crimes. That means it won't be neccessary, or possible, for a priest to submit a judgement of condemnation from that point onwards.

===Scrutiny===
* '''Any judgement of proscription is subject to scrutiny by the Constitutional Court'''
* '''The Court will not pass a judgement unless it is consistent with the principles of the Constitution and clearly pertains to a religious crime'''

Any judgement of proscription will be [[Scrutiny#Scrutiny|scrutinized]] carefully by the Constitutional Court to ensure that it reflects the principles laid out by the Constitution, is compatible with the existing body of Imperial law, and is enforceable. An ideal judgement of proscription will lay out a single action and state which '''one''' of the five religious laws it breaks. Priests are welcome to include text explaining why the action ''should'' be proscribed, but any proscription which tries to identify multiple laws that are broken is likely to fail. The magistrates need simple, clear language that makes it obvious which Imperial law has been broken - anything which muddies that makes a proscription more likely to fail scrutiny.

The Court will judge whether the proscription falls within the remit of the relevant Imperial law. For example, [[blasphemy]] is defined as "''The denigration of the paragons and the paths of virtue. This includes promoting false virtues and the teachings of false exemplars or false paragons."'' Attempting to proscribe an action as blasphemous will fail scrutiny if it is clear it is not compatible with the definition of blasphemy that the Imperial Senate has laid down. The Constitutional Court have a long history of jealously guarding the powers and responsibilities of each body of state - attempts by the Synod to encroach on the powers of other bodies such as the [[Bourse]], the [[Conclave]], or an [[Imperial sodality]], will be firmly rebutted.

As an extension of Imperial law, a proscription must not violate the principles laid down in the Imperial Constitution. Proscriptions that violate the dignity, freedom, and prosperity of Imperial citizens or transgress the Constitution's principles will be struck down.

===Advice===
* '''Any citizen may ask the chief magistrates or the Speaker for the Senate for advice on how to word a proscription at any point during the summit'''
* '''Citizens may obtain advice in writing from the office of the Constitutional Court before the summit begins'''
* '''Advice is designed to help a citizen, it does not guarantee that a proscription will pass scrutiny'''

Anyone seeking to pass a judgement of proscription is encouraged to seek advice on the wording from the civil service, to ensure there is the least possible chance of it failing scrutiny. Citizens can consult with the chief magistrates to receive advice on the constitutionality of any proscription at any point during the summit. They can also provide a copy of the wording of a judgement to the office of the Speaker of the Senate to receive feedback and advice. The Speaker meets regularly with the Constitutional Court throughout the summit to review upcoming Senate motions, so any judgement of proscription will be discussed with the court and then returned to the citizen later.

Citizens need not wait until the summit begins to obtain advice. They can submit a judgement to the Court for review before attending the summit (by emailing {{plot}}). The court will reply in writing before the summit begins provided they have time to do so. The Court are very busy during summits, but ''if possible'', a member of the Constitutional Court will try to make themselves available on request from the Throne, a Member of the Senate, a cardinal or a grandmaster, if there is a serious issue of constitutionality that requires urgent discussion with the Court.

Obtaining advice is always recommended, but citizens are warned that advice, even from a member of the Constitutional Court, is only meant to help guide a citizen to [[Wisdom]] - it is not scrutiny itself, which only takes place after a judgement passes the Synod.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=LeoSecGen.jpg|title=Leonardo i Del'Toro i Riqueza, Tribune of the Synod.|caption=Leonardo i Del'Toro i Riqueza, Tribune of the Synod|width=500}}</div>

===Administrative Judgements===
* '''The Constitutional Court can ask the Tribune to raise administrative judgements of proscription to clarify matters of Imperial law'''
The [[Tribune of the Synod]] has the [[Tribune_of_the_Synod#Judgement|power to raise judgements in any Assembly]]. Traditionally this has been used to help facilitate the operations of the Synod, vis-a-vis [[appointment|appointments]] and similar.

In the future, it is likely that the Constitutional Court will ask the Tribune to use this power to raise an administrative judgement of proscription for consideration by the Synod. These judgements will be used to clarify any ambiguity that has arisen from other judgements. The same approach is commonly employed in the Senate, where the Court will ask the [[Speaker for the Senate]] to raise an [[Senate_motion#Administrative_Motions|administrative motion]] to remove any ambiguity introduced by previous decisions taken by the Senate.

Given the urgency of the matter, the magistrates have asked the Tribune to raise several judgements of proscription at the forthcoming summit. They have produced guidance to go with each of these judgements to lay out what the legal implications of passing or rejecting them would be. Of course, any member of the Synod is always free to use their own judgement to raise a ''different'' proscription - these administrative judgements are intended to clear up major issues of law and to provide clear examples of the kind of judgements that the Synod could raise.

==A Winter of Judgement==
* '''Five administrative judgements of proscription will be raised at the forthcoming summit'''
* '''Members of the Synod will be able to vote on these judgements from 6pm on Friday until 2pm on Sunday'''
At the forthcoming Winter Equinox, the Tribune of the Synod will raise the following administrative judgements of proscription in the General Assembly. They will be available for voting from the beginning of the summit, with the deadline for voting on all these judgements will be 2pm on Sunday. Any judgement, event an administrative judgement is subject to the [[The_Throne#Powers_of_Virtue|Custodian of Virtue]] power of [[the Throne]].

In each case, the magistrates have outlined what will happen if the administrative judgement is passed by the General Assembly, and what it will mean if it does not pass. Obviously, the Synod retains the right to reconsider at a later date, and priests are encouraged to raise alternative or additional proscriptions that they feel better define what is or is not a crime.

These judgements have been raised to provide examples of the kind of wording that is required for a successful proscription, to initiate the proceedings and focus minds on the key issues. The Synod is well within their remit to reject all these judgements and pass other proscriptions or none at all, should they choose.

===Abuse of Powers===
* '''The crime of abuse of powers is defined as: ''The misuse, or abuse, of the powers of a priest. This includes the powers of the Synod, as well as liao ceremonies.''
The mostly commonly understood abuse of priestly powers is the use of the ceremony of [[excommunication]] without an accompanying [[writ of Excommunication]]. Many people assume that means that the use of the ceremony without the writ of the Synod will always result in a prosecution, but technically this is not a legal requirement. The writ of excommunication simply ensures that a priest will not be investigated for abuse of powers. Now that such matters will no longer go before the Synod for consideration before being investigated by a magistrate, an administrative judgement is being raised to confirm that this is the case.

<quote by="General Assembly Administrative Judgement">The Synod proscribes the use of the ceremony of excommunication without authorisation by writ of the Synod as an abuse of powers.</quote>

If the General Assembly passes this judgement of proscription then it will become illegal to perform or participate in an excommunication ceremony unless a writ of excommunication has been approved of first. It will be treated as an abuse of powers and punished accordingly. If the General Assembly declines to pass this judgement, and doesn't pass a different judgement of proscription that speaks to this issue, then it will be legal under Imperial law to use the ceremony of excommunication without the approval of the Synod.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Fintan Enemy of the Creator.jpg|caption=Former [[Ambassador to Axos]] and condemned heretic Fintan Nighthaven.|align=right|width=250}}</div>
====Options====
* '''The use of true liao for any purpose without a writ of consecration could be declared an abuse of powers'''
* '''Consecrating any area without the permission of those who control that area could be declared an abuse of powers'''
* '''Calling yourself to inquisition could be declared an abuse of powers'''

Rumours suggests that the alleged corruption of the Assembly of Nine began when the convicted heretic, '''Fintan Nighthaven''', used a dose of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] to create a [[Hallow#True_Liao|blasphemous relic]] dedicated to peace. The magistrates have not raised a judgement regarding the use of true liao to [[consecration|consecrate]] a location or [[hallow]] an item, but any priest could do so. Currently it is perfectly legal to use true liao in this way without the Synod's approval - but the General Assembly could use a similar judgement to the one above to forbid the use of true liao to create ''any'' true auras without an accompanying [[writ of consecration]].

It was [[Auras_illegal_in_the_Senate|made illegal to consecrate the Senate]] without the prior approval of senators in Winter 376YE, and that law was [[Auras_illegal_in_the_Civil_Service_hub|extended to cover the Civil Service Hub]] two years later. A violation of this law is prosecuted as a [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_against_the_Processes_of_the_State|crime against the state]], rather than a religious law, because it involves interference with the business of these state bodies. The Synod could go further, and use a judgement of proscription to class the consecration of ''any'' location without the permission of those who control that area, as an abuse of powers.

A citizen can only be legally compelled to attend one [[inquisition]] per summit, to prevent vexatious use of the power. In the past there have been accusations that members of the Synod have or might deliberately called themselves to inquisition - to ensure that nobody else could then inquisition them. The Synod could declare such a practice to be an abuse of powers - they could even go further and declare that any attempt to use the power of inquisition to shield a citizen from the Vigilance of the Synod was an abuse of powers.

===Blasphemy===
* '''The crime of blasphemy is defined as: ''The denigration of the paragons and the paths of virtue. This includes promoting false virtues and the teachings of false exemplars or false paragons.''
The most common accusations of blasphemy relate to [[dedication]] to [[malign spiritual presences]]. As such the magistrates have asked the Tribune to put forward the following proscription.

<quote by="General Assembly Administrative Judgement">The Synod proscribes as blasphemy the act of dedicating any person to a false virtue or of creating an aura of a false virtue.</quote>

<div style="float: right; max-width: 500px; width: 40%; margin-left: 10px;"><box>
<p>'''Spontaneous Auras'''<br>
Some auras occurr spontaneously arising naturally, rather than through the use of liao. It is often assumed that spontaneous auras are associated with a Virtue - they usually appear at moments associated with exceptionally Virtuous acts. However it is never possible to tell what Virtue is associated with an aura (insight won't reveal this information). To make matters more difficult, spontaneous auras are usually different in effect to the standard auras created using liao ceremonies.</p>

<p>As a result it is not possible to definitively tell spontaneous auras of false virtues from the ones associated with the true virtues. A skilled theologian might be able to infer what has happened, based on the circumstances and the effect of the aura, but there is no definitive test that can confirm it.</p>
</box></div>
If the General Assembly passes this judgement then it will become illegal to perform a [[dedication]] to any of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#False_Virtues|false virtues]], as well as to use a [[religious skills|liao ceremony]] creating an [[aura]] drawn from a false virtue. Doing so will be treated as an act of blasphemy and be punished accordingly. If they decline to pass this judgement, and don't pass a different judgement of proscription that speaks to this issue, then it will be legal under Imperial law to dedicate someone to a false virtue and to create auras using them.

Currently there are four known false Virtues, anarchy, hatred, peace and vengeance. Other malign spiritual forces exist, but they are not considered to be false virtues because there is no evidence that people can be dedicated to them. If that were found not to be true, or if a new false virtue were ever discovered, it would automatically be covered by this proscription because of the way it is written.

In each case, the magistrates would compare such auras to those known to be created with false virtues. Unfortunately, it is much harder to be certain of the source of spontaneous auras because of the way they manifest with unpredictible effects that don't match any known auras.
====Options====
* '''The Synod would need to use a separate judgement for each false virtue to proscribe some false virtues but not others'''
* '''The Synod could proscribe being dedicated to a false virtue as blasphemous'''
* '''Proselytising a false virtue could be defined as blasphemy'''
* '''The Synod could proscribe the promotion of false paragons'''
* '''The Feast of the Broken Wheel could be declared blasphemous'''

If the Synod wanted to proscribe some of the false virtues, but not others, they would have to use seperate judgements to proscribe each false virtue individually. The Synod can pass a judgement that proscribes all false virtues or a false virtue, but they cannot pass a single judgement that lists some false virtues but not others.

The Synod could take a different route and proscribe being ''dedicated'' to or bearing an aura of a false virtue. If the Synod did that, then it would be illegal simply to be dedicated to or anointed using a false virtue. Items hallowed to false virtues would be illegal to own or carry, and areas consecrated with such powers would need to be desecrated or destroyed. Such a law would be much more restrictive - visitors from [[Axos]] and [[Faraden]] are often dedicated to virtues other than the Seven, and commonly bear anointing or hallowed items drawing on them. They are usually careful not to proselytise their views in the Empire, but if the Synod took the strictest possible approach then such visitors would be breaking the law and would suffer the punishment when they were caught. Attempts to define blasphemous actions as only being relevant to Imperial citizens would fail scrutiny by the Constitutional Court; foreign visitors to the Empire are required to abide by the same laws as ordinary citizens.

The Synod could proscribe the act of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proselytism proselytising] a false virtue. That would mean that anyone attempting to convince others to embrace one of false virtues would face prosecution. Any judgement on this matter should ensure that it makes clear where the Synod would expect the magistrates to draw the line. For example, in the past people have championed raids to free slaves from the [[Grendel]], the [[Druj]], and the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asaveans]] which have resulted in widespread [[Aura#Spontaneous_Auras|spontaneous auras]] that appeared to be Anarchist in nature. If the Synod intends to proscribe such acts, they would need to make that clear in the wording of the judgement. A differently worded proscription might try to only proscribe someone actively trying to convince people to embrace a false virtue; this would be far less expansive but in practice it might be little different to proscribing someone performing a false virtue dedication.

Likewise the Synod could proscribe the promotion of false paragons. The judgement of [[recognition]] is used to recognise a specific figure as a false paragon - passing a judgement proscribing the promotion of false paragons would make it illegal to promote one - anyone inviting people to draw inspiration from a known false paragon or encouraging others to emulate the figure would then be subject to prosecution for blasphemy.

One step the magistrates have not taken, due to the political implications, is to raise a judgement proscribing the celebration of the [[The_Brass_Coast_religious_beliefs#Feast_of_the_Broken_Wheel|Feast of the Broken Wheel]] by [[The Brass Coast|the Freeborn]]. This festival could at best be described as irreverant - many traditionalists have seen its deliberate impiety as nothing short of blasphemy. The Synod could test the limits of their new powers by raising a judgement of proscription which forbade the celebration of the festival, though doubtless such an attempt would incur the wroth of many Freeborn priests and [[sutannir]]s.

===Desecration===
* '''The crime of desecration is defined as: ''The removal of spontaneously created virtuous auras such as legacies of ascendance to paragonhood. This includes such auras arising on areas and objects, and those people who do not wished them removed.''

The law of desecration is fairly recent having been [[Create_law_of_desecration|created]] in Summer 377YE to outlaw the removal of spontaneous auras and then [[Amend_Crime_of_Desecration|amended]] three years later to restrict it to the "desecration" of virtuous auras. Part of the reason the law was created was to protect the legacies associated with [[paragons and exemplars]]. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to determine if a spontaneous aura is "virtuous" or not because they rarely duplicate the effects of auras created with liao ceremonies and [[insight]] will not reveal the Virtue of an aura. With that in mind, the magistrates have focused on confirming the intent of the original law. They have submitted the following administrative judgement of proscription.

<quote by="General Assembly Administrative Judgement">The desecration or destruction of any relics associated with a paragon or exemplar, or the destruction of any memorial associated with them, is proscribed.</quote>

If this judgement is approved by the majority of the General Assembly then it will make it illegal for any individual to remove or replace an aura on a relic associated with a [[paragons and exemplars|paragon or exemplar]], or otherwise destroy such an item. Likewise, removing spontaneous auras that have arisen in a place as the result of actions taken by an exemplar or paragon would be a crime. Spontaneous auras are often unique in nature, but their provenance can often be identified by magic such as [[Skein of Years]] or [[Clear Lens of the Eternal River]]- their historical association with such an important figure almost invariably leaves a trace. If the judgement is not passed, then the various relics and spontaneous auras will not be protected by Imperial law from destruction or desecration.

====Other Potential Desecrations====
* '''The current wording of the law is very specific and only allows for a very narrow range of possibilities'''
* '''The Senate could amend the law to empower the Synod to proscribe more general acts of desecration or the removal of auras'''

The current law is very specific in nature - rather than granting the Synod broad sway over a range of possible activities which could collectively be described as desecration, it explicitly outlaws the removal of auras under very specific situations. The auras must be spontaneous - so no aura created using liao would ever be covered by this law as it stands - a relic created by a paragon would not be protected from desecration under this law if the paragon used liao to make the aura.

Likewise powerful auras associated with true liao, such as the consecrations often found at [[Inspirational_location|memorials and sacred sites]] would not be covered by this law. In theory a more expansive law would give the Synod the power to proscribe any kind of desecration of a memorial or sacred site created by a priest of the Way. As things stand, it would not be illegal for a citizen to seek to destroy the true consecration in Holberg, or the one in the Soveann.

In the same vein items with spontaneous auras on them are protected from desecration, but not items hallowed with true liao. For that matter, the Senate could give the Synod the power to proscribe the removal of any aura without the permission of the owner. All these are acts that would best be defined as desecration, but the Synod could not proscribe them under the current wording of the law. To proscribe these actions would require the [[Imperial Senate]] to change the law to use a more expansive definition of desecration.

===Heresy===
* '''The crime of heresy is defined as: ''The willful rejection, or perversion of, the orthodox Doctrines of the Faith as laid down by the Imperial Synod, or actively teaching and promoting false doctrines.''

In the history of the Empire, there have been numerous [[Schisms and Heresies|schisms and heresies]] which have been carefully catalogued. Most of these heresies are historical in nature now, and few pose a direct threat to the stability of the Empire at this time. Accordingly the magistrates have ''not'' submitted individual judgements of proscription for each of these heresies. There is nothing to stop an individual priest raising their own judgement of proscription for a specific heresy - but the magistrates don't see any pressing need to settle these matters urgently. There will be plenty of time for the Synod to consider their response carefully, if a heresy should become active once more.

