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Court Reports

2026-06-04T22:19:20Z

Wrenna:

[[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 Loken 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.||Loken 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 Alandria 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.||Alandria 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
|}

Court Reports

2026-06-04T22:18:59Z

Wrenna:

[[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.
|- id="twig"
|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 Loken 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.||Loken 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 Alandria 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.||Alandria 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
|}

Fear quickens the breath

2026-06-04T18:18:18Z

Wrenna:

[[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Wind of Fortune]]
<ic>
Anka Karass pensively held a rolled cigarette in her lips, unlit. She was lent against the fence which marked the boundary of the Carmine Fields Trading Post. With her stood two other orcs: the albino greybeard Tarruk and her niece Lenna. Tarruk was old - older than Anka - and had led the Karass in his day: Anka had taken the leadership from him when she judged him unable to hold it, but left him alive. His skill with herbs was unmatched in the sept, and he was something of a botanist. The needs of ''karass'' demanded that he therefore live. She'd taken the fourth finger on his dominant hand to prove the point all the same: and, to be fair, he'd never troubled her since. Lenna was young. Fourteen, fifteen? Her parents had died when she was very small. Enlisted for the Druj push into Semmerholm by those fast talkers from the Bone Serpent, along with many of the finer warriors of their generation who'd believed the Druj promises about reclamation. They'd gone seeking history and found only death, ash to ash. The young Imperial general who'd blunted the advance had died herself some years later, she understood, to the far north-west where she'd been born: another young warrior killed for tomorrow's promises. So it goes. Anka had raised Lenna in their stead.

The young orc had her grandfather's gifts. She heard the voice clearer than most people Anka'd ever known. She had that look to her, the kind of focused distance only those who could hear like she could did. Anka watched, cigarette in her lips still lightless, as Lenna looked at the passing yeofolk who peered curiously, and her mouth made words only she could hear. Root to root. Blood to blood. Life, spent for this. Anka'd had more of the knack in her younger days, when she'd been a fighter, but her knees were too dicky for standing her ground in a brawl nowadays and she could never hear the voice properly without her blood up. She occasionally still caught words of the familiar chant; around Lenna, it felt easier to catch. She glanced at Tarruk. He was also looking at Lenna, seeing in her what Anka saw - the future.

She glanced towards the trading post, and stashed the cigarette behind her ear. "About time we were heading in. We've given these Dawnish enough to gawk at. Stick by me, Lenna. Don't say owt. Don't give me that look, young lady. You're here to learn. Good. Tarruk, you know the score. See if there's anything interesting for sale potions-wise, ask about selling off that mana - and I'll go and tell the Envoy's office our new trade proposal, and, ah, discuss the other matters. That ought to meet muster. It will." She had plans for what she'd do if it didn't. Always another plan. Always another way. Day to day, hour to hour, the ''karass'' demanded survival above almost all else. She wasn't about to be the one who failed.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 30%; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Path through the trees.jpg|caption=The paths of the Bleaks are carefully maintained by the Karass.|title=Rumour has it that there are three Karass in this scene.|align=left|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
Last season, Anka Karass [[Quietude#Spies_And_Traitors_(Conjunction)|made contact with Imperial authorities]], seeking to hand over two members of her sept to be executed for treachery. She claimed that they had given the Druj the location of the Last Battle Wayhouse. Unfortunately, a foreigner cannot be guilty of treason, which means that while there might theoretically have been charges for aiding the Druj assault on the Last Battle, the standard of evidence for doing so was quite high - and there was no suggestion that Anka Karass was offering any evidence at all. The [[Envoy to the Karass]] was sent to explain the situation to her: what took place seems to have advanced relations with the Karass considerably.

==A Meeting at Twilight==
* '''The meeting with the sept appears to have gone well despite Anka Karass being attacked'''
That meeting appears to have gone quite well, to the surprise of nearly everyone - especially the Karass. Anka was personally attacked, but by all accounts she doesn't seem to have been particularly offended by this or dissuaded from engaging with the Empire. She has given Chief Magistrate ''Cosme i Zuhri i Guerra'' a statement on the alleged assault - though details of this are not widely available, as it is the subject of an active criminal investigation. Anka's scribe has sent multiple letters to the magistrates this season, asking for legal elaboration and clarification on a wide range of matters. She has withdrawn her allegations against members of her own sept - and states she now understands that should definitive evidence arise proving that contact with the Druj took place, she must let the magistracy know - and not before.

It is widely believed that the Karass collaborated with the Druj when they ruled the Barrens, something they have done little to deny. The Karass have long expected the Druj to return at some point - and when they do the Karass believe they will be merciless to those who have broken bread with their enemies. However, Anka Karass responded positively to the Envoy's methods and general candour. They now understand that if they throw their lot in with the Druj, or fail to ensure that the Empire benefits from their relationship with the Karass, it will most certainly mean their death - and that is a threat ''now''. This kind of language of coercion is one that is familiar - and that they can work with.

It seems that the Empire can have a transactional relationship with the Karass, especially if it is backed by the threat of force if the sept don't comply. Anka seems to believe that if the Karass hold up their end of the bargain and ensure that the Empire gets something from the relationship, the Empire may well take action regarding the Last Battle, and indeed she has some ideas for how that could even be to the Empire's benefit. Even if this doesn't happen, it is clear that she is relieved that the Empire has finally reached the point of making demands - or, at least, demands other than asking for the Black Lotus plant that the Karass are widely believed to have but which they continue to strenuously deny. And, it seems, the Karass do have things they ''are'' willing to offer...

==Into the Forest==
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Spy on the Thule'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Announcement:''' [[Imperial Spymaster]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:''' Creates a scouting voyage to '''Survey Thule attempts to claim a Black Lotus plant'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Karass have been spying on the Forest of Ulnak to check rumours of Thule forces attacking the Druj there'''
* '''Their scouts have discovered the existence of the spy network in the Forest of Ulnak'''
* '''They propose a joint venture to survey Thule attempts to claim a Black Lotus plant'''

Karass scouts have recently returned from spying on military movements in the Forest of Ulnak. Anka Karass claims they went there to check Imperial claims of Thule armies attacking Druj lands from the north. It appears those claims have been confirmed, much to the alarm of the Karass, who seem to be convinced that the Thule must be invading to try to take one or more of the Black Lotus plants the Buruk Tepel possess.

The Karass find the idea of the Dragons getting hold of a Black Lotus spiritually objectionable. As much as the Druj are the enemies of the Karass, so too are the Thule. She recognises that the Empire considers them allies, of a kind - but there are allies, and there are ''allies''. Whatever their status, surely it does not benefit them at all to let them claim the Black Lotus from the Druj?

The returning scouts have also brought reports of the Imperial spy network in the territory. They weren't able to locate it, but they know that Imperial scouts are operating there, and they are impressed with their work. Its presence presents an opportunity. The Karass have a number of skilled scouts of their own that they are prepared to place at the disposal of their new overlords. They could work with Imperial scouts to stop the Thule from seizing a Black Lotus from defeated Druj forces.

The [[Civil Service|civil service]] note that this offer could be very short in duration. The Karass may have discovered the presence of an Imperial spy network in Ulnak but they assume it is a secret from the Thule. They are clearly utterly unaware that [[Bedight_in_veils#Forest_of_Ulnak|the Thule and the Empire have cooperated to use the spy network together in the past]]. Given the Thule know exactly where it is, they will probably destroy the network themselves once they secure control of the territory. A season, perhaps two at most?

However, for as long as it lasts, the spy network could be employed to try to stop the Thule seizing a Black Lotus. It would require the Imperial Spymaster to authorise the Karass to take action, but if that happened it would create a new scouting [[venture]] to '''Survey Thule attempts to claim a Black Lotus plant'''. Military units assigned to the action would collaborate with Karass scouts, who would help cover their tracks while they spied on the Thule. If two thousand points of total strength were assigned to the action, then the Empire would become aware if the Thule had managed to claim a Black Lotus plant. If four thousand points were assigned to the action, then the Empire would have a chance to employ the Sentinel Gate to prevent that from happening.

There is no possibility that the Thule will discover their presence of scouts in the Forest of Ulnak. The Thule could only get an inkling of what was going on if the Karass betrayed them, if they were informed by the [[Ambassador to Otkodov]], or if the Empire badly botched a military raid of some kind.

==Watchful Eyes at Dusk==
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Cede the Last Battle'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|Concedence]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effects:'''
* Causes [[Navarr]] resources in the Barrens to suffer the normal penalties for being in a foreign nation and lose any benefits from any great works
* Could provide ongoing monitoring of the [[Sarangrave#Nesustak_Forest|Nesustak Forest]] rebels, bringing warning to the Empire if there are any changes
* Could instead create an opportunity to remove the ''poisoned'' quality from [[Therunin#Lower_Tarn_Valley|Lower Tarn Valley]]
* Keep the Lower Tarn Valley ''under threat''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Could be vetoed by the Navarr National Assembly</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 388YE
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Karass would like the Last Battle to be ceded to them by the Empire'''
* '''In return they will provide the Empire with any news of movements by the rebels of Nesustak Forest'''
* '''It will create an opportunity for the Empire to remove the poisoned quality from Lower Tarn Valley'''
It is clear that the Karass are deeply unhappy about the presence of [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle#Last_Battle_Wayhouse|the Last Battle]] in the Bleaks. Its presence has agitated the sept since it was first built - they would like nothing more than to see it gone. To that end, they have approached the Empire with a proposal.

If the Empire cedes the Last Battle to the Karass, then they would lose the benefit it provides: projecting Imperial force into Sarangrave and Therunin. The Karass are prepared to commit to undertaking this duty on the Empire's behalf, dispatching scouts to keep an eye on what is happening on both sides of each border. This will mean that the ''under threat'' quality will remain on Lower Tarn Valley as long as the Karass continue to cooperate. The support of the [[Gryphon's Pride]] saw the rebels [[The_thing_with_feathers#The_Pride_of_Gryphons_(Irra_Harah)|construct watchtowers]] that already removed the under threat quality from the region. Likewise, Eastring would cease to be under threat, as the Karass refuse to enter a region claimed by the vallorn; but an Imperial army cannot currently claim that region. Even if they were to suddenly betray the Empire, the scouting reports they had provided would continue to be of use for a season or so. ('''OOC Note:''' If the situation with the Karass materially changes during the course of an event, the ''under threat'' quality on Lower Tarn Valley would still be in effect for the following campaigning season).

The Imperial Spymaster would also be able to ask the Karass to focus their scouting efforts on either Nesustak Forest or the Lower Tarn Valley, with differing benefits. This would be done via a Senate announcement, and the power would be given to them as part of the motion to cede the Last Battle Wayhouse to the Karass.

If the Imperial Spymaster asks the Karass to focus on Nesustak Forest, the Karass will begin watching for any movement by the rebels of Nesustak Forest. If there are any new developments - if anything changes with the rebels - the Karass will be the first to know, and everything they learn will be turned over to the Empire. Of course, [[Other_monstrous_geographies#Game_Information_:_Béantal_Dol|other events]] might overtake the situation there, and there are currently efforts to try using [[Your hand in mine|diplomacy]] there rather than espionage - and the Karass know nothing of either of these factors. Nevertheless, having the eyes of the Karass on the situation, whatever happens, would surely present [[opportunity|opportunities]] that would not otherwise arise.

The Imperial Spymaster could instead direct the efforts of the Karass into the Lower Tarn Valley. They could bring the Empire word of any Druj movements or operations in the Valley - it isn't clear how many Druj forces remain there, or what exactly they are doing, but there are [[A_bright_cerulean_flame#The_Siege_of_Mudlark’s_Haven|worrying things]] happening in Therunin, rumours of which have the Karass genuinely alarmed. Perhaps more importantly, they could examine the poison-soaked ground of the valley itself. The Lower Tarn Valley was [[Ashes#Objective:_Prevent_the_use_of_the_Sephals_Cauldron|poisoned by the Druj in Summer 386YE]] and remains [[Region_qualities#Poisoned|a threat to Imperial soldiers]].

The Karass are familiar with the poisons employed by the Druj. Anka Karass is certain that the Karass's most skilled herbalist, ''Tarruk Karass'', could create an antidote, but only given enough time to study the soil of the Valley to identify precisely what went into the Sephals Cauldron. Once they had that, it would create an [[opportunity]] to remove the poisoned quality from Lower Tarn Valley. While the Yerende or the Navarr could cure the poison themselves, they lack the Karass experience with Druj poisons and would need the Senate to use one of its valuable [[appraisal|appraisals]] on the problem.

Ceding the Last Battle to the Karass would be devastating for the Navarr living in the Barrens who rely on the [[Navarr wayhouse|wayhouse]] for their steadings and stridings to remain connected to their nation. As a result, the Constitutional Court have advised that the Senate motion would be subject to veto by the Navarr Assembly.

==Buttered Bread==
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;" colspan="2">'''Proposed Trade'''</tr>
<tr><td>8 beggar's lye</td><td>1 Oil of Blackthorn, 1 Maledict's Medicament, 2 Bloodharrow Philtre and 2 Elixir Vitae</td></tr>
<tr><td>18 beggar's lye</td><td>1 Oil of Blackthorn, 2 Maledict's Medicament, 4 Bloodharrow Philtre and 6 Elixir Vitae</td></tr>
<tr><td>32 beggar's lye</td><td>2 Oil of Blackthorn, 3 Maledict's Medicament, 6 Bloodharrow Philtre and 10 Elixir Vitae</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''The Karass have offered to provide potions to the Envoy in place of the current herbs in the hope of currying favour'''
* '''Offers to provide [[Double-sided_Blade|illegal substances]] were ruled out'''
* '''The Envoy could send a winged messenger with a counter proposal'''
{{WingedMessenger|address=Communication with the Karass can be achieved by sending a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to ''Anka Karass, the Centipede Stone, The Bleaks, The Barrens''}}
The Karass left the meeting with the Envoy with the clear impression that it would definitely be in their best interests to ensure the Dawnish investment in the Barrens showed a healthy profit. The sept are used to such demands, and ready to collaborate with their new regime now that they feel they understand what is demanded of them.

The details take a little more working out. Anka Karass is not keen to simply hand over more herbs. The Karass are capable herbalists, but the five fingers of creation are always in short supply. Indeed, their apothecaries are experts at doing more with less. They're clear that they know how to make the potions of the [[Double-sided Blade]]. Indeed, some of the Karass's warriors, on instruction from Anka, surrender to a local magistrate a large number of doses of [[Double-sided_Blade#Warming_Armour|Warming Armour]] and [[Double-sided_Blade#Weakening_Sun|Weakening Sun]] that were apparently in a supply cache. They grumble about them being perfectly safe when not used by the weak-minded - but the law is clear, and Anka is now clear on the law - and the consequences of flouting it. If the law were to change here, the Karass would be happy to supply these potions.

Nevertheless, they do also have a few people who can make the potions of the [[Master Medicinal]] and the [[Legacy of Thorns]], and of course any [[Apothecary Potions|apothecary]] knows how to make certain preparations. After a little back and forth, an offer is settled on. If the proposal meets the approval of the Envoy, then they can leave instructions with the [[Envoy to the Karass|Wordes, Numbers, Figures and Knotes Carmine Fields Trading Post]], ('''OOC Note:''' email to {{plot}}) and the Karass will make good on their side of the deal. If they'd like to negotiate something else, then that is a longer discussion and perhaps a counter-proposal would be the best start.

==Design Note==
* '''All in-character information in Empire is carefully firewalled'''
* '''The NPCs cannot read the wiki and do not know what players or Profound Decisions know'''
* '''The Karass do not know about the offer made by the Rahvin'''
It is important to stress that different groups of NPCs all have access to different information in Empire. There are no NPC spies at Anvil, and most groups, especially foreigners and barbarians, have no possible way to know anything that is published on the wiki. In this wind of fortune, the Karass are making offers to the Empire based on incomplete and flawed knowledge. The wind gives a picture of the Karass' intentions and motivations as well as providing insight into what they know and what they don't know.

Likewise, the Karass have no knowledge of [[Push_for_victory#And_We_Will|the offer made by the Rahvin]]. They will only discover that information if they are informed in person by a player character or written to by an Imperial citizen who has significant credibility. In this case, that means [[the Throne]], the [[Imperial Consul]], the [[Envoy to the Karass]] or the [[Senator]] for [[the Barrens]] - or the proxies thereof.

Our eyes in Spiral

2026-06-03T20:48:01Z

Wrenna:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:387YE Spring]][[Category:Recent History]]
<ic>Mairi duSesna staggered through the vaulted archway next to the docks, stumbling drunkwise, mind elsewhere, and when she walked straight into the two hooded figures by the bridge it seemed to take all of them by surprise. "Sorry!" The orc cheerfully waved her wine bottle as she went on to continue her revels elsewhere - she'd heard a particular interesting play was on this season...

The two hooded figures looked at each other as they picked themselves up and she passed by. The first one, a slender merrow named Julius, raised his eyebrow. "Do you have that one on the list, Esau? Mairi, I think." Long dextrous fingers retrieved a notebook from within his robes. "Yes, here we go. Reckoner. DuSesna guild. A little strange for her to be out this side of town, but I suppose everyone is getting lost these days, aren't they? Any concerns in your investigations?" He gave Esau one of his trademark intense merrow-eyes ink-black stares.

Esau blushed slightly. He still hadn't quite gotten over how beautiful Julius was, nor plucked up the courage to ask him if he ever did anything with his free time other than, well, the good work of the Vigilant. He thought he would quite like to take him to the "garlic and shots" bar that had just opened near the eastern gate. Still, Julius would appreciate a professional face, even if - as Esau dared to hope - he had room for things in his life other than the obsessive pursuit of the guilty. The stocky man took out his own notebook.

"Yes, um - yes, we followed her up before, it says it right here in my book, but it was all in order. Bad lead, we thought. We followed down that lead and it led us right to that den of - you know, they had those rocks that they'd got from, um, from up..." For one moment, he looked in the direction that the howling scream was, the one you didn't say the name of, the one that you tried to pretend didn't exist but which was always there. "Anyway, it turned out they'd only put us onto her because they were trying to cover up their, uh, I suppose you could call it a cu-"

"It wasn't a cult. Cults do the dignity of being organised. It was some naifs who'd managed to get hold of some fragments from - up from Screed, and who thought a geology investigation club was a good idea." He looked down his nose at the shorter man. Esau shivered a little. "I don't mean to be funny, but this is exactly why the League can't be trusted with guarding the - it. I'm just glad we have the Oblivion Sentinel doing their job. Don't you think?"

"Oh! Um, yes, Julius!" Esau wasn't sure really. Most people, it seemed, were doing their best here to remain virtuous under trying conditions, but everyone stumbled sometimes. They weren't sure it would have been that much better even if the territory had been assigned to Urizen. Still, they weren't fantastically inclined to argue. "Quite so, Julius. So, um - another note of concern by Mairi? Or shall we leave it?"

Julius looked in his own notebook, at the rows and rows and rows of neat little names written in a neat little hand. The problem was finding anyone in this city who was definitely not up to ''something'', and working out what was legal mountebankery and what was something rather more sinister was irritatingly difficult. He neatly drew a little dot next to the orc's name. "Stick a dot of mild concern. Let's move position and see what we can see from a different place. Somewhere in the east, I think. Any suggestions?"

"Ah! There's a - you know, I think I spied a great location there the other day. How do you feel about, uh, garlic and shots?" Esau's voice was slightly hopeful.

"I don't have any opinion on them. Vigilance demands I form one. Do you know the way?" Nodding and taking a stride, Esau let out a mighty cheer inside his head.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Berechiah.jpg|align=left|caption=[[Berechiah]] is a controversial figure, but his inspiration has an undeniable effect on the virtuous, helping them pinpoint threats and prioritise success over squeamishness.|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
In Spring 386YE, the [[Vigilance]] Assembly encouraged the faithful to travel to [[Spiral]] to look for threats to the Empire's rule. The mandate took advantage of the [[Knocking_on_every_door#Shine_a_Light|impact of the true liao consecration]] of the damaged basilica in [[Bastion]] in the name of the [[Paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] of [[Vigilance]], [[Berechiah]]. There was no suggestion of what these threats might be, so rather than search for anything specific, the Vigilant were forced to split up and spread out across the territory. This was dangerous, splitting up always increases the risks, but it is all the more so in Spiral, where the malignant influence of the {{Black Plateau}} is never far away.

Splitting up was judged to be essential, not least because the malign presence at the heart of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]] itself clearly represents a major threat - it would have been entirely remiss of the Vigilant to ignore it. But they could not afford to focus on the {{Black Plateau}} alone. [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]] is a major city now; any urban centre is invariably a hotbed of intrigue, but Apulian used to be a [[Grendel]] city and there are hundreds of former Grendel still living there. Finally there was the presence of the [[Urizen|Urizeni]] rebels in [[Spiral#Cinion|Cinion]] and [[Spiral#Ankra|Ankra]]. The Empire had just [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Urizen_of_the_Silver_Flame|ratified a treaty]] with the [[A_question_of_loyalty#Serve_Your_Cause|rebels]], but that didn't mean they were not a threat. Fortunately the Imperial Conclave had elected to send members of the [[385YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Concord:_Shuttered_Lantern_to_Spiral|Shuttered Lantern]] to Spiral, so any threat there should already have been identified. Still... you can never be too careful.

The initial expectation was these investigations would be rushed affairs that caused immense disruption, but it hasn't turned out that way. It seems that the Vigilant have taken a more ''thorough'' approach, one that has yielded results where there were results to be had, but has taken time to come to fruition. The advantages of this approach are clear - the Assembly can be confident that while nobody could find every threat, they have done the best that could be achieved without a clear target being named. And crucially because of the slower, more subtle pace adopted by the followers of [[Berechiah]], there has been little or no disruption to local lives that was originally expected.
{{SOP|statement=We prepare for malice, but must always thwart malice before it strikes against you. We send Lievevos van Houten van Holberg with 25 liao to Spiral to urge all vigilant citizens to seek out threats and drag them into the light.|by=Lievevos van Houten van Holberg, Vigilance Assembly|vote=186-0|when=Spring 386YE}}
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Obsidian.jpg|align=left|caption=The influence of the {{Black Plateau}} is insidious, but it also draws dangerous individuals to it like foolish moths to a sinister flame of madness.|width=300}}</div>
==The {{Black Plateau}}==
* '''The fools attempting to arrange guided tours of the {{Black Plateau}} have stopped'''
* '''There are no active threats here, but the thing remains incredibly dangerous'''
* '''The {{Black Plateau}} will always exude a malignant aura that pulls some to it'''
* '''The Empire could take steps to wall it off which would prevent new threats developing'''
The Vigilant have spent some time studying the malignant volcanic crater at the heart of the territory, the accursed location more commonly known as the {{Black Plateau}}. After almost a year spent watching the place they are certain there are no active threats here at the moment, but they caution anyone against complacency. The {{Black Plateau}} remains incredibly dangerous and new threats will continue to develop in a way that is entirely unpredictable way that is difficult to prevent. They see three broad categories of danger, which they've loosely categorised as the naifs, the lost, and the enemy, which they think help to understand the risks posed. They also have a number of suggestions for how they might be dealt with.

====The Naifs====
There are, sadly, a handful of people in this world who are just fools. These naifs are just oblivious to the risks, or worse they're convinced they're so smart it won't happen to them. Normally this kind of fool is not a risk to anyone but themselves unless they convince people to make them archmage. But the {{Black Plateau}} makes them a danger to everyone, even without being given any power. There will always be ''someone'' who wants to poke it.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 50%; margin-left: 10px">
<ic>'''Naifs'''<br>
* '''Potential Risk:''' Current Sentinel is excellent but potential exists to be replaced by a naif
* '''Recommendation:''' Careful watch of any new appointee to ensure they are scrupulous in their duties

* '''Potential Risk:''' Well meaning effort to fix the {{Black Plateau}} or draw on its power in some way
* '''Recommendation:''' Immediate elimination of anyone who suggests any interaction with the {{Black Plateau}}
</ic>
</div>
The [[The_city_below#A_Marvellous_View_(Conjunctions)|Company of the Venturesome Harrier]] are a ''perfect'' example of this kind danger. These asinine buffoons decided to organise guided tours of the {{Black Plateau}}, the clear danger it posed didn't put them or their naïve customers off - the danger was the point. It didn't help in the slightest for the League Assembly to urge people to avoid the {{Black Plateau}} because only sensible people listen to their Assembly. Most people are sensible - most people listen to their assembly when it warns them not to do something that will get them killed - but not your average naif. For the Venturesome Harrier, the warning was just free advertising. It helped to keep sensible people away, but even the powerful Synod can't change human nature - someone, somewhere will always put their hand in the fire just to see what happens.

The risk posed by naifs is not that great. For the most part they don't have some grand plan, and they are too small in number to risk further rousing the {{Black Plateau}}. Rescuing them or cleaning up the mess they make will remain a sporadic problem for the Oblivion Sentinel to have to deal with, but arguably that is what the title exists to do. It's impossible to tell when this problem will recur, the Empire might go years without it being an issue, or it could happen next season. All you can be sure of is that it will happen again, at some point.

The real danger would be if some naif got a position of real power or influence that would let them tamper with the {{Black Plateau}} - any [[archmage]], the grandmaster of the [[Unfettered Mind]], or the [[Oblivion Sentinel]] all carry obvious risks. The Vigilant strongly recommend that anyone in such a position who suggests "fixing", "experimenting with", "researching", or "looking into" the {{Black Plateau}} be immediately dealt with before they can do any harm.
====The Lost====
There are numerous sad tales of individuals who have succumbed to the malign influence of the {{Black Plateau}} over time. The plateau feeds on and amplifies negative emotions - especially hate, rage, fear, and despair. It can make you hallucinate, it infects your dreams and fills them with nightmares. Its baleful touch breeds suspicion, doubt and eventually paranoia in everyone who lives in Spiral leading to the very emotions it feeds on. One of the Vigilant points out that if the {{Black Plateau}} were alive then you could imagine it was breeding people so that it could it feed on their dark emotions the way a farmer breeds cattle.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 50%; margin-left: 10px">
<ic>'''Lost'''<br>
* '''Potential Risk:''' Current Sentinel lacks the resources to overcome the threat posed by a large group who are Lost
* '''Recommendation:''' Immediate increase in funding and resources for the Oblivion Sentinel

* '''Potential Risk:''' Lashonar, Janon, Azoth, and the Whisper Gallery could all encourage the Lost
* '''Recommendation:''' Enmity these three eternals (the Whisper Gallery is already under enmity).
</ic>
</div>
The [[Obsidian_shards#Blood_And_Black_Glass|Spire of the {{Black Plateau}}]] were the perfect example of this. This isolated spire was set up by several dozen disgruntled sentinels who left the Citadel Guard to take over an abandoned spire on the border between Ankra, Cinion, Ossuary, and Screed. Somewhat ironically they created their spire as naifs, believing that they were the only ones who could save the world from the corruption of the {{Black Plateau}}. Instead the cursed emanations of the {{Black Plateau}} robbed them of their senses and their humanity and they became Lost. Once that happened they attacked the Empire and there was no other way to deal with them than to send them to the Labyrinth and hope that they fare better in their next life.

The number of Lost have diminished in recent years due to the creation of [[Spiral#The_Block|the Block]], a great mithril structure housed within a circle of blasted and burnt trees that is a powerful locus of [[Winter magic]]. The Block can't overcome the power of the {{Black Plateau}} directly, its power is only a fraction of that, but any spire built in the territory with the correct web of mithril nodes is able to draw on the energy emanating from it protect the inhabitants of the spire from the worst of the Plateau's influence. This protection makes it possible for people to live normal lives in Spiral despite the curse of the {{Black Plateau}} - without that the only Vigilant choice would be to flee the area and abandon the territory completely.

The problem is that the Block can't protect people while they are outside. The Urizeni build great spires, allowing most of a small community to live together in one great tower or structure that can enjoy the protection of the Block. The League tend to live alone or in families in smaller properties in one great city. They go abroad every time they need to go about their business, which means they are exposed to the pernicious influence of the {{Black Plateau}} every day. Fortunately the city is as far away from the {{Black Plateau}} as you can get and still be in Spiral - which is crucial. If the League ever attempted to establish a town or outpost elsewhere in the territory that was closer to the screed then the results could well be disastrous.

The office of the Oblivion Sentinel remains the best way to deal with the threat from the Lost. Even the influence of Sung can't do anything to prevent people from losing their minds to the {{Black Plateau}}, so there will ''always'' be new dangers from the Lost appearing over time. Sung's help is enough to ensure that the Sentinel is the first to know about any emerging threat. It would be much better if the Sentinel had more resources available to them, but thus far the title-holder has demonstrated themselves able to deal with the problem.

One force that could exacerbate the threat posed by the Lost is the influence of some Night eternals. The {{Black Plateau}} is not night magic exactly, but it clearly has some strong affinities with it (perhaps in the same way some constellations and runs seem to have an affinity for the realm). While the [[Sadogua|Toad King]] has been very clear that he has no interest in having anything to do with the {{Black Plateau}}, and the [[Sung|Rainbow Serpent]] is clearly wary of it, there are a number of Night eternals whose influence could only exacerbate the risks posed by the Plateau if they took an interest in Spiral.

It is an open question whether [[Lashonar|Gibbering Lashonar]] actually has full possession of their sanity, but whatever the case, their cacophonous babble would only add to the burden of those afflicted by the {{Black Plateau}}. Likewise, the [[Janon|Muse of Fire]] revels in orgies of emotion, it burns with passion, and encourages others to do likewise. Under no circumstance of any kind should either eternal be allowed to gain any influence in Spiral - it would be disastrous. [[Azoth|The Crucible]] represents rebirth and change - that's either the best chance Spiral has or more likely the very last thing Spiral needs. And of course [[Whisper Gallery|Shadow Courtiers]] are a threat to everyone no matter where you are.

The Vigilant recommend immediate [[Alignment#enmity|enmity]] for all four eternals - out of an abundance of caution for what might happen in Spiral if any of these beings got a toehold there. Of course the Whisper Gallery is already under enmity, that needs to be maintained whatever happens. Azoth is probably the least dangerous of the four - there is only a 50/50 chance of total disaster if they gain influence in Spiral. With the other two it is guaranteed to be a problem - immediate enmity would ensure that danger was eliminated. If the {{Black Plateau}} settles down in a few decades time, then it would be safe for the Conclave to reconsider the matter.
====The Enemy====
The {{Black Plateau}} exploded into full life at the [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_.28Spiral.29|denouement of a long military campaign]] against the [[Grendel]]. Thousands died that day, overwhelmed by the madness washing over the territory. The violence and suffering that is an inescapable part of war seems to rouse the {{Black Plateau}} to an ever increasing fever pitch. Some magicians theorise that the Urizeni dedication to [[Urizen culture and customs#Poise|poise]] may help to counter these effects, the way they control their emotions, even while fighting may make it harder for the Plateau to feed on their emotions. Could the Sentinel Guard have fight that battle without undue risk to the Plateau?
<div style="float: right; max-width: 50%; margin-left: 10px">
<ic>'''Enemies'''<br>
* '''Potential Risk:''' War with the Grendel or a direct attack from the Druj further triggers the {{Black Plateau}}
* '''Recommendation:''' Immediate construction of new defences to encircle the Plateau
</ic>
</div>
Whether or not that would have worked is a moot issue since the [[Iron Helms]] directly assaulted the {{Black Plateau}} itself, actively trying to rouse it. The strategy was awfully brilliant - three Grendel armies were shattered in the resulting wave of pain, anguish, and fear that broiled through the minds of everyone in Spiral. Hopes that the {{Black Plateau}} would settle down, or that it might be calmed with magic proved to be nothing but hubris. People have been living with the effects ever since.

The good news is that the {{Black Plateau}} ''is'' beginning to calm down. Sadly that process is achingly slow. Having discussed the matter with the Urizeni magicians monitoring its emanations there is every reason to hope that it could return to a quiescent state within the next ten to twenty years. That's a long time off, but it's far from forever - the Empire will just have to be very patient.

The danger is that a new war begins in Spiral. The Empire stole the territory from the Grendel in a [[Ratify_treaty_with_Salt_Lord_Kaliact_Spring_385YE|diplomatic coup]] in Spring 385YE, but there is no possibility that that triumph hasn't rankled every Grendel salt lord. Retribution is a virtue in the eyes of the Grendel - they ''will'' want revenge on the Grendel who betrayed them by joining the Empire, they ''will'' want Spiral back. If they decide to invade in force, the Empire would have two deeply unpalatable choices, either capitulate and let them take the territory, or fight and risk making the {{Black Plateau}} even worse.

Of course that assumes it could get any worse - and that probably isn't the case. In the view of many Urizeni magicians who study the {{Black Plateau}} it can't any worse than it was after the second attempt by the Iron Helms to provoke it. But what is certain is that all the progress made in the five years since then would be immediately lost.

The [[Grendel]] understand the risk posed by the {{Black Plateau}} - indeed at one point they tried to collaborate with the Empire to build a network of mithril towers to mitigate the threat. That was rebuffed, but intelligence from the Apulians suggest that they are every bit as averse as the Empire is to fighting here. That doesn't mean they won't attack - the assessment of the Vigilant is that the likelihood is that if the Grendel do attack, they will almost certainly attempt to use a surprise attack with overwhelming force to take the territory as quickly as possible with as little fighting as possible.

Sadly they are not the only threat. The Empire are now fully in control of [[Zenith]], but if the southern part of the territory ever fell into [[Druj]] hands, there is a clear risk that they might attempt to cross into Spiral. There's little chance they could hold the territory, but they wouldn't need to. The Druj, being the Druj, they might well try and target the {{Black Plateau}}, just as the Iron Helms once did. That would be ''disastrous'' - it might well test the theory that the current state of the {{Black Plateau}} is as bad as it can get.

The Vigilant accept that the risks in both cases might currently considered to be low - Zenith is back in the hands of the Urizen. Grendel armies would have to come through [[Imperial Orcs]] controlled [[Mareave]] to contest Spiral. However the potential disaster if either of these risks happened is enormous - thousands died last time. It doesn't bear thinking about that that could happen again. The best way to contain this risk would be to be fortify the area - that would be expensive, but Screed lends itself to the construction of a fortification and such a building could help with all the threats.

====Oblivion's Edge====
* '''The Vigilant propose building a huge fortification in Screed to contain the entire {{Black Plateau}}'''
<div style="width: 400px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Oblivion's Edge'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Fortification</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' The {{Black Plateau}}, Screed, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 80 white granite, 20 mithril and 80 thrones in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' 4 seasons</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Upkeep:''' 10 thrones</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Opportunity ends if not commissioned before the end of Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a level one fortification that would increase the number of VPs needed to take the region by fifteen
* Removes the threat from naifs in the territory
* Would defend against any direct attack on the {{Black Plateau}}
* Provides spartan accommodation for the Oblivion Sentinel
* Would reduce the impact on the {{Black Plateau}} of fighting in the territory
* Provides the Oblivion Sentinel with 5 crystal fire each year and 10 crowns per season
<tr><td>'''Special:''' If Ylenwe could be persuaded to support the efforts, the eternal might be able to protect the workers needed to build the fortification, reducing the labour costs to 300 crowns
</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
The old spire of Oblivion's Edge is gone, or at least hidden from plain sight. Some magicians believe it still exists, but Sung has moved it into a Night [[regio]] somewhere on the edge of the {{Black Plateau}}. Other Urizeni argue that the spire is gone - but the copy of it that existed in the overlapping Night regio is still there. A few claim that Sung created a copy of the old tower based on the original - but destroying the original in the process. Nobody knows how many Urizeni mages can dance on the head of a pin.
{{CaptionedImage|file=OblivionSentinel.png|caption=Floria Sunshaper, Oblivion Sentinel|align=right|width=250}}
Rather than try and replace it directly, the proposal is to build a grand new fortification, something that could secure every pass that leads up to the {{Black Plateau}}. That would have a number of useful benefits. Firstly it would act as a [[fortification]] securing the region. The bastion would be half again as effective as a regular fortification, simply because of how incredibly defensible this location is (the region would require 25VPs to capture rather than 20 for a normal level fortification). That would make trying to capture Screed very hard indeed, which should be enough to prevent a lighting raid from any Druj force trying to target the {{Black Plateau}} directly.

That would slash the risk of one of the biggest threats, but the walls would also help keep [[#Naifs|naifs]] out of the area. Of course it won't help if someone at [[Anvil]] decides to do something foolish with the {{Black Plateau}}, but there would no more trouble with local naifs like the fools from the Company of the Venturesome Harrier. That risk would be eliminated, the garrison would have no problem stopping them getting in.

The proposed design incorporates a set of mithril spines - these wouldn't do anything to prevent the waves of maleficence that roll off the Plateau, but it would stop some of the energy created by violence and war in the Spiral feeding back into the Plateau. That wouldn't completely eliminate the risks involved in fighting in the territory, it wouldn't even reduce the losses inflicted on armies, but it would mean that the Empire could stand a single season of campaigning in the territory without the {{Black Plateau}} being roused back to where it was five years ago. That's not great... but it's arguably better than nothing.

Sadly the costs of building the thing are monstrous. Absolutely ''nobody'' wants to work that closely to the {{Black Plateau}}. However, [[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Aid_of_the_Dove|a recent offer]] by ''[[Ylenwe|Zie of the Perfect Morning]]'' might offer a way to defray the extra costs. The protection that the Dove is proposing could potentially be used to protect the workers working on Oblivion's Edge instead of the soldiers trying to dam the Doubt. If that happened, the labour costs would be reduced to a "mere" three hundred crowns. It seems unlikely that zie can aid both projects at once, but it seems possible that zie might well wish to aid first one, then the other. Presumably zie would require amity - or an Imperial ritual of Day to be in effect - in order to give this aid. Zie has also mentioned possible proposals for longer-term options to augment and extend the Block in some way - that would require a fane, but it might be that if the Conclave and Senate were resolved to commit themselves to such a course, the new fortification could prove a good place to build such a construction, well-defended as it would be.

One final boon - constructing Oblivion's Edge would reassure both League and Urizeni citizens in the Empire that the threat from the {{Black Plateau}} was being taken seriously. If the fortification is built, various spires, citadels, and guilds have agreed to contribute resources to the office of the Oblivion Sentinel each season, helping them to discharge their responsibilities. The guilds would contribute 10 crowns per season, and the ''Deathless Caves'' would donate 5 crystal fire each year starting in the season the work was completed.
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=ApulianOrc.jpg|align=left|caption=The Apulian orcs share the Grendel fondness for espionage, but understand that it is a dangerous game with real consequences. Unfortunately there are always folk who are less... discerning... in the schemes they are embroiled in.|width=300}}</div>
==Apulian==
* '''The Vigilant have uncovered evidence of an espionage ring in Apulus'''
Despite the oppressive aura of the {{Black Plateau}}, Apulian is a bustling, blooming young city. New buildings are going up every day, homes and businesses being constructed apace. It is arguably one of the most metropolitan places in the entire Empire, with scores of Urizeni magicians rubbing shoulders - sometimes literally, which does cause some discomfort, given that the principle of Space is hard to adhere to in a city - with thousands of League citizens, hundreds of them Apulian orcs who not so long ago were Grendel. The rest have come from all over the League, looking to make their fortunes in this grand new city of tomorrow.

Sadly these are the ''perfect'' conditions for the Grendel to establish an ''espionage ring'' in the city. Anyone of the newly minted Apulian orcs could actually be in the pay in the Grendel. Any of those Urizeni magicians could be a disgruntled rebel, hoping to see the territory fall to the barbarians so that it could be returned to the nation if it was recaptured. All those Imperial citizens flocking here from all over the League looking to make their fortune are ripe for exploitation, there's bound to be more than a few unscrupulous individuals among their number who are not fussed where the money is coming from.

Uncovering an espionage ring takes time and a lot of hard work. It requires months and months of painstaking effort reaching out to every local ne'er-do-well to see what gossip and rumours are afoot. Potential suspects have to be kept under observation and shadowed everywhere they go. It's dangerous work - those who have already chosen the path of the traitor often find it easy enough to add murder to their list of crimes: in for a ring, in for a throne. It's difficult too - one slip and a lead will disappear in a flash and the work has to begin again.

If it is a long and arduous job in the ordinary course of things, how much harder is it in Spiral? The work of counter-espionage requires a suspicious mind. You must inhabit the mindsets of others, and pretend to be things you are not. At every moment you must not only conceal your true emotions but actively perform emotions counter to them. All of this renders you exceptionally vulnerable to the call of that which lurks in Screed. The {{Black Plateau}} is the great enemy of the counter-spy. Of course, it will also be working its magic on any spies themselves: but that just means that an espionage ring that "only" seeks to pilfer, spy and sabotage could suddenly erupt into an existential threat. Some of the Vigilant have called a potential espionage ring in Spiral the greatest spiritual threat that the Empire faces. Hyperbolic, perhaps: but it shows the depths of their concern.
===The Empty Cellar (Conjunction)===
* '''One of the Assembly's pilgrims has lost their senses while working to infiltrate the ring'''
* '''This tent encounter is [[Accessibility#Combat Unlikely or Contained|combat very unlikely]]'''
* '''The ''Voice of Vigilance'' is [[Sentinel_Gate#Prognostication|responsible]] for trying to help Victo and allow the Assembly to learn whatever they have discovered'''
* '''The conjunction is large enough for five people'''
{{InnocentPeoplePresent}}
One of the clearest voices expressing this view when the Vigilant first began to assemble in response to the Synod's call is one ''Victo von Temeschwar''. Friends of Victo have described them as a passionate individual, whose passion for vigilance was fuelled by a personal tragedy: Victo is an orphan, rescued from the fire that claimed their parent's lives and their business, Vargataia Delicacies, which specialised in the particular foods of the Vargat region of Temeschwar. The fire was no accident: in those days, the [[Vyig]] still troubled the city, and Victo's parents had refused to pay protection money and become complicit in their evil. Victo nursed a bitter hatred of those criminals, but also some resentment at their parents for being so black-and-white in their thinking: it is this that led Victo to interest in the sometimes-controversial words of Berechiah laid down in his book "The Necessary Actions of a Virtuous Sinner”.

Victo came to Spiral with a desire to follow in the footsteps of Berechiah. They were eager to take up the call of the Assembly to root out threats in Spiral and sailed here that very season. They took on a new name and identity - Octiv, a disgruntled Urizeni making the best of it in the big city - and immersed themselves in the burgeoning criminal underworld of Apulus. Some of the Vigilant kept in touch with them, and Victo's intelligence has been vital to uncovering no end of minor criminal plots. Victo's true goal, though, was "the big one" - to gain access to and infiltrate the ranks of the agents of the Grendel who must surely lurk within the city.

Four months ago they disappeared. The room they were renting in Aylee's Tavern was abandoned leaving no trace. Three days later, a street urchin, a young orc lad called Rori slipped a piece of paper into the hands of Victo's contact. It simply said "LF. GER. NC. V. SOM." It implied that Victo had found a lead - something that led to a Grendel espionage ring, but there could be no contact for security's sake: and that they should trust that Victo would seek out malice before malice could strike.

Malice appears to have struck. Four days ago, Victo was discovered unconscious in a dock-side inn. They were moved to safety, to a safehouse that the Vigilant have established in the city known as The Cellar Below: but they were paranoid to the point of delusion when they came round. They no longer appear capable of distinguishing between the "Octiv" identity that they assumed and their own - they are of one mind, but that mind is no longer certain who is the mask and who is the player. It's clear that in the months they have spent undercover, the {{Black Plateau}} has played havoc with their mind. The dramaturgical influences that have recently been occurring in Spiral have not helped: they are clearly also in the grip of the influence of the Mountebank. They don't trust anyone and they won't talk to anyone except to try and subvert people's words or actions to turn them against themselves.

Yet, in their more lucid moments they have managed to communicate that they have vital information that could lead to progress against Grendel spying in the city. Attempting to force them to reveal this information would be very dangerous. They're under the effects of [[Secrets of the Empty Heart]], a common defence employed by anyone in this line of work where capture means certain torture and death. As they can draw on [[the Mountebank]] as a source of spiritual strength, attempts to use a [[consecration]] or [[anointing|anointing]] to assist have not worked, and have brought Victo very close to calling upon the Empty Heart. The best bet would be [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul]] - but while this does not need a willing target, it is exceptionally difficult to fool a seasoned intelligencer such as Victo, and so while this might, ironically, be a perfect time for a [[mountebank|mountebank's]] intervention, this has not been tried for fear of driving Victo over the edge.

The Vigilant in Spiral have reached out to the [[Voice of Virtue|Voice of Vigilance]], as a chosen inspiration to the pilgrims of the faith. They believe that a conjunction of the [[Sentinel Gate]] will open to ''The Cellar Below'' at 18:20 on Friday of the Spring Equinox, for five people. A representative of the Vigilant will meet them there, with Victo. The codephrase to give is "Inaction is a choice" - they will reply "just as action is". They ask that the Voice of Vigilance bring with them the very best mountebank - or a [[smith]], someone good at negotiating. Or indeed anyone who might have the necessary skills to convince Victo to undergo Crystal Clarity or cast it on them without them being aware (bearing in mind the [[Rituals#Performing_a_Ritual|limitations]] on performing ritual magic secretly). However, if they become aware of an attempt to cast a ritual or use a [[Religious skills|liao ceremony]] on them without their permission, it is highly likely they will call on the Empty Heart. Extreme caution is required. While the conjunction is for up to five people, it is by no means necessary to ''bring'' five people. The Civil Service advises that the Voice should pick who they take exceptionally carefully - even more so than they otherwise would be.

Once Victo has their mind again, they will presumably be exhausted, unable to give much useful information there and then: but in time the Vigilant will debrief them and learn what they can, and make the Empire aware what the next steps must be for dealing with the threat of espionage in Spiral. This could give the Empire a vital lead that allows them to shut down the Grendel espionage ring, or even try to turn it to work for them, creating double agents within it. Without the information Victo has given up themselves to win, however, this will be impossible.
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Urizen Costume 42.jpg|align=left|caption=An accommodation has been made with the Urizen rebels, but the price of peace is constant vigilance.|width=300}}</div>
==The Rebels==
* '''The vigilant are confident that the situation is now stable and there are no active threats currently'''
* '''All attempts to contact the rebels by the Grendel have been rebuffed'''
Most of the rebel Urizeni in Spiral have been mollified or bought off, and the bitter resentment at the treaty that saw the territory gifted to the League has slowly seeped away. Increasingly there is a détente between those Urizeni who still live there, with magicians sharing knowledge of the Block with their League neighbours. More and more Urizeni magicians are seen in Apulus, either living there or coming to the city to do business and League merchants are only too happy to buy their wares or sell them imported goods.

Now only one group of rebels remains fiercely aloof. The Empire has signed a [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Urizen_of_the_Silver_Flame|peace treaty with the Non-Imperial Urizen led by Caela of the Silver Flame]], but it required them to cede the region of Cinion. In the end it proved impossible to negotiate with Caela, her demands were simply too unreasonable, but rather than remove her by force, the Empire opted to recognise their control of the surrounding land.

That leaves the region in the control of an outside force, a potential threat and one that is clearly hostile to League control of the territory. Thus it was crucial to do everything possible to investigate this threat.

Some of those investigations were cut short by the [[Obsidian_shards#Blood_And_Black_Glass|influence of the {{Black Plateau}}]]. One of the rebel groups, the Spire of Black Glass, launched an all out attack on the Empire, apparently triggered by Plateau madness. It didn't amount to much, and Imperial heroes moved quickly to forestall the attack and defeat the Spire, but it was sufficient to cause the leader of the rebels to utterly disavow the group.

That disavowal appears to have entirely genuine. The activities of the Spire of Black Glass had been an ongoing concern to the other rebels who had only accepted them out of necessity. There was no attempt to help them with their attack, to the contrary the other rebels very publicly shunned them. That's not been the only incident, it looks like the leader of one of the other rebel groups met with an unfortunate accident - presumably a grim consequence of internal splits among the rebels.

But by the time the year is up, the Vigilant are happy to report that there are no active threats here. Caela remains a fierce critic of the Empire, but she and her supporters consider themselves to be loyal Urizeni, and they are abiding by the treaty. It would be wrong to say they are content with the current situation, but they're clearly content with it for now. They are not doing anything that would be a cause for concern, and while that situation could change in the future, the Empire can be certain that there are no active threats here now.

There was an assumption that the Grendel might try and make contact with the rebels - and it is clear that they have tried at least once, if not more. They have been firmly rebuffed however - Caela has made it very clear to everyone who has thrown in with her that nobody is to accept any approach from the Grendel under any circumstances. They might not be happy with the Empire, but if the Grendel hoped that meant they would switch sides then they are bitterly disappointed.
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly_Vigilance.png|width=3200px|align=right}}</div>
==The Ears in Redoubt==
* '''Followers of Berechiah are currently seeking out threats in Redoubt'''
* '''The Assembly expects to hear from the followers in Summer or Autumn at the latest'''
* '''There is current one final opportunity for the Assembly to send the Vigilant to root out threats'''
* '''Naming a specific threat to search for would ensure that it was not missed, if it was present'''
{{SOP|statement=We prepare for malice, but must always thwart malice but it strikes against you. We send Bryce the Hare with 25 liao to <s>Temeschwar</s> <s>Spiral</s> Redoubt to urge all vigilant citizens to seek out threats and drag them into the light.|by=Bryce the Hare, Vigilance Assembly|vote=246-0|when=Summer 386YE}}
The Vigilant have reported back from both Astolat and Spiral this season. The [[Golden_magicians_fayre#Berechiah_and_a_Note_of_Caution|search for cultists of Agramant]] in Astolat has failed to unearth any - while it would be easy to be disappointed by that result, it should be seen as a success. It means there aren't any cultists of Agramant in Astolat - at least not who are currently active and causing a threat. A new threat might emerge in the future, but for now that territory can be crossed off the list.

The situation in Spiral is considerably more complex and has taken a long time to bear fruit. By the looks of things, it may even now only just be getting to grips with the Grendel espionage ring and clearly there is much more work to be done if Victo can be saved. Without a clear target to hunt for, the Vigilant have focussed their efforts on the most obvious threats here, so it is possible that there are subtle threats here that have gone undetected. The strange magic that has surfaced this [[The play that came to Apulian|season in Apulus]] is certainly cause for concern, as is the strange behaviour of the [[Sung|Rainbow Serpent]].

Thus far the Vigilant have not reported back from Redoubt. They are on the ground, investigating the territory, looking for what threats they can uncover, but clearly they are not yet ready to report back on what they have found. The Synod should expect to hear from them soon however, either next Summer if their work is complete, or by Autumn at the very latest.

There is a final opportunity to ask the Vigilant followers of Berechiah to seek out any threats in one more territory, before their energies are exhausted. The Assembly could send them back to Spiral, if they name a specific threat. Otherwise they would do better to pick a different territory and name the threat they are concerned about, if there is one, or leave it to the followers of Berechiah to look for the most obvious dangers as they have done here.

==Further Reading==
* [[Berechiah]]
* [[Spiral]]

* [[The play that came to Apulian]] - Companion wind of fortune relating to magical happenings in the city of Apulian
* [[Damming the Doubt]] - Companion wind of fortune relating to the plan to dam the River Doubt in Apstrus

Spiral

2026-06-03T20:42:17Z

Wrenna: /* Regions */

<div style="float: left; max-width: 500px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|RegionsofSpiral.png|WiderSpiral.png|500x500px|Caption1|Caption2|Caption3|Caption4|Caption5|Caption6|A rising city in the shadow of the {{Black Plateau}}}}</div>
==Overview==
Spiral is a hard place to live; its arid and rocky valleys mean that the majority of food needs to be imported in from Highguard, the Marches, and Dawn. Where there is vegetation it is more often than not light scrubland except in [[#Apstrus|Apstrus]] and [[#Cinion|Cinion]] which are home to light rolling woodland and a tangled mess of [[Beware_my_power#The_Rejuvenation_of_Cinion|vines and trees]] respectively. And at the heart of the territory sits the oppressive malignancy of the {{Black Plateau}}.