[[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Excessionist_Heresy|The Excessionist Heresy]] is the one known heresy that appears to be active currently. In Summer the [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_14|Synod called Yosephus Morningson to inquisition]] for preaching the "creed of the Temple of Balance". He was subsequently condemned on that basis and a trial is expected at the coming summit. Preaching excessionism was also one of the reasons [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_137|cited by Tarquinius Ankarien]] for calling Lady Josephine of Adina's Charge to inquisition at the same summit.

Accordingly, the Synod have been asked to consider a clear statement proscribing the heresy of excessionism.

<quote by="General Assembly Administrative Judgement">The General Assembly proscribes the Excessionist Heresy - the claim that too much of a Virtue can be as bad as too little.</quote>

If the Synod pass this judgement then anyone preaching excessionism, the idea that too much of a Virtue can be as bad as too little will proscribed under the law. The trial of Yosephus Morningson will proceed normally and anyone who expresses similar ideas will face prosecution by the magistrates. If the General Assembly reject the judgement and don't proscribe excessionism, then it will not be illegal to preach such ideas, Yosephus Morningson will not face trial, and he and others will be free to continue preaching in that vein.

====Options====
* '''The Synod could proscribe the Yaelian Heresy'''
* '''The Synod could easily proscribe any of the more well-known heresies'''
* '''If the Synod proscribe a new heresy they must take care to clearly outline the heretical beliefs'''
* '''The Synod could proscribe the beliefs of the Marcher Orcs'''
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Yael.jpg|caption=Yael of Felix's Watch, heretical Prophet of the Land Without Tears.|align=right|width=300}}</div>
Perhaps the most dramatic instance of heresy in recent times is the [[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Yaelian_Schism|Yaelian Heresy]], in which '''Yael of Felix's Watch''', a [[Highguard|Highborn]] theologian, claimed to have received a [[past life vision]] showing herself to be the [[First Empress]] reborn. As her fame spread, thousands placed their trust in her, believing her to be the reincarnation of the founder of the Empire. Eventually her lies were uncovered through the discovery that crucial documents supporting her claims of a place beyond the Labyrinth, which she called the "Land Without Tears", were forgeries. She was ultimately condemned by the Synod and executed, but to this day there are folk who believe that Yael was the First Empress reborn, and her account of the Land Without Tears was a true vision. The Yaelian heretics have not caused issues in many years, and short of Yael herself being reborn, they are not likely to do so.

If the General Assembly proscribes this heresy, then it will make it definitively clear that no part of Yael's claims were ever true. Anyone who professes such beliefs or worse proselytizes them will face prosecution under Imperial law. The magistrates won't actively seek out these heretics, unless given clear instruction to do so, since the cost and disruption would be significant, but it would allow them to act swiftly should there be any attempt to resurrect the heresy.

There are plenty of other historic [[Schisms and Heresies|heresies, blasphemies, and schisms]] known to the Empire. The Synod would require a seperate judegement for each heresy they wished to proscribe, but they would not need to provide any additional details if they wanted to outlaw [[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Lucidian_Blasphemy_/_Auran_Idolatry|lucidianism]] for example, because the heresy is well known and detailed. If the Synod proscribed a new heresy that was not familiar, then the judgement would need to include a clear statement of the heretical beliefs, so that the magistrates could correctly identify it.

One issue that the Constitutional Court do point out is that it would not remotely be constitutional for the Synod to attempt to proscribe the expression or discussion of religious beliefs for some individuals but not others. In the past there has sometimes been a tacit belief that members of the Synod have special rights and the necessary training to investigate or contemplate religious heresies. That approach is directly counter to the ethics of Imperial law, which treats all citizens equally. Either everyone may use their judgement to consider the teachings of the [[Schisms_and_Heresies#The_Lucidian_Blasphemy_/_Auran_Idolatry|Lucidians]] or nobody can. Any attempt to proscribe heresy for people who weren't priests would be immediately struck down as unconstitutional.

There is arguably a much more complicated heresy active in the Empire at this time: that of the [[Mournwold_Orcs|Marcher orcs]]. These former thralls, freed along with their human neighbours when the [[Mournwold]] was liberated, still trace their religious beliefs to their [[Jotun]] roots. They firmly believe that they will reincarnate after death, provided they do not take up weapons to fight. While strange, these beliefs form the cornerstone of their entire world view - and it was clear they would not give them up to join the Empire. Their spiritual spokesperson ''Hap the Soft'' made it clear to the Marcher and Imperial Orcs assemblies that his people would be prepared to face death, and reincarnate, if anyone tried to force them to abandon their beliefs. This is unfortunate, because they are flatly at odds with the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] which explicitly states that orcs live only one life. This makes them heretical.

Thus far, the Empire has been resolving this problem by very assiduously looking the other way. Because the Marcher orcs only come to [[Anvil]] infrequently, and they don't proselytise their views, it has broadly been seen as better to let sleeping dogs lie than to force the execution of a population of these Marchers. But that can't continue forever - the longer the issue continues, the more it fundamentally undermines the moral authority of the Synod. Heresy can't be a crime, legally enforcable by law, while simultaneously there are hundreds of people living in the Mournwold who everyone knows reject one of the Doctrines of Faith.

Aware of the sensitivity of the subject, the magistrates have ''not'' submitted an administrative judgement of proscription - cognisant that that would force the Synod to act. If such a judgement is submitted, then the Synod will have no choice but to confront the issue, either directly outlaw the beliefs of the Marcher orcs, or if they failed the judgement, to implicitly approve them. Both courses of action would have far-reaching consequences - and wise heads determine that the Synod won't likely benefit from the magistrates rushing them on this. Still, it cannot be put off forever - at some point soon, the Synod will have to settle the matter of the Marcher orcs and the Doctrine of the Howling Abyss, one way or the other - a situation that is made more complex as more orc septs come to the attention of the Empire whose beliefs are incompatible with doctrine.

===Idolatry===
* '''The crime of idolatry is defined as: ''Subsuming human will and destiny to any inhuman entity or force. This includes the worship, veneration or exaltation of any such being or power.'' '''

Sadly, the Imperial legal system has struggled to hold the line on idolatry in recent times. There have been perennial problems in the Empire's negotiations with [[eternal|eternals]], in which these creatures demand veneration, exaltation, adulation or sacrifice. [[Eleonaris]], the so-called "Queen" of the Fields of Glory ''demanded'' that a statue be built in her honour. The Imperial Senate even passed a [[Senate motion]] approving the sacrifice of [[Construct_Treasure_Ship|a ship laden with treasure]] to please [[Rhianos]] the "Regent" of the Eternal Sea. The Synod could put an end to all this, by clearly proscribing these acts.

<quote by="General Assembly Administrative Judgement">The General Assembly proscribes the creation of statues in the likeness of any eternal. It is idolatry to build any edifice designed to honour an inhuman entity.</quote>

If the General Assembly approves this judgement, then it will no longer be legal to create statues of an eternal. It won't be legal for the Senate or for anyone else to make sacrifices to them. Magicians will still be able to negotiate with eternals, but they won't be able to offer them veneration or sacrifice in return for their favour. It wouldn't be illegal for artists or actors to portray an eternal, but it would be illegal to create a [[Edifice#Grandeur|grand statue]] of an eternal or commission any [[edifice]] clearly intended to honour them.

Pragmatists may argue that such restrictions tie the hands of the [[archmage|archmages]] who are often forced to use flattery to convince eternals to favour the Empire. There is no doubt at all that passing this judgement will make life considerably harder for the [[Conclave]] - there absolutely will be situations where magicians are forced to forego the help of an eternal because this proscription would make it impossible to meet their price. Arguably, that is why so little has been done to stop the practice in recent years. Traditionalists argue that is ''exactly'' why it is so important for the Synod to act ''now'' to ban the practice - otherwise people will always find a way to justify it when the opportunity presents itself. The best time to clamp down on this behaviour was centuries ago; the second best time is now.

If the Synod declines to proscribe the practice, then it is difficult to imagine the law of idolatry having any teeth in the future. Few people are going to accept the idea that it's illegal to venerate an inhuman power, but it's acceptable to build a giant statue or sacrifice a ship full of treasure to them. If the judgement does not pass, cases of idolatry will inevitably continue to rise. Trouble-makers like [[Sadogua]], [[Janon]], or [[Jaheris]] are likely to view it as an open invitation to seek the veneration of those to whom they offer their patronage.
<div style="float:right; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dima12713.jpg|caption='''Dima Vasilyevna Novosad''', Master of the Koboldi|align=left|width=300}}</div>
====Options====
* '''The Synod could single out individual eternals, using a judgement of proscription for each one'''
* '''The Synod could proscribe the creation of fanes and similar structures'''
The Synod could try to proscribe statues or edifices to honour individual eternals - effectively singling out those eternals that were most problematic and proscribing them one at a time. That approach might be politically fraught. It's easy to proscribe edifices to venerate [[Agramant]] but they would arguably be illegal anyway, given the eternal is under [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]]. The truth is that the eternals that are arguably most in need of being proscribed in this way - are the ones most likely to offer powerful aid in return. Trying to pick and choose between them will inevitably create a law that proscribes idolatry in some cases but permits it in others.

The Synod could choose to go further. Since their [[The_Queen%27s_door#The_Adventurous_Options|creation]] in 384YE in response to a [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Embassies_for_Eternals|request by the Conclave]], the [[commission]] of a [[fane]] has been somewhat problematic. These structures are specifically dedicated to an eternal, serving as places where their power within the Empire is paramount. They must be [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|conceded]] to the eternal in question, and some theologians argue that this is an even more direct example of idolatry than the creation of statues. Fanes are not the only way that an eternal might be placated - and these priests argue vehemently that ''any'' concedence of Imperial lands or structures to inhuman powers is a religious crime.

Proscribing all fanes would have profound implication for recent commissions, such as the [[Construct_Chamber_of_Euphony|fane of sung]], and for titles such as the [[Master of the Koboldi]] whose powers come from the [[Master_of_the_Koboldi#College_of_Engineering|College of Engineering]] conceded to [[Adamant]].

==Other Judgements==
With the change in the way the magistrates apply the law, there is no further need for a judgement of condemnation and the court have instructed the Tribune to withdraw it. However, the expansion to the judgement of condemnation [[Amend_power_of_Inquisition|pushed by Jorma Steelhail]] that introduced [[castigation]], [[penance]] and [[vindication]] do still provide considerable benefits. The Court have worked with the Tribune and the magistrates to provide additional new guidance to help the Synod use these judgements effectively.
==Further Reading==
* [[The final cut]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune regarding the fallout of the constitutional crisis
* [[A little understanding]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune about the aftermath of Judgement 42

* [[Proscription]]
* [[Castigation]]
* [[Penance]]
* [[Vindication]]

* [[Cardinal]]
* [[Religious crime]]
* [[Schisms and Heresies]]
* [[Clemency]]
* [[Malign spiritual presences]]

When peace was far away

2026-04-05T15:04:26Z

Noserenda:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>The port of Radosmo is the richest, most prosperous settlement in all of Zemelslo. It rises above three bays, each one separated by hilly splits of land. They are named for the twilight at morning, the brightness of high noon, and the gloaming that comes with night. At the landward side of each is a dock, and which goods land and ship from each dock is decreed by the laws of the Concillium. Radosmo is where the Concillium meets each month, to discuss matters of governance and magic. They are well advised by the Jarmish Consul, who by all accounts does not speak often but when they do their words are listened to. It is common for heralds of the realms to attend these meetings, to observe, and to present minor boons to the magicians in return for small concessions.
Zemelslo is not a wealthy nation; it primarily exports salt fish, salt lamb and mutton, and a strong sour beverage called Bidderskit that is at best an acquired taste. The largest structure is the Concillium Hall, but the second largest is the palace of the Jarmish Consul which stands on one of the hills overlooking Radosmo. It is very beautiful, and the first thing a sailor sees on their approach to the port. The people of Zemelslo are cousins to the folk of the Principalities, in much the same way the people of Sarvos or the Brass Coast are cousins to the Highborn. Their people diverged long ago, but are close enough that cordial relations and strong bonds of wealth and politics unite them.

There are no slaves in Zemelslo. Instead, there is a caste of folk whose name translates roughly as "''ungrateful''" in the particular dialect of the Zemelslona. People who have committed crimes against their fellows, or against the state. They are kept in the most squalid possible conditions, forced to toil at the most back-breaking, filthy jobs until their sentence is completed. One might imagine that in a state as law-abiding and civil as Zemelslo there would not be many ungrateful; yet there always seem to be more than enough to ensure the fields are tilled, the bays are dredged, and the streets are cleaned.

There are no temples or shrines here; the Concillium of Zemelslo does not proscribe religion so much as discount it. Faith, teach the leaders of this tiny island nation, is a distraction. A warm blanket fit only for children. Nothing exists beyond the world, and the six realms of magic. Miracles and the so-called ceremonies of priests are nothing more than magic, practiced by amateurs who do not truly understand what they are doing. The people of Zemelslo patronise evangelists and missionaries, listening with every sign of amused tolerance, even applauding skilled oratory or rhetoric, and then... they just move on.

(Yet be careful; these people pride themselves on their liberty to a degree that an outsider might misjudge as a kind of faith. Their civility is as much as learned response to living in a society where anarchy bubbles beneath the surface as it is their vaunted rationality. The ''ungrateful'' toil, openly degraded, as much as a reminder to the common folk about what will happen if they forget their social contract with the Concillium and try to overthrow them. Reading between the lines of the history books, this has happened at least twice and each time there is a period of chaos and a new Concillium rises to replace the old.)

Most of the visitors to the docks of Radosmo are foreigners; traders from the western Principalities exchange crystal mana for victuals; for metals cut from the hearts of the hills; and for softer treasures harvested from the inland trees. They are equally happy to trade with other visitors, these visiting merchants; and for those who do not wish to dirty themselves dealing with the emissaries of Jarm there is ample opportunity to purchase their fine goods from the markets of Radosmo, engaging in trade at one remove.

That, perhaps, is the zeitgeist of Radosmo, of Zemelslo. They exist at one remove. Comfortable with the protection of their "cousins" to the east, comfortable to live quiet lives, comfortable to be insulated from the chaos of the world. Happy that war and hard choices both are far away.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hausziege 04.jpg|align=left|caption=Among other things, the nation of Zelemslo is known for its clever goats; by long standing rule of the Concillium they may be herded and milked but not eaten.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''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 Zemolslo that lies within the Jarmish sphere of influence
* '''Jarm is at war with Imperial allies in the Commonwealth
* '''Jarm has recently encountered the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Principalities is Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo of the Brass Coast
Each season the [[Civil Service]] prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with the foreign nations, based on communications received from their ambassador, along with any useful intelligence gathered from other sources. While the [[Senate]] and the other houses of Imperial power may respond to these offers, it is important to note that it is the appropriate [[ambassador]] that the foreign power will expect to hear from. Their communication with the foreign power is the primary element that will determine the tenor of any response.

One of the six great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are not exactly friendly to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes resents what it claims are repeated attempts by Imperial citizens to interfere with its interests. Via the [[Liberty Pact]], the Empire is allied with Jarm's enemies, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war now rages between the two great nations. They may not be at war with the Empire, but they know that Imperial citizens and the [[Conclave|Imperial Conclave]] in particular have provided significant assistance to their rivals. 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.
==War in the East==
* '''The war between the Commonwealth and the Principalities of Jarm continues
* '''Cold Sun has erupted into the borderlands between the two nations
The ''[[According_to_principle#The_Lantir_War|Lantir War]]'' continues despite the [[Cold war|eruption]] of [[Cold Sun]]. Diplomats from both sides have made attempts to arrange a summit to discuss the matter, but so far without success. There is nothing approaching a coordinated response between the two rivals to the ''scions'' pouring into Lantir. Indeed, as discussed in the '''[[Cold war]]''' wind of fortune, both sides suspect the other of having been responsible, and believe that the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] are targeting ''their'' forces particularly.

The conflict between the Principalities and the Commonwealth is at its root a clash of ideology. Jarm fights for the right to self-determination, while the Commonwealth strives to spread its idea of the Common Good to all. Jarm remains unable to match the Commonwealth on sheer logistical and military might; the Commonwealth cannot equal the magical prowess of the Principalities. Neither side will submit to the other and so the war continues. The addition of this third force means it is impossible to tell who is "winning".
{{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=Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo of [[the Brass Coast]]}}
==The Third Letter==
* '''Lord-Magister Anton has responded candidly to the Ambassador's communications
* '''He believes that if things continue on their current course it could lead to a thawing in Imperial-Jarm relations
Normally, the language of diplomacy is full of caveats and circumlocution, comments Lord-Magister Anton. The Imperial Ambassadors interestingly candid approach, however, is in all honesty quite refreshing. It is a relief sometimes, he writes, to be able to speak directly. As such, he acknowledges that the Ambassador may be feeling a little rebuffed. Yet he feels that he was very clear about why the Magician-Princes were not particularly impressed by the return of the [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Spice|Vezakri spice grinder]]. When one is honestly sending something without expectation of reward, one cannot really complain if they don't then get a reward.

More constructively, the matter of the spice grinder is ultimately unimportant by itself but it is not without symbolic weight. Coupled with the efforts of other Imperial citizens, there ''is'' more of a taste in the House of Princes for dealing with the Empire. Embargo costs both countries, and is good for neither. Right now the House of Princes is busy with other matters - war with the Commonwealth and the [[Cold war|destruction of Lantir]] being foremost in their minds. While it might not seem like it, the situation is improving. And in Anton's opinion part of that is down to '''Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo''' and their immediate predecessor '''Nikita Teanga Volkov'''. There have obviously been several fine ambassadors from the Empire, but they are often judged against the example of the former ambassador '''Oswi Twice-Burned''' - someone who understood the realities of doing business on the international stage and put pragmatism ahead of ideology.

As long as the Empire respects Jarm's independence as a sovereign nation; as long as they stay out of the war with the Commonwealth; and especially if they are able to offer practical support against these damned ''scions'' pouring out of Lantir, relations between the Principalities and Imperial citizens can only improve. Indeed, the assurances ''Ambassador Damiàn'' has issued regarding their intention to provide aid to the Jarmish in containing the forces of ''Oblivion'' has caused several otherwise disinterested princes to sit up and take notice, especially those potentially threatened by the ''scions''. If they are able to deliver on those promises - if the [[Cold_war#Magical_Aid|Conclave]] offers real, measurable support to Jarm - then it will not only prove the Ambassador's calibre but see more Magician-Princes prepared to soften their attitudes to the Empire. If they fail of course... well that will just reaffirm the perception of recent Imperial ambassadors being little more than chair-warmers.

The civil service are a little taken aback by the tone of Lord Anton's correspondence, but cautiously suggest that by speaking candidly in response to the Ambassador, Trescher is in his own way showing his respect. Maybe?

==Free Port==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''<big>Bidderskit</big>'''<p>
Goat milk is a common staple of the Zemelslo diet. One of their main exports is Bidderskit, an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting goat milk and adding certain local ingredients. There are a range of strong flavours, but it is something of an acquired taste. Any Imperial fleet captain who has visited the nation is free to phys-rep Bidderskit with almost any kind of milk or milk-like liquid especially flavoured milkshake.</box></div>
* '''The Senate approved access to a port in the independent nation of Zemelslo
* '''Imperial captains now trade at Radosmo, primarily with Jarmish merchants
* '''Lord-Magister Anton has praised the Imperial Ambassador for their work in negotiating trade with Zemelslo'''
* '''Communication with Zemelslo technically lies under the remit of the Imperial Consul, Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason
During the Autumn Equinox, the [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Free_Ports_And_Free_People|tiny nation of Zemelslo]] opened their port at Radosmo to Imperial traders at the urging of ''Prince Mila'' of the Violetinu Mishkas. Zemelslo lies in the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] and is firmly within the Jarmish sphere of influence. Technically self-governed by a ''concilium'' of magicians, in practice it is a protectorate of Jarm and looks to the House of Princes in all things. The Jarmish Consul officially is an ambassador from the great nation to the east; in practice it operates a lot more like a governor albeit one that most1ly observes and offers polite advice.

Its primary exports are salted fish and a beverage called Bidderskit (a strong sour alcoholic drink made from fermented goats milk). There is not much demand for Bidderskit and salted fish in the Empire, but Jarmish merchants visit Radosmo all the time. Imperial merchants are welcome to trade with other visitors... which means access to the same kinds of products that were available from Jarmish ports. This is a polite fiction that allows Jarm and the Empire to trade without either side having to open their ports to the other. Obviously the argument is that trade with Zemelslo, a sovereign nation, is not prohibited by the terms of the Liberty Pact. While the Commonwealth might [[The price is great#Zemelslo|take a different view]], the Senate [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Confirm_Trade_with_Zemelslo|have been clear]] that they do not see any legal obstacle to Imperial traders dealing with Zemelslo and confirmed that it is not part of Jarm.

It is too early to make sweeping generalisations - whatever Anton's esteemed colleague the Magician-Prince of the Violetinu Mishkas might believe - but the preliminary successes seen in Radosmo are encouraging. Perhaps it ''is'' possible for the Empire to visit an island without [[Mosaic|burning everything to the ground]] in the name of religion? While Zemelslo isn’t Kavor or Zemech, it is a good start. Lord-Magister Trescher is not alone if that he would be perfectly happy to see relations between the nations thaw out enough to allow trade to prosper again. The Empire is after all an excellent market; and everyone would be happier if they did not have to listen to the Golden Peacock faction banging on about the "Casinean Hegemon Threat" every five minutes.
{{WingedMessenger|address=Winged Messengers can be dispatched by anyone interested in further discussing trade via Zemelslo to ''Magician Prince Mila, The Tepesch Palace, Principality of the Violetinu Mishkas, Principalities of Jarm''. The Concilium has asked that the youthful Magician-Prince serve as their liason to the Empire.}}
==Weirwood for Free People==
* '''Zemelslo has requested an opportunity to purchase a large amount of weirwood from the Empire
* '''The Senate has clarified that the Concillium is a sovereign nation distinct from Jarm
* '''They thus fall under the remit of the Imperial Consul'''
* '''The current Imperial Consul is Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason'''
The inference taken from the Senate's decision is that it is the [[Imperial Consul]], '''Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason''', who is responsible for any further dealing with Zemelslo, rather than the Ambassador to Jarm. The Concilium of Zemelslo have not invited any kind of diplomatic contact; any formal Imperial correspondence should go via their close ally, the Magician-Prince of the Violetinu Mishkas. It is not that they are incapable of making their own decisions, simply that Prince Mila has more experience dealing with Imperial citizens and is unlikely to accidentally offend against their sensibilities or religion. Mila has graciously agreed to serve as a go-between.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Atte.png|caption=Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason of the Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd; elder statesman and [[Imperial Consul]].|align=left|width=500}}</div>
With his assistance the Concilium of Zemelslo have made an overture to the Imperial Consul offices indicating that they are in the market to purchase a large amount of [[weirwood]]. They are looking to secure 200 wains toward the [[Navy#Costs|construction]] if a [[navy]] to help protect their island against Commonwealth aggression. They are able to offer 20 crowns a wain for any amount that the Imperial Consul can arrange. If the Consul wishes to take advantage of this offer, the Civil service can help facilitate it. ('''OOC Note:''' The Consul should ensure the weirwood is in their inventory at the end of the event and e-mail {{plot}} to let us know how much they are providing to Zemelslo. We'll then remove the wains and replace them with the money at the agreed price.)

Regardless of what the Imperial Consul may choose, any private citizen could take advantage of this trade. The [[Urizen_magical_traditions#Urizen_Lore|Urizeni]] ritual ''[[Ethereal Courier]]'' could certainly be used to send weirwood Bourse notes to Magician-Prince Mila. This would require a little more effort to claim, but there is no legal impediment to ships from Zemelslo collecting wains from Imperial warehouses. The citizen trading in this way would either receive the payment mentioned, or have their Bourse notes returned if the Consul has already provided all the weirwood required.

The civil service assessment is that on the surface it seems to be a legitimate attempt by the Concilium of Zemelslo to establish their own navy. However as a nation in the pocket of Jarm, helping Zemelslo arm itself effectively provides Jarm with access to another navy. It is very likely that Magician Prince Mila is behind this trade offer, and the likely source of much of the money to pay for it.
==Equal Weight==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fortified Embassy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification Upgrade</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Limus, Redoubt</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 mithril, 90 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Gives the Walls of Cargo the ''Jarmish Warwizards'' quality
* Allows Jarm to defend shipping along the Couros against Commonwealth interests</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires concedence of the embassy</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Jarm proposes the Empire cede the Jarmish embassy in Cargo to them'''
* '''In return they would station of garrison of warwizards in Cargo to help defend the territory if it was attacked'''
Lord-Magister Anton has received correspondence from the staff at the Jarmish embassy in [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]] regarding the building of a [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth#The Diplomatenschloss|Commonwealth castle]] across the river Couros in [[Necropolis]]. Concerns have been expressed in the House of Princes about notoriously warlike Commonwealth soldiers travelling the same river as peaceful Jarmish emissaries - especially given the Empire's obvious favouring of the rival nation. As such he proposes that the [[Senate]] expand and also [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|concede]] the Jarmish embassy in Cargo. Jarm would cover some of the costs, and would establish a cadre of elite Jarmish battle-magicians at the embassy to protect the interests of their citizens both in the embassy and travelling along the river. They would also be in a position to help garrison the [[Redoubt#The_Walls_of_Cargo|Walls of Cargo]] - which Lord-Magister Anton points out they [[The_whole_world#The_Magic_of_Jarm|also helped create]]. In the event that the Commonwealth chose to commit piracy against Jarmish ships in Imperial waters, they would be in position to defend their diplomats and take appropriate retribution against any attack.

The civil service have assessed the proposal - they estimate that in the event the walls of Cargo would gain the ''Jarmish warwizards'' quality. If enemy forces threatened the region of [[Redoubt#Limus|Limus]], the Jarmish war-magicians would add an extra 1,000 strength to the garrison for purposes of defending the territory and inflicting casualties on the attackers in same way as if they were a number of [[military unit|military units]] taking a [[Military unit#Guard|guard action]]. The required concedence would give the Jarmish free reign to operate within their own embassy without any hint of Imperial oversight - and if relations between Jarm and the Empire collapsed entirely, a band of Jarmish war-wizards in Urizen could arguably do some significant damage before they were stopped. They also speculate that this is a naked political ploy - to "balance" the fact that the Commonwealth has stationed troops on Imperial soil and has direct control of their own ''diplomatenschloss''.

==Herbs for the White Palm==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}
* '''The House of the White Palm in Jarm seeks aid in dealing with the cursed injuries caused by the ''scions'' of Cold Sun
* '''They would like the Imperial Apothecaries Guild to send them a package of marrowort and bladeroot using ethereal courier
* '''In return they offer a herbal for a healing salve
* '''The Guild Leader of the Apothecaries Guild is Esmé i Estrico i Erigo
While magic is excellent for dealing with serious injuries in the short term - rituals such as ''[[Stout Resolve of the Unyielding|Kaljulaid's Resolution]]'' can help warriors endure these kinds of injury - they are ineffective at actually treating the injuries. The Principalities have fewer battle-trained [[surgical skills#Physicks|physicks]] than the Empire. While the profession of physick is respected, those who master the arts of the body are more inclined to operate in cities tending to wealthy clients than risk their lives fighting.

The ''House of the White Palm'' is an old establishment that trains battlefield physicks to support Jarmish armies. The incursion of [[Cold Sun]] has left them overwhelmed - and both mundane soldiers and [[Magical skills#Battlemage|battlefield wizards]] are paying the price. The White Palm ''lekár'' - the battlefield medics facing the destruction of Cold Sun - are in desperate need of [[marrowort]] and [[bladeroot]]. Large amounts, very quickly.

As such they have decided to go outside the traditional diplomatic channels and make a direct appeal to a body they apparently consider to be their peers - the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. They need 200 drams of both marrowort and bladeroot, and they cannot wait for the slow transport of goods by sea. As such they request that the Guild collect 200 drams of each herb and deliver them via [[Ethereal Courier]] during the Winter Solstice. In return, the White Palm will share with the Guild a [[Potion#Herbal|herbal]] detailing the recipe for ''Palma Balzam'' - a preparation that translates roughly as "Palmtree Balm".

This [[potion]] is part of the [[Master Medicinal]] body of lore and creates a salve that can be applied to an injured warrior to simultaneously restore a damaged limb and heal the wounds that caused it. From the description, it appears to harness the power of [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] and [[True Vervain]] in the same way that [[Maledict's Medicament]] captures the healing properties of [[Bladeroot]] and [[Imperial Roseweald]]. What the Guild does with the herbal is up to them - keep it for their own use or share it with the rest of the Empire the House of the White Palm cares not.

The civil service advise that this appeal has apparently caused outrage in the House of Princes; the idea that a mundane college has show Jarmish weakness in this way in untenable. On the other hand nobody is prepared to censure the White Palm given their vital role in battle (and the numerous wealthy doctors trained there who serve Magician-Prince households). While trade from Jarm is [[Tariffs#Embargo|embargoed]] that prevents Jarmish vessels bringing trade goods to Imperial ports. Further, the Apothecaries' Guild is [[Imperial_Apothecaries_Guild#The_Manifesto|responsible for]] the "''Coordination and support Imperial efforts in the research, development, education, and dissemination of ingredients, potions, and antidotes''" and to "''Represent and support the economic, political, and magical interests of apothecaries and herbalists within the Empire.''" If they choose to take advantage of this offer - or anyone chooses to fulfil the order on their behalf - there is no immediate legal restriction. But there might be ethical and moral considerations that the [[Synod]] in particular might wish to offer guidance with.

==Matters of Measure==
* '''The Principalities are not interested in further discussion of the shield Measure
Lord Anton finally requests that the Ambassador should let '''Ser Rhydian de Rondell''' know that he is disinclined to engage in further discussion of the [[Pilgrim's Shield|shield]] ''Measure''. They offered to trade with the Empire and were rejected and that is just how diplomacy works, but they have no interest in putting Imperial citizens in touch with the current owner. There's also no interest in a challenge of eight champions - that may be how things are done in the Empire or the Commonwealth but Lord-Magister Anton doesn't feel Jarm has anything it wants to prove here. So in short, the answer is "no."

He does however wish to correct a misapprehension. The Principalities do not need details of the "underpinning" of Brotherhood if Tian. Those principles are known just as much in Jarm as they are in the Empire. A ''completed ritual text'' is very valuable, especially one that represents a year and a half at least of work during which the [[college of magic]] preparing the text can do nothing else. And, in the words of the Lord-Magister, a triumph of political will to encourage an entire college to focus on codifying a useful, practical ritual instead of some charismatic wizards' pet project involving the moon. It seems that Trescher is very bitter about something.
{{Jarm Links}}

When peace was far away

2026-04-05T14:56:08Z

Noserenda: /* The Third Letter */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Autumn]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>The port of Radosmo is the richest, most prosperous settlement in all of Zemelslo. It rises above three bays, each one separated by hilly splits of land. They are named for the twilight at morning, the brightness of high noon, and the gloaming that comes with night. At the landward side of each is a dock, and which goods land and ship from each dock is decreed by the laws of the Concillium. Radosmo is where the Concillium meets each month, to discuss matters of governance and magic. They are well advised by the Jarmish Consul, who by all accounts does not speak often but when they do their words are listened to. It is common for heralds of the realms to attend these meetings, to observe, and to present minor boons to the magicians in return for small concessions.
Zemelslo is not a wealthy nation; it primarily exports salt fish, salt lamb and mutton, and a strong sour beverage called Bidderskit that is at best an acquired taste. The largest structure is the Concillium Hall, but the second largest is the palace of the Jarmish Consul which stands on one of the hills overlooking Radosmo. It is very beautiful, and the first thing a sailor sees on their approach to the port. The people of Zemelslo are cousins to the folk of the Principalities, in much the same way the people of Sarvos or the Brass Coast are cousins to the Highborn. Their people diverged long ago, but are close enough that cordial relations and strong bonds of wealth and politics unite them.

There are no slaves in Zemelslo. Instead, there is a caste of folk whose name translates roughly as "''ungrateful''" in the particular dialect of the Zemelslona. People who have committed crimes against their fellows, or against the state. They are kept in the most squalid possible conditions, forced to toil at the most back-breaking, filthy jobs until their sentence is completed. One might imagine that in a state as law-abiding and civil as Zemelslo there would not be many ungrateful; yet there always seem to be more than enough to ensure the fields are tilled, the bays are dredged, and the streets are cleaned.

There are no temples or shrines here; the Concillium of Zemelslo does not proscribe religion so much as discount it. Faith, teach the leaders of this tiny island nation, is a distraction. A warm blanket fit only for children. Nothing exists beyond the world, and the six realms of magic. Miracles and the so-called ceremonies of priests are nothing more than magic, practiced by amateurs who do not truly understand what they are doing. The people of Zemelslo patronise evangelists and missionaries, listening with every sign of amused tolerance, even applauding skilled oratory or rhetoric, and then... they just move on.

(Yet be careful; these people pride themselves on their liberty to a degree that an outsider might misjudge as a kind of faith. Their civility is as much as learned response to living in a society where anarchy bubbles beneath the surface as it is their vaunted rationality. The ''ungrateful'' toil, openly degraded, as much as a reminder to the common folk about what will happen if they forget their social contract with the Concillium and try to overthrow them. Reading between the lines of the history books, this has happened at least twice and each time there is a period of chaos and a new Concillium rises to replace the old.)

Most of the visitors to the docks of Radosmo are foreigners; traders from the western Principalities exchange crystal mana for victuals; for metals cut from the hearts of the hills; and for softer treasures harvested from the inland trees. They are equally happy to trade with other visitors, these visiting merchants; and for those who do not wish to dirty themselves dealing with the emissaries of Jarm there is ample opportunity to purchase their fine goods from the markets of Radosmo, engaging in trade at one remove.