Spiral has always been isolated, and has always had a haunted reputation. The [[Urizen]] lived here long before there was an Empire, although the main focus of pre-Imperial Urizen settlement was in [[Morrow]] to the north. The two territories were connected by a tenuous "bridge" of spires stretching across south-western [[Zenith]]. At some point in the far distant past, before even the Urizen lived here, powerful magic was enacted in Spiral. At the heart of the territory is the {{Black Plateau}}, a great plateau of volcanic glass with a dire reputation. Artefacts from the {{Black Plateau}} are often considered haunted or touched by malign evil, and are generally destroyed when they are encountered. Since being [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_.28Spiral.29|roused to full wakefulness]], its oppressive miasma penetrates the entire territory, inescapable save in scattered oases bound with magically infused mithril.

Spiral has always been a battleground, most recently between the Empire and the Grendel to the south. Where it was once an Urizen territory, it is now part of the League. A clever political stratagem saw the Grendel governor of the territory, Salt Lord Kaliact, split from the orcs of the Broken Shore and become an Imperial citizen. The repercussions of this profound change to Urizen and the Empire are still being felt. Today Spiral is home to citizens of [[the League]] - a mixture of immigrants from the other cities, former Grendel [[orc|orcs]], and former Urizen who chose to embrace city life - as well as many Urizen who [[A_question_of_loyalty#Serve_Your_Cause|refuse to abandon their loyalties]].

==Recent History==
Spiral was lost to the Empire over fifty years ago. In 331YE, barbarians from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#The_Broken_Shore_and_Attar|Broken Shore]] came up through [[#Apulus|Apulus]] along the coast, and with weapons fashioned from the glass taken from the {{Black Plateau}} overran the defenders of Spiral, resisting all efforts to throw them back. Refugees streamed into [[Morrow]] and [[Zenith]], and many of them - and their descendants - remain in their new homes.

During Winter 377YE there was a concentrated effort to shore up the defences of [[#Ruins of Fort Mezudan|Fort Mezudan]]. Identifying a weakness in the Grendel supply lines, a [[378YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Dawn|concerted campaign of seaborne raiding]] was followed in Autumn by the invocation of a [[378YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#The_Tempest|cataclysmic tempest]] that devastated the docks at [[#Apulus|Apulian]]. Shortly after the Autumn Equinox 379YE the Grendel responded in kind when a [[379YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_Ruin_of_Fort_Mezudan|powerful magical storm]] left the fort in ruins.

In Spring 381YE, the Grendel orcs launched a [[381YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Patterns_of_Force_.28Spiral.29|major offensive]] on all fronts that saw Imperial forces driven back to Cinion, and the territory again fell into barbarian hands. Over the next year, war raged relentlessly across the territory, accompanied by the slow rousing of the {{Black Plateau}} in [[#Screed|Screed]]. The situation came to a head shortly after the Winter Solstice 381YE when the [[Varushka|Varushkan]] army of the Iron Helms were [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_.28Spiral.29|unleashed against the Grendel]]. During the Battle of Solen's Doubt in [[#Apstrus|Apstrus]], three Grendel armies were permanently destroyed as a wave of madness swept through both Imperial and orc forces that culminated in the awakening of the {{Black Plateau}} - an event whose repercussions are still not entirely understood.

The [[Cambion#Stubborn Will|stubborn will]] of the [[cambion]] lineage has proved to provide a measure of protection from this oppressive atmosphere. As such, [[Urizen]] cambions are increasingly in demand as messengers between the [[spire|spires]] of the south-eastern [[territory]] and are often sought out to perform scouting, support, or rescue missions here, although the very quality that makes them so useful also means they tend to be [[Cambion#independent|frustratingly intractable]] and prone to embarking on unrelated side quests that they have decided are more important

The Senate ratified a peace treaty with the Grendel during the [[Ratify treaty with the Grendel Autumn 383YE|Autumn Equinox 383YE]] that saw the Empire cede the regions of Ankra, Cinion and Ateri to the Grendel. Over the next three months [[From_the_sieve_of_your_hands#The_New_Boss|Salt Lord Kaliact]] established herself as the new, almost reasonable, ruler of the territory. Over the next year the new inhabitants of Spiral engaged with the Empire, helping to create the position of [[Spiral Envoy]] to encourage trade with the people of Apulian. The Senate voted against [[Ratify treaty with Salt Lord Kaliact|ratifying a treaty]] with Kaliact that would see the territory treated as a separate entity to the rest of the Broken Shore. Undeterred, Kaliact tried again and a season later, in [[Ratify_treaty_with_Salt_Lord_Kaliact_Spring_385YE|Spring 385YE]], the Senate voted to ratify a historic treaty that ceded the territory to the Empire and saw it [[A tide in the affairs|claimed]] by the [[Wolves of War]] shortly after.

During the Summer Solstice 385YE Merchant Prince Kaliact and the rest of the Apulians swore to [[League Egregore|Guise]] and [[Windfall|joined the League]] as full Imperial citizens. '''Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian''', one of the many immigrants from the other cities, was elected as the first League senator of Spiral. Now, with the Empire once again [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Declare_war_on_the_Grendel|at war]] with the Grendel, the territory looks south to the [[Bay_of_Catazar#The_Broken_Shore_and_Attar|Broken Shore]].

==Major Features==
===Apulian===
Standing on the coast of [[#Apulus|Apulus]], the fortunes of the town of Apulian have waxed and waned in recent years. A centre for sea-trading, as well as a regular destination for [[the League|League]] and [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] vessels operating in the eastern [[Bay of Catazar]], it was a jewel of the Urizen coast. This changed with the Grendel invasion. Perhaps the worst casualty of the barbarian invasion, the '''Lighthouse at Apulian''' was a [[great work]] that served as both a spire dedicated to foreign trade and a beacon for all the Urizen fleets based in Spiral. The last Keeper of the Lighthouse, Hadrian of Apulian, burst the entire structure apart once it became clear it would fall to the orcs, shattering the magical stone (a gift from the [[eternal]] [[Kimus]]) that served as the light. The white granite tower exploded in a thunderous detonation, the echoes of which were reportedly heard as far away as [[Sarvos]] and the island of the [[Madruga#The_Lyceum|Lyceum]]. The release of magical power incinerated several hundred orcs, along with all the defenders of Apulian. Some refugees from Spiral attempted to have Hadrian declared an [[Paragons_and_Exemplars#Exemplars|Exemplar]] of [[Loyalty]], but received little support from the [[Synod]]. Most of the survivors are dead now, of course.

In 378YE the [[378YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#The_Tempest|invoked devastation]] finished what Hadrian of Apulian had started - the rebuilt waterfront at Apulian was smashed to pieces. Then in 380YE, during a [[Tree_of_ice_(conjunction)|conjunction of The Fountain]], powerful ritual magic sank the entire coastline of Apulus into the Bay, transforming the region into a stinking mire. Many of the remaining buildings collapsed and sank in the marshes, leaving the entire area in ruins. Since then, Apulian has switched between Urizen and Grendel control several times. The Grendel seem to see it as a prize, rebuilding the docks and many of the buildings. When Merchant Prince Kaliact took control of Spiral, she spent [[white granite]] like water to restore Apulian. Reports say that she had the support of both local Urizen architects, and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] magicians in not only building the city but also establishing a [[fortification]] here.

Apulian is now the "''City of Nets''" and an established city of the League, equivalent to [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] in the Marches or [[Skarsind#Gildenheim|Gildenheim]] in distant Skarsind. It boasts strong walls of solid granite, extensive docks, and a melange of architectural styles both Grendel and Urizen. All the newer structures have been built with the aid of Urizen scholars, and incorporate mithril weaves that protect those within from the worst effects of living in Spiral; the intricate designs give a certain continuity of theme to the otherwise disparate building styles, and have led to the name "City of Nets." The beautiful, well-fortified palace takes pride of place near the docks. '''OOC Note:''' The Palace of Apulian is a rank one fortification.

===The {{Black Plateau}}===
<div style="float:right; width: 500px;"><box>'''The Plateau Ascendant'''<br>
Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, the {{Black Plateau}} became active to a degree unprecedented in the history of the Empire. This has a number of effects, many of which are not yet clear. What is certain for the time being however is:
* Every army fighting in Spiral takes 25% additional casualties
* It is impossible to receive natural resupply in Spiral
* Any army that sends the season in Spiral will lose 5% of its maximum fighting strength over the course of that season even if it is not engaged.
* [[fleet|Fleets]], [[military unit|military units]], [[business|businesses]], and [[farm|farms]] have their production reduced by a quarter. The nightmares and the oppressive power of the {{Black Plateau}} encourages any living person in Spiral to leave. Only the completion of [[#The Block|the Block]] allows other [[Resource#Personal_Resource|personal resources]] to prosper, and creates safe havens for citizens to live here.
* The mithril in the Legacy appears to shield the workers there somewhat, but there are few workers prepared to make the trip to Ossuary given the recent history of the mithril mine and the constant threat of the {{Black Plateau}}. As a consequence, the upkeep of the Legacy has been doubled for the foreseeable future.

Over the last few years there have been several magical rituals designed to deal with the {{Black Plateau}}. None of those rituals will have any effect, for good or ill, on the active {{Black Plateau}}. Indeed, it is highly unlikely that ''any'' ritual magic will be effective against the {{Black Plateau}} in its current roused state.</box></div>
A great plateau of volcanic glass with a dire reputation. Artefacts from the {{Black Plateau}} are often considered haunted or touched by malign evil, and are generally destroyed when they are encountered. Scholars have established that while many of the artefacts recovered from the {{Black Plateau}} date back to the days of distant Terunael, and to pre-Urizen Spiral, there are occasional artefacts that reach back even further - they cannot agree on the exact age of the plateau but the volcanic glass may date back to a period before human history.

Barbarians armed with weapons fashioned from the glass taken from the {{Black Plateau}} overran the defenders of Spiral, resisting all efforts to throw them back. There are no permanent settlements or spires in the area [[#Screed|around the {{Black Plateau}}]] - attempts to establish them ended in tragedy without exception. For the last four decades there have been stories of wild, bestial humans - presumably the offspring of Urizen left behind when Spiral fell to the barbarians - who live on and around the plateau. Their motivations, assuming they even exist, are unknown.

The plateau feeds on and amplifies negative emotions - especially hate, rage, fear, and despair. Those fighting in the territory when it became active also reported hallucinations and oppressive, malign thoughts causing them to dwell on past failures, insults, and suspicions. In some cases, these thoughts led to tragic action. Shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, the {{Black Plateau}} was [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_.28Spiral.29|roused to full wakefulness]] with dire consequences.

Interestingly, it seems that those of the [[cambion]] [[lineage]] are particularly resistant to this oppressive influence; they still experience the urges, thoughts, and visions but rather than giving in to them they tend to become stubborn, obdurate, uncooperative, and self-contained. This means that those with cambion blood are very much in demand to serve as scouts and messengers between isolated settlements not connected by the Heliopticon - but the very quality that makes them so useful also means they tend to be frustratingly intractable and prone to embarking on unrelated side quests that they have decided are more important than the mission given to them by their "superiors".

In 386YE, the [[Vigilance]] assembly encouraged some of the virtuous to travel to Spiral to explore various threats there; they provided a comprehensive report at the Spring Equinox 387YE paying particular attention to the ''people'' who help make the plateau such a threat. This report can be read in the '''[[Our_eyes_in_Spiral#The_Black_Plateau|Our eyes on Spiral]]''' wind of fortune.
===Oblivion's Edge===
Today, the plateau is watched over by the [[Oblivion Sentinel]], from the old spire of [[Oblivion_Sentinel#Oblivion's_Edge|Oblivion's Edge]]. Part of the dominion of the [[eternal]] [[Sung]], the old spire is [[The_fate_of_the_many#The_Serpent's_Edge|wrapped in obfuscating power]] providing two significant benefits. The watchful eternal provides advance warning of any significant threats posed by the {{Black Plateau}}, but more immediately valuable is the magical pact that allows any Urizen living in Spiral to use the [[Vale of Shadows]] to draw on its obfuscating power to help hide their home and create a mystical connection with the rest of their nation. This required the creation of two mithril sculptures, one at the northern end of the Twilight Gate in southern Proceris and one above the Brilliant Star in the peaks of Optarion in Redoubt. Once they were in place they aligned with Oblivion's Edge focussing the mysterious [[Night magic]] Sung was already employing there. This allowed Urizen citizens to continue living in Spiral without suffering the usual disadvantages folk of one nation encounter when living in a territory belonging to a different nation.

{{Anchor|The Three Passes}}

===The Passes===
Before the [[381YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#Game_Information_-_Spiral|Autumn Equinox 381YE]], the Grendel engaged in a program of collapsing the passes through the western and the northern mountains out of Spiral. At this time there are four major passes still open that are large enough to allow a campaign army to pass through them without difficulty.
* The '''Onyx Path''' linking [[Redoubt#Optarion|Optarion]] and [[Spiral#Ateri|Ateri]]. The western end of the pass is guarded by the [[Redoubt#Court of the White Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]], while the eastern end emerges near the ruins of Fort Mezudan.
* The '''Crow Road''' linking [[Redoubt#Willstone|Willstone]] and [[Spiral#Cinion|Cinion]]. The western end of the pass is watched by the resourceful sentinels of Willstone spire, while the eastern end emerges in the hills above the area that was once home to Damakan's Forge
* The '''Twilight Gate''' linking the plains of [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]] and the northern [[Spiral#Ossuary|Ossuary]]. This "pass" is wide enough that it would be extremely difficult to close it without constructing a [[fortification]]. The Grendel attempted this with the [[#Ballaghadruh|Ballaghadruh]] but with limited success.
* The '''Apulian Way''' links southern [[#Apulus|Apulus]] with northern [[Bay of Catazar#Mareave|Mareave]]. This "pass" runs through the foothill, along the coast of the [[Bay of Catazar]], and has been widened a little of late by [[Grendel]] caravans bringing [[white granite]] into the territory from the [[Bay_of_Catazar#The_Broken_Shore_and_Attar|Broken Shore]].
These passes are a significant [[#Strategic Considerations|strategic consideration]] when discussing conflict in the territory. There are several smaller, higher passes still intact of course that can be used by small groups or caravans - but these are not suitable for a [[Army|campaign army]] to use. Of particular note, the mountains of southern [[#Apstrus|Apstrus]] contain no passes through to the Grendel territory of [[Bay of Catazar#Mareave|Mareave]] that are suitable for use by an Imperial army. Without an opportunity it is only possible to enter Mareave through the Apulian Way.

===Ballaghadruh===
Begun shortly after Merchant Prince Kaliact took control of Spiral, the Ballaghadruh is a [[fortification]] built at the southern end of the [[#The Tree Passes|Twilight Gate]] in [[#Ossuary|Ossuary]]. The initial plans apparently intended to close the entire pass with a wall of white granite, but the structure as it currently stands consists of a solidly built keep and several garrison towers across the mouth of the pass. One reason for the less ambitious structure is likely the amount of mithril required to protect the inhabitants from the effects of living and working in Spiral. The fortress itself was completed in only six months thanks to magical assistance from well-paid [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] magician-engineers. '''OOC Note:''' Ballaghadruh is a rank one fortification.

===The Block===
Not far from Ossen's Spire in [[#Cinion|Cinion]] stands the Block, a vital construction that helps alleviate some of the impact of the {{Black Plateau}}. Proposed in Winter 382YE by a group of [[Urizen_religious_beliefs#Illuminates|illuminates]], [[The_path_that_winds#The_Block|the Block]] is positioned within a circle of blasted and burnt trees that seems to be a powerful locus of [[Winter magic]].

Following their suggestions, the Imperial Senate [[Construct_Mithril_Block|approved construction]] of a carefully shaped block of mithril, aligned with the [[The Oak|Oak]] and the [[The_Key_and_The_Lock#The_Lock|Lock]] and used to harness the power of the [[regio]] that lies at the heart of the blasted grove. The block now emanates waves of magic across the territory following the old heliopticon paths. While it is in no way powerful enough to impact the emanations of the {{Black Plateau}}, any spire built in the territory with the correct web of mithril nodes is able to focus that energy and protect the inhabitants of the spire from the worst of the Plateau's influence. The protection offered by the block means that people can live in Spiral despite the curse of the {{Black Plateau}}, allowing for a slight increase in the rate of recovery for the territory and its contributions to Imperial coffers.

Unfortunately the power of the block is not sufficient to deal with all the problems encountered by those ''outside'' the warded spires or [[#Apulian|Apulian]]. The penalties to armies, in particular, and the increased upkeep of the Legacy, are not affected. Likewise, the wilderness outside the spires continues to be extremely dangerous.

There is also some concern that the Block lies in the area of Spiral conceded to the Silver Flame rebels - the "non Imperial Urizen" who separated from the Empire over the decision to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assign]] Spiral to the League. So far the rebels have shown no interest in interfering with the Block - they rely on its power as much as anyone else does - but the fact it lies outside Imperial control is enough to give some people pause. While relations remain good there is little to worry about; if they deteriorate then it is not impossible the Silver Flame might threaten the Block and there would be little Imperial forces could do about it.

=== The [[Legacy]] ===

This vast mine complex is mostly played out today, but still manages to produce significant quantities of mithril for whoever controls it. According to legend the site was part of a great gift to the Urizen people but who gave it to them, and why, are details lost to time.

The Legacy is a national [[Bourse|Bourse position]] which produces mithril. Control of the Legacy is assigned by national auction at the Autumn Equinox each year. This Bourse position produces 22 Imperial wains of [[mithril]] every season.

This Bourse seat has changed hands numerous times. As of the Winter Solstice 385YE it is a national seat of the League auctioned to the highest bidder.
===Bridge of the Air===
The [[Morrow#Bridge of the Air|Bridge of the Air]] was constructed in [[Morrow]] to help transport [[white granite]], but the mithril cables and lifts also spread through the adjoining territories to create a transport network that has greatly improved travel particularly in northern Redoubt. A true wonder, the Bridge transports both people and trade goods, smoothing travel through the dangerous mountains and between the mountains and the lowlands. Lifts help transport travellers and cargo from the lowlands to the highlands, and conventional roads and bridges have been employed where they are most useful. The ''skyways'' are concentrated in the mountainous regions, but the roads included as part of their construction have linked up with Curstag's Way to greatly improving the ability of travellers and traders to move across the territory.

===Curstag's Way===
[[We_all_stand#Trade_Routes|Curstag's Way]] is a broad highway that runs through southern Spiral, connecting [[Redoubt]] and [[Mareave]]. The road is a major lifeline to the [[Imperial Orcs]] in the arid south-eastern territory but has also improved prosperity across Spiral. The road is officially named for the first League orc to die in battle for the Empire - Curstag von Apulian Crimson Way - but is also known in some quarters as the ''Calumo-Sheeva-Nightshadow Road'', or the ''Greater Apulian Way''. The road itself is valuable, but what makes it particularly effective are the establishment of several mithril-woven rest-stops along the route that offer protection from the malign effects of the {{Black Plateau}} to those wishing to trade with Apulian, or the orcs of Mareave.

===Ruins of Fort Mezudan ===
The [[fortification|fortress]] Fort Mezudan - also known as the Fist - was under construction at the time the barbarians attack, but workers and guards refused the order to destroy the walls. When the original defences against the barbarians fell, the workers armed themselves and held the semi-completed fortress for two weeks until Imperial reinforcements arrived. For that reason the stone-crafters guild were always considered to have nominal control of this small fortress, and no decade went by without some major renovation or improvement being undertaken.

During Winter 377YE, the [[Imperial Master of Works]] arranged for emergency supplies and many wains of white granite collected by Marcus of Endsmeet to reach the stone-crafters guild of Ateri. While Imperial forces occupied the invading orc armies, the final months of work were [[Fortify_Ateri_in_Spiral|completed]] at a feverish rate that burnt out almost the entire ushabti work force. By the middle of Spring 378YE, the Fist was complete, ready to serve its intended purpose as a bastion for Imperial forces against the invaders of Spiral.

Unfortunately, shortly after the Autumn Equinox 379YE, a [[379YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#The_Ruin_of_Fort_Mezudan|powerful magical storm]] struck the fortress, which had already been damaged as part of the [[379YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#The_Siege_of_Fort_Mezudan|renewed Grendel offensive]]. The Fist was completely destroyed.

===Ruins of Ankarien===
On the slopes of [[#Ankra|Ankra]] stood the Spire of Ankarien. One of the oldest and most prestigious of the Urizen spires, it was home to perhaps the finest library in the Empire. The infamous [[Emperor Nicovar]] was born here, and lived much of his early life at Ankarien; this did not spare the library from his destructive wrath as he descended into madness. What Nicovar did not quite achieve, the barbarians almost managed. As they drew near the librarians carried much of the contents to [[Zenith#Endsmeet|Endsmeet]]. The Spire of Ankarien now lies in ruins, the remainder of its books and scrolls destroyed or stolen by the barbarian plunderers.

==Regions==
===Ankra===
*'''Quality:''' Hills
The mountains of Ankra are the site of some of the oldest spires in Urizen, including the ruins of one of the most prestigious - the library of [[#Ruins of Ankarien|Ankarien]]. The most well known settlement was the Spire of Endless Horizen; home to the architect ''Tiborion'' who is one of the ring leaders of the [[A_question_of_loyalty#Urizen|secessionist Urizen]].

===Apstrus===
*'''Qualities:''' Ruins, Marsh
The lower slopes of the Apstrus peaks are covered in rolling woodland, carefully cultivated by ushabti and at one time produced a great bounty of [[forest]] materials, especially [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming|iridescent gloaming]]. The ''dreaming spires of Apstrus'' (as they were often known) were dedicated to philosophical thought, their forest-bounty providing the inhabitants with lives of comfort despite their location on the very eastern edge of the Empire. One of the most prestigious was '''Solen's Doubt'''. Dedicated to experimental philosophy, it was a place for solitary study and thought. Unsurprisingly, it was overrun during the barbarian march to conquer the territory. The Battle of Solen's Doubt shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE saw Imperial and Grendel forces clash here for the final time during the campaign. Three Grendel armies disbanded due to the actions of the Iron Helms, and the {{Black Plateau}} became fully active. Five hundred Imperials died in the very instant the plateau awoke; both forces withdrew in disarray in the wake of the calamity.

Of special interest to the Urizen, the central [[Urizen_culture_and_customs#The_Heliopticon|Heliopticon]] tower for Spiral stood on the northern slopes of Apstrus, the heart of the communication network. The defenders held the tower for several months against the barbarians, allowing the rest of Spiral additional warning of army movements, and relaying desperate messages for aid to Morrow and Redoubt. Though the tower finally fell, it is still unknown if the barbarians destroyed the specially calibrated mirror and the light-source (a glowing stone infused with the magic of the realm of Day), or stole them away. Some recent rumours suggest these two components might have been hidden by the defenders, and only uncovered recently, but the facts are unclear - and idle speculation has no place in the study of history.

===Apulus===
*'''Qualities:''' City, Coastal
Before it was taken by the barbarians, Apulus was the gateway to adventure for the people of Urizen and, to a degree, the Empire. Expeditions south into the wilds of [[Bay_of_Catazar#Mareave|Mareave]] would rest here before undertaking their quests into the unknown wilderness. Ships from across the Bay of Catazar docked at the coastal spires here, with [[The League|League]] and [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] adventurers in particular being regular visitors.

The jewel on the coast here is the city of [[#Apulian|Apulian]] whose fortunes have been extremely mixed in the years since the original Grendel invasion. What started as a minor frontier settlement that was the last resting place for adventurous citizens journeying south has now blossomed into a thriving city on par with [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] and [[Hahnmark#Kalpaheim|Kalpaheim]]

===Ateri===
*'''Quality:''' Hills
[[#Ruins_of_Fort_Mezudan|Fort Mezudan]] once stood on the slopes of the mountains here before its destruction by Grendel magic. The Onyx Path is one of the [[#The Passes|three passes]] wide enough to allow an [[Army]] to move between Spiral and the rest of the Empire. The eastern end of the pass was guarded by Fort Mezudan, while the western end is protected by the [[Redoubt#The_Court_of_the_White_Fountain|Court of the White Fountain]].

===Cinion===
* '''Quality:''' Silver Flame
The wide valleys of Cinion are lush and covered in rolling woodland. Until [[Beware_my_power#The_Rejuvenation_of_Cinion|Winter 380YE]] the region was littered with ruined spires, most long since looted by the barbarians. Several of these spires stood over plentiful [[mine|mines]] and there were many rich veins of [[Materials#Tempest Jade|tempest jade]] and [[Materials#Weltsilver|weltsilver]]. The mines remain, but almost all the ruined spires are now gone. Those that survived the [[380YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Fire on the Mountains|supernatural fires that raged across the mountains]] in Spring 380YE were consumed by [[Beware_my_power#The_Rejuvenation_of_Cinion|trees and vegetation]] invoked with powerful Spring magic designed to rejuvenate the area.

One small area proved resistant to the magic released to heal the wounded hills. A grove of blasted and burnt trees, no more than twenty-feet across, remains devoid of greenery to this day. Magicians who have visited the area suggest that it is infused with the power of [[Winter magic]] and that it forms the locus of a [[regio]] tied to the [[The_Thrice-cursed_Court|Thrice-cursed Court]]. A small group of [[Urizen magical traditions#Illuminates|illuminates]] have committed to keeping an eye on the place; their suggestion in Winter 382YE lead to the creation of [[#The Block|the Block]] that now occupies the blasted grove and provides magical protection to the spires of Spiral against the influence of the {{Black Plateau}}.

The [[#The Three Passes|Crow Road]] is one of the three passes that connect Spiral to the Empire, linking Cinion with [[Redoubt#Willstone|Willstone]] in [[Redoubt]]. The eastern end of the pass is watched by the resourceful sentinels of Willstone spire, while the eastern end emerges in the hills above the area that was once home to [[Zenith#Crucible of Fate|Damakan's Forge]].

===Ossuary===
Ossuary takes its name from the large number of giant bones regularly unearthed in the mines here. Scholars are at a loss to explain them - some claim they may be the bones of great [[Mundane_beasts#Drakes|drakes]] or perhaps even [[Legendary_beasts#Dragons.2C_Wyverns_and_Wyrms|dragons]]. Many of these bones have been exported to other parts of the Empire where they are studied or presented as curiosities.

The [[#The Legacy|Legacy]] is in Ossuary; a vital resource that once provided mithril to the people of Urizen, and now serves to support the ambitions of the League. It was lost to the Grendel in Summer 379YE, and traded hands between them, the Empire, and the Druj for many years before being [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Allocation|allocated]] to the League in [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Allocate_the_Legacy|Autumn 385YE]]

From northern Ossuary, the [[#The Passes|Twilight Gate]] connects Spiral to [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]] in [[Zenith]]. This "pass" is wide enough that it would be extremely difficult to close it without constructing a [[fortification]] at one end or the other.

===Screed===
*'''Quality:''' Accursèd
The [[#The Black Plateau|{{Black Plateau}}]] occupies most of Screed. Even when the territory was held by Urizen, Screed was largely deserted apart from temporary camps of scholars studying the plateau and its artefacts. When the region was held by the Druj they used scavenging teams - some supplemented with human slaves - here to source new instruments of cruelty. Now, small encampments of daring Leagueish adventurers are dotted across Screed, but likewise have avoided creating any permanent settlements.

==Strategic Considerations==
The {{Black Plateau}} has major strategic implications for any conflict in the territory. As well as the effects mentioned above, whenever armies have clashed in Spiral the influence of the {{Black Plateau}} has made everything worse in an unpredictable fashion. Any extended campaign in Spiral will need to take that into account.

The mountains that surround Spiral have a direct impact on how [[Army|armies]] can move into and out of the territory. The only easily accessible routes are via the passes. Entering or leaving Spiral is ''only'' possible between [[Redoubt#Optarion|Optarion]] and [[Spiral#Ateri|Ateri]] (the Onyx Path); [[Redoubt#Willstone|Willstone]] and [[Spiral#Cinion|Cinion]] (the Crow Road); [[Zenith#Proceris|Proceris]] and the northern [[Spiral#Ossuary|Ossuary]] (the Twilight Gate); and [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulus]] to [[Bay_of_Catazar#Mareave|Mareave]] on the [[Bay_of_Catazar#The_Broken_Shore_and_Attar|Broken Shore]] (the Apulian Way).
<div style="float:left; width: 350px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=SenatorSpiral.jpg|caption=Genoveva Barossa d'Apulian, Senator for Spiral|align=left|width=350}}</div>
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Spiral|Territory=Spiral|Season=Summer}}
==OOC Notes==
* As of the start of the Summer Solstice 386YE, the [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Ratify_Treaty_with_Urizen_of_the_Silver_Flame|Silver Flame]] control Cinion. The League, and by extension the Empire, controls the rest of the territory.
* Shortly before Spring 382YE, the {{Black Plateau}} awoke to full malignancy. Its influence is felt across the entire territory.
* [[#Apulian|The Palace of Apulian]] is a rank one [[fortification]] in Apulus
* [[#Ballaghadruh|Ballaghadruh]] is a rank one fortification in Ossuary
* [[business|Businesses]] in the territory benefit from the Bridge of Air and Curstag's Way and produce an extra 72 rings each season.
* [[mana site|Mana sites]] in the territory benefit from the Bridge of Air and produce an extra mana crystal each season.
* Following the Summer Solstice 385YE, the Urizen National Assembly sent '''Lepidina''' to [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_67|enact a mandate]] urging Urizen residents of Spiral to avoid cooperating with the new inhabitants. This included refusing to share the secrets of [[#The Block|the Block]] with them which led to an increase in construction costs and the need for additional wains of mithril. During the Summer Solstice 386YE the Urizen Assembly sent '''Tarquinius Ankarien''' to [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_96|enact a mandate]] urging the Urizen who still live in Spiral to use the Block to help protect the minds of all citizens from the malignant {{Black Plateau}} removing the need for additional construction costs and wains of mithril. Further details can be found in the '''[[The fate of the many#A Precious Secret|Fate of the many]]''' and the '''[[The_city_below#The_Block|The city below]]''' winds of fortune.

[[Category:The League]][[Category:Gazetteer]][[Category:Imperial_Territory]][[Category:Urizen]]

Grace that comes with healing

2026-06-03T20:32:12Z

Wrenna:

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]]
<ic>
"You're off your bloody rocker!" shouted Pietro.

Pawdrig raised his tankard and slowly drained it. In truth, it was already empty, but the gesture gave him time to marshal his thoughts. He'd been hoping for a better response than this when he joined the table.

"Look," he responded. "All I'm saying is that we should ''think'' about it. What's wrong with that?"

"What is there to bloody think about? It's the {{Black Plateau}}! It's a great big steaming pile of shit and the sooner we're rid of it, the better. The. End."

From the way Pawdrig's new drinking companions were eyeing him, it was clear he wasn't winning this argument. Not currently. He needed to change the framing.

"Which is worse... the {{Black Plateau}}... or the Grendel?" he asked.

"{{Black Plateau}}!" came a chorus of responses.

"No, right, but no. But think about it. The Grendel can't invade us while the {{Black Plateau}} is doing its thing, can they? If it goes away... maybe we all end up in the salt mines? Then what, eh?" He stared pointedly into the eyes of each of his fellow drinkers in turn to emphasise his point.

"Can't is doing an awful lot of work there, buddy," pointed out Anabetta, the bravo at the other side of the table.

"Nah... he's right..." chimed in Graeme, the only other orc drinking with them. "Back when... well you know... back when... The Salt Lords were not up for a fight here. Not while the {{Black Plateau}} was doing its... thing."

"You agree with this idiot?" demanded Pietro.

"I'm not saying it ''can't'' happen." answered Graeme. "But it's a big risk, innit? For them and us. I don't reckon they'd do it unless they had no other cards left to throw down. But if Morning Glory puts it to sleep... well: suddenly it's a much better play... isn't it?"

Pawdrig leaned back in his chair and spread his hands wide to make it clear the orc had just won his argument for him.
</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 30%;; clear: right; margin: 15px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Aquamarine pool.jpg|align=right|width=2000}}</div>
==Overview==
Over the last two years [[Ylenwe]] has aided multiple times with helping mend the damage from the ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]]. Now, with Cold Sun increasingly a grim memory for the people of the Empire - though all too real a threat to the lands across the Sea of Steel - zie is reaching out in earnest to the Empire. It seems the ''Perfect Morning'' feels, with a year of friendship between them, that now is the time to talk of healing and harmony.

==The Dam of Apstrus==
* '''The river Doubt in Apstrus has been dammed'''
* '''The Dreaming Spire has been completed'''
* '''Icarion is thriving'''
For the last year, Ylenwe has provided succour to the people of Spiral. Zie sent forth her [[Daybreak_in_Spiral#The_Dawn_Chorus|Dawn Chorus]], a flock of strange winged beings with the approximate shape of a human or an orc but covered in white, dove-like feathers, and clad in shimmering robes. The Chorus has been a welcome sight for any traveller braving the wilds of [[Spiral]] in the last year, for in its presence the howling madness of the {{Black Plateau}} is reduced to a murmur. Yet the Chorus cannot be everywhere - its duty was to assist an Imperial army in the heroic task of [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Construct_Apstrus_Dam|damming]] the River Doubt in [[Spiral#Apstrus|Apstrus]] and diverting a portion of its flow to [[Mareave#Icarion|Icarion]], as part of a wider effort to reduce [[Mareave|Mareave's]] aridity. The [[Towerjacks]] - and one lone military unit of '''Towlen Nighthaven''' - [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Military_Council_orders#Towerjacks|have been hard at work]] this season doing exactly that.

The dam itself is a stout building of practical Holbergian design - it is steadfast and well-built. Not perhaps beautiful in form, but still pleasing in the way it fulfils its function. The dam is carefully shaped. The most ingenious aspect of its construction is its paired [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spillway spillways]. The minor spillway faces south-east towards Mareave, through the narrow traveller's pass that links Apstrus and Icarion. This has always been a treacherous journey - now it is one that only an owner of a particularly sturdy raft could hope to contemplate, and they would be well-advised to have their affairs in order.

The designers of the dam have carefully calculated the required flow such that as much water as possible is channelled to Icarion - but the narrows between the two territories can only carry so much water. As such, the dam also possesses a major spillway, an outflow that spills the excess water through the wooded ruins of the lower part of the region, down to [[Spiral#Apulian|Apulian]] below. Wags have taken to calling the two flows the Lesser and Greater Doubts, respectively.

<quote by="Announced by Lucrezia Corvinascura, Chair of the Wolf">To celebrate two years of friendship, prosperity, and the completion of the League's reckoning with Urizen, our premier building society - Red Raven Holdings - commissions this gift to our neighbours in Spiral: to build <u>The Dreaming Spire</u> upon Mount Cinnius, Ankra, Spiral. It will serve as a home for the Omphalos of Urizen, the Library of Solen's Doubt, and all Urizen Spiralites, wherever they may be. Irrespective of political boundaries, the Omphalos is the heart of Urizen's people, with whom we are proud to live, side by side.</quote>

A good portion of Apstrus now lies below the waters, including the site of the grim battle of Solen's Doubt where the {{Black Plateau}} rose to full wakefulness. The spire of Solen's Doubt is gone now, lost beneath the waters, but the texts of its library that are the legacy of the dead to the living have been removed to the [[Custodian of the Omphalos|Dreaming Spire]], an [[Daybreak_in_Spiral#The_Omphalos|Omphalos]] marking the heart of the [[Urizen]] nation. A heart that will always lie here in Spiral now, even as the territory's fate is tied up with the city below rather than the spires above.

The waters of the reservoir are calm and still - they show no sign of the pain or terror of the past, save for a few ruined spire-tops visible when the water is at a lower ebb. No restless dead wander here - the work of [[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Wards_of_the_Restless|Varushkan volhovs]] has seen those unfortunate souls either moved on or at least kept from haunting the dam and its reservoir. The [[Imperial Orcs]] have [[Damming_the_Doubt#The_Bones_of_the_Fallen|worked especially hard]] to ensure that no bones of their kin lie here, and the names of their fallen lost at Solen's Doubt have been [[Construct_Apstrus_Dam|inscribed painstakingly]] into the brickwork of the dam.

There is a fundamental air of solemnity and finality to Apstrus now. There have been ruined spires for a long time here, but now they have a weight to them - what an Imperial Orc might call an air of ''worth''. The efforts to ensure that the Dam of Apstrus is a monument to solemn finality and the remembered dead have quelled any fears that restless spirits would trouble the region, but nevertheless that sense of finality now gives the region the ''ruins'' quality. The spreading delta formed by the Greater Doubt - whose waters once reached the sea through many disparate narrow streams and tributaries rather than a great outflow - has naturally flooded the lower portion of the region, and so it also gains the ''marsh'' quality.

===Clear Waters in Icarion===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Kirriemuir Campgrounds'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' Sinecure</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Icarion, Mareave</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 30 mithril and 90 crowns in labour</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Creates the title of Keeper of the Kirriemuir Campgrounds, and encourages Yerende settlement in the region.</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Opportunity ends if not commissioned before the end of Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table>
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Keeper of the Kirriemuir Campgrounds'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Imperial Orc</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Imperial Orc Senators</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Powers:''' Receives 4 pawns of Day vis</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:''' To ensure that the Kirriemuir Campgrounds remain a tranquil beauty spot for the weary traveller</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Icarion is quickly becoming an oasis'''
* '''There is an opportunity to develop the Kirriemuir campgrounds into a beauty spot'''
* '''This will encourage members of the Yerende sept to settle in Mareave'''
Ylenwe's heralds have been seen often in Icarion. Even amidst the fighting in the territory, they have found places of tranquil harmony here, by the waters that flow ever-freer day by day. One such place is the small campground and traveller's post known as Kirriemuir. Kirriemuir was long just a bend in the road - barely anyone lived there, and it was just one stopping-place amidst Icarion's dry foothills. Now it is growing day by day. There are [[Sannite|Sannites]] here, but also a burgeoning community of [[Yerende]], who have made the long journey south to make a home here, where there is now no shortage of gardens to tend.

A fresh spring has arisen here, amidst a newly-formed [[Realm#Day|Day]] [[regio]], the groundwater of Mareave finally spilling over after centuries of parched neglect. The waters fizz as they come from the ground, not with the primal strength associated with Spring but a calming burbling fizz that carries pleasantly on the air. Where the fizzing waters have arisen, Ylenwe's heralds have begun to walk. They offer fresh mineral water from the spring to weary travellers, and a listening ear for those tormented by the travails of life or recovering from time on the front lines. The waters of Kirriemuir taste wonderful - not the neutral refreshment of pure water, but a textured taste that only geology and aeons of time can render. They have curious magical properties too: when mixed with a few simple dyes, they make an excellent base for the substance known as [[Vis#Prismatic_Ink|prismatic ink]].

There is an [[opportunity]] here. The Senate could develop Kirriemuir into a beauty spot and create the title of Keeper of the Kirriemuir Campgrounds. This would result in a sinecure providing four [[Vis#Prismatic_Ink|prismatic ink]] every season. Moreover, developing the campground will increase the size of the Yerende community here; the region will gain the ''Yerende'' keyword. The heralds have indicated that they are happy to continue dwelling here if Perfect Morning retains [[Alignment#Amity|amity]], but the effervescent waters of Kirriemuir are likely to continue flowing with or without them - their presence is a symptom of what has happened here, not its cause.

==Sing a Song of Solace==
* '''Ylenwe has conceived of a way to bring harmony to the {{Black Plateau}}'''
* '''The solution requires a perfect piece of music and somewhere to perform it'''
Ylenwe has enjoyed a year of amity because the [[eternal]] promised to use the time to study the {{Black Plateau}}. The hope was to find a lasting solution to protect Spiral from its pernicious influence. While [[Spiral#The_Block|the Block]] screens those who dwell in the spires or densely-packed streets of Apulian, that still makes travel in the territory uniquely perilous - even the [[My_friends_are_my_estate#The_Dark_Mesa|recent proposals]] to build a fortification on the edge of the dark mesa would not wholly solve this problem.

''The Morningstar'' has completed a great study of the {{Black Plateau}} but zie is no closer to understanding how it was made than when zie began. ''Childe of Gentleness'' believes it is fundamentally not a creation of ritual magic. While ritual magic has exacerbated it in the past, especially the rituals of Night, it is fundamentally some magic of the mortal world that it is beyond zir nature to understand in its construction - some manipulation of the very essence of the world itself that zie cannot perceive.

Though the Dove has no answer to the question posed by the {{Black Plateau}}, zie ''has'' discovered a remedy - music. Many eternals have some interest in music - not least Sung, who has [[Never ending or beginning|her own interests in Spiral]] - but one of its clearest advocates was always Ylenrith. That passion endures, though Ylenwe's interest is focused on its capacity to bring inner harmony and a sense of numinous clarity. Zie is still interested in the perfection of music in its technical aspect, as Ylenrith was, and they are greatly appreciative of the craft of composition. But the Dove is clear that zie believes music has a capacity to uplift and help those who hear it find inner perfection. The {{Black Plateau}} is disharmony incarnate - what better way to soothe it than music?

The land itself cries out an endless song of anger and pain, disharmonious mourning for folly and grief, loss and faithlessness. Ylenwe's heralds note that the ''First Companion'' too, is a being hurt and healing - but who, through music has found a way to love zirself again. To quiet the {{Black Plateau}} needs the same approach. First, the right piece of music is needed, something mathematically perfect. Secondly, an appropriate place must be built for that music to be played, and carried in a chorus by Ylenwe's servants.

===A Piece Apart===
* '''Ylenwe has found a piece of perfect music'''
* '''The eternal entreats Hieronymus Dowland to perform the piece at 13:00 on Saturday in the Hall of Worlds'''
Where there is sorrow, there is a chance for the grace of healing. Some time ago, Dove charged zir heralds with finding someone capable of producing a mathematically perfect piece of music. Since Morningstar took that step first, zie did not know why it was needed then. Time has brought clarity to what was obscured; causality is a strange thing in the realm of Day.

'''Hieronymus Dowland''' of [[Dawn]] was identified as the optimal candidate, someone zie hoped to name the Chosen of Ylenwe. Unfortunately, due to a series of miscommunications - for which the Dove seems to blame zirself above all else - the eternal has not yet been able to meet with Hieronymus, nor hear the piece. However, the Dove now knows that Hieronymus's piece of music must be the foundation-stone for the chorus that can soothe the rageful stones of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]].
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=250]]</div>
The Dove wishes to hear the piece - and indeed, have it be heard in public - and to discuss the matter with Hieronymus. As such, zie humbly requests Hieronymus perform his piece to a public audience in the Hall of Worlds at 13:00 on the Saturday of the Spring Equinox. The Morningstar accepts that the worthies of the Empire have many demands on their time, but the [[High Bard of the Empire|High Bard]], the [[Archmage of Day]], and the Maestro of the [[Arranging grace|Cat's Graces]] (if they exist), are all welcome to join the audience if they are free. Indeed, any and all are invited to attend and to listen - provided that all understand that the purpose of the meeting is to give Hieronymus a chance to perform the perfect music he has crafted.

If Hieronymus wants to adapt the piece now he understands its purpose, he is welcome to do so, but zie assures him it is not necessary. The harmonious foundation the musician has already created is more than sufficient for what is required. If the composer can provide Ylenwe with the notation for the piece, so much the better, but again there is no requirement to do so.

===The Stone Becomes the Foundation===
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightBlue;">'''Harmonious Chimes'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Edifice]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Location:''' Screed, Spiral</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Cost:''' 13 white granite, 13 mithril, 14 illium, and 78 crowns</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Time:''' Three months</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Special:'''
* Requires Hieronymus Dowland to agree to allow his music to be used by Ylenwe to calm the {{Black Plateau}}
* Opportunity ceases to be available if Ylenwe is placed under emnity</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* Creates a ring of amplifiers around the {{Black Plateau}} that, in conjunction with perfect music, soothe it to quiescence for a year
* Creates opportunities to find ways to deal with the threat of the {{Black Plateau}} permanently</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Opportunity ends if not commissioned before the end of Spring Equinox 388YE</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Ylenwe has presented plans to help quiet the {{Black Plateau}}'''
* '''The plan involves the creation of thirteen pillars in a golden spiral'''
* '''The performance of Hieronymus' perfect harmony is part of this plan'''
''Pathway to Serenity'' envisages the creation of a ring of thirteen monoliths of [[mithril]] and [[ilium]] in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_spiral Golden Spiral] spinning out from the centre of the {{Black Plateau}}. The position of each has been carefully calculated by Ylenwe, starting from a point of perfect stillness, at the centre and radiating outwards to reach the borders of [[Spiral#Screed|Screed]].

Working with the Empire's magicians, Cradlesong could give light to a Day regio there, on the border, at the point where the silence meets the storm. That spot would be become an Island of Solace, protected by the power of the regio from the chaos of the rest of the Plateau. Once complete, members of the Dawn Chorus would perform on the Island itself, ideally alongside Imperial magicians. The refrain they would take up - the refrain made resonant in the edifice's very construction - would be Hieronymous's piece.

It is the fact that it is a piece made by mortal hands that is the key, it seems. Indeed, ''Epsilon Close'' is clear that zir magic would not have sufficed. Zir nature as Ylenwe, not Ylenrith, was necessary to understand the harmony required, but it is not a harmony zie is capable of reproducing alone. The Black Plateau is a mortal barbarity, and what mortal hands made only mortal hands can destroy. This has resulted in the fortunate side-effect being that Ylenwe does not require the cession of the edifice for it to function.

The harmony of the music and the disharmony of the {{Black Plateau}} would weave together, lulling it back to a state of relative quiescence - quieter than it has been in several generations. This effect would last for only a single year, and intense fighting, violence, or outbreaks of fear and anger amongst the people of Spiral would surely foreshorten the duration. For those four seasons, however, the beating heart of despair at the heart of Screed would be ''quiet''. Travellers in the wilds of Spiral would no longer be assailed, at least not while the Chorus still sang.

If the plateau can be quieted with harmony, then Ylenwe reasons that the knot of anger and hate and fear that is embedded at its heart could, metaphorically, be unwound permanently. Exactly how it can be done and what it, Screed, and Spiral might look like if this were achieved, Ylenwe cannot say. Such things are not within the purview of the Perfect Morning: that would be a matter for mortals. All zie can say, with the certainty of a Hierarch of Sea and Sky, is that it ''can'' be done and that the harmonious music and the ring of resonant amplifiers is the first step.

Once it is quiescent, then the Empire could send [[Appraisal|prognosticators]] to study the {{Black Plateau}} to try to solve the problem more permanently. Likely it will need careful study by the best minds of Imperial magic. The right [[Conclave order|order]] might be able to properly understand how it exerts its influence and how to counter it. It would be a race against time, given that whatever they discovered would need to be put into operation as swiftly as possible. Ylenwe has no doubt, however, that the Empire can succeed.

Morningstar invites any who wish to be part of this discussion to attend the performance of the piece, so that the matter may be talked about with more confidence afterwards. Zie hopes that Hieronymus will also stay and assist zir in these discussions - as a being of Day, ''Nested Interval'' occasionally struggles to communicate clearly zir intent and motivations.

===A Discordant Solo===
* '''Pawdrig duSesna points out that Apulian could be argued to benefit from the presence of the {{Black Plateau}}'''
The idea of quieting the {{Black Plateau}} is popular with many, but not everyone thinks it is a good idea. There's always someone who thinks something is a bad idea, and so it proves. ''Pawdrig'', a member of the duSesna Guild of Reckoners, cannot help but point out that the Block has proved largely effective at keeping the influence of the {{Black Plateau}} out of the city of Apulian. That's not a reason to leave it active, of course, but there is some evidence that the {{Black Plateau}} has ''also'' kept the Grendel armies out of Spiral. Pawdrig is quite blunt about it - ''"It's all well and good to run round bringing harmony to the {{Black Plateau}} or whatever it is the Big White Bird wants to do, but it'll be one bloody expensive concerto if it opens the door to a Grendel invasion..."''

Discussion of the matter with any well-connected Apulian orcs confirms that the Salt Lords Council are notoriously jumpy about the {{Black Plateau}}. They lost entire armies when it exploded - the experience left them wary of risking an invasion. Of course nothing is guaranteed, but once they discover the {{Black Plateau}} is ''quiet'', any "protection" it did provide would quickly evaporate.

==On Wings to Perfection==
<div style="width: 350px; float: right; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: LightGreen;">'''Cultivator of Solace'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Type:''' Chosen</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Appointment:''' Eternal</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Income:'''
* One Dove's Feather each season
* Up to five prismatic ink each season
* A magical musical instrument once a year </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Responsibilities:'''
* To bring harmony where there is discord
* To spread appreciation for the arts of music and mathematics
* To represent Ylenwe in zir dealings with the Empire</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''Ylewnwe plans to choose an Imperial citizen to be their Cultivator of Solace'''
''Pathway to Serenity'' also believes the time is right to invite an Imperial citizen to become zir ''Cultivator of Solace''. Zie intends to offer the position first to Hieronymus Dowland, but if they decline zie intends to find another prepared to take up the post. The Cultivator is charged with striving to bring solace to places with a troubled history of sorrow and pain, like Spiral. They would also be responsible for spreading appreciation for the arts of music and mathematics, as well as soothing troubled spirits and working to make the Empire a more harmonious place.

Being Ylenwe's chosen instrument to cultivate solace within the Empire brings with it certain boons from the eternal. Zie would provide them with a ''Dove's Feather'' each season - a unique item that could be activated once to send a short message to the eternal. This is intended to allow the Cultivator to keep Ylenwe informed about their efforts to bring harmony and solace to the Empire, both what they have done and what they intend to do. It is zir expectation that the Cultivator would work to identify people and places in need of peace, harmony, or tranquillity and do their best to foster them.

The eternal would offer zir aid when zie was able to. As long as the message shows the Protector is working towards the shared goal of harmony, zie would provide them with as many as five vials of [[prismatic ink]] each season. The Cultivator should not expect to hear from Ylenwe unless zie had something important to say, but if they received the vis from their patron, they could take that as a sign that they still enjoyed the eternal's favour.

Finally, zie would provide the Cultivator with a musical implement (a form of [[magic items|magic item]]) each year, an ''Instrument of Harmony'' that would empower the Day lore and Night lore for the ritualist who was bonded to it and played it during the performance of a ritual. The Cultivator could use the instrument themselves, or provide it to another who would use it to pursue harmony.

Unlike an [[Imperial title]], Ylenwe would choose who held the position. Being the Cultivator of Solace would not make one ineligible to hold an Imperial title, but it ''could'' invite questions about "split loyalties". Ylenwe zirself is less inclined to choose someone as zir Protector who already holds a title, as they would already have calls on their Loyalty and their time. The Cultivator would serve as long as they wish, or until Ylenwe feels that their cooperation has achieved everything together that is possible. Whoever is chosen is not subject to [[revocation]] nor even the [[Writ of Excommunication|writ of excommunication]] - because they are not an Imperial title. If the ''Pure Morning'' is placed under [[Alignment#Enmity|enmity]], however, they may be called on to prove they have severed ties with Ylenwe or else be charged with receiving aid from an eternal enemy of the Empire.

Ylenwe asks that Hieronymus consider the matter prior to the meeting in the Hall of Worlds and express their decision as to whether to take up the post at that time. Zie wishes them to understand that there is no obligation, nor will zie be offended if they decline.

==Harmony in Mind and Body==
<div style="float:right; width: 350px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><tr><td style="background-color: #C994FF;">'''Appraise Ylenwe's Aid'''</tr>
<tr><td>'''Motion Type:''' [[Appraisal]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Necessary Details:''' Prognosticator chosen </td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:''' Presents opportunities agreed with the eternal Ylenwe, for them to render aid to the Silver Chalice
<tr><td>'''Special:''' Requires a change to the manifesto of the Silver Chalice</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:'''
* Until the end of the Summer Solstice 388YE
* Only available while Ylenwe is not under enmity
</td></tr>
</table></div>
* '''A herald of Ylenwe wishes to discuss holistic medicine and wellbeing with members of the Silver Chalice'''
* '''Asymptotic Blessing hopes to encourage the order to re-examine their manifesto'''
* '''If that happens, the eternal would work with the Prognosticator's Office to find ways to support the Silver Chalice'''
When zie visits the Hall of Worlds to hear Hieronymous's work, zie will not come alone. Zie is bringing one of their most beloved heralds, ''Asymptotic Blessing'', as well as a few of Asymptotic Blessing's fellows.

Asymptotic Blessing has been given the task by Ylenwe to focus on another aspect of zir interests; the arts of holistic healing. Over the last year, as Ylenwe has enjoyed the amity of the Conclave, zir heralds have been a quiet presence throughout the Empire. They are genial white-feathered humanoids with a silvery teal sheen to their skin, who seem drawn to places of contemplation or healing. Notably, however, they have eschewed hospitals and places where the art of the physick is practised in its conventional form. Ylenrith used to encourage healers to explore and embrace advances in medical sciences, moving away from superstition and tradition, but Ylenwe is known to favour an approach to medicine which emphasises finding the root cause of illness rather than focusing on treating symptoms, and recognising the link between the body and the spirit.

Asymptotic Blessing wishes to speak to the [[Grandmaster]] of the [[Silver Chalice]] and other members of her order. He - and by extension Ylenwe - would be delighted to discover if the Grandmaster sees things as they do. Currently, the order's constitution puts a heavy emphasis on medicine - on working with physicks and apothecaries, and on the precise and surgical nature of physical healing. This has its place - though healing as an expression of irrepressible life is more of an expression of the Primal Forest than the Cascading Skysea. The hope, however, is that the Silver Chalice might be open to a holistic view of the healing arts, one which nourishes the spirit as much as the body, aching heart as much as stinging wounds.

Asymptotic Blessing doesn't want to come with a particular set of prescriptions. It would just like to have an open conversation with the Grandmaster about the order's constitution - to explore the limits of what could and couldn't change. If a set of proposals could be found that Asymptotic Blessing and his fellows thought better reflected Ylenwe's holistic view of the healing arts, and the Senate approve the change to [[Silver_Chalice#The_Manifesto|the Order's manifesto]], it could unlock many benefits.

If that happened, Ylenwe's heralds would bequeath 2 pawns of prismatic ink each season to the order for as long as they did not have enmity. In addition, the Senate could order an [[appraisal]] of all the ways that Ylenwe might work with the [[Conclave order]] to support them. Heralds of the Day eternal would work with members of the Prognosticator's Office (or the Beurteilung) to produce a set of proposals that were acceptable to Ylenwe, which the Empire would then be free to consider at their leisure.

Asymptotic Blessing's plan is to arrive with at least one companion alongside Ylenwe in the Hall of Worlds, to listen to the perfect piece that will be performed. Afterwards, they hope to find a corner of the Hall of Worlds for him and his fellows to talk with the Grandmaster and those she wishes to involve in the discussion - presumably a different corner to where the eternal is in counsel with those considering the fate of Spiral and the {{Black Plateau}}.

==Further Reading==
* [[Spiral]]
* [[Ylenwe]]

Madruga

2026-06-03T19:47:32Z

Wrenna:

[[Category:Imperial_Territory]][[category:The Brass Coast]]
{{stub}}
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Madruga_Made_Anew.png|align=left|caption=Artist's Impression of Madruga|width=600}}</div>[[Category:Gazetteer]]
== Overview ==
Madruga of the Jewelled Isles is the easternmost territory of the Brass Coast, running from the [[Kahraman]] mountains down to the Bay of Catazar. Down the coast of Madruga and [[Feroz]] the [[corsair|corsairs]] and merchants raise their sails, running goods to [[Bastion]] and [[Sarvos]], trading with foreign powers, and fighting off barbarian incursions.

It is the most densely settled of the Freeborn territories; the nation began here, with the landing of the three sisters and their families at old [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]]. Over generations, their descendants spread across the mainland building and cultivating, until Madruga was tamed. Today, it is scattered with villages and small towns - the sprawling city [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]] at its height rivalled the cities of [[the League]] in size and wealth.

It is the spiritual home of the [[Corsair|corsairs]]; many maritime families have lived on the islands of [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] and [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]] since the earliest days of the Freeborn nation.

The history of Madruga is one of change, however. The [[Grendel]] have attacked the islands and towns here for centuries; usually their fleets are intercepted at sea before they can do too much damage, but there have been times when their raiders have sacked coastal settlements. For a few harrowing months in the years before the foundation of the Empire, the Grendel swept inland here conquering [[#Lightsea|Lightsea]] and the islands, and threatening to burn Siroc. They were turned back after months of vicious fighting, but the memory of their attack is sometimes credited by historians as being a factor in the decision of the Freeborn to join the Empire. Since the disappearance of [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]], life in the territory has become even more tumultuous, with regular Grendel attacks compounded with deadly magical chaos.
==Recent History==
After the Autumn Equinox 381YE, the [[Grendel]] armada invaded Madruga. They [[381YE Winter Solstice winds of war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the Freeborn Storm]], burnt the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards_.28Ruined.29|Atalaya shipyards]], and brought the [[Black Thorns]] to the brink of annihilation. Their forces then moved against [[Madruga#Lightsea|Lightsea]], raided the port of Quzar, and within short order half the coast of Madruga was in their hands. The Empire responded quickly, driving the Grendel out, but it was only a matter of time before they returned.

Shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE, the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Blood_Red_Roads|Blood Red Roads]] were completed, providing merchants and traders easy access to Freeborn luxuries and allowing the caravans of the Brass Coast to travel much more easily to some of the wealthiest cities across the Empire. For more than half a decade the roads 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_Blood_Red_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]].

In the Winter of 385YE, the Grendel returned to Madruga in force, accompanied by warships from the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. In a surprise attack, they [[A beacon of smoke|burnt the city of Siroc]], and established a beachhead in what was then Siroc Plains. In the coming months, war and powerful [[Spring magic]] battered the region, culminating in the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|destruction of the Silent Pillar]] and the formation of the [[Children of Wrecks]]. The [[Siakha]]-inspired pirates began a rampage of their own, even going so far as to use Spring magic to isolate the islands of Free Landing, turning them into a stronghold of their own that Imperial armies cannot approach.

As if this were not bad enough, a [[Colourblind|peculiar blight]] began to spread across the [[#Quiet Grasses|Great Grasses]] in the north-east. The grasslands were quickly turned to ash and dust, and the desiccating [[Winter magic]] threatened to spill over into [[Kahraman]] and [[Segura]]. The cause of the spreading desert was discovered to be a generations-old conspiracy of the ''Aldea di Tutamen'' family who had become awful harbingers of destruction called the Dry Patricians. Their awful threat was stopped by Imperial heroes, but the blight remained.

Then in Autumn 386YE, ritual magicians from every Freeborn [[tribe]] raised the wrath of the Scorrero river, causing it to [[Where the river rises|break its banks]] in a cataclysmic expression of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]] and [[Spring magic#Chaos|chaos]]. A cleansing tide swept across the Great Grasses, washing away the remnants of the blight. In the process, however, the magical floods also transformed the southern reaches of the territory, leaving three new regions that, as the Winter Solstice 386YE approaches, are still being carefully explored.

== Major Features ==
===Trajadoz===
The town of Trajadoz in north-western [[#Torres|Torres]] was founded roughly three hundred years ago by the Trajaduz family of traders who were intent on fostering trade between the mines of newly conquered [[Kahraman]] and the wealth of [[Sarvos]]. The most recent influx of townsfolk was during the invasion of [[Segura]] in 363YE. Since the reclamation of Segura in 378YE it stood mostly empty, save for a few bandits, as the Freeborn returned to their homes. Following the end of the rebellion in Marracoss and Emphedor Imperial fleet captains had an opportunity to [[Through_my_sails#Evacuation|evacuate some of the defeated rebels]]. Roughly a third of the refugees, offered sanctuary in the Empire, have [[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|taken up residence]] in the mostly abandoned town, and created a community.

The Marracossans (never Nemorians, and rarely accepting Asavean) are a disparate group; made up of priests and soldiers, crafters and traders. One of their number Leonorada Rousseau, [[Asavean_Archipelago#Religion|priest of Aseus]], has spent some time in the paradors of nearby [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos]]. They have made clear that they, and their community, like the Empire, and they like the town of Tradajoz. They wish to remain in the town, but Leonorada understands that the community's intent to continue following and worshipping their gods could lead to some unfortunate accusations. In Winter 384YE, the Imperial Senate [[Cede Trajadoz|ceded control of Trajadoz]] to the Nemorians. This has raised a few concerns among their neighbours as it frees them to build temples to their gods if they wish - and indeed to do anything else they want to do. You can read more about the Marracossans in the '''[[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|Large but far away]]''' wind of fortune.
===Calvos===
The bustling town of Calvos lies on the shores of [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]]. The slopes outside the town are rich with grapes, and the fine wines produced here travel all over the Empire. Even the sommeliers of the [[The League|League]] pay well for a Calvos vintage. The [[Paragons and Exemplars|exemplar]] [[Zemress|Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo]] was born here towards the end of the second century YE, and her ship ''The Kraken's Bane'' is housed at a special dry dock here. The ship is a destination for many pilgrims of [[Prosperity]] from as far afield as the [[Sumaah Republic]], as was the nearby [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary]] before it was destroyed in a [[Below_the_thunders#In_Roaring,_Rise|cataclysmic storm]]. Near the seminary ruins stands the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]], a place dedicated to supporting refugees to the Empire, especially those who seek a new family among the Freeborn, and the [[#Zemress Naval Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] (also known as the School of Blood and Brass) where the Freeborn study maritime warfare and the construction of warships.
===Zemress Naval Academy===
[[#Calvos|Calvos]] is the final resting place of the Kraken's Bane, the legendary vessel captained by the exemplar [[Zemress]]. When people fled [[Feroz]] following the Grendel occupation, many of those who looked to Zemress chose to settle in Calvos, drawn by the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary of Zemress]] (before it was destroyed). They swelled the ranks of the faithful and created a unique opportunity to build a ''School of Naval Warfare'' on the Coast. Similar to the ambitious [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|School of Shipbuilding]] originally [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|proposed for Siroc by Frederick di Sarvos]], it is more limited in its scope and focussed purely on teaching and research.

The school allows the Freeborn to delve deep into the practice and theory of [[navy|naval warfare]], allowing them to disseminate newly developed techniques across the Brass Coast and the Empire. Each year the researchers at the school present three possible [[Army qualities|qualities]] that new Imperial navies might be built with. The [[fleet|fleet owners]] of the Brass Coast are then able to vote on which quality they felt was most important - whichever quality wins becomes the focus on their research. Such research often takes a year or more, but once work is complete the Freeborn can again vote on what project to being next (researchers present a new quality to consider, usually alongside the two previously rejected options).

It's notable that several of visiting [[Sumaah]] präster pointed out that if the Empire were prepared to share any new naval techniques they learned with the Republic, then that would be very well received by their fellow adherents of the Way. The Sumaah apparently have two navies of their own, but they are outclassed by the Asaveans, in much the same way that the Empire struggle to compete with the Grendel navies. Redressing that balance would be a huge boost to diplomatic relations with the Sumaah.
{{Anchor|The Lyceum}}

=== The Lyceum (Hidden)===
The Lyceum was established during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] on an island east of Siroc. It is a centre of arcane learning in the Empire, and the [[Dean of the Lyceum]] maintains sumptuous apartments here. Approach to the island is carefully controlled by the magicians and professors, and the most promising magicians are invited to study or teach there.

During the Winter Solstice 385YE, Imperial heroes [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Intercede_at_the_Lyceum_(Battle)|travelled to the Lyceum]] to protect its secrets from the Grendel who sought to claim them. In the process, they activated powerful wards that hid the island behind a wall of fog preventing barbarian or Imperial ships from reaching it. The walls were expected to remain until shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE, but with both the Grendel and the Children of Wrecks threatening the college, the [[Conclave]] accepted an offer from [[Sadogua]] to help [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Sadogua,_Amity|keep the wards up for the time being]] with an eye towards finding a way to get people in and out, and perhaps make the misty wards permanent.

===Atalaya===
The town of Atalaya in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] marks the place where the Brass Coast was born; the first landing of the three sisters and their families. Built around the side of a secluded cove, the seas around the island that share its name are a navigational nightmare. Before the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] was built, reaching the hidden docks of Atalaya was a feat to tax the most skilled ship's crews. Today, the landwards channel has been widened but is protected by hidden obstructions that only the Freeborn pilots know well. Atalaya is also known for its deep natural harbour - many ships of the Freeborn fleet count Atalaya as their home port.

Atalaya is the oldest Freeborn settlement in the Brass Coast, but its prominence was eclipsed centuries ago by [[#Lightsea|Quzar]]. Today, it is a place of pilgrimage for many Freeborn followers of [[the Way]] - there are a number of shrines and temples dedicated to [[Pride]] and [[Vigilance]] here. The [[Vizier_of_the_Incarnadine_Satchel#School of the Sanguine Bloom|School of the Sanguine Bloom]], one of the most prestigious schools dedicated to herb-lore in the Brass Coast also stands here, founded long ago by Sameen i Riqueza, youngest daughter of [[Riqueza]] herself.

With the rise of the [[Children of Wrecks]], the oldest settlement of the Freeborn has been lost to the nation. The museums have been looted, and the once beautiful town transformed into a den of pirates.

===Freeborn Flame Marina===
Work began on the [[Construct_Atalaya_Harbour|reconstruction]] of Atalaya harbour following an opportunity [[The_power_behind_our_moves#Atalaya|presented]] after the National Assembly of the Brass Coast called on the people of Feroz to flee the territory rather than suffer under the hands of the Grendel. Work was completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 385YE and the abundance of willing, talented shipwrights meant [[fleet|fleets]] were more easily upgradeable, at least until the Brass Coast reclaim Feroz. Unfortunately, along with Atalaya, the Freeborn Flame Marina is currently in the hands of the Children of Wrecks.

On the harbour, looking out to sea, are a number of statues each one different but reminiscent of contemporary Freeborn.

===Sunset Roads===
{{Anchor|South-West Roads}}With encouragement from the notoriously sea-averse Faraden, a grand highway connects Siroc with Calvos, cutting across the territory rather than following the coast. A shorter road runs along the northern banks of the Scorrero, crossing just north of [[Segura#Cerevado|Cerevado]] in [[Segura]] via a beautiful arched bridge of white granite. While the road is used extensively by the Faraden, it also serves to cut the journey time from the northern borders of Madruga to the trading city of Siroc, making it a popular route for Freeborn and League merchants as well.

The Sunset Roads are a [[great work]] that complement the already existing [[Lorenzo's Legacy#Blood Red Roads|Blood Red Roads]], bringing increased prosperity to the owners of [[farm|farms]] and [[business|businesses]] in Madruga.

=== The Spider's Dream ===
An elegant bridge spans the river Vassa, connecting [[#Torres|Torres]] to the town of [[Sarvos#Bocche|Trivento]] in Sarvos. It is a marvellous piece of engineering that resembles a spider's web. The [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider%27s_Dream|Spider's Dream]] has significant strategic importance - without it armies cannot cross the Vassa between Sarvos and Madruga without going north and passing through Tassato and the Mournwold. It is overseen by the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]], an [[Imperial title]] uniquely appointed by both the [[senator|senators]] of the League and the Brass Coast together.

The Spider's Dream was once severely damaged by the [[Jotun]], but has since been extensively rebuilt and fortified.

==Regions==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=MadrugaBorders.png|caption=A very rough region map of pre-transformation Madruga|align=right|width=600}}</div>
===Calvos Sound===
* '''Quality:''' Coastal
The town of [[#Calvos|Calvos]] stands on the shores of Calvos Sound; the entire [[territory#regions|region]] is named for the great shallow bay that cuts into the eastern shores of the Brass Coast. The waters of the Sound are prime fishing grounds, and the surrounding slopes are known for their rich agriculture, especially grapes, grapefruits, and pomegranates. At the end of the [[Imperial_history#.28281_YE_-_300_YE.29_The_Second_Interregnum|second interregnum]], Calvos Sound was the site of a vicious engagement between [[Grendel]] raiders and the forces of the [[Red_Wind_Corsairs#History|Red Wind Corsairs]]. Despite catastrophic losses, the Freeborn army held. Close to breaking they were forced to retreat, but the campaign achieved its purpose by convincing the nations of the south that the threat from the Grendel was real, events that would eventually lead to the elevation of [[Empress Deanne]]. To this day, many of the people of Calvos Sound have a notable antipathy for the orcs of the Broken Shore.
===Lightsea===
* '''Quality:''' Coastal
A well-settled region known for the friendliness of its [[The_Brass_Coast_economic_interests#Paradors|paradors]]. The largest settlement here is '''Quzar''', a bustling port town of white towers and stained glass that is sometimes described as the soul of the Brass Coast. The Towers of Quzar are known as a gathering place for [[hakima]] from all across the nation - an annual "council" meets here every midsummer to share knowledge and gossip. Since the completion of the [[Hakima_of_Salt_and_Sand#Parador_of_Salt_and_Sand|Parador of Salt and Sand]], a large community of hakima, including a significant number of refugees from Feroz, have taken up permanent residence here. The town is now best known for its community of magicians, especially those versed in [[Autumn magic]].

Many of the coastal settlements here were plundered by the Grendel during their incursion toward the end of 381YE. Quzar in particular was hard hit by the orc raiders, with some damage to the town and significant damage to the wealth of the citizens. A year later toward the end of 382YE potent magic [[The_mystic,_the_willful#Miracles_in_Lightsea|restored the town]], wiping away any sign the Grendel were ever there.
===Torres===
* '''Quality:''' Foreigners (Marracossans)
The northernmost region of Madruga, and one end of the [[#The Spider's Dream|Spider's Dream]]. The land here is a little more rugged than in the southern regions, and the climate is generally cooler. The people who dwell here share some of the reputation of the miners of [[Kahraman]]; as being suspicious and quarrelsome. Partly this reputation might be a result of regular clashes between Freeborn traders and [[the League|League]] merchants out of [[Sarvos]]. A regular 'problem' for the inhabitants is that League merchants would prefer to travel south to the more prosperous towns of the eastern coast to sell their wares, bypassing the markets of Torres. It is shameful to admit, but there are more incidents of brigandry against League caravans in Torres than in almost any other area around the Bay of Catazar. When such incidents get out of hand, the [[Spider's Tollkeep]] is often prevailed upon to sort them out.

The town of [[#Trajadoz|Trajadoz]] is found in the north-west of Torres. Formerly a home to Freeborn displaced from Kahraman and Segura, it is now home to a very different group of refugees - Marracossan exiles from the [[Asavean Archipelago]].

===Free Landing===
* '''Qualities:''' Coastal, Island
The sprawling islands that form the region of Free Landing are diverse and well-settled. The islands here were the first home of the Freeborn - the town of [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]] marks the spot where the Brass Coast proper began. When the Grendel invaded Madruga in Winter 381YE, they looted many precious relics from the town of Atalaya and burnt the shipyard there to the ground. In the process, they destroyed the Freeborn [[navy|navy]], the Freeborn Storm.

The waters between the islands have a reputation for being treacherous and difficult for foreign captains; during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] the Empire built a great lighthouse here called '''[[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|the Shining Pillar]]''', which was [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|destroyed]] by forces loyal to the eternal [[Siakha]] during the Winter Solstice 385YE. In its place, a perpetual churning maelstrom serves as a way for servants of the eternal to enter the mortal world and functions as an effective [[fortification]] defending the Children of Wrecks.

The waters around Free Landing have become treacherous due to the presence of dozens of immature kraken hatched in the waters by the Children of Wrecks. As a result, the region has gained the '''island''' quality, it cannot be attacked by armies unless each army is accompanied by a navy capable of conveying the soldiers across.{{Anchor|Great Grasses}}

===Quiet Grasses===
* '''Qualities:''' Quiet
The Great Grasses were consumed by the Blight, but have now been restored thanks to the surging Spring waters. They are marked not only from the flooding of the Scorrero, but from a year or more of gentle rain conjured with [[Regrow the Land's Heart]]. Where once there was a sea of jade and emerald grasses, and then a lifeless desert of ash and dust, there is now a profusion of plants and flowers. The grass is different to that which grew before, standing easily taller than the tallest soldier and remarkably resistant to damage. Where the thickets of grass are densest, it is slow going trying to make headway and all too easy to get lost. In addition to the grasses, there are large numbers of broad, open meadows covered in ''flameblooms'' - a mass of previously unseen flowers that grow in a profusion of shapes and a riot of reds, oranges, yellows, and an extremely rare white petalled variety.

There is an odd silence to the Grasses now. The grasses seem to eat sounds, causing the cries of circling hawks to fall flat, and even the blaring of horns sounds tinny and can be heard over comparatively short distances. Even the wind whispers as it flows across the plains. Some scouts tagged the place as the "Quiet Grasses," and while the name may have begun as a wry commentary, it has quickly spread. Magicians say that this silence is partly due to a lingering touch of Winter magic - not the harsher resonances [[Winter_magic#Death|death]] or [[Winter_magic#Survival|survival]] but something less tangible - a sense of sadness, loss, or perhaps the [[Winter_magic#Wisdom|wisdom]] that comes from an awareness of [[Winter magic#Ending|ending]], tinged with the wistfulness for the [[Winter_magic#Preservation|way things were before]].
{{Anchor|Siroc Plains}}

===Siroc Bayou===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Coastal, Ruins, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The region that was once Siroc Plains is now the [[Madruga#Siroc Bayou|Siroc Bayou]]. Slow moving streams and lakes of brackish water characterise the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayou bayou]. The river itself, and the gulf between Madruga and Feroz, teem with fish and other creatures. The fury of the Scorrero, already mitigated by the Crucible, loses itself in meandering, shifting streams as it makes its way to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Here and there, ruined Freeborn settlements and structures emerge from the marshes, or stand surrounded by still pools of water. Even though the flooding that transformed the region are quite recent, many of these ruins look as if they have stood in the marshes for decades, heavily overgrown with odd plant growths. Others are more intact, often serving as lairs for the transformed creatures of the marsh. When the river rose, this region was under control of the Grendel, and [[Below_the_thunders#The_Latter_Fire|battle raged]] between the orcs and Imperial forces. The Grendel have since withdrawn almost all their forces, but there are still signs of abandoned encampments here. Some of the Broken Shore troops were left behind as well, and it seems that in the absence of any easy means of escape they have taken up banditry.

The City of Sails, poor ruined [[Madruga#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]], is now lost beneath the waters of the Bay, or consumed by the marsh. There is no chance of rebuilding - there is little left to rebuild on. There is apparently some interest in the [[Sarcophan Delves]] in [[Hyenas_and_herbs#Hyenas_Under_Sail|purchasing salvage rights]] to the ruins, but only once the [[Children of Wrecks]] problem is resolved.

===Crucible===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The new region of Madruga, north of the Scorrero, was once the southern Great Grasses and the western Siroc Plains. This place has been most obviously transfigured by the unleashed magic, and the odd haze reported by scouts is most pronounced here. Even the least magical explorer can sense that there is magic here; a mixture of Spring magic from the flood and the influence of [[Ossegrahn]], or Night magic tinged by the gifts of [[Azoth]], and even a hint of lingering [[Winter magic]] from the Dry Patricians and their Blight. There are reports of a few Grendel camps here as well, scouts trapped behind enemy lines when the flood rushed in.

Scouts report that this area is where the peculiar ''marsh flowers'', some of which possess magical properties, are most abundant. There also seem to be spontaneously occurring sources of [[vis]] here - [[Vis#Warm Honey|warm honey]], [[Vis#Heart's Blood|heart's blood]], and [[Vis#Crystal_Fire|crystal fire]]. In addition, there are a number of oddities - things that either were not here before of have been changed so much as to be effectively new. There is apparently a tower that rises out of the river itself and changes subtly over a course of several days, which puts viewers in mind of a lighthouse despite being miles from the Bay of Catazar. There is a standing pool of ebony water that does not reflect humans or orcs; anything staring into it sees only a monstrous image of themselves. A fountain in the courtyard of an old parador that once stood by the road along the banks of the Scorrero that now flows with rainbow waters; drinking from them by moonlight can prompt a transformation in unlineaged humans such that they unpredictably gain [[briar]], [[naga]] or [[draughir]] [[lineage]].

==Strategic Considerations==
* '''The damage to the bridges along the Scorrero prevents movement between Madruga and both Feroz and Segura'''
The damage to almost all the bridges along the Scorrero means that it is effectively impossible for an [[Army|army]] to move between Madruga and both [[Feroz]] and [[Segura]] (or vice versa). More information can be found in the '''[[Where_the_river_rises#Crossing|Where the river rises]]''' wind of fortune.
==Special Qualities==
===Enigmatic===
* '''Rituals and curses cast on enigmatic regions will be unpredictable and may have more powerful effects'''
* '''Rituals and curses cast on territories with an enigmatic region may be unpredictable or have more powerful effects'''
* '''Such rituals can be made permanent using 2 rings of ilium per magnitude rather than 3'''
* '''Any commission in an enigmatic region can substitute wains of mithril for weirwood or white granite on a one-for-one basis'''
Two of the new regions are marked with a unique quality - ''Enigmatic''. This means the areas are infused with magic of Spring, Winter, and Night. As a consequence, any magic from those realms that operates on the territory level (or the Empire level), or targets the region with this quality, may have unexpected effects. This is not guaranteed - sometimes the ritual will have no noticeable extra impact. Sometimes, however, the impact of the magic will be enhanced in some way - more powerful or more extreme than expected. Even the wisest Unfettered Mind can't say more than that. ('''OOC Note:''' A ritual enchantment or curse will always at least equal or exceed its normal mechanical effect. The magic might be altered but it would never simply be the same effect but ''less'' powerful.)

Any Spring, Winter, or Night ritual that targets a region with a specific quality can target Crucible or Siroc Bayou. For example, even though neither region has the [[forest]] quality, both can be targeted with [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] or [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]]. The form the magic takes may be transformed or altered in unpredictable ways (for example, [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] cast on one of these regions is likely to cause a cloud of toxic marsh fog rather than volcanic gas).

If [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the victory points necessary to claim the region are increased by fifteen, up from ten.

If [[The Basalt Citadel]] or [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] are cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the resulting battalion or wards will be enhanced such that they provide an additional one thousand effective strength, to four thousand or five thousand strength, respectively.

If the [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Penumbral Veil]] is drawn over a territory where at least one region has the enigmatic quality, its effective magnitude is increased by 10 - the same would apply to any [[Vale of Shadows]] created anywhere in Madruga.

Any territory-wide enchantment or curse, or enchantment or curse targeting one of the two regions is easier to [[Ilium#Using_ilium_in_rituals|make permanent]]. Rather than requiring three rings of [[ilium]] for each magnitude of the effect, it only requires ''two'' rings of ilium per magnitude. The Unfettered Mind scholars warn that this should be approached with some caution - enchantments and curses are rarely meant to be made permanent and experimentation should be done on the understanding that there will be unlooked for side effects. In particular they warn against assuming that a ritual that works one way when cast on Madruga will have the same effect if made permanent with ilium. It might... but it is impossible to be sure given the wildness of the magic coalescing here. Also, if recent events have shown nothing else, this warning is even more significant when dealing with an effect that draws on the power of an eternal.

Any commission built in an enigmatic region can take advantage of the strange magical qualities of the region to substitute mithril for white granite or weirwood on a one-for-one basis. The amount of mithril used must be specified in the details of the commission; it cannot be substituted later. The necessary details should include a description of how mithril, and Freeborn glass, replace traditional building materials. All such structures will have elements of the weird and uncanny about them. Construction that arises from an [[opportunity]] may or may not be possible in an ''enigmatic'' region - the best thing to do is to email [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] to confirm it is possible.

Finally, during any trip through the [[Sentinel Gate]] that involves an encounter in Madruga, any participating character with the [[Magical skills#Magician|magician]] skill finds that they have two additional personal mana available. These mana points are the first used when spellcasting, and cannot be replenished. They last until used, or until the next sunrise. The bonus mana is gained only once in the rare situation where the same magician visits Siroc Bayou or Crucible more than once during a summit.

===Quiet===
* '''It is not possible to create a commission that produces liao in a region with the quiet quality or any commission that has a musical basis'''
* '''It is not possible to create an inspirational location in this region'''
* '''Any conjunctions in this region will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect'''
* '''Appraisal could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of the quiet region'''
The Quiet Grasses have the ''quiet'' quality. Sounds are a little muted here, and even loud noises fall off more swiftly. Passions and emotions are also muted in a similar fashion, causing travellers and settlers to feel a little more restrained. It's easy and satisfying to embrace emotions such as sadness, sorrow, or regret. These effects are not especially overt - only sensitive individuals are really aware of them. It is, however, impossible to create a [[commission]] that produces [[liao]] in a region with the quiet quality, or any commission that has a musical basis. Inspirational locations cannot be created in such a region, and conjunctions here will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect. This means that during a skirmish or encounter in a region with the Quiet quality, a character with [[Heroic skills#Hero|hero points]] must have a [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|source of spiritual strength]] (or spend a hero point) to overcome the roleplaying effect, or they cannot spend hero points to power their abilities or magic items.

An [[appraisal]] could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of a quiet region.

===Wild===
* '''A wild region is harder for armies to conquer, requiring 15 rather than 10 victory points to take the region'''
* '''Wild regions never count as undefended for purposes of generating victory points'''
Crucible and Siroc Bayou have the ''Wild'' quality. Even if there are no other forces present in the territory, attacks against either of the two regions will not benefit from the undefended bonus. Furthermore, the land itself defies easy conquest - so much so that each region will require a total of 15 victory points, rather than the more usual 10, to conquer. The good news is that this difficulty will persist - anyone attempting to conquer these regions in the future will face additional challenges.
===Underpopulated ===
* '''These regions will not contribute to army supply unless the quality is removed'''
The two southern regions of the new marsh also have the [[Send_for_me#Underpopulated|underpopulated]] quality, and it is tricky to see how that might be removed. The regions are rich, but they defy easy habitation. The people who once lived here have fled Grendel occupation, dire thirst, and the raging river - most have found new homes in northern Madruga. The marshes are also an environment alien to most Freeborn people. Exploring the marshes and claiming the odd wonders there is certainly possible, but it will be a significant undertaking to encourage people to permanently settle in these regions. Siroc Bayou is the best bet for removing this quality, perhaps finding a way to merge traditional Freeborn architecture with such innovations as Kallavesi stilt-dwellings, or establishing a settlement built on pontoons. Even so, there's no chance of such a settlement reaching the size of a city such as Siroc. Trying to populate Crucible will be even harder, if it is even possible.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza.jpg|caption='''Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza''', Senator for Madruga|align=left|width=500}}</div>
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Madruga|Territory=Madruga|Season=Winter}}
==OOC Notes==
* As of the start of the Summer Solstice 387YE, the Children of Wrecks control Free Landing, the Brass Coast controls Calvos Sound, Lightsea, Torres, and Quiet Grasses. Crucible and Siroc Bayou are uncontrolled. Madruga is an Imperial territory.
* The territory has regions with several odd qualities, most significantly the [[#Enigmatic|enigmatic]] quality that affects commissions and ritual effects across the whole of Madruga. The '''[[Made_anew#Sing_of_Tides|Made Anew]]''' wind of fortune contains more detail of the peculiar inhabitants of the southern marshes
* The maelstrom that now occupies the site of the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] serves as defensive wards controlled by [[Siakha]]. These wards provide 4,000 strength towards determining victory and inflicting casualties, but only if Free Landing is directly attacked. The wards do not suffer casualties - there are always more Siakhan heralds and monsters to contend with - and it is not possible to enchant them, nor support them with military units.

==Lost and Ruined==
{{Anchor|Siroc}}
=== Siroc (Ruined) ===
The Sapphire, the City of a Thousand Sails, was acknowledged as the pre-eminent city of the Freeborn. The city was said to have been founded by the [[Guerra]] family shortly after the Freeborn came to the Brass Coast. It lay in Madruga close by the border with [[Feroz]]. Brightly coloured tents extended Siroc out far beyond the small cluster of stone buildings that made up the heart of the city. Sails of all shapes and sizes filled the sheltered bay, which was guarded by a series of iron woven nets and chains bought at great expense from the forges of Wintermark.

Siroc was the site of the '''Glass Parador''', where the [[Mistress of the Glass Parador]] held court. It was also the location of the ''Parador of the Kindled Flame'', an [[folly|orphanage]] whose [[Construct Parador of the Kindled Flame|construction]] was overseen by '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''', the first [[Master of Rings]]. One of only a small number of permanent stone structures of any size in the City of a Thousand Sails, it was surprisingly understated and utilitarian with the only notable decoration being a small plaque at the entrance bearing the legend “''In Virtue we remember those who watch over others''", and a list of names of those who helped construct the sanctuary.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Parador.jpg|caption=The City of A Thousand Sails was home to many fine paradors.|title=Art by Beth Dooner|align=right|width=500}}
It was also the site of the [[#Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)|Commonwealth Embassy]], a severe structure that represented the Commonwealth's diplomatic relationship with the Empire.

The city prospered for centuries, but following the Autumn Equinox 385YE it was [[A beacon of smoke|burned to the ground]] by the Grendel and their [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] allies, apparently in retaliation for the Empire's role in the [[Mosaic|destruction of the city of Chalonsio]] in Asavea. While some of the stone buildings survived, the majority of the structures were wood and canvas, and were destroyed by fire. The transforming flood that swept through the territory towards the end of 386YE sealed Siroc's fate - those ruins not sinking into marsh mud are lost beneath the waters of the Bay, and any hope of restoring the city to its former glory is gone.
===Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)===
The [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth|Commonwealth Embassy]] was located in [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]]. It consisted of several buildings built after the severe Commonwealth style, which stood in beautifully laid out and maintained gardens, surrounded by a low white granite wall. Despite the severity of the architecture, the embassy was surprisingly welcoming - the gates stood permanently open, albeit under the watchful gaze of a cadre of Commonwealth soldiers attached to the staff of ambassador Mila Eisenfalke. The majority of the staff were human, although there were apparently half a dozen orcs whose role on the ambassadorial staff is not clear. There were no daeva citizens working at the embassy as far as Imperial observers can make out. When the city of Siroc was attacked by the Grendel and their Asavean allies, almost all the soldiers garrisoned here perished while fighting bravely alongside the Freeborn defenders of the Salt Guard.
===The Salt Guard (Ruined)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Destruction of the Shining Pillar.jpg|caption=The destruction of the Shining Pillar was heartbreaking for many Freeborn.|title=Art by Juniper Orton|align=right|width=450}}
A grand [[fortification]] [[The_same_bed#The_Salt_Guard|designed]] by Menno van Ritsjhof comprised of two stout fortifications on either side of the bay along the approach to Siroc. Each fort is equipped with powerful trebuchet and catapults. A garrison of skilled mariners and corsairs ensures the towers are always ready to respond to any threat, and with the significant reinforcement of the existing iron chains and nets that guard the harbour they are extremely effective against shore offensives. He believes that not only will a sea assault against Siroc be made nigh impossible, but that the garrisons of the two towers would also be in a position to protect the Lyceum which lies to the south-east of Siroc proper.
{{anchor|The Atalaya Shipyards}}

===The Atalaya Shipyards (Ruined)===
Following a [[Construct_Madruga_shipyard|motion]] at the first [[Senate]] session in Winter 376YE, work began to expand the docks of Atalaya. Under the guidance of Miroslav, Senator for the [[The League|League]] city of [[Sarvos]], many wains of white granite and weirwood were committed to building both a massive seawall, and a great Imperial shipyard equipped with drydocks, powerful cranes for loading and unloading, and expanded warehouses and work spaces. Completed shortly before Autumn 377YE, the shipyard provided significant benefits to the Freeborn [[fleet|ships]] based in Madruga. In addition, the facilities here proved sufficient to allow the construction of the first [[navy]] since the days of [[Emperor Barabbas]]; [[Raise_Freeborn_navy|work]] began on constructing Freeborn vessels in Winter 378YE.

It is perhaps fitting that when the [[Grendel]] invaded Madruga after the Autumn Equinox 381YE, and [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the shipyard]] the Freeborn Storm was [[Navy_orders#Put_to_Port|put to port]] and shared the same fiery fate as the docks where it was created.
===The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)===
Built in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]], this massive white-and-gold tower was one of the most prominent landmarks in the Empire. It was often adopted by Freeborn sailors as a symbol of the Brass Coast as a whole; when they can see the beacon of the Shining Pillar, they knew they were home. The grand lighthouse echoed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Alexandria Lighthouse of Alexandria] in design, rather than more modern tall cylindrical towers, and was constructed of white granite. Mithril mirrors captured and amplified the light of the fire burning atop it, which was kept burning by a cadre of attendants who lived in the tower.

During the Grendel [[A beacon of smoke|invasion of Madruga]] in Winter 385YE, the Shining Pillar was [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|annihilated]] by the servants of [[Siakha]], and the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Rescue_the_Beacon_Watch|Beacon Watch]] were slaughtered. The terrible rites performed there not only destroyed the lighthouse and drowned the rocky island on which it was built, but they [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|apparently tore open]] a terrible maelstrom, something akin to a [[fane]] for Siakha allowing the eternal to send their servants to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Where once a shining beacon stood, a terrible maw now gapes.

==Further Reading==

Madruga

2026-06-03T19:46:08Z

Wrenna: /* Torres */

[[Category:Imperial_Territory]][[category:The Brass Coast]]
{{stub}}
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Madruga_Made_Anew.png|align=left|caption=Artist's Impression of Madruga|width=600}}</div>[[Category:Gazetteer]]
== Overview ==
Madruga of the Jewelled Isles is the easternmost territory of the Brass Coast, running from the [[Kahraman]] mountains down to the Bay of Catazar. Down the coast of Madruga and [[Feroz]] the [[corsair|corsairs]] and merchants raise their sails, running goods to [[Bastion]] and [[Sarvos]], trading with foreign powers, and fighting off barbarian incursions.

It is the most densely settled of the Freeborn territories; the nation began here, with the landing of the three sisters and their families at old [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]]. Over generations, their descendants spread across the mainland building and cultivating, until Madruga was tamed. Today, it is scattered with villages and small towns - the sprawling city [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]] at its height rivalled the cities of [[the League]] in size and wealth.

It is the spiritual home of the [[Corsair|corsairs]]; many maritime families have lived on the islands of [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] and [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]] since the earliest days of the Freeborn nation.

The history of Madruga is one of change, however. The [[Grendel]] have attacked the islands and towns here for centuries; usually their fleets are intercepted at sea before they can do too much damage, but there have been times when their raiders have sacked coastal settlements. For a few harrowing months in the years before the foundation of the Empire, the Grendel swept inland here conquering [[#Lightsea|Lightsea]] and the islands, and threatening to burn Siroc. They were turned back after months of vicious fighting, but the memory of their attack is sometimes credited by historians as being a factor in the decision of the Freeborn to join the Empire. Since the disappearance of [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]], life in the territory has become even more tumultuous, with regular Grendel attacks compounded with deadly magical chaos.
==Recent History==
After the Autumn Equinox 381YE, the [[Grendel]] armada invaded Madruga. They [[381YE Winter Solstice winds of war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the Freeborn Storm]], burnt the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards_.28Ruined.29|Atalaya shipyards]], and brought the [[Black Thorns]] to the brink of annihilation. Their forces then moved against [[Madruga#Lightsea|Lightsea]], raided the port of Quzar, and within short order half the coast of Madruga was in their hands. The Empire responded quickly, driving the Grendel out, but it was only a matter of time before they returned.

Shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE, the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Blood_Red_Roads|Blood Red Roads]] were completed, providing merchants and traders easy access to Freeborn luxuries and allowing the caravans of the Brass Coast to travel much more easily to some of the wealthiest cities across the Empire. For more than half a decade the roads 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_Blood_Red_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]].

In the Winter of 385YE, the Grendel returned to Madruga in force, accompanied by warships from the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. In a surprise attack, they [[A beacon of smoke|burnt the city of Siroc]], and established a beachhead in what was then Siroc Plains. In the coming months, war and powerful [[Spring magic]] battered the region, culminating in the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|destruction of the Silent Pillar]] and the formation of the [[Children of Wrecks]]. The [[Siakha]]-inspired pirates began a rampage of their own, even going so far as to use Spring magic to isolate the islands of Free Landing, turning them into a stronghold of their own that Imperial armies cannot approach.

As if this were not bad enough, a [[Colourblind|peculiar blight]] began to spread across the [[#Quiet Grasses|Great Grasses]] in the north-east. The grasslands were quickly turned to ash and dust, and the desiccating [[Winter magic]] threatened to spill over into [[Kahraman]] and [[Segura]]. The cause of the spreading desert was discovered to be a generations-old conspiracy of the ''Aldea di Tutamen'' family who had become awful harbingers of destruction called the Dry Patricians. Their awful threat was stopped by Imperial heroes, but the blight remained.

Then in Autumn 386YE, ritual magicians from every Freeborn [[tribe]] raised the wrath of the Scorrero river, causing it to [[Where the river rises|break its banks]] in a cataclysmic expression of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]] and [[Spring magic#Chaos|chaos]]. A cleansing tide swept across the Great Grasses, washing away the remnants of the blight. In the process, however, the magical floods also transformed the southern reaches of the territory, leaving three new regions that, as the Winter Solstice 386YE approaches, are still being carefully explored.

== Major Features ==
===Trajadoz===
The town of Trajadoz in north-western [[#Torres|Torres]] was founded roughly three hundred years ago by the Trajaduz family of traders who were intent on fostering trade between the mines of newly conquered [[Kahraman]] and the wealth of [[Sarvos]]. The most recent influx of townsfolk was during the invasion of [[Segura]] in 363YE. Since the reclamation of Segura in 378YE it stood mostly empty, save for a few bandits, as the Freeborn returned to their homes. Following the end of the rebellion in Marracoss and Emphedor Imperial fleet captains had an opportunity to [[Through_my_sails#Evacuation|evacuate some of the defeated rebels]]. Roughly a third of the refugees, offered sanctuary in the Empire, have [[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|taken up residence]] in the mostly abandoned town, and created a community.

The Marracossans (never Nemorians, and rarely accepting Asavean) are a disparate group; made up of priests and soldiers, crafters and traders. One of their number Leonorada Rousseau, [[Asavean_Archipelago#Religion|priest of Aseus]], has spent some time in the paradors of nearby [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos]]. They have made clear that they, and their community, like the Empire, and they like the town of Tradajoz. They wish to remain in the town, but Leonorada understands that the community's intent to continue following and worshipping their gods could lead to some unfortunate accusations. In Winter 384YE, the Imperial Senate [[Cede Trajadoz|ceded control of Trajadoz]] to the Nemorians. This has raised a few concerns among their neighbours as it frees them to build temples to their gods if they wish - and indeed to do anything else they want to do. You can read more about the Marracossans in the '''[[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|Large but far away]]''' wind of fortune.
===Calvos===
The bustling town of Calvos lies on the shores of [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]]. The slopes outside the town are rich with grapes, and the fine wines produced here travel all over the Empire. Even the sommeliers of the [[The League|League]] pay well for a Calvos vintage. The [[Paragons and Exemplars|exemplar]] [[Zemress|Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo]] was born here towards the end of the second century YE, and her ship ''The Kraken's Bane'' is housed at a special dry dock here. The ship is a destination for many pilgrims of [[Prosperity]] from as far afield as the [[Sumaah Republic]], as was the nearby [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary]] before it was destroyed in a [[Below_the_thunders#In_Roaring,_Rise|cataclysmic storm]]. Near the seminary ruins stands the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]], a place dedicated to supporting refugees to the Empire, especially those who seek a new family among the Freeborn, and the [[#Zemress Naval Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] (also known as the School of Blood and Brass) where the Freeborn study maritime warfare and the construction of warships.
===Zemress Naval Academy===
[[#Calvos|Calvos]] is the final resting place of the Kraken's Bane, the legendary vessel captained by the exemplar [[Zemress]]. When people fled [[Feroz]] following the Grendel occupation, many of those who looked to Zemress chose to settle in Calvos, drawn by the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary of Zemress]] (before it was destroyed). They swelled the ranks of the faithful and created a unique opportunity to build a ''School of Naval Warfare'' on the Coast. Similar to the ambitious [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|School of Shipbuilding]] originally [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|proposed for Siroc by Frederick di Sarvos]], it is more limited in its scope and focussed purely on teaching and research.

The school allows the Freeborn to delve deep into the practice and theory of [[navy|naval warfare]], allowing them to disseminate newly developed techniques across the Brass Coast and the Empire. Each year the researchers at the school present three possible [[Army qualities|qualities]] that new Imperial navies might be built with. The [[fleet|fleet owners]] of the Brass Coast are then able to vote on which quality they felt was most important - whichever quality wins becomes the focus on their research. Such research often takes a year or more, but once work is complete the Freeborn can again vote on what project to being next (researchers present a new quality to consider, usually alongside the two previously rejected options).

It's notable that several of visiting [[Sumaah]] präster pointed out that if the Empire were prepared to share any new naval techniques they learned with the Republic, then that would be very well received by their fellow adherents of the Way. The Sumaah apparently have two navies of their own, but they are outclassed by the Asaveans, in much the same way that the Empire struggle to compete with the Grendel navies. Redressing that balance would be a huge boost to diplomatic relations with the Sumaah.
{{Anchor|The Lyceum}}

=== The Lyceum (Hidden)===
The Lyceum was established during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] on an island east of Siroc. It is a centre of arcane learning in the Empire, and the [[Dean of the Lyceum]] maintains sumptuous apartments here. Approach to the island is carefully controlled by the magicians and professors, and the most promising magicians are invited to study or teach there.

During the Winter Solstice 385YE, Imperial heroes [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Intercede_at_the_Lyceum_(Battle)|travelled to the Lyceum]] to protect its secrets from the Grendel who sought to claim them. In the process, they activated powerful wards that hid the island behind a wall of fog preventing barbarian or Imperial ships from reaching it. The walls were expected to remain until shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE, but with both the Grendel and the Children of Wrecks threatening the college, the [[Conclave]] accepted an offer from [[Sadogua]] to help [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Sadogua,_Amity|keep the wards up for the time being]] with an eye towards finding a way to get people in and out, and perhaps make the misty wards permanent.

===Atalaya===
The town of Atalaya in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] marks the place where the Brass Coast was born; the first landing of the three sisters and their families. Built around the side of a secluded cove, the seas around the island that share its name are a navigational nightmare. Before the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] was built, reaching the hidden docks of Atalaya was a feat to tax the most skilled ship's crews. Today, the landwards channel has been widened but is protected by hidden obstructions that only the Freeborn pilots know well. Atalaya is also known for its deep natural harbour - many ships of the Freeborn fleet count Atalaya as their home port.

Atalaya is the oldest Freeborn settlement in the Brass Coast, but its prominence was eclipsed centuries ago by [[#Lightsea|Quzar]]. Today, it is a place of pilgrimage for many Freeborn followers of [[the Way]] - there are a number of shrines and temples dedicated to [[Pride]] and [[Vigilance]] here. The [[Vizier_of_the_Incarnadine_Satchel#School of the Sanguine Bloom|School of the Sanguine Bloom]], one of the most prestigious schools dedicated to herb-lore in the Brass Coast also stands here, founded long ago by Sameen i Riqueza, youngest daughter of [[Riqueza]] herself.

With the rise of the [[Children of Wrecks]], the oldest settlement of the Freeborn has been lost to the nation. The museums have been looted, and the once beautiful town transformed into a den of pirates.

===Freeborn Flame Marina===
Work began on the [[Construct_Atalaya_Harbour|reconstruction]] of Atalaya harbour following an opportunity [[The_power_behind_our_moves#Atalaya|presented]] after the National Assembly of the Brass Coast called on the people of Feroz to flee the territory rather than suffer under the hands of the Grendel. Work was completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 385YE and the abundance of willing, talented shipwrights meant [[fleet|fleets]] were more easily upgradeable, at least until the Brass Coast reclaim Feroz. Unfortunately, along with Atalaya, the Freeborn Flame Marina is currently in the hands of the Children of Wrecks.

On the harbour, looking out to sea, are a number of statues each one different but reminiscent of contemporary Freeborn.

===Sunset Roads===
{{Anchor|South-West Roads}}With encouragement from the notoriously sea-averse Faraden, a grand highway connects Siroc with Calvos, cutting across the territory rather than following the coast. A shorter road runs along the northern banks of the Scorrero, crossing just north of [[Segura#Cerevado|Cerevado]] in [[Segura]] via a beautiful arched bridge of white granite. While the road is used extensively by the Faraden, it also serves to cut the journey time from the northern borders of Madruga to the trading city of Siroc, making it a popular route for Freeborn and League merchants as well.

The Sunset Roads are a [[great work]] that complement the already existing [[Lorenzo's Legacy#Blood Red Roads|Blood Red Roads]], bringing increased prosperity to the owners of [[farm|farms]] and [[business|businesses]] in Madruga.

=== The Spider's Dream ===
An elegant bridge spans the river Vassa, connecting [[#Torres|Torres]] to the town of [[Sarvos#Bocche|Trivento]] in Sarvos. It is a marvellous piece of engineering that resembles a spider's web. The [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider%27s_Dream|Spider's Dream]] has significant strategic importance - without it armies cannot cross the Vassa between Sarvos and Madruga without going north and passing through Tassato and the Mournwold. It is overseen by the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]], an [[Imperial title]] uniquely appointed by both the [[senator|senators]] of the League and the Brass Coast together.

The Spider's Dream was once severely damaged by the [[Jotun]], but has since been extensively rebuilt and fortified.

==Regions==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=MadrugaBorders.png|caption=A very rough region map of pre-transformation Madruga|align=right|width=600}}</div>
===Calvos Sound===
'''Quality:''' Coastal<br>
The town of [[#Calvos|Calvos]] stands on the shores of Calvos Sound; the entire [[territory#regions|region]] is named for the great shallow bay that cuts into the eastern shores of the Brass Coast. The waters of the Sound are prime fishing grounds, and the surrounding slopes are known for their rich agriculture, especially grapes, grapefruits, and pomegranates. At the end of the [[Imperial_history#.28281_YE_-_300_YE.29_The_Second_Interregnum|second interregnum]], Calvos Sound was the site of a vicious engagement between [[Grendel]] raiders and the forces of the [[Red_Wind_Corsairs#History|Red Wind Corsairs]]. Despite catastrophic losses, the Freeborn army held. Close to breaking they were forced to retreat, but the campaign achieved its purpose by convincing the nations of the south that the threat from the Grendel was real, events that would eventually lead to the elevation of [[Empress Deanne]]. To this day, many of the people of Calvos Sound have a notable antipathy for the orcs of the Broken Shore.
===Lightsea===
'''Quality:''' Coastal<br>
A well-settled region known for the friendliness of its [[The_Brass_Coast_economic_interests#Paradors|paradors]]. The largest settlement here is '''Quzar''', a bustling port town of white towers and stained glass that is sometimes described as the soul of the Brass Coast. The Towers of Quzar are known as a gathering place for [[hakima]] from all across the nation - an annual "council" meets here every midsummer to share knowledge and gossip. Since the completion of the [[Hakima_of_Salt_and_Sand#Parador_of_Salt_and_Sand|Parador of Salt and Sand]], a large community of hakima, including a significant number of refugees from Feroz, have taken up permanent residence here. The town is now best known for its community of magicians, especially those versed in [[Autumn magic]].

Many of the coastal settlements here were plundered by the Grendel during their incursion toward the end of 381YE. Quzar in particular was hard hit by the orc raiders, with some damage to the town and significant damage to the wealth of the citizens. A year later toward the end of 382YE potent magic [[The_mystic,_the_willful#Miracles_in_Lightsea|restored the town]], wiping away any sign the Grendel were ever there.
===Torres===
'''Quality:''' Foreigners (Marracossans)<br>
The northernmost region of Madruga, and one end of the [[#The Spider's Dream|Spider's Dream]]. The land here is a little more rugged than in the southern regions, and the climate is generally cooler. The people who dwell here share some of the reputation of the miners of [[Kahraman]]; as being suspicious and quarrelsome. Partly this reputation might be a result of regular clashes between Freeborn traders and [[the League|League]] merchants out of [[Sarvos]]. A regular 'problem' for the inhabitants is that League merchants would prefer to travel south to the more prosperous towns of the eastern coast to sell their wares, bypassing the markets of Torres. It is shameful to admit, but there are more incidents of brigandry against League caravans in Torres than in almost any other area around the Bay of Catazar. When such incidents get out of hand, the [[Spider's Tollkeep]] is often prevailed upon to sort them out.