That, perhaps, is the zeitgeist of Radosmo, of Zemelslo. They exist at one remove. Comfortable with the protection of their "cousins" to the east, comfortable to live quiet lives, comfortable to be insulated from the chaos of the world. Happy that war and hard choices both are far away.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Hausziege 04.jpg|align=left|caption=Among other things, the nation of Zelemslo is known for its clever goats; by long standing rule of the Concillium they may be herded and milked but not eaten.|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
* '''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 Zemolslo that lies within the Jarmish sphere of influence
* '''Jarm is at war with Imperial allies in the Commonwealth
* '''Jarm has recently encountered the threat of Cold Sun
* '''The Imperial ambassador to the Principalities is Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo of the Brass Coast
Each season the [[Civil Service]] prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with the foreign nations, based on communications received from their ambassador, along with any useful intelligence gathered from other sources. While the [[Senate]] and the other houses of Imperial power may respond to these offers, it is important to note that it is the appropriate [[ambassador]] that the foreign power will expect to hear from. Their communication with the foreign power is the primary element that will determine the tenor of any response.

One of the six great powers, the [[Principalities of Jarm]] are not exactly friendly to the Empire. The ''magocracy'', ruled by the House of Princes resents what it claims are repeated attempts by Imperial citizens to interfere with its interests. Via the [[Liberty Pact]], the Empire is allied with Jarm's enemies, the [[Commonwealth]], and open war now rages between the two great nations. They may not be at war with the Empire, but they know that Imperial citizens and the [[Conclave|Imperial Conclave]] in particular have provided significant assistance to their rivals. 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.
==War in the East==
* '''The war between the Commonwealth and the Principalities of Jarm continues
* '''Cold Sun has erupted into the borderlands between the two nations
The ''[[According_to_principle#The_Lantir_War|Lantir War]]'' continues despite the [[Cold war|eruption]] of [[Cold Sun]]. Diplomats from both sides have made attempts to arrange a summit to discuss the matter, but so far without success. There is nothing approaching a coordinated response between the two rivals to the ''scions'' pouring into Lantir. Indeed, as discussed in the '''[[Cold war]]''' wind of fortune, both sides suspect the other of having been responsible, and believe that the [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] are targeting ''their'' forces particularly.

The conflict between the Principalities and the Commonwealth is at its root a clash of ideology. Jarm fights for the right to self-determination, while the Commonwealth strives to spread its idea of the Common Good to all. Jarm remains unable to match the Commonwealth on sheer logistical and military might; the Commonwealth cannot equal the magical prowess of the Principalities. Neither side will submit to the other and so the war continues. The addition of this third force means it is impossible to tell who is "winning".
{{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=Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo of [[the Brass Coast]]}}
==The Third Letter==
* '''Lord-Magister Anton has responded candidly to the Ambassador's communications
* '''He believes that if things continue on their current course it could lead to a thawing in Imperial-Jarm relations
Normally, the language of diplomacy is full of caveats and circumlocution, comments Lord-Magister Anton. The Imperial Ambassadors interestingly candid approach, however, is in all honesty quite refreshing. It is a relief sometimes, he writes, to be able to speak directly. As such, he acknowledges that the Ambassador may be feeling a little rebuffed. Yet he feels that he was very clear about why the Magician-Princes were not particularly impressed by the return of the [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Spice|Vezakri spice grinder]]. When one is honestly sending something without expectation of reward, one cannot really complain if they don't then get a reward.

More constructively, the matter of the spice grinder is ultimately unimportant by itself but it is not without symbolic weight. Coupled with the efforts of other Imperial citizens, there ''is'' more of a taste in the House of Princes for dealing with the Empire. Embargo costs both countries, and is good for neither. Right now the House of Princes is busy with other matters - war with the Commonwealth and the [[Cold war|destruction of Lantir]] being foremost in their minds. While it might not seem like it, the situation is improving. And in Anton's opinion part of that is down to '''Damiàn i Martàn i Erigo''' and their immediate predecessor '''Nikita Teanga Volkov'''. There have obviously been several fine ambassadors from the Empire, but they are often judged against the example of the former ambassador '''Oswi Twice-Burned''' - someone who understood the realities of doing business on the international stage and put pragmatism ahead of ideology.

As long as the Empire respects Jarm's independence as a sovereign nation; as long as they stay out of the war with the Commonwealth; and especially if they are able to offer practical support against these damned ''scions'' pouring out of Lantir, relations between the Principalities and Imperial citizens can only improve. Indeed, the assurances ''Ambassador Damiàn'' has issued regarding their intention to provide aid to the Jarmish in containing the forces of ''Oblivion'' has caused several otherwise disinterested princes to sit up and take notice, especially those potentially threatened by the ''scions''. If they are able to deliver on those promises - if the [[Cold_war#Magical_Aid|Conclave]] offers real, measurable support to Jarm - then it will not only prove the Ambassador's calibre but see more Magician-Princes prepared to soften their attitudes to the Empire. If they fail of course... well that will just reaffirm the perception of recent Imperial ambassadors being little more than chair-warmers.

The civil service are a little taken aback by the tone of Lord Anton's correspondence, but cautiously suggest that by speaking candidly in response to the Ambassador, Trescher is in his own way showing his respect. Maybe?

==Free Port==
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;"><box>'''<big>Bidderskit</big>'''<p>
Goat milk is a common staple of the Zemelslo diet. One of their main exports is Bidderskit, an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting goat milk and adding certain local ingredients. There are a range of strong flavours, but it is something of an acquired taste. Any Imperial fleet captain who has visited the nation is free to phys-rep Bidderskit with almost any kind of milk or milk-like liquid especially flavoured milkshake.</box></div>
* '''The Senate approved access to a port in the independant nation of Zemelslo
* '''Imperial captains now trade at Radosmo, primarily with Jarmish merchants
* '''Lord-Magister Anton has praised the Imperial Ambassador for their work in negotiating trade with Zemelslo'''
* '''Communication with Zemelslo technically lies under the remit of the Imperial Consul, Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason
During the Autumn Equinox, the [[My_passions_from_a_common_spring#Free_Ports_And_Free_People|tiny nation of Zemelslo]] opened their port at Radosmo to Imperial traders at the urging of ''Prince Mila'' of the Violetinu Mishkas. Zemelslo lies in the [[The_seven_seas#Sea_of_Steel|Sea of Steel]] and is firmly within the Jarmish sphere of influence. Technically self-governed by a ''concilium'' of magicians, in practice it is a protectorate of Jarm and looks to the House of Princes in all things. The Jarmish Consul officially is an ambassador from the great nation to the east; in practice it operates a lot more like a governor albeit one that most1ly observes and offers polite advice.

Its primary exports are salted fish and a beverage called Bidderskit (a strong sour alcoholic drink made from fermented goats milk). There is not much demand for Bidderskit and salted fish in the Empire, but Jarmish merchants visit Radosmo all the time. Imperial merchants are welcome to trade with other visitors... which means access to the same kinds of products that were available from Jarmish ports. This is a polite fiction that allows Jarm and the Empire to trade without either side having to open their ports to the other. Obviously the argument is that trade with Zemelslo, a sovereign nation, is not prohibited by the terms of the Liberty Pact. While the Commonwealth might [[The price is great#Zemelslo|take a different view]], the Senate [[387YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Confirm_Trade_with_Zemelslo|have been clear]] that they do not see any legal obstacle to Imperial traders dealing with Zemelslo and confirmed that it is not part of Jarm.

It is too early to make sweeping generalisations - whatever Anton's esteemed colleage the Magician-Prince of the Violetinu Mishkas might believe - but the preliminary successes seen in Radosmo are encouraging. Perhaps it ''is'' possible for the Empire to visit an island without [[Mosaic|burning everything to the ground]] in the name of religion? While Zemelslo isn’t Kavor or Zemech, it is a good start. Lord-Magister Trescher is not alone if that he would be perfectly happy to see relations between the nations thaw out enough to allow trade to prosper again. The Empire is after all an excellent market; and everyone would be happier if they did not have to listen to the Golden Peacock faction banging on about the "Casinean Hegemon Threat" every five minutes.
{{WingedMessenger|address=Winged Messengers can be dispatched by anyone interested in further discussing trade via Zemelslo to ''Magician Prince Mila, The Tepesch Palace, Principality of the Violetinu Mishkas, Principalities of Jarm''. The Concilium has asked that the youthful Magician-Prince serve as their liason to the Empire.}}
==Weirwood for Free People==
* '''Zemelslo has requested an opportunity to purchase a large amount of weirwood from the Empire
* '''The Senate has clarified that the Concillium is a sovereign nation distinct from Jarm
* '''They thus fall under the remit of the Imperial Consul'''
* '''The current Imperial Consul is Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason'''
The inference taken from the Senate's decision is that it is the [[Imperial Consul]], '''Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason''', who is responsible for any further dealing with Zemelslo, rather than the Ambassador to Jarm. The Concilium of Zemelslo have not invited any kind of diplomatic contact; any formal Imperial correspondence should go via their close ally, the Magician-Prince of the Violetinu Mishkas. It is not that they are incapable of making their own decisions, simply that Prince Mila has more experience dealing with Imperial citizens and is unlikely to accidentally offend against their sensibilities or religion. Mila has graciously agreed to serve as a go-between.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Atte.png|caption=Atte Arrow-Tongue Metsastajason of the Sussivari Oathsworn Fyrd; elder statesman and [[Imperial Consul]].|align=left|width=500}}</div>
With his assistance the Concilium of Zemelslo have made an overture to the Imperial Consul offices indicating that they are in the market to purchase a large amount of [[weirwood]]. They are looking to secure 200 wains toward the [[Navy#Costs|construction]] if a [[navy]] to help protect their island against Commonwealth aggression. They are able to offer 20 crowns a wain for any amount that the Imperial Consul can arrange. If the Consul wishes to take advantage of this offer, the Civil service can help facilitate it. ('''OOC Note:''' The Consul should ensure the weirwood is in their inventory at the end of the event and e-mail {{plot}} to let us know how much they are providing to Zemelslo. We'll then remove the wains and replace them with the money at the agreed price.)

Regardless of what the Imperial Consul may choose, any private citizen could take advantage of this trade. The [[Urizen_magical_traditions#Urizen_Lore|Urizeni]] ritual ''[[Ethereal Courier]]'' could certainly be used to send weirwood Bourse notes to Magician-Prince Mila. This would require a little more effort to claim, but there is no legal impediment to ships from Zemelslo collecting wains from Imperial warehouses. The citizen trading in this way would either receive the payment mentioned, or have their Bourse notes returned if the Consul has already provided all the weirwood required.

The civil service assessment is that on the surface it seems to be a legitimate attempt by the Concilium of Zemelslo to establish their own navy. However as a nation in the pocket of Jarm, helping Zemelslo arm itself effectively provides Jarm with access to another navy. It is very likely that Magician Prince Mila is behind this trade offer, and the likely source of much of the money to pay for it.
==Equal Weight==
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Fortified Embassy'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification Upgrade</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Limus, Redoubt</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 mithril, 90 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Gives the Walls of Cargo the ''Jarmish Warwizards'' quality
* Allows Jarm to defend shipping along the Couros against Commonwealth interests</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' None</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires concedence of the embassy</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
* '''Jarm proposes the Empire cede the Jarmish embassy in Cargo to them'''
* '''In return they would station of garrison of warwizards in Cargo to help defend the territory if it was attacked'''
Lord-Magister Anton has received correspondence from the staff at the Jarmish embassy in [[Redoubt#Cargo|Cargo]] regarding the building of a [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth#The Diplomatenschloss|Commonwealth castle]] across the river Couros in [[Necropolis]]. Concerns have been expressed in the House of Princes about notoriously warlike Commonwealth soldiers travelling the same river as peaceful Jarmish emissaries - especially given the Empire's obvious favouring of the rival nation. As such he proposes that the [[Senate]] expand and also [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|concede]] the Jarmish embassy in Cargo. Jarm would cover some of the costs, and would establish a cadre of elite Jarmish battle-magicians at the embassy to protect the interests of their citizens both in the embassy and travelling along the river. They would also be in a position to help garrison the [[Redoubt#The_Walls_of_Cargo|Walls of Cargo]] - which Lord-Magister Anton points out they [[The_whole_world#The_Magic_of_Jarm|also helped create]]. In the event that the Commonwealth chose to commit piracy against Jarmish ships in Imperial waters, they would be in position to defend their diplomats and take appropriate retribution against any attack.

The civil service have assessed the proposal - they estimate that in the event the walls of Cargo would gain the ''Jarmish warwizards'' quality. If enemy forces threatened the region of [[Redoubt#Limus|Limus]], the Jarmish war-magicians would add an extra 1,000 strength to the garrison for purposes of defending the territory and inflicting casualties on the attackers in same way as if they were a number of [[military unit|military units]] taking a [[Military unit#Guard|guard action]]. The required concedence would give the Jarmish free reign to operate within their own embassy without any hint of Imperial oversight - and if relations between Jarm and the Empire collapsed entirely, a band of Jarmish war-wizards in Urizen could arguably do some significant damage before they were stopped. They also speculate that this is a naked political ploy - to "balance" the fact that the Commonwealth has stationed troops on Imperial soil and has direct control of their own ''diplomatenschloss''.

==Herbs for the White Palm==
{{CaptionedImage|file=Apothecaries Guild.png|title=Imperial Apothecaries' Guild|align=right|width=240}}
* '''The House of the White Palm in Jarm seeks aid in dealing with the cursed injuries caused by the ''scions'' of Cold Sun
* '''They would like the Imperial Apothecaries Guild to send them a package of marrowort and bladeroot using ethereal courier
* '''In return they offer a herbal for a healing salve
* '''The Guild Leader of the Apothecaries Guild is Esmé i Estrico i Erigo
While magic is excellent for dealing with serious injuries in the short term - rituals such as ''[[Stout Resolve of the Unyielding|Kaljulaid's Resolution]]'' can help warriors endure these kinds of injury - they are ineffective at actually treating the injuries. The Principalities have fewer battle-trained [[surgical skills#Physicks|physicks]] than the Empire. While the profession of physick is respected, those who master the arts of the body are more inclined to operate in cities tending to wealthy clients than risk their lives fighting.

The ''House of the White Palm'' is an old establishment that trains battlefield physicks to support Jarmish armies. The incursion of [[Cold Sun]] has left them overwhelmed - and both mundane soldiers and [[Magical skills#Battlemage|battlefield wizards]] are paying the price. The White Palm ''lekár'' - the battlefield medics facing the destruction of Cold Sun - are in desperate need of [[marrowort]] and [[bladeroot]]. Large amounts, very quickly.

As such they have decided to go outside the traditional diplomatic channels and make a direct appeal to a body they apparently consider to be their peers - the [[Imperial Apothecaries Guild]]. They need 200 drams of both marrowort and bladeroot, and they cannot wait for the slow transport of goods by sea. As such they request that the Guild collect 200 drams of each herb and deliver them via [[Ethereal Courier]] during the Winter Solstice. In return, the White Palm will share with the Guild a [[Potion#Herbal|herbal]] detailing the recipe for ''Palma Balzam'' - a preparation that translates roughly as "Palmtree Balm".

This [[potion]] is part of the [[Master Medicinal]] body of lore and creates a salve that can be applied to an injured warrior to simultaneously restore a damaged limb and heal the wounds that caused it. From the description, it appears to harness the power of [[Cerulean Mazzarine]] and [[True Vervain]] in the same way that [[Maledict's Medicament]] captures the healing properties of [[Bladeroot]] and [[Imperial Roseweald]]. What the Guild does with the herbal is up to them - keep it for their own use or share it with the rest of the Empire the House of the White Palm cares not.

The civil service advise that this appeal has apparently caused outrage in the House of Princes; the idea that a mundane college has show Jarmish weakness in this way in untenable. On the other hand nobody is prepared to censure the White Palm given their vital role in battle (and the numerous wealthy doctors trained there who serve Magician-Prince households). While trade from Jarm is [[Tariffs#Embargo|embargoed]] that prevents Jarmish vessels bringing trade goods to Imperial ports. Further, the Apothecaries' Guild is [[Imperial_Apothecaries_Guild#The_Manifesto|responsible for]] the "''Coordination and support Imperial efforts in the research, development, education, and dissemination of ingredients, potions, and antidotes''" and to "''Represent and support the economic, political, and magical interests of apothecaries and herbalists within the Empire.''" If they choose to take advantage of this offer - or anyone chooses to fulfill the order on their behalf - there is no immediate legal restriction. But there might be ethical and moral considerations that the [[Synod]] in particular might wish to offer guidance with.

==Matters of Measure==
* '''The Principalities are not interested in further discussion of the shield Measure
Lord Anton finally requests that the Ambssador should let '''Ser Rhydian de Rondell''' know that he is disinclined to engage in further discussion of the [[Pilgrim's Shield|shield]] ''Measure''. They offered to trade with the Empire and were rejected and that is just how diplomacy works, but they have no interest in putting Imperial citizens in touch with the current owner. There's also no interest in a challenge of eight champions - that may be how things are done in the Empire or the Commonwealth but Lord-Magister Anton doesn't feel Jarm has anything it wants to prove here. So in short, the answer is "no."

He does however wish to correct a misapprehension. The Principalities do not need details of the "underpinning" of Brotherhood if Tian. Those principles are known just as much in Jarm as they are in the Empire. A ''completed ritual text'' is very valuable, especially one that represents a year and a half at least of work during which the [[college of magic]] preparing the text can do nothing else. And, in the words of the Lord-Magister, a triumph of political will to encourage an entire college to focus on codifying a useful, practical ritual instead of some charismatic wizards' pet project involving the moon. It seems that Trescher is very bitter about something.
{{Jarm Links}}

The circle game

2026-03-20T16:28:48Z

Noserenda: /* Giovanni's Legacy */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>Graciana reached out carefully to receive the proferred book. He passed it to her slowly, handling the book as reverently as if it were a relic of the Way.