The town of [[#Trajadoz|Trajadoz]] is found in the north-west of Torres. Formerly a home to Freeborn displaced from Kahraman and Segura, it is now home to a very different group of refugees - Marracossan exiles from the [[Asavean Archipelago]].

===Free Landing===
'''Quality:''' Coastal, Island<br>
The sprawling islands that form the region of Free Landing are diverse and well-settled. The islands here were the first home of the Freeborn - the town of [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]] marks the spot where the Brass Coast proper began. When the Grendel invaded Madruga in Winter 381YE, they looted many precious relics from the town of Atalaya and burnt the shipyard there to the ground. In the process, they destroyed the Freeborn [[navy|navy]], the Freeborn Storm.

The waters between the islands have a reputation for being treacherous and difficult for foreign captains; during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] the Empire built a great lighthouse here called '''[[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|the Shining Pillar]]''', which was [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|destroyed]] by forces loyal to the eternal [[Siakha]] during the Winter Solstice 385YE. In its place, a perpetual churning maelstrom serves as a way for servants of the eternal to enter the mortal world and functions as an effective [[fortification]] defending the Children of Wrecks.

The waters around Free Landing have become treacherous due to the presence of dozens of immature kraken hatched in the waters by the Children of Wrecks. As a result, the region has gained the '''island''' quality, it cannot be attacked by armies unless each army is accompanied by a navy capable of conveying the soldiers across.{{Anchor|Great Grasses}}

===Quiet Grasses===
* '''Qualities:''' Quiet
The Great Grasses were consumed by the Blight, but have now been restored thanks to the surging Spring waters. They are marked not only from the flooding of the Scorrero, but from a year or more of gentle rain conjured with [[Regrow the Land's Heart]]. Where once there was a sea of jade and emerald grasses, and then a lifeless desert of ash and dust, there is now a profusion of plants and flowers. The grass is different to that which grew before, standing easily taller than the tallest soldier and remarkably resistant to damage. Where the thickets of grass are densest, it is slow going trying to make headway and all too easy to get lost. In addition to the grasses, there are large numbers of broad, open meadows covered in ''flameblooms'' - a mass of previously unseen flowers that grow in a profusion of shapes and a riot of reds, oranges, yellows, and an extremely rare white petalled variety.

There is an odd silence to the Grasses now. The grasses seem to eat sounds, causing the cries of circling hawks to fall flat, and even the blaring of horns sounds tinny and can be heard over comparatively short distances. Even the wind whispers as it flows across the plains. Some scouts tagged the place as the "Quiet Grasses," and while the name may have begun as a wry commentary, it has quickly spread. Magicians say that this silence is partly due to a lingering touch of Winter magic - not the harsher resonances [[Winter_magic#Death|death]] or [[Winter_magic#Survival|survival]] but something less tangible - a sense of sadness, loss, or perhaps the [[Winter_magic#Wisdom|wisdom]] that comes from an awareness of [[Winter magic#Ending|ending]], tinged with the wistfulness for the [[Winter_magic#Preservation|way things were before]].
{{Anchor|Siroc Plains}}

===Siroc Bayou===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Coastal, Ruins, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The region that was once Siroc Plains is now the [[Madruga#Siroc Bayou|Siroc Bayou]]. Slow moving streams and lakes of brackish water characterise the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayou bayou]. The river itself, and the gulf between Madruga and Feroz, teem with fish and other creatures. The fury of the Scorrero, already mitigated by the Crucible, loses itself in meandering, shifting streams as it makes its way to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Here and there, ruined Freeborn settlements and structures emerge from the marshes, or stand surrounded by still pools of water. Even though the flooding that transformed the region are quite recent, many of these ruins look as if they have stood in the marshes for decades, heavily overgrown with odd plant growths. Others are more intact, often serving as lairs for the transformed creatures of the marsh. When the river rose, this region was under control of the Grendel, and [[Below_the_thunders#The_Latter_Fire|battle raged]] between the orcs and Imperial forces. The Grendel have since withdrawn almost all their forces, but there are still signs of abandoned encampments here. Some of the Broken Shore troops were left behind as well, and it seems that in the absence of any easy means of escape they have taken up banditry.

The City of Sails, poor ruined [[Madruga#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]], is now lost beneath the waters of the Bay, or consumed by the marsh. There is no chance of rebuilding - there is little left to rebuild on. There is apparently some interest in the [[Sarcophan Delves]] in [[Hyenas_and_herbs#Hyenas_Under_Sail|purchasing salvage rights]] to the ruins, but only once the [[Children of Wrecks]] problem is resolved.

===Crucible===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The new region of Madruga, north of the Scorrero, was once the southern Great Grasses and the western Siroc Plains. This place has been most obviously transfigured by the unleashed magic, and the odd haze reported by scouts is most pronounced here. Even the least magical explorer can sense that there is magic here; a mixture of Spring magic from the flood and the influence of [[Ossegrahn]], or Night magic tinged by the gifts of [[Azoth]], and even a hint of lingering [[Winter magic]] from the Dry Patricians and their Blight. There are reports of a few Grendel camps here as well, scouts trapped behind enemy lines when the flood rushed in.

Scouts report that this area is where the peculiar ''marsh flowers'', some of which possess magical properties, are most abundant. There also seem to be spontaneously occurring sources of [[vis]] here - [[Vis#Warm Honey|warm honey]], [[Vis#Heart's Blood|heart's blood]], and [[Vis#Crystal_Fire|crystal fire]]. In addition, there are a number of oddities - things that either were not here before of have been changed so much as to be effectively new. There is apparently a tower that rises out of the river itself and changes subtly over a course of several days, which puts viewers in mind of a lighthouse despite being miles from the Bay of Catazar. There is a standing pool of ebony water that does not reflect humans or orcs; anything staring into it sees only a monstrous image of themselves. A fountain in the courtyard of an old parador that once stood by the road along the banks of the Scorrero that now flows with rainbow waters; drinking from them by moonlight can prompt a transformation in unlineaged humans such that they unpredictably gain [[briar]], [[naga]] or [[draughir]] [[lineage]].

==Strategic Considerations==
* '''The damage to the bridges along the Scorrero prevents movement between Madruga and both Feroz and Segura'''
The damage to almost all the bridges along the Scorrero means that it is effectively impossible for an [[Army|army]] to move between Madruga and both [[Feroz]] and [[Segura]] (or vice versa). More information can be found in the '''[[Where_the_river_rises#Crossing|Where the river rises]]''' wind of fortune.
==Special Qualities==
===Enigmatic===
* '''Rituals and curses cast on enigmatic regions will be unpredictable and may have more powerful effects'''
* '''Rituals and curses cast on territories with an enigmatic region may be unpredictable or have more powerful effects'''
* '''Such rituals can be made permanent using 2 rings of ilium per magnitude rather than 3'''
* '''Any commission in an enigmatic region can substitute wains of mithril for weirwood or white granite on a one-for-one basis'''
Two of the new regions are marked with a unique quality - ''Enigmatic''. This means the areas are infused with magic of Spring, Winter, and Night. As a consequence, any magic from those realms that operates on the territory level (or the Empire level), or targets the region with this quality, may have unexpected effects. This is not guaranteed - sometimes the ritual will have no noticeable extra impact. Sometimes, however, the impact of the magic will be enhanced in some way - more powerful or more extreme than expected. Even the wisest Unfettered Mind can't say more than that. ('''OOC Note:''' A ritual enchantment or curse will always at least equal or exceed its normal mechanical effect. The magic might be altered but it would never simply be the same effect but ''less'' powerful.)

Any Spring, Winter, or Night ritual that targets a region with a specific quality can target Crucible or Siroc Bayou. For example, even though neither region has the [[forest]] quality, both can be targeted with [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] or [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]]. The form the magic takes may be transformed or altered in unpredictable ways (for example, [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] cast on one of these regions is likely to cause a cloud of toxic marsh fog rather than volcanic gas).

If [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the victory points necessary to claim the region are increased by fifteen, up from ten.

If [[The Basalt Citadel]] or [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] are cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the resulting battalion or wards will be enhanced such that they provide an additional one thousand effective strength, to four thousand or five thousand strength, respectively.

If the [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Penumbral Veil]] is drawn over a territory where at least one region has the enigmatic quality, its effective magnitude is increased by 10 - the same would apply to any [[Vale of Shadows]] created anywhere in Madruga.

Any territory-wide enchantment or curse, or enchantment or curse targeting one of the two regions is easier to [[Ilium#Using_ilium_in_rituals|make permanent]]. Rather than requiring three rings of [[ilium]] for each magnitude of the effect, it only requires ''two'' rings of ilium per magnitude. The Unfettered Mind scholars warn that this should be approached with some caution - enchantments and curses are rarely meant to be made permanent and experimentation should be done on the understanding that there will be unlooked for side effects. In particular they warn against assuming that a ritual that works one way when cast on Madruga will have the same effect if made permanent with ilium. It might... but it is impossible to be sure given the wildness of the magic coalescing here. Also, if recent events have shown nothing else, this warning is even more significant when dealing with an effect that draws on the power of an eternal.

Any commission built in an enigmatic region can take advantage of the strange magical qualities of the region to substitute mithril for white granite or weirwood on a one-for-one basis. The amount of mithril used must be specified in the details of the commission; it cannot be substituted later. The necessary details should include a description of how mithril, and Freeborn glass, replace traditional building materials. All such structures will have elements of the weird and uncanny about them. Construction that arises from an [[opportunity]] may or may not be possible in an ''enigmatic'' region - the best thing to do is to email [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] to confirm it is possible.

Finally, during any trip through the [[Sentinel Gate]] that involves an encounter in Madruga, any participating character with the [[Magical skills#Magician|magician]] skill finds that they have two additional personal mana available. These mana points are the first used when spellcasting, and cannot be replenished. They last until used, or until the next sunrise. The bonus mana is gained only once in the rare situation where the same magician visits Siroc Bayou or Crucible more than once during a summit.

===Quiet===
* '''It is not possible to create a commission that produces liao in a region with the quiet quality or any commission that has a musical basis'''
* '''It is not possible to create an inspirational location in this region'''
* '''Any conjunctions in this region will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect'''
* '''Appraisal could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of the quiet region'''
The Quiet Grasses have the ''quiet'' quality. Sounds are a little muted here, and even loud noises fall off more swiftly. Passions and emotions are also muted in a similar fashion, causing travellers and settlers to feel a little more restrained. It's easy and satisfying to embrace emotions such as sadness, sorrow, or regret. These effects are not especially overt - only sensitive individuals are really aware of them. It is, however, impossible to create a [[commission]] that produces [[liao]] in a region with the quiet quality, or any commission that has a musical basis. Inspirational locations cannot be created in such a region, and conjunctions here will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect. This means that during a skirmish or encounter in a region with the Quiet quality, a character with [[Heroic skills#Hero|hero points]] must have a [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|source of spiritual strength]] (or spend a hero point) to overcome the roleplaying effect, or they cannot spend hero points to power their abilities or magic items.

An [[appraisal]] could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of a quiet region.

===Wild===
* '''A wild region is harder for armies to conquer, requiring 15 rather than 10 victory points to take the region'''
* '''Wild regions never count as undefended for purposes of generating victory points'''
Crucible and Siroc Bayou have the ''Wild'' quality. Even if there are no other forces present in the territory, attacks against either of the two regions will not benefit from the undefended bonus. Furthermore, the land itself defies easy conquest - so much so that each region will require a total of 15 victory points, rather than the more usual 10, to conquer. The good news is that this difficulty will persist - anyone attempting to conquer these regions in the future will face additional challenges.
===Underpopulated ===
* '''These regions will not contribute to army supply unless the quality is removed'''
The two southern regions of the new marsh also have the [[Send_for_me#Underpopulated|underpopulated]] quality, and it is tricky to see how that might be removed. The regions are rich, but they defy easy habitation. The people who once lived here have fled Grendel occupation, dire thirst, and the raging river - most have found new homes in northern Madruga. The marshes are also an environment alien to most Freeborn people. Exploring the marshes and claiming the odd wonders there is certainly possible, but it will be a significant undertaking to encourage people to permanently settle in these regions. Siroc Bayou is the best bet for removing this quality, perhaps finding a way to merge traditional Freeborn architecture with such innovations as Kallavesi stilt-dwellings, or establishing a settlement built on pontoons. Even so, there's no chance of such a settlement reaching the size of a city such as Siroc. Trying to populate Crucible will be even harder, if it is even possible.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza.jpg|caption='''Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza''', Senator for Madruga|align=left|width=500}}</div>
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Madruga|Territory=Madruga|Season=Winter}}
==OOC Notes==
* As of the start of the Summer Solstice 387YE, the Children of Wrecks control Free Landing, the Brass Coast controls Calvos Sound, Lightsea, Torres, and Quiet Grasses. Crucible and Siroc Bayou are uncontrolled. Madruga is an Imperial territory.
* The territory has regions with several odd qualities, most significantly the [[#Enigmatic|enigmatic]] quality that affects commissions and ritual effects across the whole of Madruga. The '''[[Made_anew#Sing_of_Tides|Made Anew]]''' wind of fortune contains more detail of the peculiar inhabitants of the southern marshes
* The maelstrom that now occupies the site of the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] serves as defensive wards controlled by [[Siakha]]. These wards provide 4,000 strength towards determining victory and inflicting casualties, but only if Free Landing is directly attacked. The wards do not suffer casualties - there are always more Siakhan heralds and monsters to contend with - and it is not possible to enchant them, nor support them with military units.

==Lost and Ruined==
{{Anchor|Siroc}}
=== Siroc (Ruined) ===
The Sapphire, the City of a Thousand Sails, was acknowledged as the pre-eminent city of the Freeborn. The city was said to have been founded by the [[Guerra]] family shortly after the Freeborn came to the Brass Coast. It lay in Madruga close by the border with [[Feroz]]. Brightly coloured tents extended Siroc out far beyond the small cluster of stone buildings that made up the heart of the city. Sails of all shapes and sizes filled the sheltered bay, which was guarded by a series of iron woven nets and chains bought at great expense from the forges of Wintermark.

Siroc was the site of the '''Glass Parador''', where the [[Mistress of the Glass Parador]] held court. It was also the location of the ''Parador of the Kindled Flame'', an [[folly|orphanage]] whose [[Construct Parador of the Kindled Flame|construction]] was overseen by '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''', the first [[Master of Rings]]. One of only a small number of permanent stone structures of any size in the City of a Thousand Sails, it was surprisingly understated and utilitarian with the only notable decoration being a small plaque at the entrance bearing the legend “''In Virtue we remember those who watch over others''", and a list of names of those who helped construct the sanctuary.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Parador.jpg|caption=The City of A Thousand Sails was home to many fine paradors.|title=Art by Beth Dooner|align=right|width=500}}
It was also the site of the [[#Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)|Commonwealth Embassy]], a severe structure that represented the Commonwealth's diplomatic relationship with the Empire.

The city prospered for centuries, but following the Autumn Equinox 385YE it was [[A beacon of smoke|burned to the ground]] by the Grendel and their [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] allies, apparently in retaliation for the Empire's role in the [[Mosaic|destruction of the city of Chalonsio]] in Asavea. While some of the stone buildings survived, the majority of the structures were wood and canvas, and were destroyed by fire. The transforming flood that swept through the territory towards the end of 386YE sealed Siroc's fate - those ruins not sinking into marsh mud are lost beneath the waters of the Bay, and any hope of restoring the city to its former glory is gone.
===Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)===
The [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth|Commonwealth Embassy]] was located in [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]]. It consisted of several buildings built after the severe Commonwealth style, which stood in beautifully laid out and maintained gardens, surrounded by a low white granite wall. Despite the severity of the architecture, the embassy was surprisingly welcoming - the gates stood permanently open, albeit under the watchful gaze of a cadre of Commonwealth soldiers attached to the staff of ambassador Mila Eisenfalke. The majority of the staff were human, although there were apparently half a dozen orcs whose role on the ambassadorial staff is not clear. There were no daeva citizens working at the embassy as far as Imperial observers can make out. When the city of Siroc was attacked by the Grendel and their Asavean allies, almost all the soldiers garrisoned here perished while fighting bravely alongside the Freeborn defenders of the Salt Guard.
===The Salt Guard (Ruined)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Destruction of the Shining Pillar.jpg|caption=The destruction of the Shining Pillar was heartbreaking for many Freeborn.|title=Art by Juniper Orton|align=right|width=450}}
A grand [[fortification]] [[The_same_bed#The_Salt_Guard|designed]] by Menno van Ritsjhof comprised of two stout fortifications on either side of the bay along the approach to Siroc. Each fort is equipped with powerful trebuchet and catapults. A garrison of skilled mariners and corsairs ensures the towers are always ready to respond to any threat, and with the significant reinforcement of the existing iron chains and nets that guard the harbour they are extremely effective against shore offensives. He believes that not only will a sea assault against Siroc be made nigh impossible, but that the garrisons of the two towers would also be in a position to protect the Lyceum which lies to the south-east of Siroc proper.
{{anchor|The Atalaya Shipyards}}

===The Atalaya Shipyards (Ruined)===
Following a [[Construct_Madruga_shipyard|motion]] at the first [[Senate]] session in Winter 376YE, work began to expand the docks of Atalaya. Under the guidance of Miroslav, Senator for the [[The League|League]] city of [[Sarvos]], many wains of white granite and weirwood were committed to building both a massive seawall, and a great Imperial shipyard equipped with drydocks, powerful cranes for loading and unloading, and expanded warehouses and work spaces. Completed shortly before Autumn 377YE, the shipyard provided significant benefits to the Freeborn [[fleet|ships]] based in Madruga. In addition, the facilities here proved sufficient to allow the construction of the first [[navy]] since the days of [[Emperor Barabbas]]; [[Raise_Freeborn_navy|work]] began on constructing Freeborn vessels in Winter 378YE.

It is perhaps fitting that when the [[Grendel]] invaded Madruga after the Autumn Equinox 381YE, and [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the shipyard]] the Freeborn Storm was [[Navy_orders#Put_to_Port|put to port]] and shared the same fiery fate as the docks where it was created.
===The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)===
Built in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]], this massive white-and-gold tower was one of the most prominent landmarks in the Empire. It was often adopted by Freeborn sailors as a symbol of the Brass Coast as a whole; when they can see the beacon of the Shining Pillar, they knew they were home. The grand lighthouse echoed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Alexandria Lighthouse of Alexandria] in design, rather than more modern tall cylindrical towers, and was constructed of white granite. Mithril mirrors captured and amplified the light of the fire burning atop it, which was kept burning by a cadre of attendants who lived in the tower.

During the Grendel [[A beacon of smoke|invasion of Madruga]] in Winter 385YE, the Shining Pillar was [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|annihilated]] by the servants of [[Siakha]], and the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Rescue_the_Beacon_Watch|Beacon Watch]] were slaughtered. The terrible rites performed there not only destroyed the lighthouse and drowned the rocky island on which it was built, but they [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|apparently tore open]] a terrible maelstrom, something akin to a [[fane]] for Siakha allowing the eternal to send their servants to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Where once a shining beacon stood, a terrible maw now gapes.

==Further Reading==

Madruga

2026-06-03T19:46:01Z

Wrenna: /* Torres */

[[Category:Imperial_Territory]][[category:The Brass Coast]]
{{stub}}
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Madruga_Made_Anew.png|align=left|caption=Artist's Impression of Madruga|width=600}}</div>[[Category:Gazetteer]]
== Overview ==
Madruga of the Jewelled Isles is the easternmost territory of the Brass Coast, running from the [[Kahraman]] mountains down to the Bay of Catazar. Down the coast of Madruga and [[Feroz]] the [[corsair|corsairs]] and merchants raise their sails, running goods to [[Bastion]] and [[Sarvos]], trading with foreign powers, and fighting off barbarian incursions.

It is the most densely settled of the Freeborn territories; the nation began here, with the landing of the three sisters and their families at old [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]]. Over generations, their descendants spread across the mainland building and cultivating, until Madruga was tamed. Today, it is scattered with villages and small towns - the sprawling city [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]] at its height rivalled the cities of [[the League]] in size and wealth.

It is the spiritual home of the [[Corsair|corsairs]]; many maritime families have lived on the islands of [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] and [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]] since the earliest days of the Freeborn nation.

The history of Madruga is one of change, however. The [[Grendel]] have attacked the islands and towns here for centuries; usually their fleets are intercepted at sea before they can do too much damage, but there have been times when their raiders have sacked coastal settlements. For a few harrowing months in the years before the foundation of the Empire, the Grendel swept inland here conquering [[#Lightsea|Lightsea]] and the islands, and threatening to burn Siroc. They were turned back after months of vicious fighting, but the memory of their attack is sometimes credited by historians as being a factor in the decision of the Freeborn to join the Empire. Since the disappearance of [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]], life in the territory has become even more tumultuous, with regular Grendel attacks compounded with deadly magical chaos.
==Recent History==
After the Autumn Equinox 381YE, the [[Grendel]] armada invaded Madruga. They [[381YE Winter Solstice winds of war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the Freeborn Storm]], burnt the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards_.28Ruined.29|Atalaya shipyards]], and brought the [[Black Thorns]] to the brink of annihilation. Their forces then moved against [[Madruga#Lightsea|Lightsea]], raided the port of Quzar, and within short order half the coast of Madruga was in their hands. The Empire responded quickly, driving the Grendel out, but it was only a matter of time before they returned.

Shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE, the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Blood_Red_Roads|Blood Red Roads]] were completed, providing merchants and traders easy access to Freeborn luxuries and allowing the caravans of the Brass Coast to travel much more easily to some of the wealthiest cities across the Empire. For more than half a decade the roads 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_Blood_Red_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]].

In the Winter of 385YE, the Grendel returned to Madruga in force, accompanied by warships from the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. In a surprise attack, they [[A beacon of smoke|burnt the city of Siroc]], and established a beachhead in what was then Siroc Plains. In the coming months, war and powerful [[Spring magic]] battered the region, culminating in the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|destruction of the Silent Pillar]] and the formation of the [[Children of Wrecks]]. The [[Siakha]]-inspired pirates began a rampage of their own, even going so far as to use Spring magic to isolate the islands of Free Landing, turning them into a stronghold of their own that Imperial armies cannot approach.

As if this were not bad enough, a [[Colourblind|peculiar blight]] began to spread across the [[#Quiet Grasses|Great Grasses]] in the north-east. The grasslands were quickly turned to ash and dust, and the desiccating [[Winter magic]] threatened to spill over into [[Kahraman]] and [[Segura]]. The cause of the spreading desert was discovered to be a generations-old conspiracy of the ''Aldea di Tutamen'' family who had become awful harbingers of destruction called the Dry Patricians. Their awful threat was stopped by Imperial heroes, but the blight remained.

Then in Autumn 386YE, ritual magicians from every Freeborn [[tribe]] raised the wrath of the Scorrero river, causing it to [[Where the river rises|break its banks]] in a cataclysmic expression of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]] and [[Spring magic#Chaos|chaos]]. A cleansing tide swept across the Great Grasses, washing away the remnants of the blight. In the process, however, the magical floods also transformed the southern reaches of the territory, leaving three new regions that, as the Winter Solstice 386YE approaches, are still being carefully explored.

== Major Features ==
===Trajadoz===
The town of Trajadoz in north-western [[#Torres|Torres]] was founded roughly three hundred years ago by the Trajaduz family of traders who were intent on fostering trade between the mines of newly conquered [[Kahraman]] and the wealth of [[Sarvos]]. The most recent influx of townsfolk was during the invasion of [[Segura]] in 363YE. Since the reclamation of Segura in 378YE it stood mostly empty, save for a few bandits, as the Freeborn returned to their homes. Following the end of the rebellion in Marracoss and Emphedor Imperial fleet captains had an opportunity to [[Through_my_sails#Evacuation|evacuate some of the defeated rebels]]. Roughly a third of the refugees, offered sanctuary in the Empire, have [[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|taken up residence]] in the mostly abandoned town, and created a community.

The Marracossans (never Nemorians, and rarely accepting Asavean) are a disparate group; made up of priests and soldiers, crafters and traders. One of their number Leonorada Rousseau, [[Asavean_Archipelago#Religion|priest of Aseus]], has spent some time in the paradors of nearby [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos]]. They have made clear that they, and their community, like the Empire, and they like the town of Tradajoz. They wish to remain in the town, but Leonorada understands that the community's intent to continue following and worshipping their gods could lead to some unfortunate accusations. In Winter 384YE, the Imperial Senate [[Cede Trajadoz|ceded control of Trajadoz]] to the Nemorians. This has raised a few concerns among their neighbours as it frees them to build temples to their gods if they wish - and indeed to do anything else they want to do. You can read more about the Marracossans in the '''[[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|Large but far away]]''' wind of fortune.
===Calvos===
The bustling town of Calvos lies on the shores of [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]]. The slopes outside the town are rich with grapes, and the fine wines produced here travel all over the Empire. Even the sommeliers of the [[The League|League]] pay well for a Calvos vintage. The [[Paragons and Exemplars|exemplar]] [[Zemress|Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo]] was born here towards the end of the second century YE, and her ship ''The Kraken's Bane'' is housed at a special dry dock here. The ship is a destination for many pilgrims of [[Prosperity]] from as far afield as the [[Sumaah Republic]], as was the nearby [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary]] before it was destroyed in a [[Below_the_thunders#In_Roaring,_Rise|cataclysmic storm]]. Near the seminary ruins stands the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]], a place dedicated to supporting refugees to the Empire, especially those who seek a new family among the Freeborn, and the [[#Zemress Naval Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] (also known as the School of Blood and Brass) where the Freeborn study maritime warfare and the construction of warships.
===Zemress Naval Academy===
[[#Calvos|Calvos]] is the final resting place of the Kraken's Bane, the legendary vessel captained by the exemplar [[Zemress]]. When people fled [[Feroz]] following the Grendel occupation, many of those who looked to Zemress chose to settle in Calvos, drawn by the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary of Zemress]] (before it was destroyed). They swelled the ranks of the faithful and created a unique opportunity to build a ''School of Naval Warfare'' on the Coast. Similar to the ambitious [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|School of Shipbuilding]] originally [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|proposed for Siroc by Frederick di Sarvos]], it is more limited in its scope and focussed purely on teaching and research.

The school allows the Freeborn to delve deep into the practice and theory of [[navy|naval warfare]], allowing them to disseminate newly developed techniques across the Brass Coast and the Empire. Each year the researchers at the school present three possible [[Army qualities|qualities]] that new Imperial navies might be built with. The [[fleet|fleet owners]] of the Brass Coast are then able to vote on which quality they felt was most important - whichever quality wins becomes the focus on their research. Such research often takes a year or more, but once work is complete the Freeborn can again vote on what project to being next (researchers present a new quality to consider, usually alongside the two previously rejected options).

It's notable that several of visiting [[Sumaah]] präster pointed out that if the Empire were prepared to share any new naval techniques they learned with the Republic, then that would be very well received by their fellow adherents of the Way. The Sumaah apparently have two navies of their own, but they are outclassed by the Asaveans, in much the same way that the Empire struggle to compete with the Grendel navies. Redressing that balance would be a huge boost to diplomatic relations with the Sumaah.
{{Anchor|The Lyceum}}

=== The Lyceum (Hidden)===
The Lyceum was established during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] on an island east of Siroc. It is a centre of arcane learning in the Empire, and the [[Dean of the Lyceum]] maintains sumptuous apartments here. Approach to the island is carefully controlled by the magicians and professors, and the most promising magicians are invited to study or teach there.

During the Winter Solstice 385YE, Imperial heroes [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Intercede_at_the_Lyceum_(Battle)|travelled to the Lyceum]] to protect its secrets from the Grendel who sought to claim them. In the process, they activated powerful wards that hid the island behind a wall of fog preventing barbarian or Imperial ships from reaching it. The walls were expected to remain until shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE, but with both the Grendel and the Children of Wrecks threatening the college, the [[Conclave]] accepted an offer from [[Sadogua]] to help [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Sadogua,_Amity|keep the wards up for the time being]] with an eye towards finding a way to get people in and out, and perhaps make the misty wards permanent.

===Atalaya===
The town of Atalaya in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] marks the place where the Brass Coast was born; the first landing of the three sisters and their families. Built around the side of a secluded cove, the seas around the island that share its name are a navigational nightmare. Before the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] was built, reaching the hidden docks of Atalaya was a feat to tax the most skilled ship's crews. Today, the landwards channel has been widened but is protected by hidden obstructions that only the Freeborn pilots know well. Atalaya is also known for its deep natural harbour - many ships of the Freeborn fleet count Atalaya as their home port.

Atalaya is the oldest Freeborn settlement in the Brass Coast, but its prominence was eclipsed centuries ago by [[#Lightsea|Quzar]]. Today, it is a place of pilgrimage for many Freeborn followers of [[the Way]] - there are a number of shrines and temples dedicated to [[Pride]] and [[Vigilance]] here. The [[Vizier_of_the_Incarnadine_Satchel#School of the Sanguine Bloom|School of the Sanguine Bloom]], one of the most prestigious schools dedicated to herb-lore in the Brass Coast also stands here, founded long ago by Sameen i Riqueza, youngest daughter of [[Riqueza]] herself.

With the rise of the [[Children of Wrecks]], the oldest settlement of the Freeborn has been lost to the nation. The museums have been looted, and the once beautiful town transformed into a den of pirates.

===Freeborn Flame Marina===
Work began on the [[Construct_Atalaya_Harbour|reconstruction]] of Atalaya harbour following an opportunity [[The_power_behind_our_moves#Atalaya|presented]] after the National Assembly of the Brass Coast called on the people of Feroz to flee the territory rather than suffer under the hands of the Grendel. Work was completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 385YE and the abundance of willing, talented shipwrights meant [[fleet|fleets]] were more easily upgradeable, at least until the Brass Coast reclaim Feroz. Unfortunately, along with Atalaya, the Freeborn Flame Marina is currently in the hands of the Children of Wrecks.

On the harbour, looking out to sea, are a number of statues each one different but reminiscent of contemporary Freeborn.

===Sunset Roads===
{{Anchor|South-West Roads}}With encouragement from the notoriously sea-averse Faraden, a grand highway connects Siroc with Calvos, cutting across the territory rather than following the coast. A shorter road runs along the northern banks of the Scorrero, crossing just north of [[Segura#Cerevado|Cerevado]] in [[Segura]] via a beautiful arched bridge of white granite. While the road is used extensively by the Faraden, it also serves to cut the journey time from the northern borders of Madruga to the trading city of Siroc, making it a popular route for Freeborn and League merchants as well.

The Sunset Roads are a [[great work]] that complement the already existing [[Lorenzo's Legacy#Blood Red Roads|Blood Red Roads]], bringing increased prosperity to the owners of [[farm|farms]] and [[business|businesses]] in Madruga.

=== The Spider's Dream ===
An elegant bridge spans the river Vassa, connecting [[#Torres|Torres]] to the town of [[Sarvos#Bocche|Trivento]] in Sarvos. It is a marvellous piece of engineering that resembles a spider's web. The [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider%27s_Dream|Spider's Dream]] has significant strategic importance - without it armies cannot cross the Vassa between Sarvos and Madruga without going north and passing through Tassato and the Mournwold. It is overseen by the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]], an [[Imperial title]] uniquely appointed by both the [[senator|senators]] of the League and the Brass Coast together.

The Spider's Dream was once severely damaged by the [[Jotun]], but has since been extensively rebuilt and fortified.

==Regions==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=MadrugaBorders.png|caption=A very rough region map of pre-transformation Madruga|align=right|width=600}}</div>
===Calvos Sound===
'''Quality:''' Coastal<br>
The town of [[#Calvos|Calvos]] stands on the shores of Calvos Sound; the entire [[territory#regions|region]] is named for the great shallow bay that cuts into the eastern shores of the Brass Coast. The waters of the Sound are prime fishing grounds, and the surrounding slopes are known for their rich agriculture, especially grapes, grapefruits, and pomegranates. At the end of the [[Imperial_history#.28281_YE_-_300_YE.29_The_Second_Interregnum|second interregnum]], Calvos Sound was the site of a vicious engagement between [[Grendel]] raiders and the forces of the [[Red_Wind_Corsairs#History|Red Wind Corsairs]]. Despite catastrophic losses, the Freeborn army held. Close to breaking they were forced to retreat, but the campaign achieved its purpose by convincing the nations of the south that the threat from the Grendel was real, events that would eventually lead to the elevation of [[Empress Deanne]]. To this day, many of the people of Calvos Sound have a notable antipathy for the orcs of the Broken Shore.
===Lightsea===
'''Quality:''' Coastal<br>
A well-settled region known for the friendliness of its [[The_Brass_Coast_economic_interests#Paradors|paradors]]. The largest settlement here is '''Quzar''', a bustling port town of white towers and stained glass that is sometimes described as the soul of the Brass Coast. The Towers of Quzar are known as a gathering place for [[hakima]] from all across the nation - an annual "council" meets here every midsummer to share knowledge and gossip. Since the completion of the [[Hakima_of_Salt_and_Sand#Parador_of_Salt_and_Sand|Parador of Salt and Sand]], a large community of hakima, including a significant number of refugees from Feroz, have taken up permanent residence here. The town is now best known for its community of magicians, especially those versed in [[Autumn magic]].

Many of the coastal settlements here were plundered by the Grendel during their incursion toward the end of 381YE. Quzar in particular was hard hit by the orc raiders, with some damage to the town and significant damage to the wealth of the citizens. A year later toward the end of 382YE potent magic [[The_mystic,_the_willful#Miracles_in_Lightsea|restored the town]], wiping away any sign the Grendel were ever there.
===Torres===
'''Quality:''' Foreigners (Marracossans)

The northernmost region of Madruga, and one end of the [[#The Spider's Dream|Spider's Dream]]. The land here is a little more rugged than in the southern regions, and the climate is generally cooler. The people who dwell here share some of the reputation of the miners of [[Kahraman]]; as being suspicious and quarrelsome. Partly this reputation might be a result of regular clashes between Freeborn traders and [[the League|League]] merchants out of [[Sarvos]]. A regular 'problem' for the inhabitants is that League merchants would prefer to travel south to the more prosperous towns of the eastern coast to sell their wares, bypassing the markets of Torres. It is shameful to admit, but there are more incidents of brigandry against League caravans in Torres than in almost any other area around the Bay of Catazar. When such incidents get out of hand, the [[Spider's Tollkeep]] is often prevailed upon to sort them out.

The town of [[#Trajadoz|Trajadoz]] is found in the north-west of Torres. Formerly a home to Freeborn displaced from Kahraman and Segura, it is now home to a very different group of refugees - Marracossan exiles from the [[Asavean Archipelago]].

===Free Landing===
'''Quality:''' Coastal, Island<br>
The sprawling islands that form the region of Free Landing are diverse and well-settled. The islands here were the first home of the Freeborn - the town of [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]] marks the spot where the Brass Coast proper began. When the Grendel invaded Madruga in Winter 381YE, they looted many precious relics from the town of Atalaya and burnt the shipyard there to the ground. In the process, they destroyed the Freeborn [[navy|navy]], the Freeborn Storm.

The waters between the islands have a reputation for being treacherous and difficult for foreign captains; during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] the Empire built a great lighthouse here called '''[[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|the Shining Pillar]]''', which was [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|destroyed]] by forces loyal to the eternal [[Siakha]] during the Winter Solstice 385YE. In its place, a perpetual churning maelstrom serves as a way for servants of the eternal to enter the mortal world and functions as an effective [[fortification]] defending the Children of Wrecks.

The waters around Free Landing have become treacherous due to the presence of dozens of immature kraken hatched in the waters by the Children of Wrecks. As a result, the region has gained the '''island''' quality, it cannot be attacked by armies unless each army is accompanied by a navy capable of conveying the soldiers across.{{Anchor|Great Grasses}}

===Quiet Grasses===
* '''Qualities:''' Quiet
The Great Grasses were consumed by the Blight, but have now been restored thanks to the surging Spring waters. They are marked not only from the flooding of the Scorrero, but from a year or more of gentle rain conjured with [[Regrow the Land's Heart]]. Where once there was a sea of jade and emerald grasses, and then a lifeless desert of ash and dust, there is now a profusion of plants and flowers. The grass is different to that which grew before, standing easily taller than the tallest soldier and remarkably resistant to damage. Where the thickets of grass are densest, it is slow going trying to make headway and all too easy to get lost. In addition to the grasses, there are large numbers of broad, open meadows covered in ''flameblooms'' - a mass of previously unseen flowers that grow in a profusion of shapes and a riot of reds, oranges, yellows, and an extremely rare white petalled variety.

There is an odd silence to the Grasses now. The grasses seem to eat sounds, causing the cries of circling hawks to fall flat, and even the blaring of horns sounds tinny and can be heard over comparatively short distances. Even the wind whispers as it flows across the plains. Some scouts tagged the place as the "Quiet Grasses," and while the name may have begun as a wry commentary, it has quickly spread. Magicians say that this silence is partly due to a lingering touch of Winter magic - not the harsher resonances [[Winter_magic#Death|death]] or [[Winter_magic#Survival|survival]] but something less tangible - a sense of sadness, loss, or perhaps the [[Winter_magic#Wisdom|wisdom]] that comes from an awareness of [[Winter magic#Ending|ending]], tinged with the wistfulness for the [[Winter_magic#Preservation|way things were before]].
{{Anchor|Siroc Plains}}

===Siroc Bayou===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Coastal, Ruins, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The region that was once Siroc Plains is now the [[Madruga#Siroc Bayou|Siroc Bayou]]. Slow moving streams and lakes of brackish water characterise the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayou bayou]. The river itself, and the gulf between Madruga and Feroz, teem with fish and other creatures. The fury of the Scorrero, already mitigated by the Crucible, loses itself in meandering, shifting streams as it makes its way to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Here and there, ruined Freeborn settlements and structures emerge from the marshes, or stand surrounded by still pools of water. Even though the flooding that transformed the region are quite recent, many of these ruins look as if they have stood in the marshes for decades, heavily overgrown with odd plant growths. Others are more intact, often serving as lairs for the transformed creatures of the marsh. When the river rose, this region was under control of the Grendel, and [[Below_the_thunders#The_Latter_Fire|battle raged]] between the orcs and Imperial forces. The Grendel have since withdrawn almost all their forces, but there are still signs of abandoned encampments here. Some of the Broken Shore troops were left behind as well, and it seems that in the absence of any easy means of escape they have taken up banditry.

The City of Sails, poor ruined [[Madruga#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]], is now lost beneath the waters of the Bay, or consumed by the marsh. There is no chance of rebuilding - there is little left to rebuild on. There is apparently some interest in the [[Sarcophan Delves]] in [[Hyenas_and_herbs#Hyenas_Under_Sail|purchasing salvage rights]] to the ruins, but only once the [[Children of Wrecks]] problem is resolved.

===Crucible===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The new region of Madruga, north of the Scorrero, was once the southern Great Grasses and the western Siroc Plains. This place has been most obviously transfigured by the unleashed magic, and the odd haze reported by scouts is most pronounced here. Even the least magical explorer can sense that there is magic here; a mixture of Spring magic from the flood and the influence of [[Ossegrahn]], or Night magic tinged by the gifts of [[Azoth]], and even a hint of lingering [[Winter magic]] from the Dry Patricians and their Blight. There are reports of a few Grendel camps here as well, scouts trapped behind enemy lines when the flood rushed in.

Scouts report that this area is where the peculiar ''marsh flowers'', some of which possess magical properties, are most abundant. There also seem to be spontaneously occurring sources of [[vis]] here - [[Vis#Warm Honey|warm honey]], [[Vis#Heart's Blood|heart's blood]], and [[Vis#Crystal_Fire|crystal fire]]. In addition, there are a number of oddities - things that either were not here before of have been changed so much as to be effectively new. There is apparently a tower that rises out of the river itself and changes subtly over a course of several days, which puts viewers in mind of a lighthouse despite being miles from the Bay of Catazar. There is a standing pool of ebony water that does not reflect humans or orcs; anything staring into it sees only a monstrous image of themselves. A fountain in the courtyard of an old parador that once stood by the road along the banks of the Scorrero that now flows with rainbow waters; drinking from them by moonlight can prompt a transformation in unlineaged humans such that they unpredictably gain [[briar]], [[naga]] or [[draughir]] [[lineage]].

==Strategic Considerations==
* '''The damage to the bridges along the Scorrero prevents movement between Madruga and both Feroz and Segura'''
The damage to almost all the bridges along the Scorrero means that it is effectively impossible for an [[Army|army]] to move between Madruga and both [[Feroz]] and [[Segura]] (or vice versa). More information can be found in the '''[[Where_the_river_rises#Crossing|Where the river rises]]''' wind of fortune.
==Special Qualities==
===Enigmatic===
* '''Rituals and curses cast on enigmatic regions will be unpredictable and may have more powerful effects'''
* '''Rituals and curses cast on territories with an enigmatic region may be unpredictable or have more powerful effects'''
* '''Such rituals can be made permanent using 2 rings of ilium per magnitude rather than 3'''
* '''Any commission in an enigmatic region can substitute wains of mithril for weirwood or white granite on a one-for-one basis'''
Two of the new regions are marked with a unique quality - ''Enigmatic''. This means the areas are infused with magic of Spring, Winter, and Night. As a consequence, any magic from those realms that operates on the territory level (or the Empire level), or targets the region with this quality, may have unexpected effects. This is not guaranteed - sometimes the ritual will have no noticeable extra impact. Sometimes, however, the impact of the magic will be enhanced in some way - more powerful or more extreme than expected. Even the wisest Unfettered Mind can't say more than that. ('''OOC Note:''' A ritual enchantment or curse will always at least equal or exceed its normal mechanical effect. The magic might be altered but it would never simply be the same effect but ''less'' powerful.)

Any Spring, Winter, or Night ritual that targets a region with a specific quality can target Crucible or Siroc Bayou. For example, even though neither region has the [[forest]] quality, both can be targeted with [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] or [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]]. The form the magic takes may be transformed or altered in unpredictable ways (for example, [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] cast on one of these regions is likely to cause a cloud of toxic marsh fog rather than volcanic gas).

If [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the victory points necessary to claim the region are increased by fifteen, up from ten.

If [[The Basalt Citadel]] or [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] are cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the resulting battalion or wards will be enhanced such that they provide an additional one thousand effective strength, to four thousand or five thousand strength, respectively.

If the [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Penumbral Veil]] is drawn over a territory where at least one region has the enigmatic quality, its effective magnitude is increased by 10 - the same would apply to any [[Vale of Shadows]] created anywhere in Madruga.

Any territory-wide enchantment or curse, or enchantment or curse targeting one of the two regions is easier to [[Ilium#Using_ilium_in_rituals|make permanent]]. Rather than requiring three rings of [[ilium]] for each magnitude of the effect, it only requires ''two'' rings of ilium per magnitude. The Unfettered Mind scholars warn that this should be approached with some caution - enchantments and curses are rarely meant to be made permanent and experimentation should be done on the understanding that there will be unlooked for side effects. In particular they warn against assuming that a ritual that works one way when cast on Madruga will have the same effect if made permanent with ilium. It might... but it is impossible to be sure given the wildness of the magic coalescing here. Also, if recent events have shown nothing else, this warning is even more significant when dealing with an effect that draws on the power of an eternal.

Any commission built in an enigmatic region can take advantage of the strange magical qualities of the region to substitute mithril for white granite or weirwood on a one-for-one basis. The amount of mithril used must be specified in the details of the commission; it cannot be substituted later. The necessary details should include a description of how mithril, and Freeborn glass, replace traditional building materials. All such structures will have elements of the weird and uncanny about them. Construction that arises from an [[opportunity]] may or may not be possible in an ''enigmatic'' region - the best thing to do is to email [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] to confirm it is possible.

Finally, during any trip through the [[Sentinel Gate]] that involves an encounter in Madruga, any participating character with the [[Magical skills#Magician|magician]] skill finds that they have two additional personal mana available. These mana points are the first used when spellcasting, and cannot be replenished. They last until used, or until the next sunrise. The bonus mana is gained only once in the rare situation where the same magician visits Siroc Bayou or Crucible more than once during a summit.

===Quiet===
* '''It is not possible to create a commission that produces liao in a region with the quiet quality or any commission that has a musical basis'''
* '''It is not possible to create an inspirational location in this region'''
* '''Any conjunctions in this region will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect'''
* '''Appraisal could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of the quiet region'''
The Quiet Grasses have the ''quiet'' quality. Sounds are a little muted here, and even loud noises fall off more swiftly. Passions and emotions are also muted in a similar fashion, causing travellers and settlers to feel a little more restrained. It's easy and satisfying to embrace emotions such as sadness, sorrow, or regret. These effects are not especially overt - only sensitive individuals are really aware of them. It is, however, impossible to create a [[commission]] that produces [[liao]] in a region with the quiet quality, or any commission that has a musical basis. Inspirational locations cannot be created in such a region, and conjunctions here will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect. This means that during a skirmish or encounter in a region with the Quiet quality, a character with [[Heroic skills#Hero|hero points]] must have a [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|source of spiritual strength]] (or spend a hero point) to overcome the roleplaying effect, or they cannot spend hero points to power their abilities or magic items.

An [[appraisal]] could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of a quiet region.

===Wild===
* '''A wild region is harder for armies to conquer, requiring 15 rather than 10 victory points to take the region'''
* '''Wild regions never count as undefended for purposes of generating victory points'''
Crucible and Siroc Bayou have the ''Wild'' quality. Even if there are no other forces present in the territory, attacks against either of the two regions will not benefit from the undefended bonus. Furthermore, the land itself defies easy conquest - so much so that each region will require a total of 15 victory points, rather than the more usual 10, to conquer. The good news is that this difficulty will persist - anyone attempting to conquer these regions in the future will face additional challenges.
===Underpopulated ===
* '''These regions will not contribute to army supply unless the quality is removed'''
The two southern regions of the new marsh also have the [[Send_for_me#Underpopulated|underpopulated]] quality, and it is tricky to see how that might be removed. The regions are rich, but they defy easy habitation. The people who once lived here have fled Grendel occupation, dire thirst, and the raging river - most have found new homes in northern Madruga. The marshes are also an environment alien to most Freeborn people. Exploring the marshes and claiming the odd wonders there is certainly possible, but it will be a significant undertaking to encourage people to permanently settle in these regions. Siroc Bayou is the best bet for removing this quality, perhaps finding a way to merge traditional Freeborn architecture with such innovations as Kallavesi stilt-dwellings, or establishing a settlement built on pontoons. Even so, there's no chance of such a settlement reaching the size of a city such as Siroc. Trying to populate Crucible will be even harder, if it is even possible.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza.jpg|caption='''Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza''', Senator for Madruga|align=left|width=500}}</div>
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Madruga|Territory=Madruga|Season=Winter}}
==OOC Notes==
* As of the start of the Summer Solstice 387YE, the Children of Wrecks control Free Landing, the Brass Coast controls Calvos Sound, Lightsea, Torres, and Quiet Grasses. Crucible and Siroc Bayou are uncontrolled. Madruga is an Imperial territory.
* The territory has regions with several odd qualities, most significantly the [[#Enigmatic|enigmatic]] quality that affects commissions and ritual effects across the whole of Madruga. The '''[[Made_anew#Sing_of_Tides|Made Anew]]''' wind of fortune contains more detail of the peculiar inhabitants of the southern marshes
* The maelstrom that now occupies the site of the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] serves as defensive wards controlled by [[Siakha]]. These wards provide 4,000 strength towards determining victory and inflicting casualties, but only if Free Landing is directly attacked. The wards do not suffer casualties - there are always more Siakhan heralds and monsters to contend with - and it is not possible to enchant them, nor support them with military units.

==Lost and Ruined==
{{Anchor|Siroc}}
=== Siroc (Ruined) ===
The Sapphire, the City of a Thousand Sails, was acknowledged as the pre-eminent city of the Freeborn. The city was said to have been founded by the [[Guerra]] family shortly after the Freeborn came to the Brass Coast. It lay in Madruga close by the border with [[Feroz]]. Brightly coloured tents extended Siroc out far beyond the small cluster of stone buildings that made up the heart of the city. Sails of all shapes and sizes filled the sheltered bay, which was guarded by a series of iron woven nets and chains bought at great expense from the forges of Wintermark.

Siroc was the site of the '''Glass Parador''', where the [[Mistress of the Glass Parador]] held court. It was also the location of the ''Parador of the Kindled Flame'', an [[folly|orphanage]] whose [[Construct Parador of the Kindled Flame|construction]] was overseen by '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''', the first [[Master of Rings]]. One of only a small number of permanent stone structures of any size in the City of a Thousand Sails, it was surprisingly understated and utilitarian with the only notable decoration being a small plaque at the entrance bearing the legend “''In Virtue we remember those who watch over others''", and a list of names of those who helped construct the sanctuary.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Parador.jpg|caption=The City of A Thousand Sails was home to many fine paradors.|title=Art by Beth Dooner|align=right|width=500}}
It was also the site of the [[#Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)|Commonwealth Embassy]], a severe structure that represented the Commonwealth's diplomatic relationship with the Empire.

The city prospered for centuries, but following the Autumn Equinox 385YE it was [[A beacon of smoke|burned to the ground]] by the Grendel and their [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] allies, apparently in retaliation for the Empire's role in the [[Mosaic|destruction of the city of Chalonsio]] in Asavea. While some of the stone buildings survived, the majority of the structures were wood and canvas, and were destroyed by fire. The transforming flood that swept through the territory towards the end of 386YE sealed Siroc's fate - those ruins not sinking into marsh mud are lost beneath the waters of the Bay, and any hope of restoring the city to its former glory is gone.
===Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)===
The [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth|Commonwealth Embassy]] was located in [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]]. It consisted of several buildings built after the severe Commonwealth style, which stood in beautifully laid out and maintained gardens, surrounded by a low white granite wall. Despite the severity of the architecture, the embassy was surprisingly welcoming - the gates stood permanently open, albeit under the watchful gaze of a cadre of Commonwealth soldiers attached to the staff of ambassador Mila Eisenfalke. The majority of the staff were human, although there were apparently half a dozen orcs whose role on the ambassadorial staff is not clear. There were no daeva citizens working at the embassy as far as Imperial observers can make out. When the city of Siroc was attacked by the Grendel and their Asavean allies, almost all the soldiers garrisoned here perished while fighting bravely alongside the Freeborn defenders of the Salt Guard.
===The Salt Guard (Ruined)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Destruction of the Shining Pillar.jpg|caption=The destruction of the Shining Pillar was heartbreaking for many Freeborn.|title=Art by Juniper Orton|align=right|width=450}}
A grand [[fortification]] [[The_same_bed#The_Salt_Guard|designed]] by Menno van Ritsjhof comprised of two stout fortifications on either side of the bay along the approach to Siroc. Each fort is equipped with powerful trebuchet and catapults. A garrison of skilled mariners and corsairs ensures the towers are always ready to respond to any threat, and with the significant reinforcement of the existing iron chains and nets that guard the harbour they are extremely effective against shore offensives. He believes that not only will a sea assault against Siroc be made nigh impossible, but that the garrisons of the two towers would also be in a position to protect the Lyceum which lies to the south-east of Siroc proper.
{{anchor|The Atalaya Shipyards}}

===The Atalaya Shipyards (Ruined)===
Following a [[Construct_Madruga_shipyard|motion]] at the first [[Senate]] session in Winter 376YE, work began to expand the docks of Atalaya. Under the guidance of Miroslav, Senator for the [[The League|League]] city of [[Sarvos]], many wains of white granite and weirwood were committed to building both a massive seawall, and a great Imperial shipyard equipped with drydocks, powerful cranes for loading and unloading, and expanded warehouses and work spaces. Completed shortly before Autumn 377YE, the shipyard provided significant benefits to the Freeborn [[fleet|ships]] based in Madruga. In addition, the facilities here proved sufficient to allow the construction of the first [[navy]] since the days of [[Emperor Barabbas]]; [[Raise_Freeborn_navy|work]] began on constructing Freeborn vessels in Winter 378YE.

It is perhaps fitting that when the [[Grendel]] invaded Madruga after the Autumn Equinox 381YE, and [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the shipyard]] the Freeborn Storm was [[Navy_orders#Put_to_Port|put to port]] and shared the same fiery fate as the docks where it was created.
===The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)===
Built in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]], this massive white-and-gold tower was one of the most prominent landmarks in the Empire. It was often adopted by Freeborn sailors as a symbol of the Brass Coast as a whole; when they can see the beacon of the Shining Pillar, they knew they were home. The grand lighthouse echoed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Alexandria Lighthouse of Alexandria] in design, rather than more modern tall cylindrical towers, and was constructed of white granite. Mithril mirrors captured and amplified the light of the fire burning atop it, which was kept burning by a cadre of attendants who lived in the tower.

During the Grendel [[A beacon of smoke|invasion of Madruga]] in Winter 385YE, the Shining Pillar was [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|annihilated]] by the servants of [[Siakha]], and the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Rescue_the_Beacon_Watch|Beacon Watch]] were slaughtered. The terrible rites performed there not only destroyed the lighthouse and drowned the rocky island on which it was built, but they [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|apparently tore open]] a terrible maelstrom, something akin to a [[fane]] for Siakha allowing the eternal to send their servants to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Where once a shining beacon stood, a terrible maw now gapes.

==Further Reading==

Ylenwe

2026-06-03T19:29:46Z

Wrenna: /* Sobriquets */

<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=YlenrithArt.jpg|title="The Swan" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Current whereabouts unknown.|caption=In the past, ''the Swan'' was concerned with purity and harmony. Recent changes have seen the eternal undergo a subtle but profound transformation and adopt a new identity.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Eternal of Day==
===Sobriquets===
Ylenwe is called ''the Dove'', sometimes ''Dove of the Perfect Morning''. Since zir reemergence, zir heralds have begun using names such as ''Morningstar'', ''Pathway to Serenity'', ''Nested Interval'', ''Morning Glory'', ''Epsilon Close'', ''Childe of Gentleness'', ''Cradlesong'', and variations on these themes. Zie has less well-known sobriquets than many other eternals, but as zie finds strength and healing in the aftermath of the [[Cold Sun]] crisis, zie appears to be finding zirself equipped with more and more.

Zie uses zie/zir/zirself pronouns almost exclusively.

==Appearance==
Ylenwe (''Il-LEN-way'') appears as a humanoid, often with strong [[merrow]] characteristics. Zie is neither female nor male, although zir physical form may suggest elements of any gender. Zie is usually dressed simply in a single pale colour, often white, light green or soft pastel blues. Zie usually wears a cloak of white feathers, and a belt of silver scales. Zie always speaks quietly, never raising zir voice except to sing.

As with [[Roshanwe]], the eternal is said to make zir home at the point where the ocean of the realm of Day rises to touch the sky. Also like Roshanwe, zie expresses emotions such as bittersweet joy and quiet sadness in a way that is comprehensible to humans. While zie is clearly a creature with great emotional depth, zie rarely expresses those emotions - and when zie does zie does so through the medium of song.

Ylenwe claims that zie never lies - that lying creates unnecessary dissonance - but this claim is difficult to substantiate.

The Dove is often accompanied by one or two heralds; they are generally either musicians or mathematicians and some observers have suggested that they treat Ylenwe with a kind of restrained awe or worship that can be slightly unsettling.

==Concerns==
Prior to 384YE, Ylenwe was strongly associated with concepts of purity and harmony. After the [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Spring parley]] with [[Archmage of Day]] Skywise Gralka, it seems that zie has undergone a subtle but far-reaching transformation. Zie has abandoned the pursuit of purity, and taken on a new name. Focus, clarity, calm, and reason remain powerful touchstones as far as Ylenwe is concerned, but the emphasis is on working toward achieving harmony rather than destroying things that are "corrupt" or "impure."

In [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions|Winter 381YE]], as a result of allegations regarding the kidnap of Imperial citizens, Ylenwe was declared an [[Alignment#Enmity|enemy of the Empire]] by the [[Conclave]]. A [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] was [[Shake_it_off#Swan.27s_Polite_Request|requested]] by the eternal in Winter 384YE, and the [[Archmage of Day]] at the time met with zir [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|during the Spring Equinox]]. Ultimately, Ylenwe was reconciled with the Conclave by Skywise Gralka during the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Yelenwe|Summer Solstice]] of the same year.

Zie is a consummate musician, and regularly expounds the idea that true communication takes place only through music (and occasionally through dance). The Dove appears to believe that spoken and written language impedes, rather than promotes, communication and suggests that it might be a dead end that encourages division rather than harmony. When individuals make music together their spirits briefly move into alignment with each other and with the greater scheme of things - they become a metaphor for the power of unity without sacrificing individual identity. Emotions and passions expressed through music are 'harnessed' to the will of the musicians, and allow for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis catharsis], without which they can overwhelm the good sense of an individual and cause them harm. Ylenwe teaches that it is not wrong to feel things strongly, but that unless powerful emotions are carefully controlled they can lead to suffering and dissonance. By expressing them through music, they can be experienced in a contained and ordered way and provide strength and spiritual communion, rather than encouraging selfishness and disharmony.

Ylenwe encourages magicians to practice their magic with music - even the passionate dancing of the [[The Brass Coast magical traditions|hakima]] - and especially favours magicians who employ the [[Music of the spheres]] in their rituals.

Finally, music is also used as the gateway to Ylenwe's only true passion; mathematics. Zie firmly believes that the study of mathematics is the only 'pure' discipline, and that through it every truth of existence can be expressed in an elegant, simple and above-all truthful way. Mortals who study mathematics as more than "''the physics of bottlecaps''" are of great interest to Ylenwe.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenrith.jpg|caption=Ylenwe was once Ylenrith, who appeared as a humanoid with strong <br>merrow traits.|align=right|width=300}}
This eternal is interested in medicine and healing, but focuses on treating the "entire patient" - finding the root cause of illness rather than focusing on treating symptoms, and recognising the link between the body and the spirit.

In the past, Ylenwe was closely associated with the rune [[Cavul]], but that association has apparently been broken by the recent transformation. Zie is still associated with fresh water, but no longer has any association with magical fire.

As Ylenrith, the eternal was viewed with some suspicion by followers of the [[The Way|Way]]. Zie made no effort to conceal zir disdain for the auras created through [[Religious skills#Consecration|consecrate]], [[Religious skills#Hallow|hallowing]] and [[Religious skills#Anointing|anointing]]. Some religious magicians further pointed to the way that zir heralds seem to encourage worship of the eternal, and warned that zir philosophy and boons may represent an attempt to spread [[Religious_Crimes#Idolatry|idolatrous]] worship of an eternal to the Empire. They also point to the tranquillity zie seeks to promulgate as being no different to the malign spiritual presence of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] which ultimately robs humanity of its drive to strive and leads to stagnation and death. It remains to be seen if the "new" Ylenwe will have the same attitudes.

==Boons==
Ylenwe can remove almost any strong passion, alleviate pain, and grant [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul|clarity and clear-thinking]], especially though the [[Solace of Chimes|use of music]]. In the same way zie can help restore harmony to a mind or spirit, zie can also help bring equilibrium to physical things, especially by [[Ascetic Star of Atun|helping to treat infection and disease]]. Zie sometimes offers zir boons through consumable items (usually clear water) or enchanted musical instruments. At least [[Abraxus_Stone#The_Swan.27s_Chalice|one story]] concerns an apparently familiar magic item - in this case an [[Abraxus Stone]] - that the eternal commits to "renewing" each year through the use of a dedicated herald.

With Ylenwe's new focus, it remains to be seen what form the boons zie can offer will take.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=300]]</div>
==Further Reading==
* [[Ourselves_and_immortality#And_Eternity|Ourselves and immortality]] - 387YE Winter plenipotentiary response
* [[Speak_to_me#Zie_of_the_Morning|Speak to me]] - 387YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Have you seen me lately]] - 385YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Hunter_of_stars#Ylenrith|Hunter of stars]] - 382YE Spring plenipotentiary response

[[Category:Eternals]]
{{pdf}}

Custodian of the Omphalos

2026-06-03T16:54:00Z

Wrenna: /* The Dreaming Spire */

==Overview==
<div style="float: right; width: 200px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Assembly Urizen.png|caption=This title is appointed by the Urizen Assembly|width=250px}}</div>
The Custodian of the Omphalos is an [[Imperial title]] awarded to a citizen of [[Urizen]]. The [[Construct the Dreaming Spire|announcement]] to construct the Dreaming Spire, an [[edifice]], was made by '''Lucrezia Corvinascura''', as [[Chair of the Wolf]], during the Spring Equinox 387YE.

The Custodian of the Omphalos has a responsibility to epitomise and maintain Urizen culture in [[Spiral]], and oversees the [[#The Dreaming Spire|Dreaming Spire]], the Omphalos, in Ankra, Spiral.

==Responsibilities==
__NOTOC__
The Custodian of the Omphalos is responsible for epitomising and maintaining [[Urizen culture and customs|Urizen culture]] in Spiral. In addition, if the Dreaming Spire were to come under threat, it would be the responsibility of the Custodian to respond to those threats.

==Appointment==
The Custodian of the Omphalos is a national position which is [[Appointment|appointed]] by [[judgement]] of the [[Assembly#The_National_Assemblies|Urizen Assembly]].

The Custodian of the Omphalos is appointed during the Spring Equinox each year. They can be revoked by the [[Assembly#General_Assembly|General Assembly]], the Urizen Assembly, and the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of the Nine]].

{{RecentElections|Custodian_of_the_Omphalos}}

==The Dreaming Spire==
The Dreaming Spire is designed around a trio of resonances: The dominant [[the Chalice|Chalice]] - ''Things Heal'' and ''Things Apart Come Together'' - evoked in lightstone beacons atop six of the spire towers. [[The Oak]] - ''Things Endure'' - and [[The Fountain]] - ''Things Live'' - are evoked in many-hued lightstones embedded within a series of trees throughout the twinned gardens within the spires. The Omphalos itself, the centre point of Urizen, is doubly marked: First, found upon a great plinth, the overlapping node between The Oak and The Fountain, representing the stars Ahinus, The Source and Tirion, Who Stands.
<div style="float: right; width: 200px;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Dreaming Spire.webp|caption=Artist's impression of the Dreaming Spire|width=250px}}</div>
Secondly, through a door within the plinth itself, a stairwell descends to the Sanctum of Stars. This domed room houses the Omphalos stone itself at its centre: an obelisk which echoes those in Redoubt and Zenith, and connects to the tracery focusing on the Block. On the domed ceiling itself is a network of lightstones, intended to represent the physical location of the spires of Urizen. This field of stars also serves as a tangible representation of the [[Net of the Heavens]]. Aside from the lightstones, the Sanctum of Stars is kept dark, so that a visitor may bask in the work.

The Dreaming Spire is designed as a site not only as a focus of Urizen culture, but also as a gathering place. As such, in addition to all the typical amenities of a larger spire, there is a mixture of dwellings suitable for refugees, itinerants, or otherwise. The Library of the Dreaming Spire's library houses the library of Solen’s Doubt. The names of all of the fallen of the Battle of Solen's Doubt are etched into its walls.
[[Category:Title]][[Category:Urizen]][[Category:Synod]]

Mareave

2026-06-03T16:38:30Z

Wrenna: /* Eoradal */

<div style="float: left; max-width: 400px; margin-right: 10px;">{{HoverImage|Mareave.png|400x400px}}</div>
==Overview==
Mareave is part of the Broken Shore, conquered by the Empire at the start of 386YE and assigned to the Imperial Orcs the same season. It borders [[Spiral]], [[Ayereed]] and an unknown territory of Skoura. It has much more in common with the coast of [[Spiral]] and [[Redoubt]] than that of Attar; there are comparatively few natural harbours here, and the coastline is both rocky and raised into steep cliffs. Like the rest of the Broken Shore, it is warm and dry with little in the way of large-scale vegetation.

The largest settlement is the town of Beoraidh; which also serves as the only substantial port in the territory, and is the location of Lord Ehsan's Palace of Chains.

==Economics==
* '''All mine personal resources in Mareave produce 30 additional rings each season'''
Many of the Imperial Orcs have something of a cultural taboo against working mines, but that's not the case for the orcs of Mareave. The [[Golden Pyramid]] discovered that there are many fine quality mines in Mareave. A methodical approach from a dozen Urizen, Varushkan, and League magicians tracks any number of good quality delves in the mountains that ring Mareave to the north and east. Some of them are already in the hands of orcs who remain in the territory, others have been abandoned.

The mountains here are rich in gold, silver and copper as well as the magical metals. Using the list of mine workings [[Digging_for_fire#Precious_Mines|identified by the Golden Pyramid]], any Imperial Orc who operates a [[mine]] in the territory will find that they receive an additional thirty rings each season, representing money earned by selling any precious metals recovered. They're free to roleplay that they have established a mine of their own; that they pay the local orcs to work it for them; or that the money they receive is gained by offering protection to the people who do the actual mining.

==Recent History==
At some point in the distant past, the territory of Mareave was known as ''Mahal'', named by the human settlers who drove out the [[orc|orcs]] that had previously lived there. These were not members of any Imperial nation; they were the ancestors of the [[Skoura|Skouran]] people. There is [[Mareave and Urizen|some evidence]] of a handful of [[Urizen]] [[spire|spires]] in the north but no indication the territory was ever made part of that nation even in pre-Imperial times. Eventually, the orcs reconquered the land and drove them into the mountains to the east. Much of this history can be found in the ''[[Mareave and Urizen]]'' [[historical research]] document published in late 385YE.

The territory has long been the seat of one of the Salt Lords - the rulers of [[Grendel]] society, who ruled from the city of [[#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]], itself built on the ruins of a much older city. The armies that [[Spiral#Recent_History|invaded Spiral]] in 331YE came north through Mareave, through the [[Spiral#The_Passes|Apulian Gate]] that is the only reliable way to move large numbers of troops between the Broken Shore and the Empire.

In 381YE, the [[Senate]] took advantage of an [[opportunity]] to [[Map_the_Bay_of_Catazar|send Imperial captains]] to [[Talking_sailor#Map_the_Bay|map the Bay of Catazar]]. Thanks to the [[How_sweet_is_the_sea#Mapping_the_Bay|enthusiasm of the Empire's mariners]], the first reliable modern map of the [[Bay of Catazar]] was produced. This included details of [[Bay_of_Catazar#The_Broken_Shore_and_Attar|Attar and the Broken Shore]] - including a [[Bay_of_Catazar#Mareave|first look]] at the coast of Mareave. This was later followed by a [[Construct_Spy_Network_in_Mareave|more extensive survey]] in 385YE.

Ultimately, the map led to a raid against the city of Beoraidh following the Winter Solstice 382YE. An incredible number of Imperial [[fleet|ships]] and [[military unit|soldiers]] launched a [[383YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Mission|surprise attack]] against the city, inflicting significant damage and liberating a large number of both slaves and soldiers who had been press-ganged by the Grendel. These orcs would form the foundation of the [[Sannite]] sept of the [[Imperial Orcs]].

After the Autumn Equinox 385YE, and the end of the [[Ratify treaty with the Grendel Autumn 383YE|two year peace treaty]] with the orcs of the Broken Shore, four [[Army|Imperial armies]] passed through the Apulian Way to launch the first serious attempt to [[Between_stone_and_salt|conquer the territory of Mareave]]. They faced only token resistance, with the bulk of the Grendel forces being [[A beacon of smoke|engaged in their own attack]] on the other side of the Bay. The four armies conquered [[#Icarion|Icarion]] and [[#Nadir|Nadir]], and following a [[Between_stone_and_salt#Politics_of_Mareave_(Battle)|major conjunction of the Sentinel Gate]] during the Winter Solstice, they secured their hold on [[#Eoradal|Eoradal]] as well.

The Grendel responded by reinforcing the (somewhat disorganised) defence mounted by Salt Lord Ehsan and the Brine Turtles, but it was not enough. Imperial armies pushed south, [[Sea-wood fed with copper|capturing the wealthy region]] of [[#Clisearn|Clisearn]] and the mines of [[#Fundindelve|Fundindelve]]. By the start of the new year 386YE, the Empire had control of the territory - although that control was by no means secure. Shortly before the Spring Equinox, the (former) Salt Lord of Beoraidh sent a [[Sea-wood_fed_with_copper#Warp_and_Weft|delegation]] to speak to the leaders of the Imperial armies with a number of unexpected offers contingent upon the Imperial Senate recognising him and his people as foreigners distinct from the rest of the Grendel.

==Points of Interest==
===Beoraidh===
The port of Beoraidh is the only major coastal settlement in Mareave. Built on a relatively accessible part of the shoreline, the town always appears to be in danger of being washed away. Much work has been done to rebuild the town in the years since the raid, though clearly, most resources have gone towards the shipyard that commands the docks. When Mareave became part of the Empire, the former [[Grendel]] Salt-lord Ehsan negotiated to keep the city, and the region of [[#Sinfoyard|Sinfoyard]] independent. Through careful maneuvering, Ehsan also arranged a neutrality pact with his former Salt Lords, allowing Beoraidh to become effectively an independent city-state on the coast of Mareave. So far they have declined to become involved in fighting between Grendel and Imperial forces in the territory.

In Autumn 387YE, this arrangement went further when the [[Sarcophan Delves]] announced they were engaged in treaty negotiations with Beoraidh with an eye towards it becoming a [[All_the_night-tide#Beoraidh|defacto protectorate]] of that great nation. It seems that the ambitions of the Delves, and those of Ehsan, are aligned toward seeing the city become a valuable trade hub on the [[Bay of Catazar]].

===[[Fundindelve]]===
In northern Clisearn, deep in the mountains near the Ohwinn river, is a large village built around a wide opening cut deep into one of the mountains. This is Fundindelve; a mine with ready access to abundant veins of mithril that lie beneath Mount Finnoderi.

Fundindelve is an Imperial [[Bourse|Bourse position]] which produces 24 wains of mithril each season. Control of Fundindelve is assigned by open auction at the Autumn Equinox each year.

===Palace of Chains===
To the south-east of the town of Beoraidh, the Palace of Chains squats over the river; controlling access between the north and south of the territory. A series of watchtowers run eastwards, into the mountains. The inner buildings of the fortification are used by Lord Ehsan; with marble walls that have high windows that open to allow a breeze. The city is effectively protected by a fortification of strength 6,000.
===Great Aqueduct===
The Great Aqueduct of Eoradal is a massive construction of [[white granite]] that links arid Eoradal with the mountains of [[Skoura]]. It was built around the remnants of an old aqueduct and irrigation system originally created when Mareave was under the control of Skouran ancestors, but fell into disuse and ruin when the Grendel seized the territory. Work on the rejuvenated structure was completed shortly before the Summer Solstice 387YE. A diplomatic agreement was reached whereby the Empire would [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Eoradal_Tunnels|purchase access to the Skouran aquifers]] high in the mountains, providing eastern Mareave with a seemingly endless supply of fresh water. Now, the aqueduct supports not only farming in the region, but with completion of [[Spiral#Curstag's_Way|Curstag's Way]] - a road linking Mareave to the wider Empire - the establishment of a sizable new settlement at Eoradal.

===The Apulian Way===
The Apulian Way links Icarion with [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulus]] in Spiral. This "pass" runs through the foothill, along the coast of the Bay of Catazar, and was widened during the peace treaty to allow Grendel caravans carrying white granite into the Spiral from the Broken Shore.

===The Lighthouse of Icarion===
The cliff-top buildings were originally built in the Urizen style, but were at one point converted for use by the Grendel. The settlement's most striking feature is the seven-sided lighthouse constructed with white granite, topped by a globe of tempest jade. There is no light shining from the globe - the lightstone is either lost or unused by the orcs of the settlement.

===Blood River Colossi===
Two giant statues stand on the coast facing the sea, each about fifty feet tall. The weathered statues depict humanoid figures with human faces and the remnants of what might have once been a spear of a staff. They flank a waterfall that cascades into the Bay of Catazar with dark red-brown polluted water. The rising water level is eroding the left foot of the northern statue, putting it at risk of falling to the sea. Despite their condition, the statues remain an impressive sight.

==Regions==
===Icarion===
'''Quality:''' Hills<br>
The hills of [[Spiral#Apulus|Apulus]] extend down into Icarion and dominate the region. Icarion, like Nadir to the east, is sparsely populated - beyond a handful of mining settlements there are a few small camps making full use of the neglected ruins of the [[Mareave_and_Urizen#Before_the_Empire|former spires]] of Urizen. The mining settlements deliver wagons of iron and copper, along with crates of [[orichalcum]] and [[green iron]] down to the town of Aghnayadh in Sinfoyard. On the coast stands the ruins of the [[#Urizen lighthouse|lighthouse]].

===Nadir===
'''Quality:''' Hills<br>
Much like [[#Icarion|Icarion]], the hills of Spiral continue into Nadir. The region is even less populated than Icarion to the west; there is only one village of note, Rathmonna, nestled in a lee near the mountains of [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Borenj|Borenj]]. Rathmonna has low walls, nothing close to a [[fortification]], but serves well enough to protect the inhabitants from the packs of [[Mundane_beasts#Drakes|drakes]] that infest the area but that provide an industry for the high-risk and high-reward profession of hunter. The high mountains to the north and east are impassable; there is no access to either the Mountains of the Moon nor Skoura from Nadir.

The [[Shepherd of the Southern Herd|southern herd]] was established as part of the [[Million_miles_of_water#The_Cattle_Markets|Great Beef Market of '87]], which saw hundreds of heads of cattle purchased from across the Marches and [[High_hopes#The_Southern_Herd|drove]] across the Empire.

===Eoradal===
'''Qualities:''' Hills, Ruins, Foreigners (Uthni)
Eoradal is a region of gentle foothills that slowly rise the further eastwards; the great mountains that are the border to Skoura continue southwards and dominate the horizon. There are ruins here in a style reminiscent of the [[Mountains_of_the_Moon#Zanaeti_Tunnels_and_the_Skouran_Embassy|Skouran embassy]] in the Mountains of the Moon - clearly they are all that remains of the [[Skoura|Skourans]] that held the region hundreds of years ago. The ruins are clustered around the border to Skoura and lead deeper into the mountains. The [[#Great_Aqueduct|Great Aqueduct]] that provides water and irrigation to the depths of the arid region has also helped support the founding of a new settlement amid the ruins of the old town of Eoradal, a settlement that now grows larger every day.

Prior to the Imperial invasion the folk of Eoradal were mostly orcs who did well out of offering service to the Grendel. Though they were rewarded with land and privileges for serving the Salt Lords, for the most part they had little actual ''affection'' for them. The main problem faced by the Imperial Orcs was that the Eoradal families expected the Salt Lords to return at any moment, and anticipated both great rewards for staying “true” to their former masters' ([[Grendel_religion#Fidelity|Fidelity]]), and punishment if they threw their lot in with the Empire too readily ([[Grendel_religion#Retribution|Retribution]]). Foremost among the Eoradal orcs resisting the Empire were the ''Uthni'', a widely extended family native to Eoradal who claim a strong connection to the Grendel ancestor [[Grendel_religion#Rucraic_-_The_Storm_Lord|Rucraic the Storm Lord]].

The orc families of Eoradal, and the Uthni in particular, are close in temperament to the [[Sannite]] sept, but motivated by a belief that the conquest of Mareave by the Empire will prove as temporary as the Grendel conquest of Spiral has always been. They view the Imperial Orcs' presence as a disruption of the normal order of things that should soon be over, their opposition mostly grounded in a belief that it will earn them favour with the Salt Lords when they inevitably return – and because they just don't see any long-term advantage to cooperating. The cynicism of the orcs of Eoradal is discussed in more detail in the '''[[Here_to_stay#Cynicism|Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune.

===Sinfoyard===
'''Quality:''' Beoraidh<br>
The coastline of Sinfoyard is rocky, which abruptly leads to steep cliffs that stand tall against the waves of the [[Bay of Catazar]]. The region is barren, even more so than the rest of the territory, but is heavily populated due to the salt mines of Lord Ehsan. Near the salt mine is the sprawling town of Aghnayadh; home to warehouses filled with ore from the northern regions and destined for further south, and with accommodation for those desperate enough to work the salt mines.

===Beoraidh===
'''Qualities:''' City, Coastal, Beoraidh <br>
Beoraidh is the most densely populated of all the regions in Mareave. It houses the town that shares its [[#Beoraidh|name]] with the region, the [[fortification|fortified]] [[#Palace of Chains|Palace of Chains]] that straddles the ''Ohwinn'' river before it meets the sea, and the [[shipyard]] to the south of the port. The walled headquarters and warehouses of the North Mareave Trading Consortium are located slightly to the north of the port.

===Clisearn===
'''Quality:''' Hills, Recalcitrant Inhabitants<br>
The hills of Clisearn are similar to those found in [[#Eoradal|Eoradal]]; low foothills that lead into the imposing mountains to the east. The key difference is the sheer amount of wealth found in this region. The family of Lord Ehsan once resided here in extensive villas rather than in the Palace of Chains or the dilapidated port town of Beoraidh. The ''Ohwinn'' river starts in the hills, not far from the Fundindelve. There was once a small garrison of [[Elite_Grendel_troops#The_Stone_Born|Stone Born]] who guarded both the mine and the villas of Ehsan.
<div style="float: right; max-width: 250px; margin-right: 10px;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=Grand Lodge of Golden Pyramid.jpg|align=right|caption=The Grand Lodge of the Golden Pyramid stands as an example of Imperial wealth|title=Art by Anastasiya Lukashovna Volkov|width=250}}</div>
The main problem facing the Empire here was that under Grendel domination these people were important, wealthy, and felt privileged. Thanks to the abundance of water, they controlled rich farms and beautiful gardens. When Imperial forces took Mareave, many of the orcs who remained here were wealthy Grendel: valued miners and engineers, privileged artisans and magicians, rich landowners or farmers. A number retreated to Beoraidh, or fled the territory entirely, and those who remained looked forward to the return of the Grendel because they saw it as the only way to restore their lost prestige. They did not oppose the Imperial Orcs directly but took every opportunity to undermine their control of Mareave. The core of the opposition was centred around the leaders of three rival families, forced to work together by the conquest of the territory. The ''Adahr'', ''Marr'', and ''Tholdie'' were are no friends to Salt Lord Ehsan and for whatever reasons they remain unwilling to join Ehsan's new city state.

Their resentment was addressed in part through the establishment of the [[#Grand Lodge of the Golden Pyramid|Grand Lodge of the Golden Pyramid]] in Clisearn, but they remain suspicious of the Imperial Orcs, jealously hoarding what little prestige they still enjoy. More information about the independent orcs of Clisearn can be found in the '''[[Here_to_stay#Selfishness|Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune.

===Fleisardh===
'''Qualities:''' Uncooperative, [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|Under threat]] (Grendel)<br>
Fleisardh is the original home of the Brine Turtles, one of the [[Grendel_look_and_feel#Broken_Shores_Septs|major septs]] of the Broken Shore and the core of the army of the same name. Their town of Fioroult is built next to the lake that feeds the "''blood river''" and is sprawling and dangerous. The lake is fresh water, but there is something in the earth in eastern Mareave that rapidly makes the water undrinkable, tainting it with a crimson hue and making it splash sluggishly - like blood - into the Bay of Catazar. The Brine Turtles maintain a very public town watch but the town is large enough and filled with enough ramshackle dwellings that there are three times as many snickets as there are clear roads and every one of them is potentially deadly. There is a small and close-knit group of "''alleywalkers''" who serve a similar function to the [[Thief-taker|thief-takers]] of the Imperial Orcs. The [[#Blood_River_Colossi|Blood River Colossi]] stand as sentinels looking out over the Bay of Catazar.

The Brine Turtles dominate Fleisardh even while the region is under Imperial Control. For years, they were one of the two dominant forces in Mareave, rivalling the power of the Salt Lords of Beoraidh. Their warriors form the army of the same name and fight proudly under the banners of the Grendel. Indeed, they would be the group most likely to take up arms against the Empire... if not for the fact that most of the people able to wield those arms are ''already'' fighting the Empire.

The civilian leaders of the Brine Turtle are concentrated in and around the settlement of Fioroult and one of the few large sources of potable water in the region. As a sept, they are proud, comparatively powerful, and resentful. They control the borders between Mareave and the rest of the Broken Shore, and are keen to see the Imperial Orcs driven out. They are barely even prepared to ''talk'' to the Empire, let alone help it move through their arid lands or share their resources with it. More details of the Brine Turtles can be found in the '''[[Here_to_stay#Shells|Here to stay]]''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Pathfinder Gaddak.jpg|caption='''Pathfinder Gaddak''', Senator for Mareave|align=left|width=300}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Mareave|Territory=Mareave|Season=Spring}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the start of the Winter Solstice 387YE, the city-state of Beoraidh controls Beoraidh and Sinfoyard, and the Grendel control Fleisardh. The Imperial Orcs, and thus the Empire, control the rest of the territory.
* The Senator for Mareave receives a seasonal income of ten crowns in "gifts" and open bribes from the orcs of Beoraidh as per the '''[[Set_my_lands_in_order#Smoothing_the_Hard_Edges|Set my lands in order]]''' wind of fortune
* Ruicraic's Redoubt is a rank one [[fortification]] in Eoradal
* [[#Palace of Chains|The Palace of Chains]] is a rank one fortification with a particularly strong [[fortification#bastion|bastion]] in Beoraidh
* [[Business|Businesses]] in the territory benefit from the Grand Lodge of the Golden Pyramid and produce an additional 36 rings each season
* [[mana site|Mana sites]] in the territory benefit from the Grand Lodge of the Golden Pyramid and produce an additional mana crystal each season
* [[Mine|Mines]] in the territory benefit from the wealth of the northern hills and the Grand Lodge of the Golden Pyramid and produce 30 rings and two extra ingots each season.
* The [[#Grand Aqueduct|Grand Aqueduct]] removes the ''arid'' quality from the region of Eoradal
* The [[Shepherd of the Southern Herd|Southern Herd]] removes the ''arid'' quality from the region of Nadir
* The Icarion Qanat removes the ''arid'' quality from Icarion
* [[Spiral#Curstag's Way|Curstag's Way]] in [[Spiral]] removes the ''under developed'' quality from the region of Icarion
[[Category:Imperial Orcs]][[Category:Gazetteer]][[Category:Imperial_Territory]][[Category:Grendel]]

==Further Reading==
* [[Wide azure skies]] - 388YE Spring wind of war detailing the renewed Grendel efforts into Clisearn
* [[Scarlet sands]] - 387YE Winter wind of war detailing the Imperial retaliation against the Grendel invasion
* [[Lines of care and sorrow]] - 387YE Autumn wind of war detailing the Grendel invasion of Mareave
* [[Million miles of water]] - 386YE Winter Wind of Fortune about steps that can be taken to remove the arid quality
* [[Here to stay]] - 386YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing the appraisal to encourage the southern orcs to be more cooperative
* [[We all stand]] - 386YE Autumn wind of fortune detailing opportunities presented by the [[Golden Pyramid]] and Tamazi sept in Mareave
* [[Set my lands in order]] - 386YE Summer Wind of Fortune about the issues affecting the territory
* [[Digging for fire]] - 386YE Summer Wind of Fortune about the [[Golden Pyramid|Golden Pyramid's]] investigation in the territory
* [[Into the spin]] – 386YE Spring wind of fortune summarising the situation in Mareave
* [[Sea-wood fed with copper]] - 386YE Spring Wind of War about the conquest of Mareave
* [[Between stone and salt]] - 385YE Winter Wind of War concerning the invasion of Mareave
* [[Mareave and Urizen]] - Historical research document concerning the history of Mareave from an Imperial perspective

Karsk

2026-06-03T16:38:03Z

Wrenna: /* Branoc */

{{CaptionedImage|file=Karskregions.png|caption=A war-torn land|title=Regions of Karsk|align=left|width=500}}
== Overview ==
Karsk has always been a war-torn land. The scene of many vicious battles against the barbarians since before Varushka joined the Empire, it is scattered with fortresses, battlefields and ruins. It has an accursed reputation, and many stories refer to the "''bloated crows of Karsk, grown fat from human flesh and suffering.''" At one time this territory was home to numerous merchant boyars who became rich capturing and enslaving orcs to work in the mines of Volodmartz. When the Imperial Orcs joined the Empire and it became illegal to keep orcish slaves, the senator for Karsk was brutally murdered during a meeting with a dozen now-ruined Karsk boyars including the last scion of the [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Zeleny_Zheleza|Zeleny]] mining family.

==Recent History==
After a period of escalating raids, barbarian orcs invaded Karsk from the north in 368YE. In a series of surprise attacks they overwhelmed the border fortresses and pushed deep into the heart of the territory. The ferocity and sheer numbers involved in the assault took the Varushkans by surprise, and before the Empire could organise an effective counter-attack, Karsk had fallen.

The campaign against the orcs stretched on for several decades. A few vales held out against the barbarians, backed up by some Imperial forces, a [[Varushka Magical Traditions#Cabalists|cabal]] or two and a few fellowships of [[warden|wardens]]. Scattered reports revealed that the initial strong invasion quickly stalled. It soon became clear that the invading orcs were fighting among themselves, and with some of the few remaining indigenous orc bandits.

Following major offensives in [[#Moresvah|Moresvah]] and [[#Nitrost|Nitrost]] a strike team assaulted the town of [[Karsk#The Ruins of Isember|Isember]] in [[#Lestasny|Lestasny]] during the Spring Equinox 378YE. A focal point for traitors aiding the Thule, victory resulted in the destruction of the town and drove Thule forces back into the eastern regions. Karsk was once again in Imperial hands - but the campaign was far from over. The Thule forces showed no sign of abandoning the territory. As the year lengthened, [[378YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Amid_Ruined_hills|the barbarians regrouped]] and in Autumn [[378YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#A_Tale_of_Fog_and_Ravens|launched a counter-offensive]]. During the Autumn Equinox, Nitrost was lost following a concerted Thule offensive, and with it Imperial control of the territory.

Within three months, however, the tide of war had turned back the other way. A major campaign by Varushkan, Navarr and Urizen forces aided by powerful ritual magic forced the Thule back out of Nitrost, returning the territory to Imperial hands. During the Winter Solstice 378YE, Karsk was once again made part of Varushka - but this time there was a good deal more discussion in the [[Senate]], and some talk of granting it to the [[Imperial Orcs]] as their first territory.

During the Summer Solstice 379YE, the Empire [[Accept_Thule_peace_treaty|signed a peace treaty]] with the Thule that ended hostilities along the northern borders. The Thule withdrew their forces from Karsk - apart from the region of [[#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]] which was [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|conceded]] to the orcs of [[Otkodov]] as part of the treaty.

Later that year, the Empire began work on [[#The Crow Roads|roads]] lining the vales of Karsk with each other and with the rest of Varushka. This large-scale construction project aided in the [[Army#Recruitment|recruitment]] of a third [[Army]], and saw the [[Varushka_military_concerns#The_Army_of_the_Iron_Helms|Iron Helms]].

==Major Features==
===Aleksandra's Watch===
[[Fortify Lestasny in Karsk|Commissioned]] by the Senate in Spring 381YE, and designed by [[Those_who_worship#Almodin_Okt.C3.ADstis.2C_Priest_of_the_Builder|Almodin Oktístis]], this [[fortification]] was completed with magical assistance shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE.

The white granite used in the construction came exclusively from [[Granites_of_Veltsgorsk|Veltsgorsk]], and the walls bear distinctive bands of red, orange and pink quartz which have caused some travellers to give the fortification fanciful names such as "''the Castle of Sunset''". Where possible the [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] architect arranged the bands in swirling arabesques which, while attractive, are somewhat at odds with the dark hills of [[#Lestasny|Lestasny]]. Indeed, the entire fortification is subtly "off" to Varushkan eyes. While the architect has followed the traditional lines of a Varushkan fortress - a solid gatehouse, keep, and wall surmounted by circular towers with high sloped roofs - the structure is informed by Asavean sensibilities. There are few straight lines in the place; walls and passages tend to curve and bend; rooms are usually circular or oval. The layout is much more open and relaxed than is traditional in Varushka, and more than one visitor has remarked that at times it is a little like being inside a giant seashell.

When the fortification was completed, it was also significantly more decorated than is usual for Varushka. They incorporated numerous mosaics and statues of bull-headed figures with a distinctly irreligious aspect. Shortly after the castle was complete, the Senate [[Rebuild_Aleksandra's_Watch|voted]] to redesign the castle, removing the statues and the mosaics. By order of the boyar of Ivarsgard, the idolatrous statues were used to gravel the courtyard, so that every Imperial boot that entered the fortification would be treading the Asavean gods underfoot.

Built above the vale of [[#Ivarsgard|Ivarsgard]], the castle is named for the late Aleksandra Irinova Prochnost, a revered wise one. Her preserved remains are interred in the highest tower of the keep, overlooking the vale; there is a saying among the people of Ivarsgard, "''Remember, Grandmother is always watching you''". In catacombs beneath the keep lies the vale's ossuary filled with the bones of those who fell during the [[Thule]] invasion. Here the influence of the Asavean architect is still somewhat noticeable - while the mosaics of leaping dolphins have been removed, the ossuary passages still form a series of interlocking spirals.
{{anchor|The Roads of Karsk}}

===The Crow Roads===
In Autumn 379YE, a [[Rebuild_the_roads_of_Karsk|major public works project]] was [[commission|commissioned]] to restore the devastated [[Varushkan Road|roads]] of Karsk. As a consequence, the roads are in excellent repair and almost every major settlement in Karsk is now connected to them, and through them to the rest of the Empire. A great deal of white granite was invested in the project, and every seventh stone was carefully prepared to reinforce the warding [[Varushka hearth magic|hearth magic]]. This [[great work]] not only increases the [[prosperity]] of every [[mine]] and [[forest]] in Karsk, but also speeded the recovery of the war-torn land. As a consequence, the Varushkan nation was [[Crow_on_the_cradle#Supply|able]] to begin [[Raise_Varushkan_army|restoring]] the [[Crow_on_the_cradle#Armies|Iron Helms]] army - and to [[Army#Maximum numbers of Imperial Forces|support]] a third army - much earlier than might otherwise have been possible. Since their completion, more local Varushkans have been referring to the roads as the "''Crow Roads''" - perhaps a reference to their connection to the Iron Helms. They are, however, considered part of the [[Varushkan_Road#The Iron Roads|Iron Roads]] that cover the entire nation.

===Ivarsgard===
Once a prosperous settlement on the shores of [[the Semmerlak]], in the centuries before the [[The_Orc_Rebellion|orc revolt]] the vale grew rich from the profits of its slave labour-fueled mines and forests. After the rebellion, the vale closed its [[mine|mines]], [[forest|forests]], and [[business|timber yards]] and developed a new economy based on foreign trade with [[fleet|ships]] constructed with the last output of its slave-based industry.

When the Thule barbarians invaded, Ivarsgard fell before their armies. The [[Varushka_leadership|boyar]] and his [[Varushka_military_concerns|schlacta]] stayed behind, allowing a small group of survivors to escape across the Semmerlak. The lucky ones who managed to flee founded a new home, near [[Karov#Malimorzi|Korotny]], establishing the outpost of Ugleyzastava on the eastern shores of the lake. Those less fortunate were taken by the Thule and, in a cruel twist of irony, forced into the reopened mines and lumber yards by their new orc overlords. While the slaves were freed when Lestazny was liberated, the ruins of Ivarsgard remained uninhabited save by squatters and borderland bandits for some time. One of the first to return was the late Aleksandra Irinova Prochnost. The [[Mark_the_Flesh_Incorruptible|preserved remains]] of the revered wise one were placed with great reverence in a simple bier in the central square of the settlement until they were moved to Aleksandra's Watch.

Shortly after the Spring Equinox 380YE, Senator Maarit [[commission|commissioned]] a project to [[Construct_vale_in_Karsk|rebuild the vale of Ivarsgard]]. White granite and weirwood were provided, as well as money to cover labour costs, but the materials and funds were supplemented by volunteer labour. A number of displaced citizens of Karsk had taken refuge in the forests here and, following discussions with the exiled Boyar of Ivarsgard, agreed to help rebuild the vale in return for a place within its walls. A call has gone out for survivors of the fall of Ivarsgard to return and lend their strength to restoring the [[prosperity]] of the reborn vale.

It is not just former citizens that have come to Ivarsgard; merchants from the [[Sarcophan Delves]] negotiated a special mooring at the docks here, which was [[Create_title_Custodian_of_Ivarsgard_Docks|approved by the Senate]] in Summer 382YE. The [[Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks]] is appointed to maintain good relations with the visiting traders and to ensure that Ivarsgard ships and boats have a safe and profitable mooring. Likewise, in response to an [[The_honey_offering#The_Goose_and_the_Spider|influx of former Druj slaves]] from [[Ossium]], the Imperial Senate authorised the construction of a [[Warden of the Trees and Hills#Warden's Hall|Warden's Hall]] here, used as the base of operations of the [[Warden of the Trees and Hills]].

Ivarsgard is connected to [[#The_Roads_of_Karsk|the roads of Karsk]], and protected both by a sturdy wall and by the brooding presence of [[#Aleksandra's Watch|Aleksandra's Watch]]. A basic quay has been laid in, as well as a number of buildings - including an armoury. While many of the structures inside the walls are currently tents, they are supplemented by more permanent structures as the prosperity of the area continues to grow.

=== Veresk ===
Before the Thule invasion, the vale of Veresk was known for its musicians and entertainers. The [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Vereski_Stzena|Vereski Stzena]] were based here, operating a well-respected school that was one of the few structures to emerge mostly unscathed after multiple attempts by the orcs of Otkodov to conquer the town. Veresk never fell, and was a focus of Imperial scouting activity for much of the war. [[Warden|Wardens]] watching the area were among the first to report incidents of orcs fighting orcs within the barbarian encampments there. Later investigations suggested that these were conflicts with "local" orcs under the guidance of the Charnel Lord of [[#Broken Barrow|Broken Barrow]], many of whom still live in the vicinity of the haunted hill.

Veresk was severely damaged during the invasion, but in the years since it has been largely rebuilt by the stubborn survivors who refused to leave their homes. One of the most recent additions to Veresk is the famous [[Series_of_dreams#The_Empress_of_all_Goats_Theatre|Empress of all Goats Theatre]], built by the eternal [[Barien]] for Hubert Annanovich Gremani as a reward for completing a [[Challenge the Iron Duke|Challenge]] from the Iron Duke. The theatre has since been expanded, and is now widely respected as a major cultural site by many Varushkans. Most of the plays, even the most comedic, contain valuable lessons for their audiences and have proved popular outside the borders of Karsk - indeed some have been adapted for the stage in [[Temeschwar]] and [[Holberg]].

=== Broken Barrow ===
A scattered set of stone structures atop a mound, the Broken Barrow is one of the oldest and best known abodes of a [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] in Varushka. A great stone slab lies in two pieces on top of the hill, which is believed to mark the resting place of the [[Charnel Lord]]. By its own accounts, this sovereign is an aged and terrible creature that predates the earliest settlers in the area. While the barrow is empty, the hill is apparently riddled with passages and galleries and it is here that the Charnel Lord sleeps. The people of the nearby area, especially the inhabitants of the vales of [[#Branoc|Branoc]] look to the Charnel Lord as a protector. During the Thule invasion, the Charnel Lord allied first with one side and then the other, finally throwing its support behind the Empire. According to stories, it extracted a promise from the [[Varushka_look_and_feel#Wise_Ones|wise ones]] of Varushka to look after its people, and then slipped back into a deep slumber somewhere beneath the hill.

Varushkans do not linger at the Broken Barrow after dark, but there is a small settlement of independent orcs here that apparently enjoy the protection of the Charnel Lord. While they have never been formally recognised by the Imperial Senate, they trade quietly with their neighbours and keep themselves to themselves. Some stories claim they are the descendants of Thule raiders, or of the orcs who once lived in the hills and forests here before the coming of humans. Regardless, they have little love for the orcs of Otkodov and seem to have little interest in the wider politics of the Empire.

===Ketsov Mir Mozga===
In early 384YE, the [[Burgher of Ketsov#The Ketsov Family|Ketsov]] family of [[Ossium]] [[Blood_makes_noise#The Damn Ketsov|approached the Senate]] with a proposal to establish a new vale in the [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Mir_Mozga|Mir Mozga]]. They were [[384YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Ketsov_Mir_Mozga|granted permission]] to put their plan into operation and a large contingent of the family left [[Ossium#Ketsov|their home]] in the eastern territory to travel to [[#Lestasny|Lestasny]].

The [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Mir_Mozga|Mir Mozga]] is a stretch of wild pine barrens particularly rich in [[dragonbone]] which were never tamed by the Thule invaders, and barely made use of in the years following the liberation of the territory. Since the death of Pyotr Kresnovich Triosny, master of the Mir Mozga after Karsk was liberated, the forests near Isember had grown wild and chaotic - and there was no longer enough structure there to make gathering the dragonbone a feasible operation for anyone other than wagon raiders. With the arrival of the Ketsov that is no longer the case. They have established a vale, and set about improving the status of the forests - and making friends with their neighbours. They helped [[Delirium|resolve the Isember problem]], and while the majority of the dragonbone is used to help build up the vale, and a portion sent back to Ossium, they are quite prepared to share part of that bounty with their friends - such as the [[Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks]].

===The Iron Hearth===
An [[edifice]], this [[Rewarding#Counting_Houses|counting house]] collects donations for the Virtue fund from citizens of [[#Ivarsgard|Ivarsgard]] and the rest of Karsk. Delicately woven depictions of [[Varushka_religious_beliefs#The_Virtuous_Animals|Virtuous Animals]] adorn the walls. The prosperous donations are recorded in massive leather tomes for all to see.

===The Ruins of Isember ===
Isember grew rich off the back of orc slaves, hacking prime timber out of the rich forests overseen by hard-eyed schlacta. When the slaves were freed, and the mercenaries left, the wolves in the forest grew bolder. Isember was in decline long before the Thule invaded, known as a violent place where anyone could carve out a new living for themselves, with no questions asked as to their background. After the orcs of [[Otkodov]] conquered Karsk, many of the town’s inhabitants made bargains with the invaders, and exiles and outlaws from across the Empire came to Isember to fight under the Thule banners. In Spring 378YE a decisive battle was fought here, and the town of Isember largely ruined in what was a turning point in the war with the Thule.

The people of Karsk showed little interest in rebuilding it... but that does not mean it remained empty. The place seemed to serve as a magnet for all that is dark and selfish in the human spirit. In Winter 383YE, a self-styled "boyar" named Alexi Iskandrova Isembrioch took charge of the ruins, and started gathering outlaws and the worst kinds of wagon raiders and sellswords under his banner. The situation quickly deteriorated, culminating in an [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Isember_Problem|armed raid]] on the town of [[Karsk#Kopevnost|Kosti]]. They were thwarted, but it became clear they would not be reasoned with. Following the Spring Equinox a [[military unit|major contingent]] of Imperial warriors [[Delirium|resolved the problem of Isember once and for all]]. Hopefully.

During the fighting it came to light that there was a dark power active in Isember - most likely a [[Plaguewulf#Greater Plaguewulf|greater plaguewulf]] that had made some kind of deal with the Alexi Iskandrova Isembrioch and apparently laired in the [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#The_Sovereigns_Heart|Sovereigns Heart]], a hostelry that sat at the centre of the town and was apparently one of the oldest structures in the place.

==Regions==
===Branoc===
*'''Quality:''' Hills, Foreigners (Orcs of the Broken Barrow)
The raven-haunted hills of Branoc are the site of the sinister [[#broken barrow|broken barrow]]. The entire region has a poor reputation, as do several of the vales established here. During the war to liberate Karsk from the Thule, the introverted Varushkan [[Charnel_Lord#Charnel_Lord_in_play|folk of these vales]] fought under a single banner - and not always on the side of the Empire. Today they have largely reintegrated with the rest of Varushka - a number of them helped to form the core of the Iron Helms - but they are still said to have odd customs related to the Charnel Lord of the Broken Barrow. There are said to be one or two vales high in the hills that have little time for Imperial visitors, and cling to pre-Imperial attitudes. Branoc is also the site of a small settlement of independent orcs who engage in low-key trade with their human neighbors, despite having a nebulously defined legal status.

===Crowslook===
*'''Quality:''' Hills
A desolate hilly region, the site of many [[mine|mines]], and also the site of vicious fighting with the [[Imperial Orcs]] during [[the Orc Rebellion]]. Indeed the rebellion began here, at the ''Krahsniy Moy'' mines. The region is the site of a powerful Winter [[regio]] raised by the Thule during the Winter of 376YE, and of the cursed [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Moye_Mucheniye|Moye Mucheniye]]. The vales here tend to be insular and quite fortified - there are stories of horrible unliving [[Varushkan_Monster#Wolves|wolves]] who dwell in tunnels and caves beneath the hills and emerge on nights of the new moon to hunt. These creatures are said to be the remnants of orcs who died of starvation during the cold Winters - not only during the Rebellion but in the centuries of slavery that preceded it.

When Karsk was conquered during the reign of [[Empress Richilde]], a hidden temple dedicated to the eternal [[Agramant]] was discovered high in the hills of Crowslook The temple was destroyed and the worshippers scattered. During the reign of [[Empress Varkula]] the region was again revealed to be the heart of a conspiracy dedicated to the ''Hunter in the Wastes'', a subtle "cult" that sought to place its members in positions of authority in the Empire but was exposed when they made an ill-considered overture to the [[Cardinal]] of [[Vigilance]]. A third such cult came to light shortly before [[Empress Deanne]] took the throne, seeking to take advantage of the Imperial focus on the southern coast to unleash a horde of hungry dead to ravage Karsk. The cult was exposed and ultimately defeated by Varushkan wardens, although stories suggest they had the aid of dark spirits of their own. Whenever there is trouble with Agramant in Varushka, it seems to invariably be traced back to the hills of Crowslook.

===Kopevnost===
Kopvenost is (for Varushka) a gentle region of low hills and scattered woodlands. Its long, gentle southern coastline proved strategically valuable during the Thule occupation as a place to deliver supplies from ports along [[the Semmerlak]]. The region itself never fell to the northern [[orc|orcs]]; the Empire mounted a spirited defence from the high-walled town of '''Kosti''' each time the Thule tried to push west. These days, the trade road that runs to [[Volodmartz#Triosk|Triosk]] in [[Volodmartz]] are more likely to see well-guarded merchant caravans than the fast-moving wagon-trains that once brought soldiers and supplies from the rest of Varushka to shore up the defences here.

For all its relative peace and quiet, there has long been rumoured to be a colony of [[Varushkan_Monster#Mora|mora]] in the region who move unseen among the human populace. The [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Travy_Mudrosti|Travy Mudrosti]] [[herb garden]] is one well-known example of the dangers these strange shapechangers can represent.

===Krevsaty===
*'''Quality:''' Hills, [[Otkodov]]
As part of the Thule peace treaty, the rolling hills of Krevsaty were ceded to the orcs of [[Otkodov]]. The region was well known for the many rich [[forest|groves]] that covered the hill slopes, presenting a rich bounty of [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]].

During the war, Krevsaty was the site of a major Thule warcamp, based around the ruins of the town of '''Oloy'''. The vale was once a great centre for the making of defensive talismans. Wise Volhov, natural amber, and the silence of isolation combined to make great magics. Oloy fell quickly to the Thule; few of the Varushkans who lived here escaped and those few who did told of magical treasures hurriedly hidden from the invaders. Perhaps some of those troves still elude the eyes of the region's new masters.