A relic of the past, I suppose, she mused to herself. "The Foundation of the Bourse" by Apomedes of Heaven's Reach. She could just make out the letters stamped into the leather bound cover, the paint that had once filled them, had long since cracked and fallen away.

"Giovanni's contribution to the Empire is often overlooked." the old man said sadly. "It's because it's so pedestrian I guess. There's no great battles. No epic wars. Apomedes claims he killed more forgers than barbarians. No moments of heroism. Well apart from Miaren I suppose and it's pretty clear that he thought that campaign was a disaster."

Graciana cupped the priceless book in both hands, unsure if it would be safe to open the cover. "I'm not sure how this will help me?" she queried.

"Apomedes first" he replied inscrutably, "then we can have a talk."
</ic>

<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer.png|caption='''Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer''', Senator for Sermersuaq|align=left|width=450}}</div>
==Overview==
Six months ago, during the Summer Solstice, the Imperial Senate charged the Prognosticator's Office with examining "''the ministries of the Empire to identify any alternative trades their associated titles could make that would '''not''' involve us paying coin.''" On the advice of the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional Court|Constitutional Court]], [[Senator]] for [[Sermersuaq]] who raised the motion - '''Fedelmidd Sydanjaa's Heart Floer''' - acknowledged that the prognosticator would need additional time to complete their review - that period has now been completed.

The Senate did not select a specific appraiser to oversee the work, so the Auditor of the Imperial Treasury Gerard La Salle assigned [[Appraisal#Graciana_i_Lòpez_i_Guerra|Graciana i Lòpez i Guerra]] to oversee it. His first choice - the diplomatic [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi]] - had unfortunately already been assigned to oversee an [[Any_port_in_a_storm|appraisal of Utterlund docks]]. The Freeborn has some expertise in this area, having been a successful merchant herself before joining the Civil Service. As an experienced practitioner of [[Night magic]], she is known for approaching problems in ways that are novel, albeit often expensive.

Despite her talents, it is clear that Graciana has found the task extremely challenging. The truth is that there are precious few options for alternative trades for the various existing ministries that would provide alternatives to spending money. Frustrated, the prognosticator has tried to take a broader view and look at what she has ''guessed'', is the more fundamental problem - declining revenues for the Imperial treasury, using the time available to study the problem as thoroughly as possible. She has included the findings of that investigation as part of the overall appraisal.

<div style="float:right;"><quote by="William Stanley Jevons">Money's a matter of functions four,<br>
A Medium, a Measure, a Standard, a Store.</quote></div>
==The Liquidity Problem==
* '''Imperial citizens prefer to deal in money in most cases'''
* '''Most foreigners prefer either Imperial coinage, or to deal in high-value commodities such as wains and rings of ilium'''

The fundamental problem that Graciana identifies is that the majority of potential customers would vastly prefer to deal in coin than engage in barter. There are exceptions of course, the [[Quaymaster of the Hesychian Docks]] for example, is able to trade Dragonbone for white granite. But these rare cases are the exception - most citizens strongly prefer to deal in coin rather than barter.

Coin has many advantages, as a medium of exchange it ensures that a trade isn't reliant on both parties wanting what the other party is selling. As a measure of value it is quickly and easily quantified and transferred - it is much quicker to count and transfer 20 thrones than 300 ingots of weltsilver. Coins allow people to accumulate and tally obligations and debts in ways that allow for payments to be easily deferred. Imperial coins, backed as they are by the full weight of the Empire and the tireless work of the Master of the Mint to prevent forgeries, act as a peerless store of wealth. They make it simple to keep wealth safe, so that it can be employed in the future.

In simpler terms, money is just much more desirable for buying and selling than barter is. It's flexible, and at the end of the day it is much easier to give people money to buy the things they need than it is to swap the thing you have for the thing they have. It's no use having a cart-load of weltsilver to trade for dragonbone if your opposite number actually wants orichalcum. Most established, prosperous people look at "barter" - swapping things for other things - a little askance.

While there are a few possibilities, they seem to be very specific and very limited in scope. The established ways within the Empire to buy and sell resources, all rely on money, and there is no appetite to change those. There may be some limited opportunities to create new deals with foreign nations - trading liao and dragonbone to Axos for example - but they would require careful diplomatic negotiation. In all cases foreign nations usually prefer to take payment in Imperial coin when dealing with Imperial traders - none of them are likely to accept barter unless it comes with a considerable discount that favours them.

Stymied by the inability to find any systematic or extensive solution to the appraisal, Graciana has tried to look at what she ''assumes'' is the more fundamental problem - a concern about the finance available to the Imperial treasury.

==Giovanni's Legacy==
* '''The fundamental basis of the modern Imperial economy was laid down by Emperor Giovanni'''
* '''Giovanni deliberately constrained the ability of the Empire to tax or borrow to ensure the burden of government fell on the wealthiest'''
{{CaptionedImage|file=Appendix-A---Economy-Flowchart.jpg|caption=Leaflet reproduced with the kind permission of '''Laurencio di Sarvos'''.<br>Art created by '''Persephone Sage-Fletcher'''|align=right|width=350}}</div>

The fundamental basis of the modern Imperial economy was laid down in a series of reforms instituted by [[Emperor Giovanni]]. He established the modern currency based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, (which he ensured was based in Tassato). Giovanni also laid the foundations of the Bourse, and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. Crucially it was Giovanni that ''fixed'' the taxation that Imperial citizens must pay - by reinterpreting "a measure of silver" to be a single crown. The few texts that survive that describe this period suggest that before Giovanni, the early leaders of the Empire had anticipated that they might vary how much silver citizens might be taxed. Giovanni closed the door on that possibility.

Instead he established the Imperial Bourse as the primary method by which the nascent Empire would raise funds for the Imperial treasury. He did so at the same time that he instituted a tradition of meeting once every three months at Anvil. The few accounts of Emperor Giovanni that survive paint him as a shrewd and brilliant politician, but on a personal level he was widely regarded as cynical man whose studies of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_dismal_science the dismal science] led him to expect the worst of literally everyone. According to the [[Torchbearer]], Apomedes of Heaven's Reach, Giovanni deliberately created the Bourse to ensure that the burden of paying for the decisions of the Senate would fall on those who made them and those who put them there.

Interest in Emperor Giovanni tends to wax and wane. When economic times are good, few people pay any attention to his life's work. These periods are often marked by ''years'' of steady rises in the price of wains, accompanied by a growth in expenditure authorised by the Imperial Senate. When the wheel turns, the price of wains begins to fall and the pressure on the Imperial treasury begins to rise dramatically. When that happens interest in the Imperial economy suddenly becomes more pressing.

In recent years, noted Imperial economists like the respected Wintermark scholar, and current [[Auditor of Senatorial Accountability]] '''Vauraus Korppitkotka''' of the [[Wintermark_groups#Sussivari|Sussivari]], have published insightful analysis that map out the flow of money into the Imperial treasury. Similar work by the tireless campaigner, '''Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos''' of the First Spark, have aimed to drill home just how important the impact of things like ministries are on the "Anvil economy". Graciana's research largely confirms what both these economists have long been saying - all the money spent at Anvil ultimately circulates around Anvil until it ends up returning to the Imperial treasury.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Sussivari.png|align=right|width=200|caption=The Sussivari are known for a particual appreciation of matters magical.}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Laurencio Lemmini di Sarvos.jpg|align=right|caption='''Laurencio di Sarvos''', economic analyst and hammer owner.|width=200}}</div>
The document produced by Laurencio di Sarvos, graphically illustrates how the Anvil economy works. The yellow boxes show where money enters the system - taxation by the Senate, the personal income of wealthy citizens, and so forth. The blue boxes show how this money circulates around Anvil - guerdon payments don't leave Anvil because they are paid to people who then bring the money back to Anvil to spend it. The Bourse works to draw money from everyone attending Anvil, ever directly or indirectly, which it then funnels back to the Senate. Wealth only leaves the system through the red boxes, the upkeep of armies and fortifications or the spending in ministries and similar.

When more money enters the system than leaves the system, the price of wains goes up, and the Senate grows rich. When more money leaves the system than enters it, the price of wains goes down and the Senate's budget is squeezed. Encouraging citizens to pay more at the Bourse auctions might feel virtuous, but since it doesn't change the fundamental money supply in the slightest, all it can possibly do is delay the inevitable correction. Virtuous citizens moving money from the Anvil economy to the Bourse and from there to the Senate cannot sustained, if the money in circulation in the Anvil economy continues to decline.
<div style="float:right; clear:right;"><quote by="Emperor Giovanni">Those who call the tune must pay the piper.</quote></div>
This design perfectly reflects Giovanni's gloomy disposition. The Emperor ''expected'' his Senate to be profligate in their spending - he changed the constitution to ensure that the burden fell squarely on the heads of the citizens coming to Anvil. His belief was that they, and they alone, might have the collective political power to restrain their senators.

If alternative trades could be found, so that Imperial citizens who attend Anvil could make significant purchases using wains, resources, mana, herbs or similar, that would result in significantly less money leaving the Anvil economy - and by extension more money ultimately flowing into the Imperial treasury. However that is very difficult to do, there are few good options for doing that for the reasons described above, most people want to get paid, in coin, for their services or goods. However increasing the money flowing into the Anvil economy would have the same net effect as decreasing the money flowing out of the Anvil economy - and that might be easier to achieve.

==Cutting Corners==
* '''There are few good options for alternative trades for ministries, but the Senate could abrogate them'''
* '''There are some ministries that could provide a benefit to the Empire without requiring money to operate'''

As mentioned, there are few good options for alternative trades that don't involve coin. The handful that do exist are ad hoc limited options that affect some of the smaller ministries; Graciana is dubious that these will produce significant net benefits to the Imperial treasury.

The drastic solution would be to abrogate all ministries. The Imperial Senate could use a single Senate motion to abrogate every ministry in the Empire. That would have a huge effect, dramatically curbing the powers of some titles and disestablishing others (any title whose only power was to operate a ministry would be abrogated at the same time). Such a motion would mean any investment into the ministry in question was lost - there would be no way to recover the materials used to build the commision and no easy way to repurpose them for some other use.

A less drastic answer might be to abrogate certain specific ministries. With a more tailored approach, it is possible to address the changes as they happen, shifting commissions so that some benefits still accrue. Graciana has looked at four "groups" of ministries - the [[grandmaster|grandmasters]] of the [[Conclave]], the [[ambassador|ambassadors]], the [[Northern trade network]], and the Prosperity ministries that provide bourse resources. In the first three cases, she has identified some benefits that could be had if the Senate acted to remove their ministries. She has not been able to identify benefits that would flow from abrogating the Prosperity ministries and she advises ''against'' dis-establishing them.
<div style="float:right;"><quote by="Lebannon of Haros Water">No, Grandmaster. It is not 'yours'.

It is ours.</quote></div>
====Grandmaster Ministries====
* '''The ministries that provide Grandmasters with crystal mana could be abrogated'''
* '''Doing so would mean an additional 127 crystal mana going directly to the font'''
One group of ministries that see a large amount of money flow from Anvil into the wider Empire are the so-called "mana ministries" possessed by each [[Grandmaster]]. These ministries were greatly enhanced in 384YE when the Senate [[Honey_and_vinegar#Old_Stones|took advantage of an opportunity]] to expand the mana exchanges in [[Steward of the Tassato Mana Exchange|Tassato]], [[Magic Butcher|Temeschwar]], and [[Steward_of_the_Sarvos_Mana_Exchange|Sarvos]]. Graciana estimates that, in total, the Grandmasters have spent over a hundred thrones collectively buying over a thousand crystal mana for their orders over the last year. This is in addition to the mana that is distributed to them via [[Conclave_vault#The_Font|the font]]. It is clearly valuable to have so much additional mana available to the Empire, but the Senate might consider that the costs are not worth the benefits.

The Senate could use a single senate motion to shut these ministries down. If that happened, the civil servants responsible for securing crystal mana for the grandmasters could be redeployed, and the structures used to support them could be repurposed to support a public trade in mana crystals between citizens, with the profits from that operation being used to fund mana purchases for the font.

Graciana calculates that this would result in an additional 127 crystal mana each season being raised for the fount, at no additional cost to the Empire. That would be a significant loss for the Empire - five hundred mana crystals a year is significantly less than the thousand mana crystals that the grandmasters purchased between then - but it would represent a considerable saving to the Anvil economy.

====Diplomatic Ministries====
* '''The Senate could end the practice of merchants offering favourable rates to ambassadors'''
* '''They could redefine the role of the ambassador and indicate such gifts are for the benefit of the Empire rather than the ambassador'''
* '''Doing so would remove the ministry, but would also remove the upkeep costs of the embassys the Empire has not embargoed'''

As it currently stands, the [[Imperial Consul]] and each [[ambassador]] oversees an [[embassy]]. Alongside the political powers and prestige an embassy affords an ambassador, they also support a degree of [[Ambassador#Mercantile_Support|mercantile activity]]. Merchants who engage in trade between the Empire and the nation in question, or vice versa, visit the embassy to curry favour with the ambassador. Commonly they take a portion of the items they buy and sell and make them available to the ambassador at favourable prices. This benefit is represented by a ministry that allows the ambassador to directly purchase raw materials from traders and merchants of the associated nation.

This practice obviously leads to questions about what exactly is going on. Virtuous individuals in particular sometimes look at this behaviour with raised eyebrows - these merchants are trying to curry favour with the ambassador to get special treatment. This is usually perfectly innocuous, merchants offer incentives to get their shipments cleared by the dock authorities more quickly than their rivals, or to expedite permits to sell their wares, arrange meetings with their Imperial counterparts, or the like. But in theory, if a merchant were engaged in criminal activity, the ambassador might be the first person they would seek to bribe to look the other way...

It would be relatively straightforward for the Senate to end this practice. With a suitably worded Senate motion they could make it clear that such lobbying is no longer acceptable, for all existing embassies and future embassies. The ministries would be lost. Ambassadors would still be able to engage in direct trade with foreign nations of course, but the practice of merchants bringing goods to the embassies to "trade" at a "special discount" to the Ambassadors would end. None of the diplomats from the foreign nations would bat an eyelid at this change.

That is not to say that the giving of "gifts" is the problem. In practice most of the actual work of operating an embassy is done by the civil service - they could still help foreign merchants with their trade, but any gifts would be understood to a gift to the embassy itself, and by extension the Empire. The civil service could sell these gifts, at least those that had real value, and use the proceeds to pay the costs of running the embassy. That would mean the Empire not need to pay the upkeep costs of any embassay unless they declared war with the nation in question - or embargoed their trade.

The Imperial Senate could remove the ministries from every embassy with a single motion. The impact is not small - removing the ability of the Consul and the ambassadors to purchase goods would save nearly two hundred thrones a year, but it would also cut nearly thirty five thrones a season in upkeep costs.

Of course impoverishing the diplomatic corps, who have presumably been using the profits of their embassy to fund the vital work they do, might be too high a cost for the Senate to stomach. If that was a concern, the Senate could give each title a stipend - that would be drawn directly from the Imperial treasury of course, but it would mean those funds weren't leaving the Anvil economy.

====Northern Trade Network====
* '''The Northern Trade Network was established as a set of ministries but Graciana believes that lacks ambition
* '''Investing in the Northern Trade Network would remove the small-scale individual benefits and improve the situation for the entire territory where they are built
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:500px; float: right; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Ministry !! Territory
|-
| [[Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post]] || [[Skarsind]]
|-
| [[Broker of Treji Wayhouse]] || [[Hercynia]]
|-
| [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] || [[Karov]]
|-
| [[Northbound Trademaster]] || [[Temeschwar]]
|-
| [[Kalpaheim Tradeholder]] || [[Hahnmark]]
|-
|}

A series of ministries have been established across the northern Empire that together became the [[Northern trade network]]. These ministries, anchored by the [[Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post|Torfast Trading Post]] in [[Skarsind]] connect [[Hahnmark]], [[Hercynia]], [[Skarsind]], [[Temeschwar]], and [[Karov]]. Their establishment saw the northern territories establish closer trade ties among themselves. The Thule also participate in this trade, exchanging their own crystal mana for Imperial ingots and measures.