The peace with the Empire is a little uneasy on occasion but has held comparatively well. For a while, informal agreements allowed Imperial citizens access to both the [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Proritsatel_Oloy|Proritsatel Oloy]] - a [[mana site]] on the southern borders - and the [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Krevsaty_Yelta|Krevsaty Yelta]] - one of the richest ambergelt forests in all of Karsk, though both are now under the control of the warlocks.

Today Krevsaty is believed to be under the control of a potent Thule [[Thule#Thule#Warriors_of_the_Thule|warlock]], a master of [[Spring magic]] who once oversaw the invasion of Karsk for the Dragons. Now, though, rather than merciless warriors and dangerous magicians the orcs who come south from the hills of Krevsaty tend to be blue-hooded merchants and traders, along with the occasional band of travellers who give little indication about their business on the roads of Karsk.

===Lestasny===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
Lestasny is home to several relatively new, quite prosperous vales. In the south is found the rebuilt vale of '''[[#Ivarsgard|Ivarsgard]]''' - a newly restored haven for settlers in Karsk, along the northern shores of [[the Semmerlak]]. In the east is the '''[[#Ketsov Mir_Mozga|Ketsov Mir Mozga]]''', established by the [[Ossium#Ketsov|Ketsov]] family of [[Ossium]] to exploit the rich [[dragonbone]] deposits in the pine barrens there. This blooming prosperity is watched over by '''[[#Aleksandra's Watch|Aleksandra's Watch]]''', a brooding castle that houses the remains of a revered wise one. Outside of the fortress itself, several smaller watchtowers and outposts protect the [[Karsk#The_Roads_of_Karsk|roads]] throughout Lestasny.

Previously this forested region was the location of the town of '''[[#The Ruins of Isember|Isember]]'''; a wretched hive of scum and villainy reduced to ruins during the liberation of the territory. Following the rise of a self-styled "bandit boyar" in 383YE, the ruins again became a haven for outlaws and ne'er-do-wells of every stripe. The bandits were [[Delirium|driven out]] in early 384YE and most of the ruins destroyed. A [[warden]] fellowship called the ''Fellowship of the Black Goose'' now watch over the remains in the hope of ensuring no other scoundrels are drawn to the area.

===Moresvah===
*'''Quality:''' Hills
Reasonably hilly and has [[the Semmerlak|a long, rocky coast]]; it was one of the last regions to be taken by the Thule. For many years defenders from the three largest mining families - the Malinov, the Sloev and the Pravin - held out and fought the Thule using the isolated mines and networks of tunnels to avoid capture. Following their liberation by Imperial forces in Winter 377YE the three families broke into their reserves of equipment and materials to offer valuable [[Casualties#Resupply|resources]] to the armies fighting the Thule here.

Not every mine in Moresvah was so lucky - the [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Zeleny_Zheleza|Zeleny Zheleza]] for example was thoroughly plundered by the barbarians during the occupation. This did not stop the Sloev family attempting to take control of the mine in Spring 378YE, but they abruptly withdrew their petition and the mine ultimately fell under the jurisdiction of the [[Military Council|military council]] as a [[Spoils of war|spoil of war]].

===Nitrost===
*'''Quality:''' Hills
A hilly region, where the vale of [[#Veresk|Veresk]] still stands – rebuilt almost from the foundations by its stubborn citizens. Nitrost has recovered quickly from the Thule occupation - the vales here are notably prosperous and trade extensively with one another. Not everyone wishes to remain in Nitrost, however. The [[Varushka_military_concerns|schlacta]] known as [[Karsk_spoils_of_war#Slava.27s_Schlacta|Slava's Schlacta]] saw their vale overrun by Thule and lost their boyar in the recent war of liberation, and sought out a new captain to lead them against the enemies of Varushka.
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Karsk|Territory=Karsk|Season=Spring}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the Winter Solstice 385YE the Thule control Krevsaty. Varushka, and by extension the Empire, controls the rest of the territory.
* [[#Aleksandra's Watch|Aleksandra's Watch]] is a rank 1 [[fortification]] in Lestasny
* Krevsatyzmei is a rank 1 Thule fortification in Krevsaty
* [[Mine|Mines]] in the territory benefit from the [[#The Crow Roads|Crow Roads]] and produce an extra 2 ingots each season.
* [[Forest|Forests]] in the territory benefit from the [[#The Crow Roads|Crow Roads]] and produce an extra 2 measures each season.
* A list of the [[spoils of war]], allocated by the [[Military Council]] at the Summer Solstice 378YE can be found [[Karsk spoils of war|here]].

==Further Reading==
* [[Delirium]] - Summer 384YE Wind of War detailing the assault on Isember
* [[Blood makes noise#The_Isember_Problem|Blood makes noise]] - Spring 384YE wind of fortune outlining the Isember Problem
[[Category:Varushka]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

Madruga

2026-06-03T16:34:50Z

Wrenna: /* Torres */

[[Category:Imperial_Territory]][[category:The Brass Coast]]
{{stub}}
<div style="float:left; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Madruga_Made_Anew.png|align=left|caption=Artist's Impression of Madruga|width=600}}</div>[[Category:Gazetteer]]
== Overview ==
Madruga of the Jewelled Isles is the easternmost territory of the Brass Coast, running from the [[Kahraman]] mountains down to the Bay of Catazar. Down the coast of Madruga and [[Feroz]] the [[corsair|corsairs]] and merchants raise their sails, running goods to [[Bastion]] and [[Sarvos]], trading with foreign powers, and fighting off barbarian incursions.

It is the most densely settled of the Freeborn territories; the nation began here, with the landing of the three sisters and their families at old [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]]. Over generations, their descendants spread across the mainland building and cultivating, until Madruga was tamed. Today, it is scattered with villages and small towns - the sprawling city [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]] at its height rivalled the cities of [[the League]] in size and wealth.

It is the spiritual home of the [[Corsair|corsairs]]; many maritime families have lived on the islands of [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] and [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]] since the earliest days of the Freeborn nation.

The history of Madruga is one of change, however. The [[Grendel]] have attacked the islands and towns here for centuries; usually their fleets are intercepted at sea before they can do too much damage, but there have been times when their raiders have sacked coastal settlements. For a few harrowing months in the years before the foundation of the Empire, the Grendel swept inland here conquering [[#Lightsea|Lightsea]] and the islands, and threatening to burn Siroc. They were turned back after months of vicious fighting, but the memory of their attack is sometimes credited by historians as being a factor in the decision of the Freeborn to join the Empire. Since the disappearance of [[Empress Lisabetta|Imperatrix Lisabetta]], life in the territory has become even more tumultuous, with regular Grendel attacks compounded with deadly magical chaos.
==Recent History==
After the Autumn Equinox 381YE, the [[Grendel]] armada invaded Madruga. They [[381YE Winter Solstice winds of war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the Freeborn Storm]], burnt the [[Madruga#The_Atalaya_Shipyards_.28Ruined.29|Atalaya shipyards]], and brought the [[Black Thorns]] to the brink of annihilation. Their forces then moved against [[Madruga#Lightsea|Lightsea]], raided the port of Quzar, and within short order half the coast of Madruga was in their hands. The Empire responded quickly, driving the Grendel out, but it was only a matter of time before they returned.

Shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE, the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Blood_Red_Roads|Blood Red Roads]] were completed, providing merchants and traders easy access to Freeborn luxuries and allowing the caravans of the Brass Coast to travel much more easily to some of the wealthiest cities across the Empire. For more than half a decade the roads 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_Blood_Red_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]].

In the Winter of 385YE, the Grendel returned to Madruga in force, accompanied by warships from the [[Asavean Archipelago]]. In a surprise attack, they [[A beacon of smoke|burnt the city of Siroc]], and established a beachhead in what was then Siroc Plains. In the coming months, war and powerful [[Spring magic]] battered the region, culminating in the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|destruction of the Silent Pillar]] and the formation of the [[Children of Wrecks]]. The [[Siakha]]-inspired pirates began a rampage of their own, even going so far as to use Spring magic to isolate the islands of Free Landing, turning them into a stronghold of their own that Imperial armies cannot approach.

As if this were not bad enough, a [[Colourblind|peculiar blight]] began to spread across the [[#Quiet Grasses|Great Grasses]] in the north-east. The grasslands were quickly turned to ash and dust, and the desiccating [[Winter magic]] threatened to spill over into [[Kahraman]] and [[Segura]]. The cause of the spreading desert was discovered to be a generations-old conspiracy of the ''Aldea di Tutamen'' family who had become awful harbingers of destruction called the Dry Patricians. Their awful threat was stopped by Imperial heroes, but the blight remained.

Then in Autumn 386YE, ritual magicians from every Freeborn [[tribe]] raised the wrath of the Scorrero river, causing it to [[Where the river rises|break its banks]] in a cataclysmic expression of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]] and [[Spring magic#Chaos|chaos]]. A cleansing tide swept across the Great Grasses, washing away the remnants of the blight. In the process, however, the magical floods also transformed the southern reaches of the territory, leaving three new regions that, as the Winter Solstice 386YE approaches, are still being carefully explored.

== Major Features ==
===Trajadoz===
The town of Trajadoz in north-western [[#Torres|Torres]] was founded roughly three hundred years ago by the Trajaduz family of traders who were intent on fostering trade between the mines of newly conquered [[Kahraman]] and the wealth of [[Sarvos]]. The most recent influx of townsfolk was during the invasion of [[Segura]] in 363YE. Since the reclamation of Segura in 378YE it stood mostly empty, save for a few bandits, as the Freeborn returned to their homes. Following the end of the rebellion in Marracoss and Emphedor Imperial fleet captains had an opportunity to [[Through_my_sails#Evacuation|evacuate some of the defeated rebels]]. Roughly a third of the refugees, offered sanctuary in the Empire, have [[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|taken up residence]] in the mostly abandoned town, and created a community.

The Marracossans (never Nemorians, and rarely accepting Asavean) are a disparate group; made up of priests and soldiers, crafters and traders. One of their number Leonorada Rousseau, [[Asavean_Archipelago#Religion|priest of Aseus]], has spent some time in the paradors of nearby [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos]]. They have made clear that they, and their community, like the Empire, and they like the town of Tradajoz. They wish to remain in the town, but Leonorada understands that the community's intent to continue following and worshipping their gods could lead to some unfortunate accusations. In Winter 384YE, the Imperial Senate [[Cede Trajadoz|ceded control of Trajadoz]] to the Nemorians. This has raised a few concerns among their neighbours as it frees them to build temples to their gods if they wish - and indeed to do anything else they want to do. You can read more about the Marracossans in the '''[[Large_but_far_away#Asavea|Large but far away]]''' wind of fortune.
===Calvos===
The bustling town of Calvos lies on the shores of [[#Calvos Sound|Calvos Sound]]. The slopes outside the town are rich with grapes, and the fine wines produced here travel all over the Empire. Even the sommeliers of the [[The League|League]] pay well for a Calvos vintage. The [[Paragons and Exemplars|exemplar]] [[Zemress|Zemress i Ezmara i Erigo]] was born here towards the end of the second century YE, and her ship ''The Kraken's Bane'' is housed at a special dry dock here. The ship is a destination for many pilgrims of [[Prosperity]] from as far afield as the [[Sumaah Republic]], as was the nearby [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary]] before it was destroyed in a [[Below_the_thunders#In_Roaring,_Rise|cataclysmic storm]]. Near the seminary ruins stands the [[Hand of Guerra#House of Guerra|House of Guerra]], a place dedicated to supporting refugees to the Empire, especially those who seek a new family among the Freeborn, and the [[#Zemress Naval Academy|Zemress Naval Academy]] (also known as the School of Blood and Brass) where the Freeborn study maritime warfare and the construction of warships.
===Zemress Naval Academy===
[[#Calvos|Calvos]] is the final resting place of the Kraken's Bane, the legendary vessel captained by the exemplar [[Zemress]]. When people fled [[Feroz]] following the Grendel occupation, many of those who looked to Zemress chose to settle in Calvos, drawn by the [[Zemress#The_Seminary_of_Zemress|Seminary of Zemress]] (before it was destroyed). They swelled the ranks of the faithful and created a unique opportunity to build a ''School of Naval Warfare'' on the Coast. Similar to the ambitious [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|School of Shipbuilding]] originally [[Focused_and_methodical#The_School_of_Shipbuilding|proposed for Siroc by Frederick di Sarvos]], it is more limited in its scope and focussed purely on teaching and research.

The school allows the Freeborn to delve deep into the practice and theory of [[navy|naval warfare]], allowing them to disseminate newly developed techniques across the Brass Coast and the Empire. Each year the researchers at the school present three possible [[Army qualities|qualities]] that new Imperial navies might be built with. The [[fleet|fleet owners]] of the Brass Coast are then able to vote on which quality they felt was most important - whichever quality wins becomes the focus on their research. Such research often takes a year or more, but once work is complete the Freeborn can again vote on what project to being next (researchers present a new quality to consider, usually alongside the two previously rejected options).

It's notable that several of visiting [[Sumaah]] präster pointed out that if the Empire were prepared to share any new naval techniques they learned with the Republic, then that would be very well received by their fellow adherents of the Way. The Sumaah apparently have two navies of their own, but they are outclassed by the Asaveans, in much the same way that the Empire struggle to compete with the Grendel navies. Redressing that balance would be a huge boost to diplomatic relations with the Sumaah.
{{Anchor|The Lyceum}}

=== The Lyceum (Hidden)===
The Lyceum was established during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] on an island east of Siroc. It is a centre of arcane learning in the Empire, and the [[Dean of the Lyceum]] maintains sumptuous apartments here. Approach to the island is carefully controlled by the magicians and professors, and the most promising magicians are invited to study or teach there.

During the Winter Solstice 385YE, Imperial heroes [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Intercede_at_the_Lyceum_(Battle)|travelled to the Lyceum]] to protect its secrets from the Grendel who sought to claim them. In the process, they activated powerful wards that hid the island behind a wall of fog preventing barbarian or Imperial ships from reaching it. The walls were expected to remain until shortly before the Winter Solstice 386YE, but with both the Grendel and the Children of Wrecks threatening the college, the [[Conclave]] accepted an offer from [[Sadogua]] to help [[386YE_Autumn_Equinox_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Sadogua,_Amity|keep the wards up for the time being]] with an eye towards finding a way to get people in and out, and perhaps make the misty wards permanent.

===Atalaya===
The town of Atalaya in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]] marks the place where the Brass Coast was born; the first landing of the three sisters and their families. Built around the side of a secluded cove, the seas around the island that share its name are a navigational nightmare. Before the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] was built, reaching the hidden docks of Atalaya was a feat to tax the most skilled ship's crews. Today, the landwards channel has been widened but is protected by hidden obstructions that only the Freeborn pilots know well. Atalaya is also known for its deep natural harbour - many ships of the Freeborn fleet count Atalaya as their home port.

Atalaya is the oldest Freeborn settlement in the Brass Coast, but its prominence was eclipsed centuries ago by [[#Lightsea|Quzar]]. Today, it is a place of pilgrimage for many Freeborn followers of [[the Way]] - there are a number of shrines and temples dedicated to [[Pride]] and [[Vigilance]] here. The [[Vizier_of_the_Incarnadine_Satchel#School of the Sanguine Bloom|School of the Sanguine Bloom]], one of the most prestigious schools dedicated to herb-lore in the Brass Coast also stands here, founded long ago by Sameen i Riqueza, youngest daughter of [[Riqueza]] herself.

With the rise of the [[Children of Wrecks]], the oldest settlement of the Freeborn has been lost to the nation. The museums have been looted, and the once beautiful town transformed into a den of pirates.

===Freeborn Flame Marina===
Work began on the [[Construct_Atalaya_Harbour|reconstruction]] of Atalaya harbour following an opportunity [[The_power_behind_our_moves#Atalaya|presented]] after the National Assembly of the Brass Coast called on the people of Feroz to flee the territory rather than suffer under the hands of the Grendel. Work was completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 385YE and the abundance of willing, talented shipwrights meant [[fleet|fleets]] were more easily upgradeable, at least until the Brass Coast reclaim Feroz. Unfortunately, along with Atalaya, the Freeborn Flame Marina is currently in the hands of the Children of Wrecks.

On the harbour, looking out to sea, are a number of statues each one different but reminiscent of contemporary Freeborn.

===Sunset Roads===
{{Anchor|South-West Roads}}With encouragement from the notoriously sea-averse Faraden, a grand highway connects Siroc with Calvos, cutting across the territory rather than following the coast. A shorter road runs along the northern banks of the Scorrero, crossing just north of [[Segura#Cerevado|Cerevado]] in [[Segura]] via a beautiful arched bridge of white granite. While the road is used extensively by the Faraden, it also serves to cut the journey time from the northern borders of Madruga to the trading city of Siroc, making it a popular route for Freeborn and League merchants as well.

The Sunset Roads are a [[great work]] that complement the already existing [[Lorenzo's Legacy#Blood Red Roads|Blood Red Roads]], bringing increased prosperity to the owners of [[farm|farms]] and [[business|businesses]] in Madruga.

=== The Spider's Dream ===
An elegant bridge spans the river Vassa, connecting [[#Torres|Torres]] to the town of [[Sarvos#Bocche|Trivento]] in Sarvos. It is a marvellous piece of engineering that resembles a spider's web. The [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep#The_Spider%27s_Dream|Spider's Dream]] has significant strategic importance - without it armies cannot cross the Vassa between Sarvos and Madruga without going north and passing through Tassato and the Mournwold. It is overseen by the [[Spider%27s_Tollkeep|Spider's Tollkeep]], an [[Imperial title]] uniquely appointed by both the [[senator|senators]] of the League and the Brass Coast together.

The Spider's Dream was once severely damaged by the [[Jotun]], but has since been extensively rebuilt and fortified.

==Regions==
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=MadrugaBorders.png|caption=A very rough region map of pre-transformation Madruga|align=right|width=600}}</div>
===Calvos Sound===
'''Quality:''' Coastal<br>
The town of [[#Calvos|Calvos]] stands on the shores of Calvos Sound; the entire [[territory#regions|region]] is named for the great shallow bay that cuts into the eastern shores of the Brass Coast. The waters of the Sound are prime fishing grounds, and the surrounding slopes are known for their rich agriculture, especially grapes, grapefruits, and pomegranates. At the end of the [[Imperial_history#.28281_YE_-_300_YE.29_The_Second_Interregnum|second interregnum]], Calvos Sound was the site of a vicious engagement between [[Grendel]] raiders and the forces of the [[Red_Wind_Corsairs#History|Red Wind Corsairs]]. Despite catastrophic losses, the Freeborn army held. Close to breaking they were forced to retreat, but the campaign achieved its purpose by convincing the nations of the south that the threat from the Grendel was real, events that would eventually lead to the elevation of [[Empress Deanne]]. To this day, many of the people of Calvos Sound have a notable antipathy for the orcs of the Broken Shore.
===Lightsea===
'''Quality:''' Coastal<br>
A well-settled region known for the friendliness of its [[The_Brass_Coast_economic_interests#Paradors|paradors]]. The largest settlement here is '''Quzar''', a bustling port town of white towers and stained glass that is sometimes described as the soul of the Brass Coast. The Towers of Quzar are known as a gathering place for [[hakima]] from all across the nation - an annual "council" meets here every midsummer to share knowledge and gossip. Since the completion of the [[Hakima_of_Salt_and_Sand#Parador_of_Salt_and_Sand|Parador of Salt and Sand]], a large community of hakima, including a significant number of refugees from Feroz, have taken up permanent residence here. The town is now best known for its community of magicians, especially those versed in [[Autumn magic]].

Many of the coastal settlements here were plundered by the Grendel during their incursion toward the end of 381YE. Quzar in particular was hard hit by the orc raiders, with some damage to the town and significant damage to the wealth of the citizens. A year later toward the end of 382YE potent magic [[The_mystic,_the_willful#Miracles_in_Lightsea|restored the town]], wiping away any sign the Grendel were ever there.
===Torres===
'''Quality:''' Foreigners (Marracossans)
The northernmost region of Madruga, and one end of the [[#The Spider's Dream|Spider's Dream]]. The land here is a little more rugged than in the southern regions, and the climate is generally cooler. The people who dwell here share some of the reputation of the miners of [[Kahraman]]; as being suspicious and quarrelsome. Partly this reputation might be a result of regular clashes between Freeborn traders and [[the League|League]] merchants out of [[Sarvos]]. A regular 'problem' for the inhabitants is that League merchants would prefer to travel south to the more prosperous towns of the eastern coast to sell their wares, bypassing the markets of Torres. It is shameful to admit, but there are more incidents of brigandry against League caravans in Torres than in almost any other area around the Bay of Catazar. When such incidents get out of hand, the [[Spider's Tollkeep]] is often prevailed upon to sort them out.

The town of [[#Trajadoz|Trajadoz]] is found in the north-west of Torres. Formerly a home to Freeborn displaced from Kahraman and Segura, it is now home to a very different group of refugees - Marracossan exiles from the [[Asavean Archipelago]].

===Free Landing===
'''Quality:''' Coastal, Island<br>
The sprawling islands that form the region of Free Landing are diverse and well-settled. The islands here were the first home of the Freeborn - the town of [[#Atalaya|Atalaya]] marks the spot where the Brass Coast proper began. When the Grendel invaded Madruga in Winter 381YE, they looted many precious relics from the town of Atalaya and burnt the shipyard there to the ground. In the process, they destroyed the Freeborn [[navy|navy]], the Freeborn Storm.

The waters between the islands have a reputation for being treacherous and difficult for foreign captains; during the reign of [[Empress Aenea]] the Empire built a great lighthouse here called '''[[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|the Shining Pillar]]''', which was [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|destroyed]] by forces loyal to the eternal [[Siakha]] during the Winter Solstice 385YE. In its place, a perpetual churning maelstrom serves as a way for servants of the eternal to enter the mortal world and functions as an effective [[fortification]] defending the Children of Wrecks.

The waters around Free Landing have become treacherous due to the presence of dozens of immature kraken hatched in the waters by the Children of Wrecks. As a result, the region has gained the '''island''' quality, it cannot be attacked by armies unless each army is accompanied by a navy capable of conveying the soldiers across.{{Anchor|Great Grasses}}

===Quiet Grasses===
* '''Qualities:''' Quiet
The Great Grasses were consumed by the Blight, but have now been restored thanks to the surging Spring waters. They are marked not only from the flooding of the Scorrero, but from a year or more of gentle rain conjured with [[Regrow the Land's Heart]]. Where once there was a sea of jade and emerald grasses, and then a lifeless desert of ash and dust, there is now a profusion of plants and flowers. The grass is different to that which grew before, standing easily taller than the tallest soldier and remarkably resistant to damage. Where the thickets of grass are densest, it is slow going trying to make headway and all too easy to get lost. In addition to the grasses, there are large numbers of broad, open meadows covered in ''flameblooms'' - a mass of previously unseen flowers that grow in a profusion of shapes and a riot of reds, oranges, yellows, and an extremely rare white petalled variety.

There is an odd silence to the Grasses now. The grasses seem to eat sounds, causing the cries of circling hawks to fall flat, and even the blaring of horns sounds tinny and can be heard over comparatively short distances. Even the wind whispers as it flows across the plains. Some scouts tagged the place as the "Quiet Grasses," and while the name may have begun as a wry commentary, it has quickly spread. Magicians say that this silence is partly due to a lingering touch of Winter magic - not the harsher resonances [[Winter_magic#Death|death]] or [[Winter_magic#Survival|survival]] but something less tangible - a sense of sadness, loss, or perhaps the [[Winter_magic#Wisdom|wisdom]] that comes from an awareness of [[Winter magic#Ending|ending]], tinged with the wistfulness for the [[Winter_magic#Preservation|way things were before]].
{{Anchor|Siroc Plains}}

===Siroc Bayou===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Coastal, Ruins, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The region that was once Siroc Plains is now the [[Madruga#Siroc Bayou|Siroc Bayou]]. Slow moving streams and lakes of brackish water characterise the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayou bayou]. The river itself, and the gulf between Madruga and Feroz, teem with fish and other creatures. The fury of the Scorrero, already mitigated by the Crucible, loses itself in meandering, shifting streams as it makes its way to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Here and there, ruined Freeborn settlements and structures emerge from the marshes, or stand surrounded by still pools of water. Even though the flooding that transformed the region are quite recent, many of these ruins look as if they have stood in the marshes for decades, heavily overgrown with odd plant growths. Others are more intact, often serving as lairs for the transformed creatures of the marsh. When the river rose, this region was under control of the Grendel, and [[Below_the_thunders#The_Latter_Fire|battle raged]] between the orcs and Imperial forces. The Grendel have since withdrawn almost all their forces, but there are still signs of abandoned encampments here. Some of the Broken Shore troops were left behind as well, and it seems that in the absence of any easy means of escape they have taken up banditry.

The City of Sails, poor ruined [[Madruga#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]], is now lost beneath the waters of the Bay, or consumed by the marsh. There is no chance of rebuilding - there is little left to rebuild on. There is apparently some interest in the [[Sarcophan Delves]] in [[Hyenas_and_herbs#Hyenas_Under_Sail|purchasing salvage rights]] to the ruins, but only once the [[Children of Wrecks]] problem is resolved.

===Crucible===
* '''Qualities:''' Marsh, Wild, Underpopulated, Enigmatic
The new region of Madruga, north of the Scorrero, was once the southern Great Grasses and the western Siroc Plains. This place has been most obviously transfigured by the unleashed magic, and the odd haze reported by scouts is most pronounced here. Even the least magical explorer can sense that there is magic here; a mixture of Spring magic from the flood and the influence of [[Ossegrahn]], or Night magic tinged by the gifts of [[Azoth]], and even a hint of lingering [[Winter magic]] from the Dry Patricians and their Blight. There are reports of a few Grendel camps here as well, scouts trapped behind enemy lines when the flood rushed in.

Scouts report that this area is where the peculiar ''marsh flowers'', some of which possess magical properties, are most abundant. There also seem to be spontaneously occurring sources of [[vis]] here - [[Vis#Warm Honey|warm honey]], [[Vis#Heart's Blood|heart's blood]], and [[Vis#Crystal_Fire|crystal fire]]. In addition, there are a number of oddities - things that either were not here before of have been changed so much as to be effectively new. There is apparently a tower that rises out of the river itself and changes subtly over a course of several days, which puts viewers in mind of a lighthouse despite being miles from the Bay of Catazar. There is a standing pool of ebony water that does not reflect humans or orcs; anything staring into it sees only a monstrous image of themselves. A fountain in the courtyard of an old parador that once stood by the road along the banks of the Scorrero that now flows with rainbow waters; drinking from them by moonlight can prompt a transformation in unlineaged humans such that they unpredictably gain [[briar]], [[naga]] or [[draughir]] [[lineage]].

==Strategic Considerations==
* '''The damage to the bridges along the Scorrero prevents movement between Madruga and both Feroz and Segura'''
The damage to almost all the bridges along the Scorrero means that it is effectively impossible for an [[Army|army]] to move between Madruga and both [[Feroz]] and [[Segura]] (or vice versa). More information can be found in the '''[[Where_the_river_rises#Crossing|Where the river rises]]''' wind of fortune.
==Special Qualities==
===Enigmatic===
* '''Rituals and curses cast on enigmatic regions will be unpredictable and may have more powerful effects'''
* '''Rituals and curses cast on territories with an enigmatic region may be unpredictable or have more powerful effects'''
* '''Such rituals can be made permanent using 2 rings of ilium per magnitude rather than 3'''
* '''Any commission in an enigmatic region can substitute wains of mithril for weirwood or white granite on a one-for-one basis'''
Two of the new regions are marked with a unique quality - ''Enigmatic''. This means the areas are infused with magic of Spring, Winter, and Night. As a consequence, any magic from those realms that operates on the territory level (or the Empire level), or targets the region with this quality, may have unexpected effects. This is not guaranteed - sometimes the ritual will have no noticeable extra impact. Sometimes, however, the impact of the magic will be enhanced in some way - more powerful or more extreme than expected. Even the wisest Unfettered Mind can't say more than that. ('''OOC Note:''' A ritual enchantment or curse will always at least equal or exceed its normal mechanical effect. The magic might be altered but it would never simply be the same effect but ''less'' powerful.)

Any Spring, Winter, or Night ritual that targets a region with a specific quality can target Crucible or Siroc Bayou. For example, even though neither region has the [[forest]] quality, both can be targeted with [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] or [[Thunderous Tread of the Trees]]. The form the magic takes may be transformed or altered in unpredictable ways (for example, [[Mountain Remembers Its Youth]] cast on one of these regions is likely to cause a cloud of toxic marsh fog rather than volcanic gas).

If [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]] is cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the victory points necessary to claim the region are increased by fifteen, up from ten.

If [[The Basalt Citadel]] or [[Forge the Wooden Fastness]] are cast on a region with the enigmatic quality, the resulting battalion or wards will be enhanced such that they provide an additional one thousand effective strength, to four thousand or five thousand strength, respectively.

If the [[Drawing the Penumbral Veil|Penumbral Veil]] is drawn over a territory where at least one region has the enigmatic quality, its effective magnitude is increased by 10 - the same would apply to any [[Vale of Shadows]] created anywhere in Madruga.

Any territory-wide enchantment or curse, or enchantment or curse targeting one of the two regions is easier to [[Ilium#Using_ilium_in_rituals|make permanent]]. Rather than requiring three rings of [[ilium]] for each magnitude of the effect, it only requires ''two'' rings of ilium per magnitude. The Unfettered Mind scholars warn that this should be approached with some caution - enchantments and curses are rarely meant to be made permanent and experimentation should be done on the understanding that there will be unlooked for side effects. In particular they warn against assuming that a ritual that works one way when cast on Madruga will have the same effect if made permanent with ilium. It might... but it is impossible to be sure given the wildness of the magic coalescing here. Also, if recent events have shown nothing else, this warning is even more significant when dealing with an effect that draws on the power of an eternal.

Any commission built in an enigmatic region can take advantage of the strange magical qualities of the region to substitute mithril for white granite or weirwood on a one-for-one basis. The amount of mithril used must be specified in the details of the commission; it cannot be substituted later. The necessary details should include a description of how mithril, and Freeborn glass, replace traditional building materials. All such structures will have elements of the weird and uncanny about them. Construction that arises from an [[opportunity]] may or may not be possible in an ''enigmatic'' region - the best thing to do is to email [mailto:plot@profounddecisions.co.uk plot@profounddecisions.co.uk] to confirm it is possible.

Finally, during any trip through the [[Sentinel Gate]] that involves an encounter in Madruga, any participating character with the [[Magical skills#Magician|magician]] skill finds that they have two additional personal mana available. These mana points are the first used when spellcasting, and cannot be replenished. They last until used, or until the next sunrise. The bonus mana is gained only once in the rare situation where the same magician visits Siroc Bayou or Crucible more than once during a summit.

===Quiet===
* '''It is not possible to create a commission that produces liao in a region with the quiet quality or any commission that has a musical basis'''
* '''It is not possible to create an inspirational location in this region'''
* '''Any conjunctions in this region will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect'''
* '''Appraisal could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of the quiet region'''
The Quiet Grasses have the ''quiet'' quality. Sounds are a little muted here, and even loud noises fall off more swiftly. Passions and emotions are also muted in a similar fashion, causing travellers and settlers to feel a little more restrained. It's easy and satisfying to embrace emotions such as sadness, sorrow, or regret. These effects are not especially overt - only sensitive individuals are really aware of them. It is, however, impossible to create a [[commission]] that produces [[liao]] in a region with the quiet quality, or any commission that has a musical basis. Inspirational locations cannot be created in such a region, and conjunctions here will experience the "quiet" roleplaying effect. This means that during a skirmish or encounter in a region with the Quiet quality, a character with [[Heroic skills#Hero|hero points]] must have a [[Roleplaying_effects#Overcoming_Roleplaying_Effects|source of spiritual strength]] (or spend a hero point) to overcome the roleplaying effect, or they cannot spend hero points to power their abilities or magic items.

An [[appraisal]] could be used to find ways to exploit the benefits of a quiet region.

===Wild===
* '''A wild region is harder for armies to conquer, requiring 15 rather than 10 victory points to take the region'''
* '''Wild regions never count as undefended for purposes of generating victory points'''
Crucible and Siroc Bayou have the ''Wild'' quality. Even if there are no other forces present in the territory, attacks against either of the two regions will not benefit from the undefended bonus. Furthermore, the land itself defies easy conquest - so much so that each region will require a total of 15 victory points, rather than the more usual 10, to conquer. The good news is that this difficulty will persist - anyone attempting to conquer these regions in the future will face additional challenges.
===Underpopulated ===
* '''These regions will not contribute to army supply unless the quality is removed'''
The two southern regions of the new marsh also have the [[Send_for_me#Underpopulated|underpopulated]] quality, and it is tricky to see how that might be removed. The regions are rich, but they defy easy habitation. The people who once lived here have fled Grendel occupation, dire thirst, and the raging river - most have found new homes in northern Madruga. The marshes are also an environment alien to most Freeborn people. Exploring the marshes and claiming the odd wonders there is certainly possible, but it will be a significant undertaking to encourage people to permanently settle in these regions. Siroc Bayou is the best bet for removing this quality, perhaps finding a way to merge traditional Freeborn architecture with such innovations as Kallavesi stilt-dwellings, or establishing a settlement built on pontoons. Even so, there's no chance of such a settlement reaching the size of a city such as Siroc. Trying to populate Crucible will be even harder, if it is even possible.
<div style="float:left; width: 450px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza.jpg|caption='''Eulàlia i Phovas i Riqueza''', Senator for Madruga|align=left|width=500}}</div>
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Madruga|Territory=Madruga|Season=Winter}}
==OOC Notes==
* As of the start of the Summer Solstice 387YE, the Children of Wrecks control Free Landing, the Brass Coast controls Calvos Sound, Lightsea, Torres, and Quiet Grasses. Crucible and Siroc Bayou are uncontrolled. Madruga is an Imperial territory.
* The territory has regions with several odd qualities, most significantly the [[#Enigmatic|enigmatic]] quality that affects commissions and ritual effects across the whole of Madruga. The '''[[Made_anew#Sing_of_Tides|Made Anew]]''' wind of fortune contains more detail of the peculiar inhabitants of the southern marshes
* The maelstrom that now occupies the site of the [[#The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)|Shining Pillar]] serves as defensive wards controlled by [[Siakha]]. These wards provide 4,000 strength towards determining victory and inflicting casualties, but only if Free Landing is directly attacked. The wards do not suffer casualties - there are always more Siakhan heralds and monsters to contend with - and it is not possible to enchant them, nor support them with military units.

==Lost and Ruined==
{{Anchor|Siroc}}
=== Siroc (Ruined) ===
The Sapphire, the City of a Thousand Sails, was acknowledged as the pre-eminent city of the Freeborn. The city was said to have been founded by the [[Guerra]] family shortly after the Freeborn came to the Brass Coast. It lay in Madruga close by the border with [[Feroz]]. Brightly coloured tents extended Siroc out far beyond the small cluster of stone buildings that made up the heart of the city. Sails of all shapes and sizes filled the sheltered bay, which was guarded by a series of iron woven nets and chains bought at great expense from the forges of Wintermark.

Siroc was the site of the '''Glass Parador''', where the [[Mistress of the Glass Parador]] held court. It was also the location of the ''Parador of the Kindled Flame'', an [[folly|orphanage]] whose [[Construct Parador of the Kindled Flame|construction]] was overseen by '''Laughlan Vi Temeschwar''', the first [[Master of Rings]]. One of only a small number of permanent stone structures of any size in the City of a Thousand Sails, it was surprisingly understated and utilitarian with the only notable decoration being a small plaque at the entrance bearing the legend “''In Virtue we remember those who watch over others''", and a list of names of those who helped construct the sanctuary.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Parador.jpg|caption=The City of A Thousand Sails was home to many fine paradors.|title=Art by Beth Dooner|align=right|width=500}}
It was also the site of the [[#Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)|Commonwealth Embassy]], a severe structure that represented the Commonwealth's diplomatic relationship with the Empire.

The city prospered for centuries, but following the Autumn Equinox 385YE it was [[A beacon of smoke|burned to the ground]] by the Grendel and their [[Asavean Archipelago|Asavean]] allies, apparently in retaliation for the Empire's role in the [[Mosaic|destruction of the city of Chalonsio]] in Asavea. While some of the stone buildings survived, the majority of the structures were wood and canvas, and were destroyed by fire. The transforming flood that swept through the territory towards the end of 386YE sealed Siroc's fate - those ruins not sinking into marsh mud are lost beneath the waters of the Bay, and any hope of restoring the city to its former glory is gone.
===Commonwealth Embassy (Ruined)===
The [[Ambassador to the Commonwealth|Commonwealth Embassy]] was located in [[#Siroc (Ruined)|Siroc]]. It consisted of several buildings built after the severe Commonwealth style, which stood in beautifully laid out and maintained gardens, surrounded by a low white granite wall. Despite the severity of the architecture, the embassy was surprisingly welcoming - the gates stood permanently open, albeit under the watchful gaze of a cadre of Commonwealth soldiers attached to the staff of ambassador Mila Eisenfalke. The majority of the staff were human, although there were apparently half a dozen orcs whose role on the ambassadorial staff is not clear. There were no daeva citizens working at the embassy as far as Imperial observers can make out. When the city of Siroc was attacked by the Grendel and their Asavean allies, almost all the soldiers garrisoned here perished while fighting bravely alongside the Freeborn defenders of the Salt Guard.
===The Salt Guard (Ruined)===
{{CaptionedImage|file=Destruction of the Shining Pillar.jpg|caption=The destruction of the Shining Pillar was heartbreaking for many Freeborn.|title=Art by Juniper Orton|align=right|width=450}}
A grand [[fortification]] [[The_same_bed#The_Salt_Guard|designed]] by Menno van Ritsjhof comprised of two stout fortifications on either side of the bay along the approach to Siroc. Each fort is equipped with powerful trebuchet and catapults. A garrison of skilled mariners and corsairs ensures the towers are always ready to respond to any threat, and with the significant reinforcement of the existing iron chains and nets that guard the harbour they are extremely effective against shore offensives. He believes that not only will a sea assault against Siroc be made nigh impossible, but that the garrisons of the two towers would also be in a position to protect the Lyceum which lies to the south-east of Siroc proper.
{{anchor|The Atalaya Shipyards}}

===The Atalaya Shipyards (Ruined)===
Following a [[Construct_Madruga_shipyard|motion]] at the first [[Senate]] session in Winter 376YE, work began to expand the docks of Atalaya. Under the guidance of Miroslav, Senator for the [[The League|League]] city of [[Sarvos]], many wains of white granite and weirwood were committed to building both a massive seawall, and a great Imperial shipyard equipped with drydocks, powerful cranes for loading and unloading, and expanded warehouses and work spaces. Completed shortly before Autumn 377YE, the shipyard provided significant benefits to the Freeborn [[fleet|ships]] based in Madruga. In addition, the facilities here proved sufficient to allow the construction of the first [[navy]] since the days of [[Emperor Barabbas]]; [[Raise_Freeborn_navy|work]] began on constructing Freeborn vessels in Winter 378YE.

It is perhaps fitting that when the [[Grendel]] invaded Madruga after the Autumn Equinox 381YE, and [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#To_Fool_The_Crowd|destroyed the shipyard]] the Freeborn Storm was [[Navy_orders#Put_to_Port|put to port]] and shared the same fiery fate as the docks where it was created.
===The Shining Pillar (Destroyed)===
Built in [[#Free Landing|Free Landing]], this massive white-and-gold tower was one of the most prominent landmarks in the Empire. It was often adopted by Freeborn sailors as a symbol of the Brass Coast as a whole; when they can see the beacon of the Shining Pillar, they knew they were home. The grand lighthouse echoed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Alexandria Lighthouse of Alexandria] in design, rather than more modern tall cylindrical towers, and was constructed of white granite. Mithril mirrors captured and amplified the light of the fire burning atop it, which was kept burning by a cadre of attendants who lived in the tower.

During the Grendel [[A beacon of smoke|invasion of Madruga]] in Winter 385YE, the Shining Pillar was [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Save_the_Shining_Pillar_(Battle)|annihilated]] by the servants of [[Siakha]], and the [[A_beacon_of_smoke#Objective:_Rescue_the_Beacon_Watch|Beacon Watch]] were slaughtered. The terrible rites performed there not only destroyed the lighthouse and drowned the rocky island on which it was built, but they [[The_cry_of_gulls#The_Darkened_Beacon|apparently tore open]] a terrible maelstrom, something akin to a [[fane]] for Siakha allowing the eternal to send their servants to the [[Bay of Catazar]]. Where once a shining beacon stood, a terrible maw now gapes.

==Further Reading==

Hercynia

2026-06-03T16:34:14Z

Wrenna: /* Summersend */

{{CaptionedImage|file=Regionsofhercynia.png|caption=Northern Hercynia is an ice-bound forest|title=Regions of Hercynia|align=left|width=448}}
== Overview ==
Ice-bound northern Hercynia is a forest territory that, until [[Skarsind]] was given to the [[Imperial Orcs]], was entirely surrounded by the nation of [[Wintermark]]. The territory is situated in the Great Vale, a bowl of mountains that surround both Hercynia and [[Skarsind]]. It is an inhospitable place, but where the trods flow so the Navarr travel. Over the centuries, the Navarr have made slow but steady inroads here, reclaiming much of the forest from the particularly malicious vallorn that dwells within it.

The trees of Hercynia are ancient, and the soil of the forests is home to a great wealth of [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]] which for centuries was carefully harvested and used extensively by the runesmiths in the forges at [[#Treji|Treji]]. Spring is short here, and winter long and dark. On the coldest winters, when [[Sermersuaq#Northern lights|eerie lights]] dance in the northern sky, snow blankets the dark pines.

==Recent History==
The fall of [[Skarsind]] in 373YE left the people of Hercynia facing immediate danger, as the [[Thule]] orcs tried to force their way into the forest to achieve the capture of the whole of the Great Vale. Barbarian forces took the runeforges of [[#Treji|Treji]], but made no further ground.

Of particular concern to the people of Hercynia was the idea that a concerted push from the orcs could result in the loss of more ground, and (coupled with the presence of the vallorn in Deer's Folly), the loss of the entire territory. Thankfully, the defeat of the Thule in Skarsind made this much less of a possibility. In the Winter of 377YE, the [[Summer Storm]] army swept down from the foothills to the north into the Glade of Shadows and shattered the barbarian presence there. The Imperial orcs liberated Treji, and freed hundreds of enslaved Navarr. Now the Imperial Orcs hold Skarsind, and the Navarr are starting to set up trade routes to the new nation.

== Major Features==
=== Treji ===
A stone-built steading in the heart of the winter forest at [[#The Glen of Shadows|The Glen of Shadows]], and one of the only places where the Navarr had a number of large forges, built with aid from the Winterfolk. [[Steinr]] apprentices are often placed with the Navarri for a time, to learn the working of wood alongside metal. The steading fell to the barbarian orcs in the fall of Skarsind in 372YE and was liberated by the Imperial orcs in the Winter of 377YE. The [[Keeper_of_the_Memorial_Gardens_of_Treji|Memorial Gardens of Treji]] remember the liberation; a [[herb garden]] given over to the custody of the Imperial Orcs.

The forges here were devastated during the fighting and by last-ditch sabotage by the spiteful Thule defenders. Hundreds of Navarr slaves were liberated in the process, including a number of artisans who had been forced to create weapons and armour for their captors. A number of prisoners were unaccounted for, however - many of the runesmiths captured when the steading was taken had already been sent north to captivity in [[Otkodov]].

Shortly before Summer 380YE, work was completed on a large wayhouse here designed to encourage trade with [[Skarsind]], under the control of the [[Broker of Treji Wayhouse]]. Already it is bringing increased trade through the territory, and it forms the western arm of the [[Northern trade network]].

=== The [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]]===
The Heartwood of the Great Vale is a Bourse resource located in [[#Summersend|northern Summersend]]. Custodianship of the Heartwood 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 Blade of Thorn===
The Blade of Thorn was [[commission|commissioned]] by [[Construct_Blade_of_Thorn|order]] of the [[Senate]] in Spring 382YE and completed shortly before the Summer Solstice of the same year. An intricate knot of paths in the slopes of [[#Old Ranging|Old Ranging]], the Blade of Thorn is shaped by the winding of small rods and banks of heather. Built at the request of Rhisiart Dancewalker it is a site of memorial and pride to those who have given their lives in support of the Empire and whose unnumbered names are carved into stone menhirs that periodically line the earthen slopes. Visitors to the site are encouraged to chisel the names of fallen heroes to the stones by the Blade’s rest wayhouse, used as a hostel by those who maintain the work. Prominent in particular with blood red limestone are the menhirs of those who have fallen for Liathaven including the stridings of Exiles End, Tarw, and Y’basden. The particularly vigilant will perhaps notice the names of Yanto, and Warbeast carved alone on a smaller obsidian stone etched with the rune of Zorech, rumoured to have been taken from the {{Black Plateau}}. At the centre of the swirling, curling knot stands a giant black stone with a single name in gold: Achilles of Damakan’s Forge.

The stones themselves are only a part of the great work. They mark a spiral design worked into the sod of the foothills and reinforced by wandering feet. This grand design subtly alters and focuses the flows of mana from the mountains, and across the entire territory. At key places in each [[territory#Region|region]] a similar design - albeit of much smaller scale - can be found marked out by similar limestone menhirs.

=== The Gate of Summer ===
Two huge stones and a top lintel stand in the middle of a clearing, carved about with boar, deer and other game, and symbols representing summer. It is covered in moss, and no-one has ever seen a hint of any magic from it.


===The Vallorn of Hercynia===
The vallorn of Hercynia is often characterised as "malicious" or "patient." It does not seem to be as vibrant as the vallorn in more southerly climes, and is certainly not as aggressive as the vallorns of [[Brocéliande]] or [[Liathaven]]. It is well known that the vallorn itself is not sentient but a hostile area of land, however, it is the actions of the creatures that dwell in the vallorn that give it this reputation. While incursions from vallornspawn are few and far between, they are especially vicious when they do come. Over the centuries, it has been beaten back to a dark heart in eastern [[#Deer's Folly|Deer's Folly]] but efforts to dislodge it entirely have failed.

==Regions==
===Northpines===
*'''Qualities:''' Forest, Hills
The mountains of north-west Hercynia are home to several mines that have been worked since before there was an Empire. The slopes of the mountains are thick with ancient pine trees, rich in [[Materials#Ambergelt|Ambergelt]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone|Dragonbone]]. This was the easiest region to clear of vallorn influence during the slow war of attrition to regain Hercynia, and there have been no major incursions of vallornspawn into the mountains in centuries. This region is famously where Myfanwy (one of the [[Myfanwy of Hercynia|earliest companions]] of the First Empress) was born, and where she was called to help mediate a dispute between rival steadings during the unsuccessful first attempt to bring the [[Urizen_history#Joining the Empire|Urizen]] into the Empire. Some conspirators claim that had Myfanwy made the trip with the First Empress, the Urizen could have been convinced to join the Empire early.

Several secluded passes through the mountains into Skarsind served as trade routes prior to the invasion of the Thule. In later years they were used to launch scouting missions into the barbarian-held territory. The steadings of the region are considered a little odd by many Navarr, and occasionally accused of having more in common with the Winterfolk than with their own cousins. There may be a little truth to this - with the loss of the Glen of Shadows to the barbarians, Northpines was cut off from the rest of Hercynia - and indeed the Empire - by a combination of barbarians and the vallorn-infested region of [[#Deer's Folly|Deer's Folly]] to the south.

Northpines is the home to the Pridestalkers Striding whose rite of passage involves hunting and skinning snow lions, who they believe to be the children of the eternal [[Cathan Canae]]. It is also the location of the [[Voice_of_Barbs#The_House_of_Barbs|House of Barbs]], commissioned by senator Rhain Winters Vigil.

===The Glen of Shadows===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The steading of [[#Treji|Treji]] still stands here, but has been extensively damaged by the battle between the Imperial orcs and the barbarian occupiers. The artisans who made their home here combined the working of wood and metal to make weapons and armour for the Thorns of Hercynia and to support their Winterfolk allies. The Iron Roots of Treji stand guard in this area to make sure that no threat will harm the area. The Glen of Shadows is known for their fine magical bows and spears, easily matching the more workmanlike produce of the Wintermark runesmiths.

The famous [[Shadowglyn Distillery]] is located here on the lower slopes of the Northpines. The once famous distillery produced some of the best drinks in the Empire until it was destroyed in a pitched battle between the Thule and Navarr defenders, during fighting in the territory. Production has recently restarted at the site, under the auspices of Wern Taur Thorntarry.

===Deer's Folly===
*'''Qualities:''' Forest, Hills, Vallorn, Vallornheart
Another mountainous area of Hercynia, but one that has fared less well than Northpines. While the mountains to the west create a natural barrier against the worst effects of the vallorn, a poisonous miasma lies over much of the region. The noxious atmosphere pools in valleys and spreads through the forest from the vallorn of Hercynia, wrapped tight around the ruins of the ancient Terunael city of Hacynian in the east. There are only a handful of steadings in Deer's Folly and they are all built in the western mountains - no steading established closer to the vallorn heart has survived more than a decade before it is overrun. The oldest of these is the small but ancient steading of Bont Goch. The Winterfolk Queen Ilsin is believed to have met her end here at the hands of the vallornspawn - some scholars point to the fact that her famous standard bore a white stag and suggest it is more than coincidence the region is known as "Deer's Folly" - but if it had a name before this it is known only to historians. <br>('''OOC Note:''' This region is not considered to be in Imperial hands. It cannot be reclaimed until the power of the vallorn is broken.)

===Old Ranging===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The forests of Old Ranging are carefully cultivated by the inhabitants of the Steadings here. The woods are rich with animal life, and many hunters make a good living providing pelts, furs and fine meats to merchants and traders who travel across the Empire. Likewise, the many streams and shallow rivers are rich with an impressive variety of fish and a number of steadings here raise domesticated deer and even goats whose meat is very much in demand. There are several well-established trade routes from Old Ranging to [[Hahnmark#Kalpaheim|Kalpaheim]] and Winterfolk merchants are a common sight in the Summer months. It has not always been this way of course - there are several battlefields here that date back to pre-Imperial times when the ancestors of the modern Winterfolk, spurred on by their [[Wintermark_history|successes against the trolls]] attempted to conquer Hercynia. The tragic tale of Queen Ilsin is sometimes told by both Navarr and Winterfolk, recounting how her army was led through Old Ranging by the clever Navarr and tricked into marching into Deer's Folly where the 'thousand strong army' was devoured by the vallorn. The tale is probably an exaggeration but seems to have at least some basis in truth. It marked the last major conflict between the Navarr and the Winterfolk in Hercynia, although to this day Suaq explorers make occasional forays into Old Ranging seeking for some sign of Queen Ilsin's personal standard ''Winter Fury'' which is believed to be a [[Thaneshall Banner|potent artefact]].

In recent years, as the heart of the vallorn of Hercynia has become more restive, there has been an increase in vallornspawn attacks on hunting parties along the northern borders - but never in great numbers, and the attacks have been dealt with swiftly and effectively by vigilant Thorns.

===Summersend===
*'''Quality:''' Forest, Foreigners (Great Forest Orcs)
The forests of Summersend are sparse, giving way to the plains of [[Skarsind#Gildenheim|Gildenheim]] to the north. The [[#The Gate of Summer|Gate of Summer]] is found here, along with several other well-explored Terunael ruins. Several steadings are built on a foundation of old Terunael structures, and it is from here that the push to drive back the vallorn is overseen. There are several old battlefields here, most dating back to pre-Imperial times and to attempts by the Vard ancestors of the [[Varushka|Varushkans]] to conquer Hercynia. Most of these battlefields have long since been forgotten but one - '''Mourning Hollow''' on the very south-eastern borders - [[Rubies on the Snow|was said to be haunted]] by the unquiet spirits of dead Vard and Navarr warriors due to the result of a forgotten curse or betrayal. Due to the actions of an expedition in Winter 379YE there have been no sightings of ghosts since. Mourning Hollow is also the site of the [[Great Library of Hacynian]].