<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Kalapaheim Tradehall'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Hahnmark#Kalpamark|Kalpamark, Hahnmark]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of [[white granite]], 90 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" and "eastern route" from the Kalpaheim Tradeholder, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Hahnmark by one, providing 36 extra rings to every business in the territory
* Allows the Kalpaheim Tradeholder to change the additional money provided by the great work to 2 extra ingots of a chosen metal by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Torfast Trading Post'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Skarsind#Southpine|Southpine, Skarsind]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of [[white granite]], 90 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "southern", "western" and "eastern route" from the Bonesetter of Torfast Trading Post, leaving only the northern Urdur trade route
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Skarsind by one, providing 36 extra rings to every business in the territory
* Allows the Bonesetter to change the additional money provided by the great work to 2 extra measures of a chosen forest resouce by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Treji Wayhouse'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Hercynia#The_Glen_of_Shadows|The Glen of Shadows, Hercynia]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of [[white granite]], 90 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in herb gardens is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" and "eastern route" from the Broker of Treji Wayhouse, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in herb gardens in Hercynia by one, providing two additional bladeroot and one additional marrowort to every herb garden in the territory
* Allows the Broker to change the additional herbs provided by the great work to 3 bladeroot, or 3 marrowort or 3 true vervain or any combination thereof by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Delev Market'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Karov#Duzekani|Duzekani, Karov]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of [[white granite]], 150 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in mines or forests is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Requirement:''' Can only be upgraded if the Treji Warehouse, Torfast Trading Post and Kalapaheim Tradehall have all been converted into great works
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" from the Overseer of the Westward Road, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in mines and forests in Karov by one, providing 2 additional materials to every mine and forest in the territory
* Allows the Broker to change the additional ingots and measures provided by the great work to 36 rings instead by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Northbound Trade'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Temeschwar|Hanuri|Hanuri, Temeschwar]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 wains of [[white granite]], 180 crowns, six months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increasing investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Requirement:''' Can only be upgraded if the Treji Warehouse, Torfast Trading Post, Kalapaheim Tradehall, and Delev Market have all been converted into great works
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Removes the "trade profits" and "eastern route" from the Northbound Trademaster, leaving only the Urdur trade
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Temeschwar by one, providing 36 additional rings to every business in the territory
* Allows the Trademaster to change the additional money provided by the great work to two measures or two ingots by email to {{template:plot}}
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

The network itself grew up fairly haphazardly, with each new member added improving the opportunities for each of the others. In each case, money is used to buy trade goods that the other nations in the network have in abundance. Graciana sees an opportunity here; rather than focusing the trade through one location, these ministries could be the basis for securing larger-scale prosperity across the territory.

In each case, the existing structure would need considerable further investment - and the costs involved are not small. Each would require a Senate motion or announcement by someone able to commission a great work - they could '''not''' be done with a single commission. In each case, the relevant title holder would see the loss of all trade privileges currently granted by the ministry, bar the oversight of trade with the Thule. Once the work to upgrade the existing commission into a great work was complete, the ministry would only be able to acquire mana crystals from the Urdur trade option in each case - all other options would be lost.

The benefits could be considerable however, providing significant boosts to income for businesses and other personal resources across the north territories of the Empire. In most cases, the work could be done independently of the other branches of the northern trade network, with the exception of the Delev Market in Karov and the trade hub in Temeschwar. The Delev Market, would only provide benefits to mines and businesses once the Treji Warehouse, Torfast Trading Post and Kalapaheim Tradehall were upgraded. The trade hub in Temeschwar would only provide benefits to businesses once the overhaul of ''all'' the other branches of the network was complete.

====Prosperity Ministries====
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:500px; float: right; margin: 10px;"
|-
! Ministry !! Nation !! Resources
|-
| [[Cinderpath Custodian|Cinder Path Exchange]] || Highguard|| Mithril
|-
| [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower|Iron Tower]] || Varushka || Mithril
|-
| [[Mistress of the Dust Parador|Parador of Dust]] || Brass Coast || Mithril
|-
| [[Reeve of Boar's Market|Boar's Market]] || Dawn || Mithril, white granite, and weirwood
|-
| [[Broker of the Invisible Cord|Invisible Cord Brokerage]] || Navarr || Weirwood
|-
| [[Talon of Kaupahall|Kaupahall]] || Wintermark || White granite and ilium
|-
|}
* '''The six "Prosperity ministries" allow title holders to purchase wains and rings of ilium from Imperial citizens'''
* '''They were established following the efforts of the Prosperity Assembly to ensure virtuous citizens are paid fairly for their resources'''
* '''Large sums of money are spent acquiring bourse materials through these ministries'''
* '''Abrograting these ministres would be counter-productive, citizens would find other ways to sell wains to people coming to Anvil'''

In the last several years, a series of ministries arose as a result of the Prosperity assembly drive to disband the private and public auctions and ensure Imperial citizens with wains to sell received ''just reward for their labour''. The first was the [[Cinderpath Custodian|Cinder Path Exchange]] in [[Highguard]], but the practice quickly spread to other nations. These specialised ministries allow the purchase of [[white granite]], [[mithril]], [[weirwood]], and [[ilium]] from citizens of a nation at a "fair price", as determined by the prosperous citizens of the Empire. While the money spent on these resources continues to enrich Imperial citizens, those who receive it rarely come to Anvil so it does not appear in the Imperial treasury.

Graciana looks into the possibility of altering these ministries so that they would not rely on Imperial coinage but she stops once she identifies the fundamental problem. These ministries replaced the need for citizens to send wains to Anvil to be sold by public auction - if they were abrograted or repurposed in some way - then it is certain that citizens would find some other way to sell their excess wains to the wealthy citizens at Anvil. It might mean less money leaving the Anvil economy - but it could mean ''more'' money escaping the Imperial treasury, it is impossible to predict.

As such Graciana suggests that the Senate avoid changing any ministries that allow the title holder to purchase bourse resources from Imperial citizens, at least if they are seeking to increase the amount of funds available.

==Clipping Coins==
* '''Graciana has identified half a dozen opportunities to alter existing ministries to operate without spending coin'''

While Graciana has found few systemic ways to remove the need to spend coin when operating ministries, she has idenfied a number of individual opportunities to change specific ministries. In many cases these opportunities involve deals with foreigners. Graciana is no diplomat, but [[Appraisal#Naomi_of_Virtue's_Rest|Naomi of Virtue's Rest]] is able to help with these negotiations - any of which the Empire could take up or turn down without causing undue offence.

As ever, any deal with foreigners is inherently fragile - any ministry that relies on a deal with a foreign power will cease to function if the Empire finds itself at war with that nation.

===Axos and the Bursars===
* '''The Halls of Maykop are prepared to exhange crystal mana for the materials they need to make magic items'''
* '''The Halls are interested in closer links with the Bursar of the Conclave'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Bursar of the Conclave'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 Dragonbone</td><td>8 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 Dragonbone, 6 Beggar's Lye</td><td>16 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 Dragonbone, 10 Beggar's Lye, 7 Ambergelt</td><td>24 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 Dragonbone, 10 Beggar's Lye, 10 Ambergelt, 10 Irridescent Gloaming</td><td>32 mana crystals</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 Dragonbone, 15 Beggar's Lye, 10 Ambergelt, 10 Irridescent Gloaming</td><td>40 mana crystals</td></tr>
</table>

<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''House of Spirits'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>40 liao</td><td>1 ring of [[ilium]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>80 liao</td><td>2 rings of ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>125 liao</td><td>3 rings of ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>175 liao</td><td>4 rings of ilium</td></tr>
<tr><td>230 liao</td><td>5 rings of ilium</td></tr>
</table>
</div>

The [[Bursar of the Conclave]] has been empowered by the Imperial Senate to purchase mana for the Conclave from Imperial citizens. The Axou are usually a good source for mana and it appears they are open to getting involved with the ministry. Two things make them suitable for this, one is that the Axou from the Halls of Maykop seem keen to forge closer links with the Bursar - and the other is that this citadel would be prepared to take payment in forest materials rather than Imperial coin.

The [[Bursar of the House of Spirits]] is responsible for the House of Spirits in [[Casinea]]. This remote campus hosts students from the College of Necromantia in Maykop. Despite their willingness to help, the Axou are not prepared to accept forest materials for their precious ilium, however they would be prepared to accept large amounts of liao instead.

The Imperial Senate could use a single Senate motion to accept the two Axou offers.

===Sarcophan and the Kruidenkenner===
* '''The Sarcophan are prepared to barter metals for herbs in the two Kruidenkenner trade enclaves'''

<table style="width:400px; float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right;" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Trademaster Cerulean Mazzarine'''</td></td>
<tr><td>6 green iron</td><td>12 cerulean mazzarine</td></tr>
<tr><td>15 green iron</td><td>24 cerulean mazzarine</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 green iron</td><td>36 cerulean mazzarine</td></tr>
</table>

<table style="width:400px; float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right;" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Trademaster Herbs'''</td></td>
<tr><td>10 tempest jade</td><td>16 random herbs</td></tr>
<tr><td>22 tempest jade</td><td>32 random herbs</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 tempest jade</td><td>48 random herbs</td></tr>
</table>

<table style="width:400px; float: right; margin-left:10px; clear: right;" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Root and Stem'''</td></td>
<tr><td>6 orichalcum</td><td>12 bladeroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>15 orichalcum</td><td>24 bladeroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>27 orichalcum</td><td>36 bladeroot</td></tr>
</table>

The Kruidenkenner, the large Sarcophan trading house that supplies herbs to the [[Kruidenkenner Trademaster]] and the [[Master of the Root and Stem]], are also prepared to indulge the Empire switch to barter at their establishments. They are quick to produce a proposed schedule of purchases and prices at each of the two establishments. There is some suggestion that the returns on these trades might not be as profitable as the current arrangements - the Kruidenkenner don't deny that accusation exactly - rather they point out that it is the Empire seeking to change the arrangements and that barter is inherently more expensive.

The Imperial Senate could use a single motion to accept all the changes proposed by the Kruidenkenner - if that happened then the ministries associated with the titles would require ingots to operate them from then on, rather than coin.

===The Ossium Trade===
* '''Merchants in Ossium would be prepared to accept ingots in place of coin for the goods available to the Merchant-Boyar of the Stinking Market and the Apothecary of Orieb'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Merchant Boyar Ossium herbs'''</td><td style="background-color: LightBlue;"></td></tr>
<tr><td>8 weltsilver</td><td>6 doses of [[marrowort]], 10 random [[herb|herbs]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 weltsilver, 8 orichalcum</td><td>13 doses of [[marrowort]], 20 random herbs</td></tr>
<tr><td>16 weltsilver, 10 orichalcum, 10 green iron</td><td>20 doses of [[marrowort]], 30 random herbs</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Orieb Apothecary Herbs'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>7 tempest jade</td><td>14 random herbs, 1 dose of realmsroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>10 tempest jade, 9 weltsilver</td><td>28 random herbs, 2 doses of realmsroot</td></tr>
<tr><td>20 tempest jade, 9 weltsilver, 6 green iron</td><td>42 random herbs, 3 doses of realmsroot</td></tr>
</table>

</div>
Not all the opportunities that Graciana has identified involve trade with foreigners. Citizens in Ossium have an insatiable desire for ingots, which are used by artisans in the territory to make fine magical weapons for sale. The Ketsov are open to the idea of procuring the herbs currently purchased by the [[Apothecary of Orieb]] and the [[Merchant-Boyar of the Stinking Market]] in exchange for ingots.

On the face of it, this seems like a simple deal, but Graciana cautions that the Ketsov, in particular, have proven "touchy" in recent years, having had run-ins with the Synod and with some of their Varushkan peers. This proposal won't make those problems any worse, but it would make the trade through the Stinking Market and the Orieb dependent on the continued involvement of the Ketsov. If relations with them soured, the Merchant-Boyar and the Apothecary would need to deal with the fallout of that if they wanted to continue operating their ministry.

The Imperial Senate could use a single motion to accept all the changes proposed by the Ketsov - if that happened then the ministries associated with the titles would require ingots to purchase herbs them from then on, rather than coin.

==Growing the Pot==
* '''Graciana has looked for alternative ways to increase the funds flowing into the Anvil economy'''
* '''She has identified numerous outstanding opportunities for great works, all of which ultimately mean more money paid to the Senate in the bourse auction'''

Graciana has done her best to find ways to repurpose existing ministries, but it is clear that the options are limited. At the point where it is clear that there are no further opportunities to do so, she devotes the remaining time to looking for alternative solutions. As with any appraisal, the ideal is for the prognosticator's office to know what the underlying ''problem'' is that the Senate are looking to solve. Stopping ministries spending coin to buy goods is a "solution" to a problem - the outcome of which would be that less money left the Anvil economy. It seems reasonable therefore, to guess that the real problem the Senate are trying to solve is to get more money to flow into the Imperial treasury. Stopping ministries from spending coin would achieve that, but it's far from the only way.

The clear alternative to stopping money leaving the Anvil economy is to take steps to make more money flow into the Anvil economy. The obvious way to do that would be to build great works that boost the profits of farms and businesses across the Empire. It's not a cheap solution, but the benefits are clear - yeofolk and business owners with more money in their pockets to spend at anvil means more money in the Imperial treasury. It's not possible for Graciana to invest a lot of time into looking for new opportunities to raise great works, that is outside the scope of the appraisal, but she has been able to do a thorough review of outstanding opportunities to see which ones are still available.

===Inkworks at Joharra===
* '''The bustling industry of Joharra was ruined by an attack from Isidore i Boyaga'''
* '''An inkworks could be built in Oranseri to aid and assist businesses in Feroz'''
* '''The inkworks would remove the impoverished quality from the region'''
*'''It would also boost the seasonal income of scriveners by 22 rings for a year once completed'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Inkworks of Joharra'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Oranseri, Feroz</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 60 white granite and 60 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work increases investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Increases the level of investment of businesses in Feroz by one.
* Removes the impoverished quality from Oranseri.
* Increases the seasonal income of scriveners by 22 rings for a year.
* Creates the title of ''Scrivener of the Inkworks''</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Scrivener of the Inkworks'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Brass Coast National</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' [[Tally of the Votes]] or Senate</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:'''
* Receives 15 measures of iridescent gloaming each season.
* Receives a Therasia's Chain each year.
* Can make an announcement in the Senate to redirect the Inkworks if there is a [[opportunity]] that explicitly allows it.</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To direct the inkworks as needed, to support the scriveners of Feroz, and to ensure contracts are being kept in the Brass Coast</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Restriction''' This title will only receive a Therasia's Chain if the holder is a scrivener</td></tr>
</table></div>
In Winter 386YE, Graciana presented a proposal for a new [[Send_for_me#Inkworks_of_Joharra|Inkworks at Joharra]] in Feroz. The facility offered a number of useful benefits, removing the impoverished quality from Oranseri and boosting income of businessholders across the territory. As it turns out, it would also boost the income of scriveners by 22 rings for one year after completion, all of which would help to sustain the Anvil economy.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Fish and Fur in Sermersuaq===
* '''A fishery built at the town of Atalaq would support farms and fisherfolk across the territory'''
* '''A grand trading post in southern Sermersuaq would provide a significant boost to businesses in the territory'''
* '''It would provide additional benefits to Wintermark ships trading with foreign ports by providing rich luxury goods to sell'''
* '''The Custodian of the Bloody Great Sausage would be in prime position to make a profit from the increased availability of fine, exotic meats'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Atalaq Fishery'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sealtoq, Sermersuaq</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 75 weirwood, 25 mithril, 300 crowns, 6 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in farms is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Increases investment in farms in Sermersuaq from two to three.
* Allows farms owned by Suaq characters to diversify their farm to produce a mana crystal.</td></tr></table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Atalaq Tradehall'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Sealtoq, Sermersuaq</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 weirwood, 150 crowns, 3 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in businesses is built in the territory</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Increases investment in businesses in Sermersuaq by one.
* Increase taxation from Sermersuaq by 4 thrones.
* Increases income of the Custodian of the Bloody Great Sausage by 7 crowns
* Boosts income of Wintermark fleet owners by 36 rings for one year whenever they engage in trade with foreign nations</td></tr></table></div>
Graciana also provided a [[Farm, fur, and fish|report]] on opportunities for investment in Skarsind in Summer 386YE. The proposal for the Atalaq Fishery would have provided 36 rings to every farm in Skarsind as well as allowing them to diversify their farms to acquire mana crystals.

Perhaps of more interest to the Senate is the less ambitious project to establish the Atalaq Tradehall. That would have increased investment in businesses in Sermersuaq, but it would also benefit the treasury directly, increasing taxation from the territory by 4 thrones. The burst of luxury goods and materials the trade post provided would have also helped Wintermark traders, providing an additional 36 rings to any fleet owner in a Wintermark territory whenever they engaged in [[Fleet#Trade|trade]] with foreign nations. It would permanently boost the income of the Custodian of the Bloody Great Sausage by 7 crowns each event.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Marshways in Kallavesa===
* '''The marshways would raise the level of investment in herb gardens and businesses by one in Kallavesa'''
* '''It would cost 80 wains of weirwood, 240 crowns and take a year to complete'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Kallevesa Marshways'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Kallavesa</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 wains of weirwood, 240 crowns, 6 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in herb gardens or businesses is built in Kallavesa</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Raises the level investment in businesses in Kallavesa by one providing an additional 36 rings
* Raises the level investment in herb gardens in Kallavesa by one providing two true vervain, and one Marrowort in Spring, one Cerulean Mazzarine in Summer, one Imperial Roseweald in Autumn, and one Bladeroot in Winter
* Creates a [[Venture#Guarding_Ventures|guarding venture]] for Wintermark and Dawnish military units to protect the merchants using the marshways in exchange for herbs
</td></tr></table></div>

As part of her appraisal on [[Road_out_of_nowhere#Marshways|roads]] in Winter 385YE, Graciana suggested the Senate could establish marshways across the marshy territories of the Empire, Kallavesa, Therunin and Bregasland. All three territories have a strong tradition of boat use – not sea-going ships but various incarnations of flat-bottomed skiffs and punts that pole the shallow waters of the fens. The ideas was to establish a number of ferries, river-side wayhouses, strategically placed bridges, jetties, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage portage rails], and boatworks that she called the ''Marshways''.