In addition to the usual occasional incursions from the vallorn of Hercynia, there used to be several skirmishes with the Thule when they controlled both Skarsind and the Glen of Shadows to the north-west. The fortified steadings here served as a base of operations for forays into Skarsind during the recent war, and a number of Wintermark refugees were helped to safe havens in [[Hahnmark]] to the south-west.

Summersend is also the site of the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]], and of the corpse glade where the eerie unknown remains dug from beneath the roots of the ancient weirwood are interred. Following a welcome offered by the Navarr national assembly in Winter 384YE, a community of [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[You_belong_with_me#A_Home_in_the_Empire|established High Pines Steading]] in Summersend near the weirwood forest. While most work as herbalists, cultivate forests, or trade, others are employed at the weirwood groves themselves.

The [[#Heartwood of the Great Vale|Heartwood of the Great Vale]] is in northern Summersend, right on the edge of the [[#The Glen of Shadows|Glen of Shadows]].
{{CaptionedImage|file=Hercynia.jpg|caption=Rowyn of the Waystone Path, Senator for Hercynia|align=left|width=300}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Hercynia|Territory=Hercynia|Season=Winter}}

==OOC Notes==
* All the regions of Hercynia, except for Deer's Folly which is controlled by a vallorn, are in the hands of the Navarr (and by extension the Empire).
* [[Mana site|Mana sites]] in the territory benefit from the [[#Blade of Thorn|Blade of Thorn]] and produce an extra mana crystal each season.
[[Category:Navarr]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]
[[Category:Vallorn]]

Miaren

2026-06-03T16:34:03Z

Wrenna: /* Serenael */

{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofMiaren.png |caption=A forest of golden trees and fair winds|title=Regions of Miaren|align=left|width=500}}
== Overview ==
Miaren is a land of gentle golden woodlands, open steadings, fertile fields, fair winds and the great Navarr city of Seren. It lies on the border between Dawn and the Marches, between Wintermark and the League.

In the early years of the Empire the [[vallorn]] at Miaren was [[Reclamation of Seren|completely destroyed]] and at the heart of the forest the ruins of the city Seren reclaimed, to be slowly rebuilt. It is now considered the heartland of the Navarr nation, and a symbol of what can be achieved.

Today Miaren is dotted with carefully tended woodlands, farms, and orchards; only in the north-western region of the [[#Goldglades|Goldglades]] is there any true forest. With so much open ground to work with, many of Miaren's [[steading|steadings]] have expanded in size far beyond the settlements encountered in other Navarr territories. They increasingly have more in common with the towns and villages of [[Dawn]] and the [[Marches]] than with the steadings of other territories. Navarr visiting from [[Liathaven]], [[Brocéliande]], and even [[Therunin]] for the first time are often amazed at how ''peaceful'' they - and the territory they stand in - can be without the constant threat of the vallorn or barbarian [[Orc|orcs]] to contend with.

For non-Navarr visitors (and given its central location in the Empire and excellent roads it should come as no surprise that Miaren sees a lot of non-Navarr visitors), one element that stands out as strange is the careful reverence with which the old Terunael ruins are treated. The city of [[#Seren|Seren]] is well-known as being built among the ruins of the former Terunael city, but the Navarr are careful not to damage ''any'' ruins they have found that have withstood the malice of the vallorn. Any farm might have a carefully preserved ruined tower, any orchard might be bounded by a high wall of unfamiliar construction, any well might be surrounded by wind-worn statues from a time long before the Empire. To those not acquainted with the practice, this can give the territory a slightly eerie quality despite its otherwise pastoral beauty.

Miaren sees a lot of trade - again its central location combines with its proximity to the heartlands of the Empire to see regular merchant caravans from most Imperial nations. It produces a significant amount of the vinum sap used to create [[liao]] for example - more than any other territory in the Empire. With the completion of the Blood Red Roads, there has also been a marked increase in [[Faraden]], [[Urizen]], [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and even [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]], [[Axos|Axou]], and [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] visitors eager to purchase fruit, wines, spirits, wood, and other fine quality goods. Navarr merchants from [[Hercynia]] and [[Wintermark]] used to bring their wares to Miaren to sell - although this practice has become less prevalent with the rise of the [[Northern trade network]] and the Blood Red Roads providing easier access to the cities of the League.

==Recent History==
Miaren is the heartland of the Navarr. Unlike other Navarr territories, conflict here arises not from the threat of the vallorn but either from the internal politics of the Navarr, or from conflicts between stubborn groups of [[The Marches|Marcher]] and [[Dawn|Dawnish]] yeofolk brawling across the invisible "border" between their two nations.

Shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE, the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Blood_Red_Roads|Blood Red Roads]] were completed in Miaren, providing merchants and traders easy access to the prosperous Navarr territory, especially to [[#Seren|Seren]]. For more than half a decade the roads provided a major boon to the [[farm|farms]] and [[business|businesses]] in the territory. In the Winter of 386YE, however, the Imperial Senate determined to [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Levy_Tolls_on_Blood_Red_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]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px;"><box>'''The Heartland of Navarr'''<br>
Above all, Miaren is civilised and (compared to many other Imperial territories) reasonably peaceful. It would be easy for an outsider to assume that this means the people of Miaren are "soft" or that the other Navarr look down on them for their lives free from the threat of vallorn. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Firstly, the people of Miaren are no less likely than any other Navarr to join a [[striding]]. Indeed, it is a common practice for the youth of Miaren to immediately join a striding as soon as they pass their citizenship, to go out into the world without their parents or family both to do their part in the fight against the vallorn and to develop their identity as an adult. Many return eventually, but just as many remain with one striding or another for decades, or join a steading in some far-flung part of the Empire. Rowdy drunks at an idyllic roadside [[wayhouse]] - or the occasional band of greedy bandits - often discover to their cost that the smiling staff all have a decade or more of experience in hard travel and fighting opponents that would make the toughest bandit weep.

Secondly, far from disdaining the civilisation of Miaren most Navarr recognise it as what they one day aspire to create in [[Liathaven]], [[Hercynia]], [[Therunin]], and [[Brocéliande]] - and perhaps even in distant Emrys, Cavan, and Béantal Dol (should that even be possible). In a very real sense, Miaren is ultimately what they are fighting for. One day, there will be no more need to fight the vallorn or the orcs, and all of Navarr will be a garden (at least metaphorically). One day, when the vallorn is gone and the orcs are no longer a threat, Navarr will build something new and enduring from the foundation of their ancient past. One day, Miaren may well provide the blueprint for a brighter future - perhaps not only for the Navarr.</box></div>

==Points of Interest==
=== Seren ===
A fallen city of Terunael, once the heart of a vallorn, Seren has been absolutely transformed. In 27YE, in the early years of the Empire, the vallorn of Miaren was defeated, and the ruins of Seren reclaimed from the forest. In the centuries since, the Navarr have incorporated the ruins of the ancient Terunael city into their own sprawling settlement. It is the largest permanent settlement of the Navarr in the Empire. In contrast to the larger settlements of the other nations, Seren is composed of a number of interlocking steadings, each technically separate from the others, but entwined in an interdependent relationship. When the steadings need to make decisions as a group, a council of [[brand|brands]] is formed to discuss the matter and reach a consensus. This model is often reflected in informal arrangements between Navarr groups across the Empire. For the last century at least there has been a general consensus among the brands who oversee Seren, and recent decades of peace and cooperation have seen it grow in population until it has begun to be seen as a city in its own right. While it is no equal to the great urban centres of [[the League]], in size and population it is easily a match for [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] or [[Madruga#Siroc|Siroc]].

A third of the ruins are given over to a [[Golden Trees of Seren|weirwood forest]], and even in the more built-up areas there are many green open spaces and carefully tended trees. Across the Empire, it is often referred to as "the Garden City."

The ruins of Seren have been extensively explored and catalogued, and many of the facts the Empire knows about the Terunael were uncovered here. At the height of Terunael, Seren was a city known for its scholars and poets, and for both colleges and military academies. Several of these buildings were reclaimed when the vallorn fell, and while no writing survived exposure to the heart of corruption, a combination of divination magic and tireless archaeology slowly teased out some of the secrets of the Terunael.

In early 377YE a number of fortified watchtowers and secure campsites were built around Seren, providing local bandit-hunters and scouts safe places to use in their pursuit both of lawbreakers and opportunistic orc raiding parties. The project was overseen by Henry Ward (senator for [[Upwold]]) as part of a [[Fortify multiple towns|larger]] [[Senate]] initiative to provide protection to towns throughout the Empire. The defences are not sufficient to qualify Seren as a [[fortifications|fortification]], but have helped reduce outlawry throughout the territory.

A more recent exploration discovered a mystical flame in a hidden chamber behind a waterfall here, which was [[Construct_the_Eternal_Flame_of_Miaren|expanded]] with the aid of the [[Civilian_commissioner|former civilian commissioner]] of Navarr to create the [[Eternal Flame of Miaren]]. In a similar vein, the [[Dean_of_the_Thorned_Rose#Thorned_Rose|Thorned Rose]], a small academy that provides training to prospective vates, stands near the Golden Trees, and provides a seasonal sinecure to the [[Dean_of_the_Thorned_Rose|Dean]].

=== The [[Golden Trees of Seren]] ===
The Golden Trees of Seren is a Bourse resource located in [[#Serenael|Serenael]]. Custodianship of the Golden Trees is an [[Imperial Title]] that brings with it a Seat on the [[Bourse]]. It produces 28 Imperial wains of weirwood every season. Control is allocated to any Imperial citizen by open auction during the Winter Solstice.

=== Brock's Toll ===
[[Brock's Toll]] is a famous toll bridge just south of [[#Greenfalls|Greenfalls]], situated roughly halfway between [[Dawn]] and the [[The Marches|Marches]] and historically claimed by both. While it isn't much used by wealthy merchants or nobles, the road that this bridge lies on carries most of the agricultural traffic between Dawn and the Marches. The bridge is associated with a [[sinecure]], contested between the Marchers and the [[yeofolk of Dawn]].

===The Great Sinkhole===
Just over a month after the Spring Equinox 381YE a large section of north-western Goldglades [[Rocks and gravel|collapsed with an almighty roar]]. After the initial collapse, the hole began to spread. Warnings by the Navarr [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates|vates]] reached the already-worried people of [[Upwold#Birchland|Birchland]], [[Hahnmark#Wood_Heath|Wood Heath]], and the [[Temeschwar#Vardstein_Vale|Vardstein Vale]] not a moment too soon before parts of the three adjacent territories - [[Upwold]], [[Hahnmark]], and [[Temeschwar]] - were likewise consumed.

Where Miaren once bordered Hahnmark, there is now a massive [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole sinkhole]. Estimated to be seven hundred feet deep, with a lake at the bottom that may well be bottomless. The cliff walls are nearly vertical, and still prone to collapse in some places, but there are also signs of caves and tunnels opening out in several places. Initial explorers have excitedly reported what look to be ancient mine workings - some reaching back to the time of the Terunael, and some reaching back even further. The full extent of the network of caverns here has yet to be determined. More worryingly, some of the early daredevils who have made a preliminary investigation of some of the more accessible caves and tunnels have failed to return - and all those who have made it back in one piece have described encounters with particularly angry [[trogoni]] - creatures rarely encountered outside of the mountains of [[Urizen]], and the northern peaks of [[Wintermark]] and [[Varushka]].

The sinkhole was officially named "[[Delver_of_the_Depths#Lorenzo.27s_Deep_Pockets|Lorenzo's Deep Pockets]]" by '''Lorenzo Macelliao von Temeschwar''', and remains a source of some concern to the people of Miaren.

=== Rhonwen’s Fall ===
In less peaceable times, when the Navarr spent more time hiding from barbarians than hunting them, it was a refuge named Sanctuary Falls. It was named in 30YE in honour of the [[archmage]] Rhonwen who gave her life to help defeat the vallorn of Miaren. The steading is built into the cliff under falls that feed the upper reaches of the Gancio. The settlement attracts scholars from across the Empire who wish to study the swirling intricate [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Patterns|designs]] that the first Navarr carved into the rocks here, designs that contain information about trods and old ritual dances. [[Historical research]] on Rhonwen's Fall was [[Research_Rhonwen%27s_Fall|commissioned by]] the [[Advisor on the Vallorn]] during the Spring Equinox 381YE, and published shortly after as ''[[On Rhonwen's Fall]]''.

In Spring 386YE, the [[Last_rays_of_the_sun#Rhonwen's_Fall|final battle]] against the Empty Hands ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]] took place at Rhonwen's Fall. The heralds were destroyed, but in the process both steadings at Rhonwen's Fall were utterly ruined. What the scions themselves did not destroy was broken during the battle with Imperial forces. The designs that once drew scholars from across the Empire are still mostly intact, but parts have been scoured or broken by the scions, seemingly intentionally. If they had had a few days more, there might have been nothing left.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenMiaren.jpg|title=The Goldglades are known for their wealth.|caption=The forests of Miaren are rich in natural resources.|align=right|width=500}}</div>

==Regions==
===Goldglades===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The Goldglades are named partly for the great stands of ancient oaks that grow here, and partly for the rich bounty of [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]] that the [[forest|forest]] workers harvest here. The steadings of Goldglades are some of the wealthiest in Miaren and indeed Navarr. The Eternal Family Striding hold a small (by Goldglades standards but still lavish for a Navarr from Therunin) Wayhouse here where they can often be contacted.

{{anchor|The Pool of Silver Clouds}}
Of interest to those of a mystical nature, in the southern foothills of the [[Temeschwar#Locul|Locul]] peaks stands the '''Pool of Silver Clouds'''. A still pool in a quiet glade which, whatever the weather, reflects silver clouds and a blue sky. It is said that some vates can divine the future in the waters of the pool. Indeed, these same vates were the first to be aware of the threat of the [[#The_Great_Sinkhole|Great Sinkhole]], and their speedy warning not only to the people of the 'Glades but also to folk in the neighbouring territories saved untold lives from the natural disaster.

===Holtford===
Holtford is a thriving region, known for its [[materials#Orichalcum|orichalcum]] [[mine|mines]] and deep clay pits rich in [[materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]]. The large steading of '''Holt''' that stands near the southern borders historically served as a staging post for expeditions to explore the land claimed by the Miaren vallorn. In recent centuries, it has become better known for the quality and strength of their pottery, and for its merchants. Traders who wish to avoid [[Temeschwar]] (for whatever reason) commonly pass through Holt on their way between [[Highguard]] and [[Wintermark]], and some of the largest and wealthiest [[wayhouse|wayhouses]] in Navarr are found here.

The ''Nighthaven'' Steading was founded near Holt, and known to produce politically and economically savvy Navarr who regularly send one of their own to represent their people in the Imperial Senate.

Holtford was also the site of a so-called "Alchemical Workshop", a [[folly|peculiar tower]] of white granite apparently dedicated to the [[eternal]] [[Murit]] that functioned as a workshop for studying "''the [[Night magic|transformation of base matter]]''." The structure was [[Construct Alchemical Workshop in Miaren|commissioned]] by the Imperial Senate during the Winter Solstice 380YE summit, and work was completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 381YE. A year later, shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, [[Change|the tower disappeared]]. Where it once stood is a circular pool of clear, fresh water. The water appears entirely mundane, but anyone who looks at their reflection in the pool sees themselves as they might have been had they made different choices at some point in their lives. At night, the night skies reflected in the pool bear no relationship to the actual stars in the skies above them. According to locals, a peculiar creature frequents the pool, emerging from its depths on nights of the half moon to speak to scholars of night magic who visit the area. It has been dubbed "'''Darkwater Pool'''" by residents of the area.

===Oakways===
*'''Quality:''' Petrified
The [[Dean_of_the_First_Voice_Glade#First_Voice_Glade_(Ruined)|First Voice Glade School]] was once a valuable [[sinecure]] - raised in memory of [[Known_exemplars#Gerallt_Brackensong|Gerallt Brackensong]] that provided a bounty of herbs to the Dean before it was destroyed by [[Things_that_burn#The_Empty_Hands|The Empty Hands]]. Furthermore, their channellers and archons evoked a dreadful blue-green radiance that, in stark contrast to the natural light of the sun, had a terrible effect on living plants. Where the light touches, trees and plants begin to calcify. They become hard and grey, each branch, root, leaf, and stem rendered into a substance part-way between bone and soft stone. The soil around the dying plant is poisoned, becoming chalk-like sand that will not sustain wholesome life. This has given the region the Petrified quality, representing the damage done to the settlements and the land itself. Now that the Empty Hands have been destroyed, it may be possible to reverse the destruction.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Rhonwen's Fall.jpg|caption=The beauty of Rhonwen's Fall, captured by the Navarr artist Angela Ravens Oak.|align=right|width=500}}</div>

===Greenfalls===
A prosperous territory marked by beautiful orchards and groves of carefully tended trees, Greenfalls is named for the waterfall that cascades past [[#Rhonwen’s_Fall|Rhonwen's Fall]]. The region is known for its fine yellow-green [[ambergelt]], and for its nuts. A number of farmsteads, some stretching back to the first decades after the liberation of Miaren from the vallorn, tend to great groves of walnut trees along the banks of the Gancio.

===Serenael===
*'''Quality:''' Foreigners (Great Forest Orcs)
Serenael was the final region of Miaren recovered during the [[reclamation of Seren|reclamation of the territory]] from the vallorn during the reign of [[Emperor Giovanni]] - and with its conquest Miaren became the first [[territory]] freed by the Navarr. The ruins of the Terunael city of Seren lie in northern Serenael; this is where the dark heart of the Miaren vallorn lay. The [[#The Golden Trees of Seren|Golden Trees of Seren]] is a sprawling weirwood forest that covers much of northern Serenael and encompasses roughly a third of the Terunael ruins. It is also the site of the [[Granger of the Golden Orchard|Golden Orchards]], a [[sinecure]] that provides the Granger with a bounty of [[Game_items#Mana_Crystals|crystal mana]]. The rest of the ruins are given over to the largest permanent Navarr settlement - the city of [[#Seren|Seren]].

Following a welcome offered by the Navarr national assembly in Winter 384YE, a community of [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[You_belong_with_me#A_Home_in_the_Empire|established Great Forest Steading]] in Serenael near the Golden Trees weirwood forest. While most work as herbalists, cultivate forests, or trade, others are employed at the weirwood groves themselves. The ''Leafstalker Striding'' are a modern band of Navarr based out of Serenael, famed for their signature cloaks that allow them to blend in with the weirwood trees of the region.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Asthore Embracing Fold.jpg|caption='''Asthore Autumngale''', Senator for Miaren|align=left|width=400}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Miaren|Territory=Miaren|Season=Summer}}

==OOC Notes==
* The Navarr (and by extension the Empire) control all the regions of Miaren. It is firmly an Imperial territory.
* [[Herb garden|Herb gardens]] in the territory benefit from First Voice Glade and produce an extra 3 drams of Imperial roseweald at the Spring Equinox, cerulean mazzarine at the Summer Solstice, marrowort at the Autumn Equinox, and bladeroot at the Winter Solstice
* Due to the presence of the [[Miaren#The_Great_Sinkhole|sinkhole]] in the [[#Goldglades|Goldglades]] it is not possible for a [[Army|campaign army]] to move directly between Miaren and Hahnmark despite their apparent proximity on the map.
[[Category:Navarr]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

Miaren

2026-06-03T16:33:52Z

Wrenna: /* Serenael */

{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofMiaren.png |caption=A forest of golden trees and fair winds|title=Regions of Miaren|align=left|width=500}}
== Overview ==
Miaren is a land of gentle golden woodlands, open steadings, fertile fields, fair winds and the great Navarr city of Seren. It lies on the border between Dawn and the Marches, between Wintermark and the League.

In the early years of the Empire the [[vallorn]] at Miaren was [[Reclamation of Seren|completely destroyed]] and at the heart of the forest the ruins of the city Seren reclaimed, to be slowly rebuilt. It is now considered the heartland of the Navarr nation, and a symbol of what can be achieved.

Today Miaren is dotted with carefully tended woodlands, farms, and orchards; only in the north-western region of the [[#Goldglades|Goldglades]] is there any true forest. With so much open ground to work with, many of Miaren's [[steading|steadings]] have expanded in size far beyond the settlements encountered in other Navarr territories. They increasingly have more in common with the towns and villages of [[Dawn]] and the [[Marches]] than with the steadings of other territories. Navarr visiting from [[Liathaven]], [[Brocéliande]], and even [[Therunin]] for the first time are often amazed at how ''peaceful'' they - and the territory they stand in - can be without the constant threat of the vallorn or barbarian [[Orc|orcs]] to contend with.

For non-Navarr visitors (and given its central location in the Empire and excellent roads it should come as no surprise that Miaren sees a lot of non-Navarr visitors), one element that stands out as strange is the careful reverence with which the old Terunael ruins are treated. The city of [[#Seren|Seren]] is well-known as being built among the ruins of the former Terunael city, but the Navarr are careful not to damage ''any'' ruins they have found that have withstood the malice of the vallorn. Any farm might have a carefully preserved ruined tower, any orchard might be bounded by a high wall of unfamiliar construction, any well might be surrounded by wind-worn statues from a time long before the Empire. To those not acquainted with the practice, this can give the territory a slightly eerie quality despite its otherwise pastoral beauty.

Miaren sees a lot of trade - again its central location combines with its proximity to the heartlands of the Empire to see regular merchant caravans from most Imperial nations. It produces a significant amount of the vinum sap used to create [[liao]] for example - more than any other territory in the Empire. With the completion of the Blood Red Roads, there has also been a marked increase in [[Faraden]], [[Urizen]], [[the Brass Coast|Freeborn]] and even [[Iron Confederacy|Suranni]], [[Axos|Axou]], and [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] visitors eager to purchase fruit, wines, spirits, wood, and other fine quality goods. Navarr merchants from [[Hercynia]] and [[Wintermark]] used to bring their wares to Miaren to sell - although this practice has become less prevalent with the rise of the [[Northern trade network]] and the Blood Red Roads providing easier access to the cities of the League.

==Recent History==
Miaren is the heartland of the Navarr. Unlike other Navarr territories, conflict here arises not from the threat of the vallorn but either from the internal politics of the Navarr, or from conflicts between stubborn groups of [[The Marches|Marcher]] and [[Dawn|Dawnish]] yeofolk brawling across the invisible "border" between their two nations.

Shortly before the Winter Solstice 381YE, the [[Lorenzo%27s_Legacy#Blood_Red_Roads|Blood Red Roads]] were completed in Miaren, providing merchants and traders easy access to the prosperous Navarr territory, especially to [[#Seren|Seren]]. For more than half a decade the roads provided a major boon to the [[farm|farms]] and [[business|businesses]] in the territory. In the Winter of 386YE, however, the Imperial Senate determined to [[386YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Levy_Tolls_on_Blood_Red_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]].
<div style="float:right; width: 500px;"><box>'''The Heartland of Navarr'''<br>
Above all, Miaren is civilised and (compared to many other Imperial territories) reasonably peaceful. It would be easy for an outsider to assume that this means the people of Miaren are "soft" or that the other Navarr look down on them for their lives free from the threat of vallorn. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Firstly, the people of Miaren are no less likely than any other Navarr to join a [[striding]]. Indeed, it is a common practice for the youth of Miaren to immediately join a striding as soon as they pass their citizenship, to go out into the world without their parents or family both to do their part in the fight against the vallorn and to develop their identity as an adult. Many return eventually, but just as many remain with one striding or another for decades, or join a steading in some far-flung part of the Empire. Rowdy drunks at an idyllic roadside [[wayhouse]] - or the occasional band of greedy bandits - often discover to their cost that the smiling staff all have a decade or more of experience in hard travel and fighting opponents that would make the toughest bandit weep.

Secondly, far from disdaining the civilisation of Miaren most Navarr recognise it as what they one day aspire to create in [[Liathaven]], [[Hercynia]], [[Therunin]], and [[Brocéliande]] - and perhaps even in distant Emrys, Cavan, and Béantal Dol (should that even be possible). In a very real sense, Miaren is ultimately what they are fighting for. One day, there will be no more need to fight the vallorn or the orcs, and all of Navarr will be a garden (at least metaphorically). One day, when the vallorn is gone and the orcs are no longer a threat, Navarr will build something new and enduring from the foundation of their ancient past. One day, Miaren may well provide the blueprint for a brighter future - perhaps not only for the Navarr.</box></div>

==Points of Interest==
=== Seren ===
A fallen city of Terunael, once the heart of a vallorn, Seren has been absolutely transformed. In 27YE, in the early years of the Empire, the vallorn of Miaren was defeated, and the ruins of Seren reclaimed from the forest. In the centuries since, the Navarr have incorporated the ruins of the ancient Terunael city into their own sprawling settlement. It is the largest permanent settlement of the Navarr in the Empire. In contrast to the larger settlements of the other nations, Seren is composed of a number of interlocking steadings, each technically separate from the others, but entwined in an interdependent relationship. When the steadings need to make decisions as a group, a council of [[brand|brands]] is formed to discuss the matter and reach a consensus. This model is often reflected in informal arrangements between Navarr groups across the Empire. For the last century at least there has been a general consensus among the brands who oversee Seren, and recent decades of peace and cooperation have seen it grow in population until it has begun to be seen as a city in its own right. While it is no equal to the great urban centres of [[the League]], in size and population it is easily a match for [[Mitwold#Meade|Meade]] or [[Madruga#Siroc|Siroc]].

A third of the ruins are given over to a [[Golden Trees of Seren|weirwood forest]], and even in the more built-up areas there are many green open spaces and carefully tended trees. Across the Empire, it is often referred to as "the Garden City."

The ruins of Seren have been extensively explored and catalogued, and many of the facts the Empire knows about the Terunael were uncovered here. At the height of Terunael, Seren was a city known for its scholars and poets, and for both colleges and military academies. Several of these buildings were reclaimed when the vallorn fell, and while no writing survived exposure to the heart of corruption, a combination of divination magic and tireless archaeology slowly teased out some of the secrets of the Terunael.

In early 377YE a number of fortified watchtowers and secure campsites were built around Seren, providing local bandit-hunters and scouts safe places to use in their pursuit both of lawbreakers and opportunistic orc raiding parties. The project was overseen by Henry Ward (senator for [[Upwold]]) as part of a [[Fortify multiple towns|larger]] [[Senate]] initiative to provide protection to towns throughout the Empire. The defences are not sufficient to qualify Seren as a [[fortifications|fortification]], but have helped reduce outlawry throughout the territory.

A more recent exploration discovered a mystical flame in a hidden chamber behind a waterfall here, which was [[Construct_the_Eternal_Flame_of_Miaren|expanded]] with the aid of the [[Civilian_commissioner|former civilian commissioner]] of Navarr to create the [[Eternal Flame of Miaren]]. In a similar vein, the [[Dean_of_the_Thorned_Rose#Thorned_Rose|Thorned Rose]], a small academy that provides training to prospective vates, stands near the Golden Trees, and provides a seasonal sinecure to the [[Dean_of_the_Thorned_Rose|Dean]].

=== The [[Golden Trees of Seren]] ===
The Golden Trees of Seren is a Bourse resource located in [[#Serenael|Serenael]]. Custodianship of the Golden Trees is an [[Imperial Title]] that brings with it a Seat on the [[Bourse]]. It produces 28 Imperial wains of weirwood every season. Control is allocated to any Imperial citizen by open auction during the Winter Solstice.

=== Brock's Toll ===
[[Brock's Toll]] is a famous toll bridge just south of [[#Greenfalls|Greenfalls]], situated roughly halfway between [[Dawn]] and the [[The Marches|Marches]] and historically claimed by both. While it isn't much used by wealthy merchants or nobles, the road that this bridge lies on carries most of the agricultural traffic between Dawn and the Marches. The bridge is associated with a [[sinecure]], contested between the Marchers and the [[yeofolk of Dawn]].

===The Great Sinkhole===
Just over a month after the Spring Equinox 381YE a large section of north-western Goldglades [[Rocks and gravel|collapsed with an almighty roar]]. After the initial collapse, the hole began to spread. Warnings by the Navarr [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Vates|vates]] reached the already-worried people of [[Upwold#Birchland|Birchland]], [[Hahnmark#Wood_Heath|Wood Heath]], and the [[Temeschwar#Vardstein_Vale|Vardstein Vale]] not a moment too soon before parts of the three adjacent territories - [[Upwold]], [[Hahnmark]], and [[Temeschwar]] - were likewise consumed.

Where Miaren once bordered Hahnmark, there is now a massive [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole sinkhole]. Estimated to be seven hundred feet deep, with a lake at the bottom that may well be bottomless. The cliff walls are nearly vertical, and still prone to collapse in some places, but there are also signs of caves and tunnels opening out in several places. Initial explorers have excitedly reported what look to be ancient mine workings - some reaching back to the time of the Terunael, and some reaching back even further. The full extent of the network of caverns here has yet to be determined. More worryingly, some of the early daredevils who have made a preliminary investigation of some of the more accessible caves and tunnels have failed to return - and all those who have made it back in one piece have described encounters with particularly angry [[trogoni]] - creatures rarely encountered outside of the mountains of [[Urizen]], and the northern peaks of [[Wintermark]] and [[Varushka]].

The sinkhole was officially named "[[Delver_of_the_Depths#Lorenzo.27s_Deep_Pockets|Lorenzo's Deep Pockets]]" by '''Lorenzo Macelliao von Temeschwar''', and remains a source of some concern to the people of Miaren.

=== Rhonwen’s Fall ===
In less peaceable times, when the Navarr spent more time hiding from barbarians than hunting them, it was a refuge named Sanctuary Falls. It was named in 30YE in honour of the [[archmage]] Rhonwen who gave her life to help defeat the vallorn of Miaren. The steading is built into the cliff under falls that feed the upper reaches of the Gancio. The settlement attracts scholars from across the Empire who wish to study the swirling intricate [[Navarr_magical_traditions#Patterns|designs]] that the first Navarr carved into the rocks here, designs that contain information about trods and old ritual dances. [[Historical research]] on Rhonwen's Fall was [[Research_Rhonwen%27s_Fall|commissioned by]] the [[Advisor on the Vallorn]] during the Spring Equinox 381YE, and published shortly after as ''[[On Rhonwen's Fall]]''.

In Spring 386YE, the [[Last_rays_of_the_sun#Rhonwen's_Fall|final battle]] against the Empty Hands ''scions'' of [[Cold Sun]] took place at Rhonwen's Fall. The heralds were destroyed, but in the process both steadings at Rhonwen's Fall were utterly ruined. What the scions themselves did not destroy was broken during the battle with Imperial forces. The designs that once drew scholars from across the Empire are still mostly intact, but parts have been scoured or broken by the scions, seemingly intentionally. If they had had a few days more, there might have been nothing left.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=GoldenMiaren.jpg|title=The Goldglades are known for their wealth.|caption=The forests of Miaren are rich in natural resources.|align=right|width=500}}</div>

==Regions==
===Goldglades===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The Goldglades are named partly for the great stands of ancient oaks that grow here, and partly for the rich bounty of [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]] that the [[forest|forest]] workers harvest here. The steadings of Goldglades are some of the wealthiest in Miaren and indeed Navarr. The Eternal Family Striding hold a small (by Goldglades standards but still lavish for a Navarr from Therunin) Wayhouse here where they can often be contacted.

{{anchor|The Pool of Silver Clouds}}
Of interest to those of a mystical nature, in the southern foothills of the [[Temeschwar#Locul|Locul]] peaks stands the '''Pool of Silver Clouds'''. A still pool in a quiet glade which, whatever the weather, reflects silver clouds and a blue sky. It is said that some vates can divine the future in the waters of the pool. Indeed, these same vates were the first to be aware of the threat of the [[#The_Great_Sinkhole|Great Sinkhole]], and their speedy warning not only to the people of the 'Glades but also to folk in the neighbouring territories saved untold lives from the natural disaster.

===Holtford===
Holtford is a thriving region, known for its [[materials#Orichalcum|orichalcum]] [[mine|mines]] and deep clay pits rich in [[materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]]. The large steading of '''Holt''' that stands near the southern borders historically served as a staging post for expeditions to explore the land claimed by the Miaren vallorn. In recent centuries, it has become better known for the quality and strength of their pottery, and for its merchants. Traders who wish to avoid [[Temeschwar]] (for whatever reason) commonly pass through Holt on their way between [[Highguard]] and [[Wintermark]], and some of the largest and wealthiest [[wayhouse|wayhouses]] in Navarr are found here.

The ''Nighthaven'' Steading was founded near Holt, and known to produce politically and economically savvy Navarr who regularly send one of their own to represent their people in the Imperial Senate.

Holtford was also the site of a so-called "Alchemical Workshop", a [[folly|peculiar tower]] of white granite apparently dedicated to the [[eternal]] [[Murit]] that functioned as a workshop for studying "''the [[Night magic|transformation of base matter]]''." The structure was [[Construct Alchemical Workshop in Miaren|commissioned]] by the Imperial Senate during the Winter Solstice 380YE summit, and work was completed shortly before the Spring Equinox 381YE. A year later, shortly before the Spring Equinox 382YE, [[Change|the tower disappeared]]. Where it once stood is a circular pool of clear, fresh water. The water appears entirely mundane, but anyone who looks at their reflection in the pool sees themselves as they might have been had they made different choices at some point in their lives. At night, the night skies reflected in the pool bear no relationship to the actual stars in the skies above them. According to locals, a peculiar creature frequents the pool, emerging from its depths on nights of the half moon to speak to scholars of night magic who visit the area. It has been dubbed "'''Darkwater Pool'''" by residents of the area.

===Oakways===
*'''Quality:''' Petrified
The [[Dean_of_the_First_Voice_Glade#First_Voice_Glade_(Ruined)|First Voice Glade School]] was once a valuable [[sinecure]] - raised in memory of [[Known_exemplars#Gerallt_Brackensong|Gerallt Brackensong]] that provided a bounty of herbs to the Dean before it was destroyed by [[Things_that_burn#The_Empty_Hands|The Empty Hands]]. Furthermore, their channellers and archons evoked a dreadful blue-green radiance that, in stark contrast to the natural light of the sun, had a terrible effect on living plants. Where the light touches, trees and plants begin to calcify. They become hard and grey, each branch, root, leaf, and stem rendered into a substance part-way between bone and soft stone. The soil around the dying plant is poisoned, becoming chalk-like sand that will not sustain wholesome life. This has given the region the Petrified quality, representing the damage done to the settlements and the land itself. Now that the Empty Hands have been destroyed, it may be possible to reverse the destruction.
<div style="float:right; width: 500px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Rhonwen's Fall.jpg|caption=The beauty of Rhonwen's Fall, captured by the Navarr artist Angela Ravens Oak.|align=right|width=500}}</div>

===Greenfalls===
A prosperous territory marked by beautiful orchards and groves of carefully tended trees, Greenfalls is named for the waterfall that cascades past [[#Rhonwen’s_Fall|Rhonwen's Fall]]. The region is known for its fine yellow-green [[ambergelt]], and for its nuts. A number of farmsteads, some stretching back to the first decades after the liberation of Miaren from the vallorn, tend to great groves of walnut trees along the banks of the Gancio.

===Serenael===
*'''Quality:''' Foreigner (Great Forest Orcs)
Serenael was the final region of Miaren recovered during the [[reclamation of Seren|reclamation of the territory]] from the vallorn during the reign of [[Emperor Giovanni]] - and with its conquest Miaren became the first [[territory]] freed by the Navarr. The ruins of the Terunael city of Seren lie in northern Serenael; this is where the dark heart of the Miaren vallorn lay. The [[#The Golden Trees of Seren|Golden Trees of Seren]] is a sprawling weirwood forest that covers much of northern Serenael and encompasses roughly a third of the Terunael ruins. It is also the site of the [[Granger of the Golden Orchard|Golden Orchards]], a [[sinecure]] that provides the Granger with a bounty of [[Game_items#Mana_Crystals|crystal mana]]. The rest of the ruins are given over to the largest permanent Navarr settlement - the city of [[#Seren|Seren]].

Following a welcome offered by the Navarr national assembly in Winter 384YE, a community of [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[You_belong_with_me#A_Home_in_the_Empire|established Great Forest Steading]] in Serenael near the Golden Trees weirwood forest. While most work as herbalists, cultivate forests, or trade, others are employed at the weirwood groves themselves. The ''Leafstalker Striding'' are a modern band of Navarr based out of Serenael, famed for their signature cloaks that allow them to blend in with the weirwood trees of the region.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Asthore Embracing Fold.jpg|caption='''Asthore Autumngale''', Senator for Miaren|align=left|width=400}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Miaren|Territory=Miaren|Season=Summer}}

==OOC Notes==
* The Navarr (and by extension the Empire) control all the regions of Miaren. It is firmly an Imperial territory.
* [[Herb garden|Herb gardens]] in the territory benefit from First Voice Glade and produce an extra 3 drams of Imperial roseweald at the Spring Equinox, cerulean mazzarine at the Summer Solstice, marrowort at the Autumn Equinox, and bladeroot at the Winter Solstice
* Due to the presence of the [[Miaren#The_Great_Sinkhole|sinkhole]] in the [[#Goldglades|Goldglades]] it is not possible for a [[Army|campaign army]] to move directly between Miaren and Hahnmark despite their apparent proximity on the map.
[[Category:Navarr]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

Hercynia

2026-06-03T16:33:39Z

Wrenna: /* Summersend */

{{CaptionedImage|file=Regionsofhercynia.png|caption=Northern Hercynia is an ice-bound forest|title=Regions of Hercynia|align=left|width=448}}
== Overview ==
Ice-bound northern Hercynia is a forest territory that, until [[Skarsind]] was given to the [[Imperial Orcs]], was entirely surrounded by the nation of [[Wintermark]]. The territory is situated in the Great Vale, a bowl of mountains that surround both Hercynia and [[Skarsind]]. It is an inhospitable place, but where the trods flow so the Navarr travel. Over the centuries, the Navarr have made slow but steady inroads here, reclaiming much of the forest from the particularly malicious vallorn that dwells within it.

The trees of Hercynia are ancient, and the soil of the forests is home to a great wealth of [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]] which for centuries was carefully harvested and used extensively by the runesmiths in the forges at [[#Treji|Treji]]. Spring is short here, and winter long and dark. On the coldest winters, when [[Sermersuaq#Northern lights|eerie lights]] dance in the northern sky, snow blankets the dark pines.

==Recent History==
The fall of [[Skarsind]] in 373YE left the people of Hercynia facing immediate danger, as the [[Thule]] orcs tried to force their way into the forest to achieve the capture of the whole of the Great Vale. Barbarian forces took the runeforges of [[#Treji|Treji]], but made no further ground.

Of particular concern to the people of Hercynia was the idea that a concerted push from the orcs could result in the loss of more ground, and (coupled with the presence of the vallorn in Deer's Folly), the loss of the entire territory. Thankfully, the defeat of the Thule in Skarsind made this much less of a possibility. In the Winter of 377YE, the [[Summer Storm]] army swept down from the foothills to the north into the Glade of Shadows and shattered the barbarian presence there. The Imperial orcs liberated Treji, and freed hundreds of enslaved Navarr. Now the Imperial Orcs hold Skarsind, and the Navarr are starting to set up trade routes to the new nation.

== Major Features==
=== Treji ===
A stone-built steading in the heart of the winter forest at [[#The Glen of Shadows|The Glen of Shadows]], and one of the only places where the Navarr had a number of large forges, built with aid from the Winterfolk. [[Steinr]] apprentices are often placed with the Navarri for a time, to learn the working of wood alongside metal. The steading fell to the barbarian orcs in the fall of Skarsind in 372YE and was liberated by the Imperial orcs in the Winter of 377YE. The [[Keeper_of_the_Memorial_Gardens_of_Treji|Memorial Gardens of Treji]] remember the liberation; a [[herb garden]] given over to the custody of the Imperial Orcs.

The forges here were devastated during the fighting and by last-ditch sabotage by the spiteful Thule defenders. Hundreds of Navarr slaves were liberated in the process, including a number of artisans who had been forced to create weapons and armour for their captors. A number of prisoners were unaccounted for, however - many of the runesmiths captured when the steading was taken had already been sent north to captivity in [[Otkodov]].

Shortly before Summer 380YE, work was completed on a large wayhouse here designed to encourage trade with [[Skarsind]], under the control of the [[Broker of Treji Wayhouse]]. Already it is bringing increased trade through the territory, and it forms the western arm of the [[Northern trade network]].

=== The [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]]===
The Heartwood of the Great Vale is a Bourse resource located in [[#Summersend|northern Summersend]]. Custodianship of the Heartwood 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 Blade of Thorn===
The Blade of Thorn was [[commission|commissioned]] by [[Construct_Blade_of_Thorn|order]] of the [[Senate]] in Spring 382YE and completed shortly before the Summer Solstice of the same year. An intricate knot of paths in the slopes of [[#Old Ranging|Old Ranging]], the Blade of Thorn is shaped by the winding of small rods and banks of heather. Built at the request of Rhisiart Dancewalker it is a site of memorial and pride to those who have given their lives in support of the Empire and whose unnumbered names are carved into stone menhirs that periodically line the earthen slopes. Visitors to the site are encouraged to chisel the names of fallen heroes to the stones by the Blade’s rest wayhouse, used as a hostel by those who maintain the work. Prominent in particular with blood red limestone are the menhirs of those who have fallen for Liathaven including the stridings of Exiles End, Tarw, and Y’basden. The particularly vigilant will perhaps notice the names of Yanto, and Warbeast carved alone on a smaller obsidian stone etched with the rune of Zorech, rumoured to have been taken from the {{Black Plateau}}. At the centre of the swirling, curling knot stands a giant black stone with a single name in gold: Achilles of Damakan’s Forge.

The stones themselves are only a part of the great work. They mark a spiral design worked into the sod of the foothills and reinforced by wandering feet. This grand design subtly alters and focuses the flows of mana from the mountains, and across the entire territory. At key places in each [[territory#Region|region]] a similar design - albeit of much smaller scale - can be found marked out by similar limestone menhirs.

=== The Gate of Summer ===
Two huge stones and a top lintel stand in the middle of a clearing, carved about with boar, deer and other game, and symbols representing summer. It is covered in moss, and no-one has ever seen a hint of any magic from it.


===The Vallorn of Hercynia===
The vallorn of Hercynia is often characterised as "malicious" or "patient." It does not seem to be as vibrant as the vallorn in more southerly climes, and is certainly not as aggressive as the vallorns of [[Brocéliande]] or [[Liathaven]]. It is well known that the vallorn itself is not sentient but a hostile area of land, however, it is the actions of the creatures that dwell in the vallorn that give it this reputation. While incursions from vallornspawn are few and far between, they are especially vicious when they do come. Over the centuries, it has been beaten back to a dark heart in eastern [[#Deer's Folly|Deer's Folly]] but efforts to dislodge it entirely have failed.

==Regions==
===Northpines===
*'''Qualities:''' Forest, Hills
The mountains of north-west Hercynia are home to several mines that have been worked since before there was an Empire. The slopes of the mountains are thick with ancient pine trees, rich in [[Materials#Ambergelt|Ambergelt]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone|Dragonbone]]. This was the easiest region to clear of vallorn influence during the slow war of attrition to regain Hercynia, and there have been no major incursions of vallornspawn into the mountains in centuries. This region is famously where Myfanwy (one of the [[Myfanwy of Hercynia|earliest companions]] of the First Empress) was born, and where she was called to help mediate a dispute between rival steadings during the unsuccessful first attempt to bring the [[Urizen_history#Joining the Empire|Urizen]] into the Empire. Some conspirators claim that had Myfanwy made the trip with the First Empress, the Urizen could have been convinced to join the Empire early.

Several secluded passes through the mountains into Skarsind served as trade routes prior to the invasion of the Thule. In later years they were used to launch scouting missions into the barbarian-held territory. The steadings of the region are considered a little odd by many Navarr, and occasionally accused of having more in common with the Winterfolk than with their own cousins. There may be a little truth to this - with the loss of the Glen of Shadows to the barbarians, Northpines was cut off from the rest of Hercynia - and indeed the Empire - by a combination of barbarians and the vallorn-infested region of [[#Deer's Folly|Deer's Folly]] to the south.

Northpines is the home to the Pridestalkers Striding whose rite of passage involves hunting and skinning snow lions, who they believe to be the children of the eternal [[Cathan Canae]]. It is also the location of the [[Voice_of_Barbs#The_House_of_Barbs|House of Barbs]], commissioned by senator Rhain Winters Vigil.

===The Glen of Shadows===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The steading of [[#Treji|Treji]] still stands here, but has been extensively damaged by the battle between the Imperial orcs and the barbarian occupiers. The artisans who made their home here combined the working of wood and metal to make weapons and armour for the Thorns of Hercynia and to support their Winterfolk allies. The Iron Roots of Treji stand guard in this area to make sure that no threat will harm the area. The Glen of Shadows is known for their fine magical bows and spears, easily matching the more workmanlike produce of the Wintermark runesmiths.

The famous [[Shadowglyn Distillery]] is located here on the lower slopes of the Northpines. The once famous distillery produced some of the best drinks in the Empire until it was destroyed in a pitched battle between the Thule and Navarr defenders, during fighting in the territory. Production has recently restarted at the site, under the auspices of Wern Taur Thorntarry.

===Deer's Folly===
*'''Qualities:''' Forest, Hills, Vallorn, Vallornheart
Another mountainous area of Hercynia, but one that has fared less well than Northpines. While the mountains to the west create a natural barrier against the worst effects of the vallorn, a poisonous miasma lies over much of the region. The noxious atmosphere pools in valleys and spreads through the forest from the vallorn of Hercynia, wrapped tight around the ruins of the ancient Terunael city of Hacynian in the east. There are only a handful of steadings in Deer's Folly and they are all built in the western mountains - no steading established closer to the vallorn heart has survived more than a decade before it is overrun. The oldest of these is the small but ancient steading of Bont Goch. The Winterfolk Queen Ilsin is believed to have met her end here at the hands of the vallornspawn - some scholars point to the fact that her famous standard bore a white stag and suggest it is more than coincidence the region is known as "Deer's Folly" - but if it had a name before this it is known only to historians. <br>('''OOC Note:''' This region is not considered to be in Imperial hands. It cannot be reclaimed until the power of the vallorn is broken.)

===Old Ranging===
*'''Quality:''' Forest
The forests of Old Ranging are carefully cultivated by the inhabitants of the Steadings here. The woods are rich with animal life, and many hunters make a good living providing pelts, furs and fine meats to merchants and traders who travel across the Empire. Likewise, the many streams and shallow rivers are rich with an impressive variety of fish and a number of steadings here raise domesticated deer and even goats whose meat is very much in demand. There are several well-established trade routes from Old Ranging to [[Hahnmark#Kalpaheim|Kalpaheim]] and Winterfolk merchants are a common sight in the Summer months. It has not always been this way of course - there are several battlefields here that date back to pre-Imperial times when the ancestors of the modern Winterfolk, spurred on by their [[Wintermark_history|successes against the trolls]] attempted to conquer Hercynia. The tragic tale of Queen Ilsin is sometimes told by both Navarr and Winterfolk, recounting how her army was led through Old Ranging by the clever Navarr and tricked into marching into Deer's Folly where the 'thousand strong army' was devoured by the vallorn. The tale is probably an exaggeration but seems to have at least some basis in truth. It marked the last major conflict between the Navarr and the Winterfolk in Hercynia, although to this day Suaq explorers make occasional forays into Old Ranging seeking for some sign of Queen Ilsin's personal standard ''Winter Fury'' which is believed to be a [[Thaneshall Banner|potent artefact]].

In recent years, as the heart of the vallorn of Hercynia has become more restive, there has been an increase in vallornspawn attacks on hunting parties along the northern borders - but never in great numbers, and the attacks have been dealt with swiftly and effectively by vigilant Thorns.

===Summersend===
*'''Quality:''' Forest, Foreigner (Great Forest Orcs)
The forests of Summersend are sparse, giving way to the plains of [[Skarsind#Gildenheim|Gildenheim]] to the north. The [[#The Gate of Summer|Gate of Summer]] is found here, along with several other well-explored Terunael ruins. Several steadings are built on a foundation of old Terunael structures, and it is from here that the push to drive back the vallorn is overseen. There are several old battlefields here, most dating back to pre-Imperial times and to attempts by the Vard ancestors of the [[Varushka|Varushkans]] to conquer Hercynia. Most of these battlefields have long since been forgotten but one - '''Mourning Hollow''' on the very south-eastern borders - [[Rubies on the Snow|was said to be haunted]] by the unquiet spirits of dead Vard and Navarr warriors due to the result of a forgotten curse or betrayal. Due to the actions of an expedition in Winter 379YE there have been no sightings of ghosts since. Mourning Hollow is also the site of the [[Great Library of Hacynian]].

In addition to the usual occasional incursions from the vallorn of Hercynia, there used to be several skirmishes with the Thule when they controlled both Skarsind and the Glen of Shadows to the north-west. The fortified steadings here served as a base of operations for forays into Skarsind during the recent war, and a number of Wintermark refugees were helped to safe havens in [[Hahnmark]] to the south-west.

Summersend is also the site of the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]], and of the corpse glade where the eerie unknown remains dug from beneath the roots of the ancient weirwood are interred. Following a welcome offered by the Navarr national assembly in Winter 384YE, a community of [[Great Forest Orcs]] [[You_belong_with_me#A_Home_in_the_Empire|established High Pines Steading]] in Summersend near the weirwood forest. While most work as herbalists, cultivate forests, or trade, others are employed at the weirwood groves themselves.

The [[#Heartwood of the Great Vale|Heartwood of the Great Vale]] is in northern Summersend, right on the edge of the [[#The Glen of Shadows|Glen of Shadows]].
{{CaptionedImage|file=Hercynia.jpg|caption=Rowyn of the Waystone Path, Senator for Hercynia|align=left|width=300}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Hercynia|Territory=Hercynia|Season=Winter}}

==OOC Notes==
* All the regions of Hercynia, except for Deer's Folly which is controlled by a vallorn, are in the hands of the Navarr (and by extension the Empire).
* [[Mana site|Mana sites]] in the territory benefit from the [[#Blade of Thorn|Blade of Thorn]] and produce an extra mana crystal each season.
[[Category:Navarr]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]
[[Category:Vallorn]]

Powers of the Imperial Senate

2026-06-03T16:24:05Z

Wrenna: /* Declaration of Peace */

[[Category: Senate]]
<quote by="Varkula, The Throne">If I rule for a thousand years I would never question the existence of your loyalty, Senator Holberg. I merely wonder to whom you have given it.</quote>

==Overview==
The [[Senate]] is the most powerful of all the great bodies of the Empire and their powers are the most flexible and wide ranging. The legal powers of the [[Synod]] and the [[Conclave]] are clearly defined and tightly constrained in the range of things they can directly accomplish. The [[Military Council]] and the [[Bourse]] are flexible but their focus is much more constrained. Only Senate has the power to make law and it is the Senate that chooses an Empress and the Senate that controls the balance of power between the houses.

The powers of the Senate are employed using either a [[Senate motion]] or a [[Senate announcement]]. Only a member of the Senate with the [[Senator#Proposal|right to propose a motion]] may raise motions on the Senate floor. Some of the powers of the Senate may be delegated to the holder of an [[Imperial title]] to carry out. Any Imperial title that has had Senate powers delegated to it may employ those powers by making a suitable announcement during a session.

==Legal==
===Changes to Imperial Law===
The Senate has the power to introduce new laws or to change existing laws. As with other motions, changes to the law are subject to [[scrutiny]] by the [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|Constitutional Court]]. A proposal may be consistent with the Constitution or inconsistent with the Constitution. In the latter case the motion is described as having constitutional implications.

* A motion that is consistent with the constitution can be passed by majority vote of the senators present.
* A vote that has constitutional implications requires the approval of two-thirds of all current senators in the Empire and must be authorised by The Throne and approved by three senior Magistrates.

Any character may discuss a proposed motion with [[Scrutiny#Constitutional_Court|the Constitutional Court]] to try to find a way to make it consistent, or stop it being inconsistent with the Constitution. They will offer advice as best they can. There is no right of appeal however, as the members of the court are NPCs. Their decisions are made in the interests of keeping the game enjoyable, they are not made so as to create plot when players disagree with them.