Sadly Therunin and Bregasland are currently suffering from invasion and war; no longer controlled by the Empire, the idea of building there is out of the question. However, Kallevesa is still ripe for investment - so Graciana has updated the costs for just the Wintermark territory. That would cut costs considerably - to 80 wains of weirwood and 240 crowns - but it could be done in six months. Once it was finished, it would raise the level of investment for businesses providing an additional 36 rings every season. It would also raise the level of investment for herb gardens by one, providing two true vervain, and one seasonal herb - Marrowort in Spring, Cerulean Mazzarine in Summer, Imperial Roseweald in Autumn, and Bladeroot in Winter.

In the original proposal, Graciana suggested that the Senate establish a title-holder to oversee the marshways and be responsible for their safety. The position would then be able to fund their operations by purchasing herbs from merchants using the marshways. Given the purpose of the appraisal, Graciana has updated the original plan - now the completion of the marshways would create a new guarding venture for Wintermark and Dawnish military units to protect merchants using the Marshways. The new version of the opportunity replaces the original.

===Docks in Madruga===
* '''There is a proposal to build the Municipal Docks in Calvos to spur the growth of the town in the coming years'''
* '''If built, the municipal docks would create conditions for Calvos to ultimately grow into one of great cities of the Empire'''
* '''The Docks would have an upkeep of 5 thrones a season but would increase taxation by 12 thrones a season'''
* '''Once complete the docks would provide significant benefits in Madruga, and in the Brass Coast as a whole'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Municipal Docks'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work (Shipyard)</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Calvos Sound, Madruga </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 white granite, 40 weirwood and 45 Thrones, 12 months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year - or until another great work that increases investment in fleets is built in Madruga</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 5 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment in fleets in Madruga engaging in trading, questing or raiding
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Madruga
* Reduces the cost for Freeborn characters to upgrade fleets by one weirwood for a year after completion
* Raises income of all Freeborn characters by 7 rings for a year after completion
* Boosts taxation from the territory by 12 thrones a season
* Protects Calvos Sounds as a level one fortification
* Acts as a shipyard allowing the construction or refuge of up to two navies at a time
* Creates a new questing Voyage for Freeborn fleets, Hunt the Free Landing Kraken
* Creates the Freeborn position Quaymaster of the Municipal Docks
* Includes personal offices and accommodation for the Quaymaster and their family
</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Quaymaster of the Municipal Docks'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Freeborn</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Tally of the Votes</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Can purchase goods from Commonwealth ships docking at Calvos</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' Oversee the Municipal Docks</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:LightYellow;">'''Trade Purchases Volkavaar'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>50 rings</td><td>1 Hero Stones</td></tr>
<tr><td>120 rings</td><td>2 Hero Stones</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td colspan="2" style="background-color:LightYellow;">'''Trade Purchases Leerdam'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>36 rings</td><td>1 draught of Clear Headedness</td></tr>
<tr><td>80 rings</td><td>2 draughts of Clear Headedness</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
In Spring 387YE, Gisli 'the Provider' Baerson paid Professor Immnual Gelberg's team of visiting scholars to investigate the possibilities for building a new city in the former Freeborn territory of Madruga. The Commonwealth academics created a [[Germinating_a_city|plan]] to build new municipal docks in Madruga that would raise the level of investment in fleets in Madruga engaging in trading, questing or raiding and raise the level of investment in businesses in the territory. They would raise the income of all Freeborn characters by 7 rings for a year after completion and boost taxation from the territory by 12 thrones a season. All these benefits would result in more money flowing into the economy at Anvil.

Those are not the only benefits - the new docks would reduce the cost for Freeborn characters to upgrade their fleets by one weirwood for a year after completion and protect Calvos Sounds as a level one [[fortification]]. The docks would also act as a [[shipyard]], allowing the construction or refuge of up to two navies at a time and create a new questing voyage for Freeborn fleets; '''Hunt the Free Landing Kraken'''. None of these additional benefits result in more money directly in the Imperial treasury, however.

Professor Gelberg's plan also included the creation of a Freeborn position Quaymaster of the Municipal Docks which would include personal offices and accommodation for the Quaymaster and their family and give them access to a ministry that would allow them to spend a small amount of money to purchase rare items and potions. That would result in ''less'' money flowing into the Anvil economy - a clearly net negative if the Senate is seeking to get rid of ministries. However, the sums of money involved are relatively small - a tiny fraction of the benefits. Graciana is absolutely certain that the net effect would be significantly more money coming to the treasury.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Markets in Delev===
* '''Delev Market could be expanded to make the place a true centre of trade and commerce to rival Temeschwar'''
* '''Completing the expansion of the market would require 50 wains of white granite, 150 crowns, and take three months'''
* '''It would increase investment in businesses in Karov by one rank, adding 36 rings each season to their production'''
* '''As the Little Boyar's Welcome has been warded, the market will ''also'' improve taxation from the territory by 4 thrones'''
* '''This commission would replace the opportunity to upgrade the Delev Market run by the Overseer of the Westerward Road'''
* '''It could increase the money spent by several existing ministries'''

<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Great Market at Delev'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Great Work</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Delev, Duzekani, Karov</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 white granite, 150 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 1 season</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' One year or until another great work that increases investment in businesses is built in Karov</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Raises the level of investment in businesses in Karov by one
* Allows citizens to take a business in Karov for free for one year after completion
* Adds an additional purchase rank to the [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower|Iron Tower]], [[Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak|Korotny Docks]] and the [[Overseer of the Westward Road|Delev Market]]
* Increases taxation of Karov by an additional 4 thrones a season if the Little Boyar's Welcome is also upgraded
* Would allow Senate to use a motion to permit the Boyar of the Iron Roads to create a sinecure instead of a ministry each season without using a Senate commission
</td></tr>
</table></div>

Rather than the fairly simple upgrade of the Delev Market that Graciana proposed to curtail the trade conducted by the Overseer of the Westward Road, the Senate could choose to engage in a major upgraded of the Market.

The proposals for this were published nearly a year ago in an appraisal by Naomi of Virtue's Rest. Her plan involved the creation of the Great Market at Delev which would raise the level of investment in businesses in Karov by one, but would also allow citizens to take a business in Karov for free for one year after completion. If her proposal for the Little Boyar's Welcome was also commissioned it would increase taxation from Karov by four thrones a season and allow the Senate to use a motion to permit the Boyar of the Iron Roads to create a sinecure instead of a ministry each season without using a Senate commission.

There are two key drawbacks to this plan - the first is that it is incompatible with the plans Graciana has drawn up to convert the existing market facilities run by the Overseer of the Westward Road. The Senate could commission the Great Market or convert the existing ministry to a great work - but not both.

The second drawback is that the work would provide additional trade opportunities for the [[Bargainer of the Iron Tower]], and the [[Overseer of the Westward Road]] to trade. It will also provide options for [[Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak]] as prosperity spreads. The net effect would be to add an additional rank to each of the main ministries overseen by these titles.

This commission could easily result in significantly more money leaving the Anvil economy than it brought in - if the Bargainer and the Harbourmaster took full advantage of the opportunity. Of course, they would have more goods to show for that coin, but that might be slim consolation to a Senate that is focused on saving the Imperial treasury from running dry.

The opportunity is still available, without any changes.

===Friends in High Places===
* '''There is a recent proposal to build roads in Zenith which would raise the level of investment in businesses in the territory'''

Finally, Graciana notes that there is a new appraisal published by her colleague Naomi of Virtue's Rest which includes proposals to [[My_friends_are_my_estate#Northern_Way|build roads in Zenith]] which would raise the level of investment in businesses in the territory.

==Stirring the Pot==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_League.png|align=right|width=200}}{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Marcher.png|align=right|width=200}}
</div>
* '''One way to increase funds flowing into the Anvil economy would be if more citizens operated farms and businesses'''
* '''The League and Marcher Assembly could enact mandates to encourage their citizens to embrace tradition and support the Imperial economy'''
* '''Such mandates would make it easier for people to switch resources to take a farm or business and cheaper to upgrade a farm or business'''

Studying Laurencio di Sarvos' guide to the Anvil economy, it is clear that another way to increase the funds flowing into the Anvil economy would be to increase the amount of asset income that citizens coming to Anvil have available. Great works are one way to do that - as are casting rituals like [[Streams of Silver]], [[Rivers of Gold]], and the seasonal [[Farm#Rituals|rituals]] for farms. But one of the most effective ways to increase the money available would be if more people at Anvil had farms and businesses, and fewer people operated other resources. In the last decade, there has been a push to encourage citizens to sell their farm or business and take on the running of a [[military unit]] to support the war effort. However, Graciana claims that a better way to support the war effort might be to dispense with military units and acquire a business or a farm.

In practice, there isn't great demand for this in most places, and Graciana has little success in looking for opportunities to help encourage the practice, with two notable exceptions. Both the League and the Marches have strong cultural traditions that make ownership of businesses and farms important respectively - and what is more, owning a business in the League or a farm in the Marches comes with considerable political influence.

Of course, the Senate can't mandate that Marcher and League citizens put down their arms and take up running a farm or a business - but there is one body that could encourage it. The Synod could use a mandate to urge citizens of the Marches and the League to embrace traditional values, not just out of Pride and Ambition - but out of Loyalty to the needs of the Empire.

{{mandate|mandate=Pride in small things, loyalty to great ones. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to encourage Marcher citizens to settle the land. War is a thrice-ploughed field.|assembly=Marcher Assembly}}

{{mandate|mandate=Nothing great without cost. We send {named priest} with 50 doses of liao to encourage League citizens to invest in a business. Coin counts, and everything costs.|assembly=League Assembly}}

If these mandates are passed in the relevant assemblies, then it will create an opportunity for one year for any character of that nation to change a military unit, fleet, herb garden, mine or forest to a farm (in the Marches) or a business (in the League) without incurring a cost. Crucially, the new resource will be the same level as any resource they give up to make the change - reflecting local support for their efforts to embrace their national traditions and support the Imperial economy.

What is more, there will a groundswell of support for League and Marchers looking to improve their resources. If the Marcher mandate is passed then any farm in the Marches can be upgraded for one wain fewer than normal (to a minimum of one) for one year. If the League mandate is passed then any business in the League can be upgraded for one wain fewer than normal (to a minimum of one) for one year.
==Further Reading==
* [[Appraisal]]
* [[Ministry]]
* [[Imperial treasury]]

The truth but tell it slant

2026-03-11T12:50:53Z

Noserenda: /* A Printer's Shrine */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Winter]][[Category:Recent History]][[Category:Appraisal]]
<ic>"These things are very tasty," said Professer Gelberg taking another bite out of his hot wrap. "But they are clearly designed to be impossible to eat without covering yourself in bean juice."

They were sat on benches overlooking the Vassa, outside the Printers' Guild enclave. It had been a productive morning. While Immanuel and his guide were taking a well-earned lunch break, the Guild itself was still a hive of activity. Wagons being loaded and unloaded, with great bundles of paper and barrels of ink going in one side and printed papers coming out the other.

"What do you make of it so far?" asked his guide, who was against all odds, managing to eat their wrap without getting so much as a spot on their smart coat.

Gelberg took another bite, chewed thoughtfully, and licked juice off his fingers before answering. "It's impressive, no doubt about it. And you say the Empire has embraced movable type? Despite all the extra work it involves?"

"Oh, don't get hung up on the extra work. It's all down to the typesetters, you see." The emissary of the Printers' Guild swelled with pride as they spoke. "A skilled picker can load a score of words a minute or more. A few of our correspondents like to set the stories themselves, writing straight onto the press they call it, and they're mostly slower. Everyone hates it when they do that, especially the editors. I've even seen the odd fist-fight break out over leading while everyone else is trying to just get the damned edition out. But what would the wide world of publishing be without occasional outbursts of drama? As Sacharissa says; if you aren't making someone, somewhere angry, you're not really doing your job. And arguably that can apply to your colleagues as much as your readers; paragons preserve us from people who don't ''care'' about their work, you know?"

Gelberg did know. His experience was more with his fellow academics, but he was no stranger to the idea that people who didn't get passionate about their ideas weren't really cut out to be professors.

"We still use wooden blocks at home," said Gelberg, who assumed Sacharissa was another member of the Guild. He'd been introduced on his first night in the city; there had been a ball. He looked wistfully back toward the Guild buildings. The thump of the presses was still audible out here on the street, over the twitter and tide of cityfolk going about their own business. "When I get back I'm going straight to our publications department and showing them what you people are achieving here. It's well past time we caught up, whatever the woodblock manufacturers think."

"Well we still use blocks for the illustrations," said the guide. "Although technically I suppose they're not wooden blocks. It's quite an involved process, actually. What we do is..."

Gelberg wasn't listening. He'd spotted a young person loitering around the wagons in a hunched over way that shouted "ne'er-do-well" to his finely tuned academician senses. The slouch of a student trying to sneak into the back of a lecture with a hangover, the carefully curated stance of someone who wanted to avoid being spotted. They looked around, but failed to spot Gelberg watching them. With nonchalant speed, they pinched a box off the back of one of the wagons - a small box of the new ''Gemeinsamesprache'' typeset letters that had just been commissioned. It disappeared into their jacket, leaving barely a bulge.

Immanuel was about to draw attention to this blatant daylight theft when the youth spotted him, and waved. The Professor's mind went blank - he had no idea who this was. They seemed to know him though, crossing over and presenting their hand with a dazzling smile. They were brightly dressed in the current fashion as near as Gelberg could tell, but there were shiny patches at knees and elbows, and their rings were silver rather than gold or orichalcum.

"Tomasin de Regario," they said, as if it should mean something. "Merchant-prince of Moss Mills Guild of Printers and Publications. From Moss Mill. Across the river."

The guide choked slightly on their bean wrap when Tomasin claimed to be a "merchant prince", Gelberg noticed. They seemed torn between amusement and outrage. But Tomasin themselves simply stood with their hand out, cheerfully radiating the kind of easy charisma that immediately put Gelberg's back up.

"A pleasure?" said the professor, taking a firm grip on the youth's outstretched hand and shaking it twice.

"Carina said you would be here this morning, and I should come an' introduce myself." Tomasin de Regario didn't seem to mind that Gelberg's hand was absolutely covered in bean juice; they just wiped it on their trouser leg, and it was clearly not the worst thing that had been wiped on that threadbare material. "I was coming over here anyway to check in on my colleagues at the Printers' Guild" - another cough from the guide - "so it wasn't taking me out of my way don't worry. I understand you're looking to invest in the printing arts here in Tassato?"

That was ''not'' why he was here of course. Quite the contrary, actually. With a sinking feeling, Gelberg realised that the neutral noises he had made yesterday had been taken by his favourite pupil as encouragement. She had been enthusiastic about her encounter with what could at best be described as a "charity case". He glanced at his guide, couldn't quite hide an amused smirk.

"Better a dozen voices all arguing about what the truth is, than one voice dictating what it should be," said the guide resignedly. Gelberg assumed they were quoting someone again; before he could ask who it was the self-styled "merchant prince" was regaling him with the "incredible opportunity" investment in the publishers of the ''Stories of the Vigilance'' presented for the Commonwealth and it was all he could do to keep up with the rush of words.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Metal movable type.jpg|caption=Movable type has revolutionised printing in the Empire.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Overview==
Last season, the [[The_League_groups#Printers'_Guild|Printers' Guild]] secured the position of [[Patron_of_the_Beurteilung|patrons of the Beurteilung]]. They used the opportunity to ask ''"the Commonwealth appraisers, led by Professor Immanuel Gelberg, to find ways to expand the printing empire of the Printers' Guild, to address all those with a soul, across all corners of the Empire, and beyond"''. The [[Commonwealth]] publishes the words of philosophers such as ''Leonitz Altmann'', to educate, and to inform the people of the nation. Many of these books find their way to scholars outside their borders, spreading a vision of the Commonwealth as a land of freedom and opportunity to neighbouring nations.

Professor Gelberg is interested to see the facilities the Empire has and how they compare to those of his home. He is especially intrigued by the widespread use of movable type in [[Tassato]] - it seems that for all their expertise in distribution, the Commonwealth is still using [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodcut woodcut] printing for almost all their publishing. There is excited talk of Printers' Guild expertise being brought to Volkavaar at some point and of the opportunities it would open up there. But that is beyond the remit of the Beurteilung and must remain in the future for now.
==The Printers' Guild==
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Printers' Guild Grand Guildhouse'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' [[Tassato#Tassato_Mestra|Tassato Mestra, Tassato]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 wains of [[white granite]], 90 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* The income of the Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum would become 20 crowns per season
* The income of the Custodian of the Printers' Guild Mausoleum would become 2 thrones per season
* Allows a key member of the Printers' Guild to spread a single publication across the Empire each season at a cost of 1 throne
* Allows a merchant-prince of the Printers' Guild to create a single address to the Empire in the period following its completion
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''An edifice built in Tassato Mestra would cement the Printers' Guild as a lynchpin in the Empire's publication industry'''
* '''The commission would provide additional benefits to the Printers' Guild Museum and Mausoleum'''
* '''The offices would allow the Guild to add a single publication to the wiki each season'''
* '''The grandeur would allow the Guild to issue a single address to the entire Empire'''
{{CaptionedImage|file=Fabio1201.jpg|align=right|caption=Fabio Costas de Sarvos, Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum|width=275}}
The Printers' Guild have offices throughout the League, but it is in [[Tassato#Tassato Mestra|Tassato Mestra]] that their presence is concentrated. Professor Gelberg and his assistants are impressed with the facilities, but obviously they could be significantly improved and enhanced with a little Commonwealth expertise. There are ways to improve the logistics and procedures; to cheaply increase the effectiveness of ink and type and of woodcut illustrations. Within a month, Gelberg presents a straightforward set of procedures that also involve buying up additional warehouse space and securing ownership of the rest of the street on which the guild stands.

Once complete, the [[Edifice#Grandeur|granduer]] of the Grand Guildhouse will provide a significant boost to the public prestige of the Printers' Guild ('''OOC Note:''' Several paragraphs describing the Guildhouse will be added to the Tassato page, based on description submitted by whoever commissions the edifice).

The new facilities would have more room to house the exhibits on display in the [[Curator of the Printers' Guild Museum|Printers' Guild Museum]] and the grandeur of the new offices would encourage visitors to Tassato to tour the Museum. The current benefits, the donation of 4 crowns per season and the mana crystals collected by the Museum would be completely replaced by the handsome income generated by the museum from ticket sales - the holder of the sinecure would receive 20 crowns per season in place of these benefits.

The new edifice would also elevate the significance of the [[Custodian_of_the_Printers'_Guild_Mausoleum#Printers'_Guild_Mausoleum|Printers' Guild Mausoleum]]. This cenotaph extols the virtue of the printed word and enshrines the legacy of those who have dedicated their lives to spreading it. The plan to expand the premises would take advantage of this by charging visitors a small fee to take a tour of the Mausoleum, with guides employed to highlight and explain key features of the bas-relief. The current benefits, the mana crystals collected by the Mausoleum would be completely replaced - the holder of the sinecure would receive 2 thrones per season in place of the current benefits.

<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Release Publication'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Authorisation:''' Email from the group contact of the Printers' Guild</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 1 throne</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:''' Adds a copy of the supplied publication to the wiki</td></tr>
</table></div>
Room is always at a premium in a printing house, and the Printers' Guild is no exception. If the edifice were built, the expanded offices would give the Guild enough room to retain copies of their publications along with a small reading room where visitors might peruse the texts. It could take some time for old (or new) publications to be added to the archive, but they would form a lasting library of knowledge for the good of the Empire. ('''OOC Note:''' - the group contact for the Printers' Guild could email {{plot}} once per season, with a simple pdf containing a single piece of writing from the Empire setting, which would be added to the wiki in the same vein as used for the [[Seer_of_the_Gateway#Publication_2|Seer of the Gateway]] at a cost of one throne).

Furthermore, the prestige conferred on the Guild by the grandiose commission would generate fleeting interest in their publications across the Empire. In the season following completion of the offices, there would be renewed interest in the publications of the Printers' Guild. The often controversial broadsheets and pamphlets published by the Guild, would be sought out by Imperial citizens across the Empire. This allows one of the merchant princes of the guild - perhaps '''Jonah Yakovitch''' or '''Carmine de Sarvos''' - an opportunity to spread their editorials far and wide. ('''OOC Note''' - A merchant-prince of the guild will have an opportunity to create an address to the Empire, following the same guidelines as an [[The Throne#Address the Empire|Imperial address]]. The text of the address must be submitted by e-mailing {{plot}} before the end of the downtime following the event where the edifice is completed. The letter will form part of the Winds of Fortune update that appear on the wiki for the next event. This ability can only be uses ''once'' ever.)

===The Farthest Shore===
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Printers' Guild Bibliopole'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Betovering and Leerdam</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 8 wains of [[white granite]], 24 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Copies of Printers Guild publications stored in Tassato would be made accessible across the world
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Opening offices for bibliopoles in Betovering and Leerdam would make Printers' Guild publications accessible across the world

The prestige of the Printers' Guild in the Empire is only half the task, however, and the rest of Professor Gelberg's time is spent exploring ways to spread the words printed beyond the borders of the Empire. As the Commonwealth knows well, "exporting words" runs into two main problems. The first is the language barrier, and the second is the interest barrier. While the Empire speaks a unified language, shared with the foreign powers local to it, each other great nation of the Known World speaks its own language or in some cases languages. Translation is an art rather than a science, and greatly increases the effort needed to make written words accessible - especially when one takes into account that a Known world-wide audience needs dozens of translators potentially.

Then there is the interest barrier; ,most people are broadly disinterested in things happening in the Empire that don't concern them directly. Those nations with an interest in Imperial activities already have their own means to keep abreast of situations - that's what [[Ambassador|ambassadors]] are for after all. The main audience for books and papers written in foreign nations are magicians, engineers, and natural philosophers who can benefit from studying the techniques used by their foreign peers. With the best will in the world, however, this represents only a tiny fraction of the people in the world. And many of them, says Professor Gelberg grumpily, haven't got the budgets to spend on lots and lots of foreign books.

Still, a little interest is better than no interest. For a modest investment of 8 wains of white granite and 24 crowns, the Printers' Guild could open small shops in Leerdam and Betovering and employ a bibliopole in each city to translate and sell copies of any publications stored in the main offices in Tassato. These investments wouldn't yield much in the way of returns - but sales of rare translations to interested parties would produce be sufficient to cover the running costs. These translations are never going to move the masses in foreign nations, but it would mean that foreign scholars and specialists across the world, could have access to any of the information published in Tassato if they took an interest in Imperial affairs.

==The Publishing Clearing House==
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Publishing Clearing House'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:'''[[Great work]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Tassato Mestra, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 50 wains of white granite, 150 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Provides a level of investment in businesses in Tassato increasing their income by 36 rings
* Increases the income of the [[Printmaster of Cevia]] to two thrones
* Cements Tassato as the centre of printing across the Empire and nearby nations
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Establishing the Clearing House in Tassato would boost sales and profits for every publishing house in the city'''
* '''This great work would boost income for all businesses in the territory'''
* '''It would enhance the prestige and profits of the Printmaster of Cevia'''
* '''It would enshrine Tassato's position as the centre of the Imperial publishing world'''

Having considered ways to promote the standing of the Printers' Guild, Gelberg and his team, have devoted the remaining time to looking at ways to boost the interests of printing houses in Tassato more generally. The professor states that doing so meets the terms of Die Beurteilung since it will advance the cause of the Printers' Guild along with everyone else. In truth it seems that the professor's implacable commitment to the Common Good means he is more comfortable working on problems whose solution might benefit society more widely.

Gelberg proposes the establishment of a clearing house in Tassato Mestra that would serve all of the cities' printing guilds. The clearing house would specialise in distributing books, pamphlets, and broadsheets mostly in Imperial but also small runs of documents in foreign languages that might sell abroad. A warehouse suitable for storing large amounts of reading matter would be established along the river, with piers so that boats can quickly and securely load and unload bundles of paper and the like for wider distribution. A small staff of professionals would be hired to help run the clearing house, specialising in identifying opportunities for sales or dealing with visiting merchants. The Clearing House would boost profits of printers across Tassato, allowing them to concentrate on printing while the Clearing House handled sales for them, or provided expert assistance. Given the scale and excellence of Imperial printing this would represent, it would also attract interest from smaller nations with less established printing industries who could come to Tassato looking for help to commission print runs of their own texts.

The Publishing Clearing House would provide a burst of additional prosperity for Tassato. Between the demand for Tassatan printing, and the printed materials themselves, traders from all over the Empire would visit the city. It would also be of interest to travellers from [[Faraden]] and [[Axos]], and potentially from [[Otkodov]] and [[Skoura]]. The investment would be a significant boost to every printing houses in Tassato, but the knock-on effects would mean more money in the local economy, providing 36 rings a season to every [[business]] in the territory.

The project would also enhance the prestige and importance of the [[Printmaster of Cevia]], who oversees the [[Printmaster_of_Cevia#The_Oathwright_Press|Oathwright Press]] (the only Imperial newspaper endorsed by an [[eternal]]). The Printmaster's [[Printmaster_of_Cevia#Printing_Profits|printing profits]] would be increased to two thrones each season, representing their improved access to Imperial markets.

Perhaps most importantly of all, the Clearing House would cement Tassato's position as the centre of printing technologies in the Empire, helping them to improve their production quality and otherwise bringing prestige to the guilds that focus around the written word. This would include creating an update to the [[Technology#Printing_Press|printing press]] section of the wiki, as it fosters widespread acceptance of movable type and positions Tassato as the world-leader when it comes to modern printing techniques.

==A Printer's Shrine==
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Investment in Moor's Mill'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Tassato Regario, Tassato</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 5 wains of white granite, 5 wains of mithril, 30 crowns, three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates an edifice in Tassato Regario.
* Increases the prestige of the Moor's Mill Printers and Publications guild.
* Encourages interest in "ringblack novels" - cheap, lurid tales of audacity and derring-do.
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A subsidiary proposal has been made via one of Professor Gelberg's students
* '''Investment in the ''Moor's Mill Guild of Printers and Publications'' would increase interest in ringblack novels
* '''It could provide future opportunities to inspire vigilance in Imperial citizens
While visiting Tassato Mestra ''Carina Schiver'', one of Professor Gelberg's students, was approached by a group of young people associated with the small printing guild of ''Moor's Mill'' in Tassato Regario. The printworks has seen better days. Controversy caused the once prosperous guild to disband some twenty years ago following backlash against the publication of ''Necessary Actions'', the memoirs of the polarizing exemplar [[Berechiah]]. The abandoned building was taken over by a small group of youths who repaired the press, and began their own small business. In addition to offering cut-price printing to the poorer folk of Tassato Regario, they are perhaps [[Knocking_on_every_door#The_Printers'_Shrine|best known]] for printing a sporadic periodical called "Stories of the Vigilant".

This cheap broadsheet contains variously fictionalised accounts of plucky Imperial citizens taking on and helping to defeat cults of [[Agramant]], [[vyig]] schemes, wicked [[Whisper Gallery]] inspired plots, embezzlers, and corrupt politicians. They're quite popular in some quarters, apparently, especially among the [[mountebank|mountebanks]] and [[bravo|bravos]]. Improving the prestige of the Moor's Mill guild would give them more opportunity to commission and publish ringblack novels - a form of entertainment popular in Tassato - and increase interest in other parts of the Empire (the rest of the League, Highguard, and the Brass Coast in particular). This would help establish a new literary movement in the Empire.
{{CaptionedImage|file=ChildPrimer6.jpg|width=200|align=right|caption=From ''A Children's Primer of the Way''}}
There was a brief hope that the press might see an injection of funds when the [[Vigilance]] assembly was looking for a suitable [[Inspirational location|inspirational tomb]] for [[Berechiah]] but that amounted to nothing. The ambitious guild saw an opportunity to advance their operations when the Commonwealth academics came to town and managed to finagle a meeting with them via Carina. Immanuel Gelberg was polite but saw little benefit in getting their hopes up - but Carina Schiver disagreed and pressured the professor to include her own notes as part of ''die Beurteilung''. After all, she says, the Printers' Guild are no strangers to controversy themselves. Truth be told Carina is clearly a little enamoured of the romance represented by the "plucky underdogs".
{{WingedMessenger|address=''Tomasin de Regario'' is the notional "merchant prince" of the Moor's Mill Guild of Printers and Publications, and if anyone were so inclined they might send a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]] to them at ''The Moor's Mill Clubhouse, Tassato Regario, Tassato''. There's no guarantee the relatively poor guild will be able to stump up the money to buy mana crystals for a winged messenger of their own, but they're not without resources so might find ''some'' way to reply.}}
Investing in the ''Moor's Mill Guild of Printers and Publications'' represents an [[edifice]] built in Tassato Regario. At the most basic level it involves renovating the premises and modernising the presses, as well as giving a much-needed "makeover" to the members of the guild themselves. The Guild themselves have neither wealth nor political power to contribute to this project; they are very much looking for wealthy philanthropists to offer them a little no-strings patronage. This investment would be significantly less impactful than the proposals that would have seen the place become a centre for the distribution of Vigilant tracts. It would merely foster interest in the ringblack novels that the small guild specialises in. These somewhat lurid stories of Imperial citizens - usually of the League - doing vigilant and audacious things are viewed as a particularly cheap form of entertainment unsuitable for more refined palates. ('''OOC Note''' - as an edifice this would also add a few lines of description on the Tassato page, as befits an edifice of limited [[Edifice#Grandeur|grandeur]]).

That said the place still resonates with the elements of Berechiah's life that are about direct action - about investigating and uncovering threats and confronting them personally, about taking responsibility for keeping your home safe, about exposing threats publicly - and about commemorating the people who do such things. If the Vigilance assembly were to [[Writ_of_consecration|choose to consecrate]] it with [[liao#true liao|true liao]], it would likely have some impact on the vigilance of the League. This would be especially true of those bravos and mountebanks who look to Berechiah - or at least his notions of vigilance - for inspiration.
===A Printer's Friend===
* '''The Chair of the Wolf could commission any of these projects as part of their responsibilities'''
* '''Doing so identifies them as benefitting the prosperity of the League and attracts additional interest'''
* '''The current Chair of the Wolf is Lucrezia Corvinascura but the title is due to be reappointed during the Winter Solstice'''

The [[Chair of the Wolf]] is a title established in [[Holberg]] with the support of the College of Engineering at the university there. While they're free to commission projects as they wish, the College [[Chair of the Wolf#Responsibilities|expects the Chair]] to spend at least some time ensuring that the cities of the League remain the greatest in the world. Once Professor Gelberg's proposals are delivered, they present additional opportunities for the Chair. The Printers' Guild opportunities in Tassato have potential to inspire ambition and pride in the people not only of Tassato but the League as a whole. Their support also comes at least a little from the fact that textbooks are ''expensive'', and better and more accessible printing helps professors and students alike.

If the [[Chair of the Wolf]] commissions any of these three commissions, there will be additional benefits.

{{WingedMessenger|address=''Niccolo dos Tassato, Tassato School of Epistemology'' is a bishop who teaches and preaches at the school. They are much too busy with the work of the school to have time for letters under normal circumstances, but on this singular occasion, they would accept a [[Call Winged Messenger|winged messenger]] from a member of the Printers' Guild in good standing.}}
* '''Printers' Guild Grand Guildhouse''': Support from the Chair of the Wolf would position the expansion of the Printers' Guildhouse as a virtuous reward for ambition, and a source of pride for the whole city. It would improve the perceived grandeur of the Museum and Mausoleum, ensuring they became places of note in Tassato and attract historians, scholars and academics to the grand opening of the new offices. If that happens, then ''Niccolo dos Tassato'', an esteemed member of the [[Tassato#The_School_of_Epistemology|Tassato School of Epistemology]] has offered to use the school's facilities to house visiting scholars, supporting the opening with guest lectures and an exchange of knowledge. If that happens the Guild could request that the bishop take advantage of the occasion to produce a ''single'' piece of historical research on a notable incident or individual, by sending them a winged messenger from a member of the Guild in good standing.

* '''Publishers Clearing House''': commissioned by the Chair, the project would capture the imagination of the guilds of the League. If that happens, [[Reclaimers#The_Park|renowned architect]] ''Katarzyna Von Carstein'', would volunteer her services to design the Clearing House. She has in mind a bold design employing the latest architectural techniques to create a great vaulted glass ceiling, one to rival the Ambition [[Golden_light#The_Atrium_of_Golden_Light|of Capodomus Cathedral]], a stark illustration of the ability to allow great literature to illuminate any situation. News of the grandeur and beauty of the building would inspire printers and publishers all over the world, calling them to Tassato to share their learning and study the latest techniques. It would permanently elevate the position of Tassato, not simply as the centre of printing and publishing in the Empire, but in the whole world. No other city or would be able to rival Tassato's mastery of this new technology while the Clearing House still stood.

{{WingedMessenger|address=''Esmeralda di Rodez, Moor's Mill Publishing, Tassato'' is a cicisbeo with a dubious past. As a hard working member of her Guild she has few interests beyond restoring the prestige of Moor's Mill Publishing.}}
* '''Moor's Mill Publishing Investment''': Investment in the plucky underdog guild would catch the imagination of the more romantic members of the League if it were commissioned by the Chair of the Wolf. If that happens, then Esmeralda di Rodez, a cicisbeo with a troubling past, will donate a relic of [[Berechiah]] to whichever title is appointed to run [[Repair_Berechiah%27s_Basilica|Berechiah's Basilica in Bastion]] once both commissions are complete. Esmeralda claims the relic was recovered from the vyig, when those criminals were driven out of the League. The lady has always denied the rumours that she herself was often to be seen in the company of said criminals, before their fall from grace. Whatever the truth of the matter, she is acknowledged as a member of the Moor's Mill Publishing Guild ''now'', and the offer appears completely genuine. She asks only that someone send her a winged messenger once the work on both commissions is fully complete, so that she can arrange delivery of the relic.

Obviously the Chair of the Wolf can only oversee one commission each season and likely has their own projects they wish to pursue. As long as the situation does not change, however, the opportunities remain available until the situation in Tassato changes significantly.

==Further Reading==
* [[Patron of the Beurteilung]]

* [[Threats that are to come]] - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune discussing the Beurteilung
* [[Beat_of_your_drum#Die_Beurteilung|Beat of your drum]] - 387YE Summer wind of fortune discussing the Beurteilung
* [[Germinating_a_city#Die_Beurteilung|Germinating a city]] - 387YE Spring wind of fortune discussing the Beurteilung
* [[According_to_principle#die_Beurteilung|According to principle]] - 386YE Winter wind of fortune introducing the Beurteilung

* [[The_League_groups#Printers_Guild|Printers' Guild]]