Where a motion with constitutional implications is passed and ratified, the civil service will amend their interpretation of the constitution as necessary and add any relevant notes to the [[Imperial_Constitution#Commentary_on_the_constitution|commentary.]]

===Imperial Titles===
Only the Senate has the power to create [[new Imperial titles]].

===Appointments===
A number of titles are appointed by the Senate, including [[the Throne]]. The procedures for an [[appointment by the Senate]] depend on whether the position is Imperial or national; whether it was created by a [[Senate_motion#Constitutional_Vote|constitutional vote]], and whether the Senator who raised the motion indicates that they intend to use the power of [[Appointment_by_the_Senate#Escalation|escalation]].

The Senate may be also step in to appoint a national title where the Senators of the nation in question cannot reach an agreement.

===Conclave Orders===
The Senate can create a new [[Conclave order]] or dissolve an existing one. This is always a constitutional vote. A newly created order requires a clear statement as to its purpose and attitudes to magic, and a symbol similar to those possessed by existing orders that is used with the [[Arcane Mark]] ritual. If an order is dissolved, the contents of its [[Conclave vault|vault]] are redistributed among the remaining orders.

This power is usually used at the [[Declaration#Declaration of Concord|instigation of the Conclave]].
===Imperial Sodalities===
The Senate can recognise a new [[Imperial sodality]] or dissolve an existing one. This is always a constitutional vote. A newly created sodality requires a clear statement as to its purpose, and a symbol similar to those possessed by existing sodalities and orders that is used with the [[Mark of Fellowship]] ritual. If a sodality is dissolved, any Imperial titles appointed by the sodality are [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Abrogation|abrograted]].

==Diplomatic==
The Senate is responsible for relations with foreign powers. It has the power to issue a formal declaration of war or peace, as well as extending legal protection to envoys and representatives of barbarian powers for short periods to allow diplomacy to take place.

===Declaration of War===
<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;">'''Barbarian'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Asavean Archipelago|Asavea]]</td><td>Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Grendel]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Jotun]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Druj]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Children of Wrecks]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Volodny]]</td><td>Secret Society</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Not_to_conquer#The_Black_Wind|The Black Wind]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Here_to_stay#Shells|The Brine Turtles]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>

</table></div>
The Senate can declare war on any foreign power. Any foreign powers or nations that the Empire is at war with are considered to be barbarians. Barbarians are not protected by Imperial Law and are considered enemies of the Empire, so it is illegal to trade with them.

===Declaration of Peace===
{{stub}}
<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;">'''Foreigners'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Commonwealth]]</td><td>Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Principalities_of_Jarm|Principalities of Jarm]]</td><td>Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Sarcophan_Delves|Sarcophan Delves]]</td><td>Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Sumaah_Republic|Sumaah Republic]]</td><td>Empire</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Axos]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mareave#Beoraidh|Beoraidh]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Faraden]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Iron_Confederacy|The Iron Confederacy]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Skoura]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Thule]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Tsark]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[When_peace_was_far_away#Free_Port|Zemelslo]]</td><td>Nation</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Make_it_happen#The_Bloodwater_Spears|Bloodwater Spears]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Culling_the_threat#Reservation_of_Benefits|Dreamers of the Dark Forest]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Great Forest Orcs]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Not_to_conquer#Karass|Karass]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Not_to_conquer#Rahvin|Rahvin]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Holberg#Misericorde|Sand Fishers]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Make_it_happen#The_Water_Walkers|Water Walkers]]</td><td>Sept</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Asavean_factions#The_Satrapy_of_Ibaria|Ibaria]]</td><td>Satrapy</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[I_wish_you_would#Grendel|Protectorate of Morajasse]]</td><td>Protectorate</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Karsk#Broken_Barrow|Branoc Folk]]</td><td>People</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Shimmerglisten#Giving_the_Game_Away_to_the_Feni|The Feni of "The Woods that Fell"]]</td><td>People</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Madruga#Trajadoz|Marracossans of Trajadoz]]</td><td>People</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Here_to_stay#Selfishness|Orcs of Clisearn]]</td><td>People</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Here_to_stay#Cynicism|Orcs of Eoradal]]</td><td>People</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Weight_of_the_world#Here_to_Stay|Orcs of Ossium who are not Druj]]</td><td>People</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Spiral#Cinion|Silver Flame]]</td><td>TBC</td></tr>
</table></div>
The Senate can also end to a state of war. External powers that the Empire is not at war with are classed as foreigners; it is legal to trade with them and their rights are protected by Imperial Law.

===Foreign Relations===
The Senate can create an Imperial [[ambassador]] to negotiate on behalf of the Empire with the representatives of a specific foreign nation or empire. If the Empire completes the construction of an [[embassy]], a new Imperial title of ambassador is automatically created, if one does not exist already for that nation. This legal power allows the Senate to deal with nations and countries - it is not possible to create an ambassador to a family, group, or faction within a nation.

An ambassador has the authority to negotiate with representatives of the foreign power on behalf of the Imperial Senate, but if the results of any negotiation require the use of one or more of the Senate's legal powers, then that deal must be [[Ambassador#Treaty|ratified as a treaty]] by the Senate. The ambassador cannot automatically undertake actions that require the use of any legal powers - such as a declaration of war or peace - unless explicitly granted these additional legal powers by Senate motion.

There may only be a single ambassador to a foreign nation at once - but the Senate can choose to create other Imperial titles that have ''responsibilities'' to cover specific areas - for example to ensure good relations with certain members of a nation, or to encourage and promote trade with that nation.

===Ratification===
The Imperial Senate can vote to ratify a treaty that has been raised as a Senate motion. Ratification of a treaty is considered to be a single motion before the Senate because the Senate can either choose to accept the treaty or reject it. It is not possible to amend a treaty once it is presented as a motion; it either passes in its entirety in the form it was submitted or it does not pass. The only legal way for the Senate to ratify variations of a treaty is to submit different treaties as separate motions.

Any citizen can negotiate and agree a deal with individuals from another nation, but only the Imperial title with authority may submit a treaty for ratification by the Senate and only when the civil service have confirmed that it is a genuinely negotiated treaty with members of that nation.

===Concedence===
The Senate can opt to cede Imperial control over a [[territory#Region|region]] or [[territory]] to a foreign power. This allows a foreign nation, empire, or [[eternal]] the ability to take uncontested control of the location. Control of the land is not granted immediately - the foreign power must still send forces to seize the area - but no Imperial citizens or forces will attempt to resist the incursion unless one or more generals gives explicit orders to the contrary. Normally the Senate will use this power to cede land as part of a peace treaty, but this is not a constitutional requirement.

When land is ceded by the Senate, the effects are different to an invasion. The civil service ensure that the Imperial citizens who dwell in the affected areas are duly informed and do everything possible to help them evacuate the area. There are always a few hold-outs who prefer to take their chances and remain - but the majority of citizens prefer to live in the Empire and will move as the border moves, taking what belongings they can with them. Such movements are not without cost, but the civil service does everything possible to reduce the burden.

In Summer 384YE, the Constitutional Court issued new guidance indicating that ceding a region or territory carries significant constitutional implications - in particular it jeopardises the key requirement of the Constitution that the Empire guarantee the dignity, freedom, and prosperity of its citizens. In light of recent events, the Court is mindful of the capacity for this power to be abused to force a nation to give up territory against its will, but also cognizant that they are not best placed to judge such matters. As a result, they have ruled that any further Senate motion that cedes a region or territory of a nation would be subject to a [[veto]] by the [[Assembly#General_Assembly|General Assembly]] or the [[Assembly#The_National_Assemblies|national assembly]] of the nation or nations relinquishing land. A national assembly are not restricted to vetoing a single Senate motion in the way the General Assembly are (though of course this is the only type of Senate motion they can veto). This restriction only applies to motions that cede substantial areas of land, a region or a territory or more.

The Senate may also use a motion to cede control of any Imperial [[commission]]. The Senate may choose to relinquish control of ''any'' Imperial asset in this way. [[sinecure|Sinecures]], [[edifice|edifices]], [[college of magic|colleges]], [[great work|great works]], bourse seats, [[fortification|fortifications]], even an [[Army|army]] (representative of weapons, armour, and other materials being handed over) can all legally be ceded to a foreign power. It is possible to cede a commission as part of the same motion used to create the commission in the first place - for example the Senate could pass a motion to construct an edifice in the form of a giant monkey in the Bay of Catazar and cede control of the completed statue to the [[Grendel]] with the same motion.

As with ceding land, the foreign power must still exert their power to claim the asset - otherwise it remains under the control of the Empire. However seizing an asset is usually easier and may not always require the foreign power to send soldiers to take control. If the Empire cedes control of a commission then they cannot continue to build it or employ it in anyway - even if the other party does not take control of the asset.

Any Imperial title whose powers are linked to an asset that is ceded is automatically abrogated as soon as the motion of concedence comes into force. For example, if the Empire passes a motion to cede a territory to the Druj then the Imperial title of senator for that territory is automatically abrogated as part of the same motion. Ceding an edifice, great work, or similar would abrogate any Imperial title with responsibility for the structure.

This power asserts the legal will of the Empire to give up ''all'' control over the affected area - it is categorically not possible to cede control of something but retain any element of control over it under any circumstances.

==Military==
===Guerdon===
Military units and fleets are not paid automatically for supporting Imperial armies on campaign. To incentivise independent captains to back the Empire's armies, and to reward them for doing so, the Empire created the Guerdon, a pool of money drawn from the Imperial treasury, which can be shared out amongst those whose actions are judged worthy enough. The Imperial Senate can use a motion to set the level of the Imperial guerdon, determining how much money in total will be shared out among all the eligible heroes.

The Senate can also use a motion to determine which military actions will qualify - determining which armies, navies, fortifications, spy networks or adventures are worthy of earning a share of the guerdon. They may choose any of the options available - they could even give the guerdon to those units taking mercenary work if they cared to. Military units and fleets that qualify receive a share of the total purse that is proportional to the military strength they have contributed, based on the strength of the military unit or fleet and any enchantments they are under.

In recent years, the Senate has devolved much of the responsibility for determining eligibility to the [[Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies]]. The Quartermaster must provide the [[Herald of the Council|Herald of the Military Council]] with an exclusive list of which armies and other options will receive a share of the guerdon and then make an announcement to that effect in the Senate.

{{CurrentGuerdon}}

==Economic==
===Imperial Treasury===
The Senate receives taxes drawn from every territory in the Empire, along with the money raised from the auction of Imperial Bourse seats and such donations as may be made by private citizens from time to time. This great wealth forms the [[Imperial treasury]]. Much of the wealth is pre-allocated to pay for the armies and fortifications that defend the empire, however senators can pass motions that call for one-off or regular disbursements from the Imperial treasury.

A senator can raise a motion to have treasury funds assigned to almost any project. Such a motion will usually include wording that indicates what the money is for. Although this direction does not carry legal standing - it cannot be enforced by a magistrate, it may be used by the Synod to judge if the money has been well spent. The funds might be used for anything - buying medical supplies for an upcoming battle; purchasing mithril to improve all the mana sites in Dawn; constructing a set of magic standards for the armies of Varushka; funding a project, scheme or group, or any number of other examples.

The most common disbursements are for one-off payments to pay for [[Commission|commissions]] and regular payments that form a stipend as part of the creation of an [[Imperial title]]

===Commissions===
Only the Senate has the power to authorise a new [[commission]].

===Historical Research===
The Senate can order rudimentary [[historical research]] on a chosen subject.

===Appraisal===
The Senate can instruct civil servants working the Prognosticators Office to carry out an [[appraisal]] of a known problem to see what opportunities exist.

===Tariffs===
The Senate can use a senate motion to instruct civil servants to vary the [[tariffs]] charged by the Empire on goods bought and sold by visiting foreigners.

==Territorial==
===Assignment===
A territory is conquered at the point where half or more of the regions in that territory are under Imperial control. When a territory is conquered it must be assigned to a nation of the Empire by a vote in the Senate, before it can legally be considered part of the Empire. Until 379YE it was understood that it would be unconstitutional for the Senate to reassign a territory. Once a vote had been passed then the status was fixed and could not be changed while the territory remains part of the Empire. However, this is no longer the case and territories may be reassigned by use of a [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Relinquishment|motion of relinquishment]] and then a motion of assignment. A national bourse seat in a territory that is assigned will automatically transfer to the nation receiving the assignment and will be appointed by the [[New_Imperial_titles#The_Imperial_Bourse|bourse mechanisms]] laid down for that nation.

In practice competing claims are exceptionally rare and only [[Holberg]] has ever been successfully contested, so the motion is normally more formal than political. Traditionally a [[senator]] from the Imperial nation that laid claim to a territory would propose the motion and take the opportunity to deliver a suitably portentous speech.

Since the [[Into the spin|Spring Equinox 386YE]] and the conquering of [[Mareave]] it has fallen under the remit of the Speaker for the Senate to raise an administrative motion to assign a territory. These motions are part of the first Saturday session and allow any senator to nominate a nation to be assigned the territory.

===Allocation===
If an asset that produces ilium, mithril, weirwood or white granite is in a region that is conquered by the Imperial armies - the asset is subject to a vote of allocation. Control of the asset is vested in the [[Bourse]] - as prescribed by the [[Imperial Constitution]] but the vote determines whether the asset will be a national asset or an Imperial asset.

Imperial assets are auctioned to the highest bidder - with the money raised being added to the Imperial treasury. Any Imperial citizen may bid for such a position - although as with any position, an individual citizen can only ever hold one title.

National assets are appointed by the [[New_Imperial_titles#The_Imperial_Bourse|bourse mechanisms]] laid down for the nation in which the territory is located. Only an Imperial citizen of the nation in which the territory is situated may be selected to hold that title. If the asset is in imperial control but the territory has not yet been conquered by the empire, then it can be allocated to any nation and will be appointed according to that nation's mechanism.

The only way for a new vote of allocation to take place is if the resource is lost and then later reconquered. At this point the former status of the resource is irrelevant and a new vote of allocation is needed. Any senator may raise a vote of allocation, although if the motion calls for the resource to be national then it is traditional for the senator whose territory the resource is located in to raise the motion.

A vote of allocation does not arise for a bourse asset in a territory that is relinquished and re-assigned, the asset remains national or Imperial (see [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#assignment|assignment]] above).

===Relinquishment===
During the Winter Solstice 381YE, The Imperial Senate [[Create_Senate_power_of_relinquishment_II|voted to create]] the power of ''relinquishment'' - the power to open a [[territory]] or Bourse resource up for [[#Assignment|assignment]] or [[#Allocation|allocation]] as appropriate.

The Senate can relinquish a national or Imperial Bourse resource, or a territory. The motion of relinquishment requires a [[Senate_motion#Constitutional_Vote|constitutional vote]] to pass and is subject to a [[veto]] by the [[Assembly#General_Assembly|General Assembly]], the [[Assembly#Assembly_of_the_Nine|Assembly of the Nine]] and by the [[Assembly#The_National_Assemblies|National Assembly]] of the nation relinquishing the territory or resource if it were not Imperial.

The relinquished territory or resource would become eligible for allocation or assignment as appropriate at the next Senate session.

If the Senate relinquishes a Bourse seat the new assignment comes into effect next time that seat is eligible to be allocated (for example, if the current holder dies or steps down, or during the normal season where the Bourse seat would be appointed).

==Abrogation==
A motion may call for the abrogation of most previous Senate decisions. If the vote is successful, then the motion is nullified in the most effective way possible. A change to the law would be repealed, a title created would be dissolved, a war declared would be cancelled.

Abrogation cannot reverse time, resources expended on a commission that is abrogated are lost. The powers of a title are lost when the title is dissolved but previous uses of those powers are not unwound. A foreign power might be placated by the abrogation of a declaration of war - but they are not likely to forget that it happened. When a [[commission]] is abrogated, the exact outcome depends on the nature of the commission but it usually means any production provided is lost after the summit where the motion is passed. As an example of the effects of abrogating a commission - in this case a great work - can be seen when the Senate voted to [[abrogate Moonwater Hall]].

Territorial motions (allocation and assignment), disbursements and appointments cannot be abrogated.

{{Senate Further Reading}}

Ossium

2026-06-03T16:11:37Z

Wrenna: /* Echofell */

[[Category:Varushka]] [[Category:Gazetteer]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=Region of Ossium.png|caption=Even with a map, there are parts of Ossium that remain unknown to the Empire.|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
Ossium is the north-western territory of [[the Mallum]], which borders [[Karsk]], [[Holberg]], and the [[Forest of Ulnak]], and lies across [[the Semmerlak]] from [[Weirwater]] and [[Semmerholm]]. It is a land of dense, twisted forests and dripping marsh, rich in both natural resources and threats. Only a small portion of the territory is open - the majority of Ossium is shrouded in old, moss-bearded trees, pools of stagnant water, and narrow, fast-flowing streams. The majority of the population are [[orc|orcs]] - primarily subjects dominated by the [[Druj]], the former masters of the [[territory]]. There are also scattered small groups of humans, primarily former slaves of the Druj or privileged enclaves such as the [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]].

The Empire has made some progress in encouraging the orcs to see them as liberators rather than simply more tyrants. Preachers from several Imperial nations have visited the civilian population and introduced them to the idea of the virtues, and invitations have been given to any orcs who wish to do so to travel to [[Skarsind]] and begin new lives as [[Imperial Orcs]].

Most Imperial trade currently passes west into Karsk. There are very few actual roads in the territory, although thanks to the [[Navarr]] there are a number of newly minted [[trods]]. The Thule have apparently been working to clear a road linking their fortress and the Silent Pines to their own territory - but they have chosen to cut east and west to connect with their holdings in Krevsaty rather than forge north through the depths of the Bonewood into Sküld.

Many Varushkans are a little unhappy that there are not better roads - the lack of a road-building initiative is likely to slow down the exploitation of the rich woodlands. An obvious alternative for increasing the prosperity of the territory would be to construct a port in Bittershore, now that the Sand Fishers have relocated, allowing for trade with Dawn and the western territories of Varushka.

In addition to the [[Sunless Depths]] and the Silent Pines, the territory is actually remarkably rich in raw materials. The forests are full of [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood]] and [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]], with extensive deposits of [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]] reported in the Drownbark Forest. The Galath Fields and the inland portions of Bittershore are composed of rich, fertile soil that is already producing fine harvests for Varushkan settlers. There are almost no [[mine|mines]] in the territory, however, and it seems the best locations for establishing mana sites are buried in the depths of the forests in out-of-the-way areas that in some cases are still controlled by orc bandits.

==Economics==
* '''All forest personal resources in Ossium produce 2 additional measures'''
* '''Any commission intended to increase production of metals in Ossium would be twice the normal cost'''
The rich groves and stretches of woodland in Ossium are unusually fertile and suitable for exploitation. As a result, any Varushkan who owns a [[forest]] in Ossium can expect it to produce 2 extra measures of the appropriate material every season. This benefit reflects the natural bounty of the area, coupled with a long history of under-use and should endure for many years to come.

Ossium is ''very'' poor in [[materials#Materials#Metals|valuable metals]]. Any [[sinecure]], [[ministry]], [[great work]], or similar [[commission]] designed to produce [[green iron]], [[weltsilver]], [[tempest jade]], or [[orichalcum]], or which tries to improve the production of such mines, will need twice as much in terms of materials and time.

==Recent History==
The invasion was preceded by the construction of the [[Semmerholm#The_Golden_Causeway|Golden Causeway]], a gift from the eternal [[Eleonaris]]. In Autumn 382YE, the causeway allowed the armies of [[Dawn]] to cross the Semmerlak and [[382YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#In_The_End_.28The_Mallum.29|invade Ossium]], taking the Druj by surprise. Supported by the Golden Axe of [[Varushka]], and by a major [[Thule]] force out of [[Otkodov]], they quickly crushed the Bone Serpent and Amber Scorpion clans. Following initial successes on [[#Bitter Shore|Bitter Shore]] and [[#Galath Plains|Galath Plains]], Winter saw them conquer the [[#Echofell|Echofell]], and culminated in a [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Stirring_Dull_Roots_With_Spring_Rain|pitched battle]] at the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]]. The Druj attempted to fight back, but they were unable to prevent the allied forces [[383YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Carve_Away_the_Stone|conquering the whole of Ossium]] by the Spring Equinox 383YE.

During the Winter Solstice 382YE the Senate [[Assignment of Ossium|voted]] to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assign]] the territory to the nation of [[Varushka]].

Following the Autumn Equinox 383YE, the [[Fire of the South]] [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Journeys_End|escorted a great number of Ossium orcs]], through Varushka to [[Skarsind]], to begin new lives far from the threat of the Mallum. Many orcs stayed behind however, refusing to leave their homes due to stubbornness or distrust of the Empire. There are also scattered ''human'' settlements in Ossium - especially in [[#Galath Fields|Galath Fields]] and [[#Bittershore|Bittershore]] - representing former slaves of the Druj as well as people who made an "accommodation" with the orc overlords. Many - but by no means all - of these humans are of Varushkan descent.

At the Winter Solstice 383YE summit, the Imperial Senate [[Ratify_treaty_with_Thule_Winter_383YE|ratified a treaty]] with the Thule that ceded the region of Webwood to the orcs of [[Otkodov]].

Over Winter 383YE, a sea of sell swords, wagon raiders, wardens, Dawnish knights (both errant and questing), Navarr scouts, and Imperial Orc preachers descended on Ossium. They worked to clear out as many Druj as possible, support new vales, and reach out to the populace of the territory. With the aid of the Hounds of Glory and the Golden Axe, they ensured that the territory was secured and that the people there were part of the Varushkan nation. The original opportunity is described in the [[Beyond the light]] wind of fortune, and its resolution in the [[Blood makes noise]] wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ossium.jpg|caption=The forests of Ossium are dark, and full of traps for the unwary.|align=right|width=400}}

==Points of Interest==
===Lomaa===
A shambolic town on the Galath Fields, built over the Sunless Depths. The civil service has established an office here to help oversee the development of the territory. Many Varushkan settlers come here first, before dispersing across the territory, giving it a frontier feel. A number of merchants from further east are drawn here, making a quick profit selling vital supplies to the Varushkan, and it is also the site of a thriving market where representatives of the newly established vales come to sell their wares to traders intending to return east.

A triumphant stag, the [[Construct Statue Commemorating Conquest of Ossium|Pride of Ossium]], now dominates the central square of Lomaa, marking the site of the first sermon on the Way in Ossium. It is depicted trampling shackles and serpents underhoof, while the closing declaration of '''Vasili Zoryakovich Zverokaz‘s''' sermon shines in mithril inlay around the plinth: "''Together we rise to greatness''".

===Ketsov===
Ketsov is home to the [[Burgher of Ketsov#Ketsov|human clan of the same name]], an ambitious family who actually prospered under the Druj to an extent. The inhabitants of the town and the surrounding settlements clearly have Varushkan heritage. Descended from settlers who crossed the border from Karsk many years ago they were the most eager of the Ossium natives to embrace the Varushkan egregore. Symbols of the Bone Scorpion, that once adorned the town have been carefully and meticulously erased. In their place are new banners and paintings mostly most are variants of the stylised double-headed eagle clutching axes that is a traditional symbol of Varushka.

The [[Burgher_of_Ketsov|Ketsov Trade Exchange]] was established here shortly before the Summer Solstice 383YE, allowing the Ketsov to trade that same expertise in crafting magic items that made them useful to the Druj to their new Imperial neighbours. Almost all of the sprawling, extended family are now bonded to the Varushkan [[Egregores|egregore]] and the family has clearly embraced the advantages of being Imperial citizens. In Spring 384YE, for example, they petitioned to be allowed to settle a new vale in [[Karsk]] and with the [[384YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Ketsov_Mir_Mozga|permission of the Imperial Senate]] established the [[Karsk#Ketsov Mir Mozga|Ketsov Mir Mozga]] in the woods of [[Karsk#Lestasny|Lestasny]].

('''OOC Note:''' Further details of the Ketsov family can be found [[Burgher of Ketsov#The Ketsov_Family|here]].)

===The Iron Roads===
During the Autumn Equinox 382YE, the Civil Service presented a proposal for the [[Starting_at_the_end#The_Iron_Roads_of_Varushka|Iron Roads]], a network of Varushkan [[Varushkan Road|highways]] to link together the prominent vales, mines, and forests of the entire nation. With the roads underway, and Varushkan settlers flooding into Ossium, the civil service offices at Lomaa presented proposals for expanding the Iron Roads across Ossium as well. The settlements of [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]], [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]], and Lanit are now all connected by a great road from Karsk, running as far east as the ruins of the [[#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]] in the [[#Echofell|Echofell]], and down through Nearweald. Varushkan road builders had little experience working with the extensive marshes of the south, but their confidence that stone bridges could be used to reach the former Druj settlement of Orieb in the [[#Drownbark_Forest|Drownbark Forest]] proved well founded. As well as bringing prosperity to the [[forest]] owners of the territory, and to the [[Vale of the Sunless Depths]], the roads dramatically improved the infrastructure in the territory, removing the final ''under-developed'' quality from Ossium.

===The Field of Glory===
This ironic name is given to the site of one of the first significant engagements between the Imperial forces and the Druj. Some twenty thousand human and orc farmers and fishers who had fled the invading force were corralled by the Druj, given makeshift weapons and driven to engage Imperial forces. The result was a bloodbath, with barely a handful of Imperials injured or slain and thousands of farmers or fisherfolk wounded and killed. The battlefield has since been discovered to be rich in [[marrowort]], although some reports suggest the area is now haunted by the ghosts of terrified and angry orcs and humans caught between the malice of the Druj and the zeal of the Imperial armies. More information about the Field of Glory can be found in the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Field_of_Glory|Thousands or more]] wind of fortune.

===The Palace of Orieb===
The sprawling, partially flooded palace of Orieb is believed to have been home to the [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] of the Bone Serpent clan. It has been abandoned, but the maze-like structure has still only been partially mapped. It is a peculiar and somewhat unsettling combination of living area, apothecary workshop, palace, political hub, and herb garden with plants growing inside the structure in internal gardens - some open to the elements and others roofed with glass or cunning wooden shutters that can be adjusted to control the amount of rain and sun that reaches them. Following the Summer Solstice 384YE, the [[Minister of Historical Research]] [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Research_Palace_of_Orieb|dispatched an expedition]], led by seasoned [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] adventurer ''Snowstorm Henk'', to explore the palace and root out some of its secrets. They discovered several interesting facts about the place, as well as multiple hidden rooms, which are recounted in detail in the [[Expedition to Orieb]] briefing.

===Marshstand Skerry===
Standing in the Drownbark Forest, the [[Thousands or more#Marshstand Skerry|Marshstand Skerry]] is a low rock that allegedly used to be tended by a [[Druj_lore#Ghulai|ghulai]] of the Bone Serpent. It has apparently been abandoned since the territory was first invaded - allegedly since before the Webwood fell. The rock is surrounded by decades or perhaps even centuries worth of bones from creatures - some of them clearly humans or orcs - drowned or interred in the marshy waters to rot. The place has a poor reputation - it is both considered to be haunted and also known to be home to especially large, viciously bloodthirsty insects similar to mosquitoes. Marshstand Skerry is now overseen by the [[Cabalist of the Hollow Stone]] who ensures the appropriate sacrifices are made each season to harness its power.

===Vale of the [[Sunless Depths]]===
The Depths are a mithril mine under the settlement of Lomaa. Custodianship of the Depths is an [[Imperial Title]] that brings with it a Seat on the [[Bourse]]. It produces 14 Imperial wains of mithril every season. Control is allocated to any Imperial citizen by open auction during the Autumn Equinox.

During the Spring Equinox 384YE, the Senate [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Wealth_of_Lomaa|chose to allow]] the new [[boyar|boyars]] of [[Ossium]] to claim those parts of the mine that were not currently being exploited. The mine was upgraded, but the additional production claimed by the vales of Ossium - greatly enhancing the prosperity of the new settlements.

===Towers of Zulgan Tash===
The Towers appeared without warning, overnight, in the [[#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]] not far from the border with [[the Mallum]]. Composed of three cylindrical towers of dark green stone surrounded by an uneven wall with irregular crenulations, it looks nothing like traditional Varushkan architecture. The stone is smooth to the touch, all of a piece, and unmortared. It is also quite resistant to damage. When the wind blows, the towers emanate a mournful whistling noise that can be either relaxing or unsettling depending entirely on the temperament of the one who hears it. The marshes around the towers are subtly unnatural. Seemingly shallow ponds may prove to be almost bottomless; ribbons of thick fog cling to the stooped trees and drift across the scummy water regardless of other weather. A plethora of odd plants, some of them encountered nowhere else, flourish in the bogs. Sightings of large multi-legged lizards in the area have increased dramatically since the Towers appeared, and there have also been reports of strange entities that clearly do not hail from the mortal world - lantern-waving heron-like creatures, giant pale toads, and even creatures that appear to be ambulatory tree stumps. They do not appear to offer a threat to Varushkan travellers, but there have been a few minor, unfortunate incidents with visitors to the Drownbark Forest - none fatal to date.

The Towers are generally believed to be the result of a [[Culling_the_threat#Dripping_Echoes|powerful casting]] of the [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], anchored in place with [[ilium]] by the magicians of the Zulgan-Tash coven of [[Miekarova]]. Nobody remembers where they first heard the name of the fortification - but everyone knows it.

'''OOC Note:''' The Towers of Zulgan Tash are a rank one [[fortification]] that requires no upkeep.

===The Silent Pines===
The Silent Pines is a large weirwood grove in central Bonewood. It is controlled by the Thule. The human slaves who were part of the labour force used to maintain and farm the woodlands here were delivered to Karsk shortly after the orcs of Otkodov cemented their hold here. Many of the inhabitants of the Galath Fields and Bittershore claim the Silent Pines are "cursed" in some fashion. Despite this, many structures across Ossium were clearly crafted from weirwood taken from the groves - the timber is very dark and the Druj often polished and varnished it in such a way to call out the patterns hidden in the wood in a way that is both attractive and somewhat unsettling.

===Miasma Pillars===
At one time there were [[Druj_miasma#Miasma_Pillars|miasma pillars]] in each of the seven regions of Ossium, and the entire territory laboured under their oppressive shroud. Efforts by the [[Cardinal]] of [[Vigilance]] identified the locations of some of the stones that anchor the miasma in place, and the scouts pouring into the territory located the rest. As of the end of 383YE, it is believed that there are at most two miasma pillars still standing in Ossium. One most likely still stands at the Fang Tree, in the [[#Webwood|Webwood]], and the other may be somewhere in the depths of Thule-controlled [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] - although it's very unlikely the Thule would have left it standing if they knew how to deal with it. With most of the pillars supporting it destroyed by Imperial heroes, the miasma has almost entirely unravelled, but it still lies thick and oppressive over the Webwood.

===Trods===
The [[trods]] of Ossium, established by the [[Navarr]] during a brutal battle that took place in the territory during the Autumn Equinox 382YE, are only partially explored. Many of them run through dangerous, unmapped parts of the territory. It is surmised that the trods here, along with those in [[Karsk]], help to anchor the trods - and the [[vallorn]] - of [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]] to the wider network.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ossium Sketch.png|caption=For some time the Empire worked with only a very vague sketch map of the territory.|align=right|width=400}}
{{anchor|Tower of the Scorpion}}

===Tower of the Scorpion (Ruined)===
This tower of [[white granite]], was built by the [[Druj]]. Surrounded by a wall topped with twisted metal razors, It stood in the centre of a large, open killing field. A network of rope bridges extended from wooden towers that squatted under the shadow of the walls. In the season following the Autumn Equinox 382YE, Imperial armies captured the Tower of the Scorpion from the Amber Scorpion clan, significantly damaging, but still claiming it. The tower remained under Imperial control until it was [[Delirium#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|brought down]] by invading armies out of [[the Mallum]] in Summer 384YE.

==Regions==
The regions of Ossium have three [[#Special Qualities|special qualities]] which represent the challenges facing the [[Varushka|Varushkans]] in securing the territory.
===Bittershore===
Bittershore was the first region of Ossium encountered by the Empire, and also the first one to be conquered. It lies along the eastern banks of the Semmerlak, and one end of the Golden Causeway is anchored here. The Causeway is quiescent at the moment, but all it would take is a Dawnish witch to open it and the shimmering bridge would stretch back across the lake to [[Semmerholm#Laroc|Laroc]] in Semmerholm. Prior to the Imperial invasion, Bittershore was home to the Sand Fisher clan of orcs. The Imperial Senate [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|ceded]] the region of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] in [[Holberg]] to the Sand Fishers and the entire nation moved south across the Semmerlak to Holberg.

Varushkan settlers have already begun to establish vales on the shores of the lake, taking advantage of the rich fishing opportunities and fertile farmland. As the prosperity of the region increases, the likelihood that Varushka will be able to support another [[Army]] increases.

===Bonewood===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]]
The northernmost region of Ossium is the Bonewood, which allegedly takes its name either from the rich profusion of [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood trees]] or from the number of bleached bones that litter the forest, remnants of many historical battles between the Druj and either the Thule or the Varushkans. Even before it was conquered by the Thule, the forest had a dire reputation for being "haunted". The local orcs tell grim tales of shadowy figures that prey on travellers among the ancient pines, leaving blood-drained corpses in their wake. The Thule have not welcomed Imperial scouts into this area. They have been polite but firm, and made it clear that they are not welcome. The pine forests have been lightly mapped; they extend north to the borders of [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]], and west to the borders of [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]]. There is known to be a large weirwood forest here - the '''Silent Pines''' - which is now controlled by the Thule.

There is also a castle here - '''Fljajokep''' - controlled by the Thule. It overlooks the Silent Pines and was finished in a mere six months, the construction supplemented by powerful [[Autumn magic]]. It stands at one end of a narrow but well-travelled pathway that extends from the Silent Pines south toward Ketsov, and was used by the Druj to transport shipments of weirwood south into more open ground.
{{Anchor|Ossium characters}}
<div style="float:right; width: 550px; clear: right;"><box>'''Ossium Characters'''
Ossium is on the list of territories new Varushkan characters can come from. For now however, the only appropriate character backgrounds for Varushkans in Ossium are "Imperial citizen from somewhere else starting a new life as a Varushkan in Ossium" or "freed human slave who has embraced Varushkan culture". An obvious example of the latter would be someone who was freed from the [[Crawling Depths]] by the armies and introduced to Varushkan ways by the soldiers of the Golden Axe or the miners of Moresvah. It is explicitly not possible to start as a member of the Ketsov family, or similar group of Druj collaborators.

It's also of course also possible to move to Ossium in-character using the normal rules for [[Resource#Changing_Territories|changing territory]].

When creating a character from Ossium, you may wish to bear in mind that the wealth of the territory lies in its forests and marshes, rather than in its mines. [[Forest]], [[farm]], and [[herb garden]] personal resources are all excellent choices for characters whose home territory is Ossium, while [[mine|mines]] are particularly poor choices.</box></div>

===Drownbark Forest===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Marsh
The last region of Ossium conquered by the Empire, the Drownbark Forest is a stinking marsh covered with moss-shrouded, dripping forest. Varushkan settlers have comparatively little experience dealing with the marshy terrain of the Drownbark Forest, and there are no vales established here.

In the depths of Drownbark Forest is the Druj town of '''Orieb''', a settlement surrounding a sprawling and [[#Palace of Orieb|labyrinthine Druj palace]]. From discussions with the local populace, it appears that Orieb was the seat of one of the Druj clans that dominated Ossium - the Bone Serpent clan - ruled with an iron fist by an ancient [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] named ''Bleakbane''. The Buruk Tepel herself, and her apprentices, have not been accounted for. The town is composed of stinking hovels, populated by a number of freed orc and human slaves, who have thus far cooperated fully with the liberating forces. There only real concentration of Varushkans in the region is centred here - three bands of wagon raiders from Karsk and southern Volodmartz have congregated, creating a small enclave surrounding the Stinking Market where they sell valuables wrenched not only from the depths of the Drownbark Forest but also from daring raids across the border into Farweald and the Forest of Ulnak. More information about the Stinking Market can be found in the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Stinking Market|Thousands or more]] wind of fortune.

In Autumn 383YE, scouts reported the presence of something significantly more dangerous than even Druj bandits in the Drownbark Forest. There is at least one group of horrible unliving servants - tormented souls bound into the tormented corpses of Dawnish knights - in the Drownbark Forest. It's not clear if they are part of a larger force, or whether like the tormented souls of [[Reikos]] they have broken free of the control of their Druj masters. Regardless, the scouts deliver warnings to settlers in the area to give them a wide berth.

===Echofell===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Foreigners (Dreamers of the Dark Forest)
The Echofell was the home of the Amber Scorpion clan of the Druj, and the site of the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]]. The first real engagement of the invasion took place here when Imperial forces besieged the tower during torrential rain. The [[fortification]] was ultimately overrun and captured by the Empire and was garrisoned by a small force of Varushkans. A posting to the Tower of the Scorpion was seen as a particularly unpalatable tour of service by most Varushkan soldiers until it was [[Delirium#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|destroyed]] by invading armies out of [[the Mallum]] in Summer 384YE. While most of the Druj have been driven from the area eastward into the [[Forest of Ulnak]], the woods are home to a disturbing number of unpleasant insects and poisonous creatures that seem to enjoy feasting on human blood. During the Summer Solstice 385YE the Imperial Senate, following an [[Culling_the_threat#Securing_Echofell|appraisal]], voted to [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Authorise_supplying_Dreamers_of_the_Dark_Forest|authorise supplying equipment]] to the Dreamers of the Dark Forest - a sept who chose to not relocate to Skarsind. Both the Varushkan and Highborn National Assembly voted to enact mandates to encourage [[military unit|military units]] to train the sept which has seen the Dreamers push the Druj guerrillas from the region.

===Galath Fields===
Along with Bittershore, the Galath Fields represent the only real open ground in Ossium. The soil here is rich, and the damp grasslands are scattered with smaller settlements belonging to native orcs, most of whom are cautiously welcoming of the Imperial presence. There are two larger settlements - the town of [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]] which sits above the [[Crawling Depths]], and [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]], home to the human clan of the same name. As with Bittershore, the Galath Fields have proved popular with Varushkan settlers, especially those from wealthy [[Karov]] looking to start new vales in the comparative safety of the new territory.

===Nearweald===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Foreigners (Menrothat)
One of the last regions of Ossium conquered, Nearweald borders onto [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]] - the northernmost part of [[the Barrens]]. The woodlands here are dense and broken up by maze-like game trails, and overgrown pathways. Most of the Druj who inhabited this area retreated into the Barrens once it was clear Ossium was lost, but as with the Webwood there are still a few small bands living in the depths of the woods who emerge sporadically to raid Varushkan settlements. These raids are becoming more and more sporadic with the completion of the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Swords_of_Nearweald|fortified barracks]] offering more security to the scattered vales.

A particularly bloody-minded band of settlers from [[Volodmartz#Livardz|Livardz]] in [[Volodmartz]] have claimed an extensive section of the forest and despite some opposition from the bandits have established a relatively secure vale here named '''Karantzy''' from which they are engaging in extensive logging. The timber from the Nearweald is being sold to other settlers and has proved extremely popular for helping new settlers establish vales across Bittershore and Galath Fields. Boyar ''Irina Karantzy'' and her allies are making money hand over fist. Not only from the trees themselves - Nearweald is particularly rich in precious [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]] that has a particularly vibrant crimson colouration that is already being touted as "blood amber".

Nearweald is also home to perhaps the largest gathering of [[orc|orcs]] in Varushka. The ''sept'' of the [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|Menrothat]] live in small settlements across the region, as well as in several neighbouring regions. The ''sept'' includes some of those who tend the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Bone_Hives|Bone Hives]] in [[Ossium#Echofell|Echofell]], as well as members in small settlements in the eastern [[Ossium#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]], the western [[Forest of Ulnak]], and the northern [[the Barrens|Barrens]]. These orcs are particularly cautious and seem almost supernaturally adept at concealing their true numbers from the Imperials. There has been only limited contact with them since the territory was liberated from the Druj, primarily between them and the [[Imperial Orcs]] and [[Navarr]].

===Webwood===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]], [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|Under threat]] (Druj)
The Webwood is a dank, almost impenetrable forest with few trails. As its name implies it is home to large numbers of spiders - many of them either very large or very venomous. There is a well-hidden structure in its depths which apparently serves as a temple or lair for orcs dedicated to the service of the [[eternal]] [[Arhallogen]] dubbed the '''Temple of Arhallogen'''. It is not entirely clear if the orcs are really Druj or not, or whether they are an example of a nation that managed to maintain some level of independence despite living in a land oppressed by the Druj. The orcs have kept very much to themselves, but there have nonetheless been disappearances reported in the area which is littered with traps and deadfalls that pose a constant threat to travellers and settlers.

The "temple" has been recognised by the [[Conclave]] as being the property of Arhallogen, and Varushkan settlers are discouraged from attempting to establish vales here. This has not stopped the most ambitious or bloody minded from starting to build along the southern and western margins. Webwood is perhaps the most dangerous and least explored region of Ossium, and there are known to be at least two bands of Druj bandits in the depths who periodically emerge to raid Varushkan settlements, reaching as far afield as the north-western Galath Fields and the northern Echofell.

During the Winter Solstice 383YE the Imperial Senate ceded the region to the Thule as part of a [[Ratify_treaty_with_Thule_Winter_383YE|treaty]]. Presumably they will take steps to deal with the dangerous orcs here.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Bronimir.jpg|caption='''Bronimir''', Senator for Ossium|align=left|width=300}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Ossium|Territory=Ossium|Season=Winter}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the Winter Solstice 385YE the Thule control [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] and the [[#Webwood|Webwood]]. Varushka, and by extension the Empire, controls the rest of the territory.
* The [[#Towers of Zulgan Tash|Towers of Zulgan Tash]] in [[#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]] are a rank one [[fortification]]
* Fljajokep in [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] is a rank one fortification controlled by the Thule.
* Any [[commission]] intended to increase production of [[Materials#Metal|metals]] in Ossium is twice as expensive
* [[Forest|Forests]] in the territory benefit from the [[#The Iron Roads|Iron Roads]], Kurstrozi's Lumbermill, and the [[#Economics|naturally rich groves]] and produce an extra 8 measures each season.
* The [[Strategos_of_Navarr#Awstin's_Rest|Awstin's Rest Wayhouse]] in Nearweald allows Navarri characters to establish a [[Resource#Personal_Resource|personal resource]] in Ossium and gain the benefit of any [[great work]] in the territory

==Special Qualities==
Several regions of Ossium originally had special qualities that related to the problems faced by the Varushkans when bringing the former Druj-dominated territory into the Empire. While the qualities were tied to specific regions, their impact covered the entire territory - so the ''under-developed'' quality affected commissions anywhere in Ossium, not only when those commissions were built in the regions with the quality. In some ways, these qualities were similar to the army-movement restricting ''passes'' in territories such as [[Spiral]] and [[Skarsind]] - a way to create plot but do so in a player-facing way that characters can discuss in-character; so the characters can see where the problems were; they can see when they've been successful at addressing a problem; and they could see how much work remained to be done. These qualities were intended to be removable through player action - and the winds of fortune offer several ways that could be done.

===Under-developed===
* '''<s>Bittershore</s>, <s>Galath Fields</s>, <s>Nearweald</s>'''
Under the Druj, Ossium was a wild territory with minimal infrastructure. There were towns and villages, but the orcs seemed to take a perverse pleasure in ensuring that their subjects had as few comforts as possible. Roads are sparse, and barely maintained, and there was very little trade between settlements. This causes problems for the Empire - transporting materials where they need to go, and securing local labour to help build new commissions are both very challenging.

Over Winter 383YE, the [[Region_qualities#Under-developed|under-developed quality]] was removed from the region of Nearweald as recounted in the [[Blood makes noise]] wind of fortune. Following the Spring Equinox 384YE, the under-developed quality was removed from Galath Fields as a result of the [[Delirium#Game_Information_:_Isember|answer to the Isember question]].

===Underpopulated===
* '''<s>Nearweald</s>, <s>Drownbark Forest</s>, <s>Echofell</s>'''
The population of Ossium is made up of two distinct groups. The Varushkan settlers are primarily based around [[#Bittershore|Bittershore]] and the [[#Galath Fields|Galath Fields]], and are busy establishing new vales and exploring the opportunities represented by the territory. The former subjects of the Druj, both human and orc, are mostly keeping to themselves. Many orcs have left the territory to find new lives far from [[the Mallum]]. Most have gone to [[Skarsind]], but a few have settled in the marshes of [[Holberg]].

The original inhabitants who remain are deeply suspicious of the Empire, and afraid that they may be punished when the Druj inevitably return. Great swathes of the territory are almost entirely [[Region_qualities#Underpopulated|underpopulated]]- especially the eastern forests and marshes. While Varushkan territories are often sparsely populated compared to other Imperial nations, the lack of population here is particularly notable.

===Under threat===
* '''<s>Drownbark Forest</s>, <s>Echofell</s>, Webwood'''
While the Druj have lost their grip on the territory, they have by no means been entirely driven out. The forests and marshes provide copious hiding places from which the cruel orcs are free to launch raids against both Imperial settlers and former subjects. These guerrilla forces melt away when faced with serious opposition, retreating to their hidden camps, and returning after a respite to attack from another, unexpected direction. While they remain in force, Ossium can never be fully secure. At this time, the Webwood remains [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|under threat]]

==Further Reading==
* [[382YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#In_The_End_.28The_Mallum.29|382YE Autumn Equinox Winds of War]] - the original invasion of Ossium
* [[Chilled to the bone]] - first Wind of Fortune covering the Crawling Depths, Ketsov, and the Sand Fishers
* [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Stirring_Dull_Roots_With_Spring_Rain|382YE Winter Solstice Winds of War]] - Echofell, Webwood, and the Tower of the Scorpion
* [[Crafted from torment]] - second Wind of Fortune providing more details of the population and the question of assignment
* [[383YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Carve_Away_the_Stone|383YE Spring Equinox Winds of War]] - Nearweald and the Drownbark Forest
* [[A strange land]] - third Wind of Fortune providing suggestions for ways to develop the territory more
* [[Weight of the world]] - fourth Wind of Fortune providing insight into the situation with the orcs of Ossium
* [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_fortune#Ossium|Autumn Update]] - an update of the situation in Ossium for Autumn 383YE
* [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Journeys End|383 Winter Solstice Winds of War]] - The Fire of the South escort orc refugees to Skarsind
* [[Beyond the light]] - fifth Wind of Fortune, providing opportunities to secure the territory
* [[Thousands or more]] - partner to the above, a Wind of Fortune about opportunities and spoils of war in Ossium
* [[Blood makes noise]] - Spring 384YE detailing the success of ''Beyond the light'' and detailing more opportunities to remove negative qualities
* [[Culling the threat]] - Summer 385YE Wind of Fortune on how to remove the under threat qualities from Echofell and the Drownbark Forest
* [[Burgher of Ketsov#The Ketsov Family|The Ketsov Family]] - Notes about the Ketsov of Ossium
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

Ossium

2026-06-03T16:02:20Z

Wrenna: /* Nearweald */

[[Category:Varushka]] [[Category:Gazetteer]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=Region of Ossium.png|caption=Even with a map, there are parts of Ossium that remain unknown to the Empire.|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
Ossium is the north-western territory of [[the Mallum]], which borders [[Karsk]], [[Holberg]], and the [[Forest of Ulnak]], and lies across [[the Semmerlak]] from [[Weirwater]] and [[Semmerholm]]. It is a land of dense, twisted forests and dripping marsh, rich in both natural resources and threats. Only a small portion of the territory is open - the majority of Ossium is shrouded in old, moss-bearded trees, pools of stagnant water, and narrow, fast-flowing streams. The majority of the population are [[orc|orcs]] - primarily subjects dominated by the [[Druj]], the former masters of the [[territory]]. There are also scattered small groups of humans, primarily former slaves of the Druj or privileged enclaves such as the [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]].

The Empire has made some progress in encouraging the orcs to see them as liberators rather than simply more tyrants. Preachers from several Imperial nations have visited the civilian population and introduced them to the idea of the virtues, and invitations have been given to any orcs who wish to do so to travel to [[Skarsind]] and begin new lives as [[Imperial Orcs]].

Most Imperial trade currently passes west into Karsk. There are very few actual roads in the territory, although thanks to the [[Navarr]] there are a number of newly minted [[trods]]. The Thule have apparently been working to clear a road linking their fortress and the Silent Pines to their own territory - but they have chosen to cut east and west to connect with their holdings in Krevsaty rather than forge north through the depths of the Bonewood into Sküld.

Many Varushkans are a little unhappy that there are not better roads - the lack of a road-building initiative is likely to slow down the exploitation of the rich woodlands. An obvious alternative for increasing the prosperity of the territory would be to construct a port in Bittershore, now that the Sand Fishers have relocated, allowing for trade with Dawn and the western territories of Varushka.

In addition to the [[Sunless Depths]] and the Silent Pines, the territory is actually remarkably rich in raw materials. The forests are full of [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood]] and [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]], with extensive deposits of [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]] reported in the Drownbark Forest. The Galath Fields and the inland portions of Bittershore are composed of rich, fertile soil that is already producing fine harvests for Varushkan settlers. There are almost no [[mine|mines]] in the territory, however, and it seems the best locations for establishing mana sites are buried in the depths of the forests in out-of-the-way areas that in some cases are still controlled by orc bandits.

==Economics==
* '''All forest personal resources in Ossium produce 2 additional measures'''
* '''Any commission intended to increase production of metals in Ossium would be twice the normal cost'''
The rich groves and stretches of woodland in Ossium are unusually fertile and suitable for exploitation. As a result, any Varushkan who owns a [[forest]] in Ossium can expect it to produce 2 extra measures of the appropriate material every season. This benefit reflects the natural bounty of the area, coupled with a long history of under-use and should endure for many years to come.

Ossium is ''very'' poor in [[materials#Materials#Metals|valuable metals]]. Any [[sinecure]], [[ministry]], [[great work]], or similar [[commission]] designed to produce [[green iron]], [[weltsilver]], [[tempest jade]], or [[orichalcum]], or which tries to improve the production of such mines, will need twice as much in terms of materials and time.

==Recent History==
The invasion was preceded by the construction of the [[Semmerholm#The_Golden_Causeway|Golden Causeway]], a gift from the eternal [[Eleonaris]]. In Autumn 382YE, the causeway allowed the armies of [[Dawn]] to cross the Semmerlak and [[382YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#In_The_End_.28The_Mallum.29|invade Ossium]], taking the Druj by surprise. Supported by the Golden Axe of [[Varushka]], and by a major [[Thule]] force out of [[Otkodov]], they quickly crushed the Bone Serpent and Amber Scorpion clans. Following initial successes on [[#Bitter Shore|Bitter Shore]] and [[#Galath Plains|Galath Plains]], Winter saw them conquer the [[#Echofell|Echofell]], and culminated in a [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Stirring_Dull_Roots_With_Spring_Rain|pitched battle]] at the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]]. The Druj attempted to fight back, but they were unable to prevent the allied forces [[383YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Carve_Away_the_Stone|conquering the whole of Ossium]] by the Spring Equinox 383YE.

During the Winter Solstice 382YE the Senate [[Assignment of Ossium|voted]] to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assign]] the territory to the nation of [[Varushka]].

Following the Autumn Equinox 383YE, the [[Fire of the South]] [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Journeys_End|escorted a great number of Ossium orcs]], through Varushka to [[Skarsind]], to begin new lives far from the threat of the Mallum. Many orcs stayed behind however, refusing to leave their homes due to stubbornness or distrust of the Empire. There are also scattered ''human'' settlements in Ossium - especially in [[#Galath Fields|Galath Fields]] and [[#Bittershore|Bittershore]] - representing former slaves of the Druj as well as people who made an "accommodation" with the orc overlords. Many - but by no means all - of these humans are of Varushkan descent.

At the Winter Solstice 383YE summit, the Imperial Senate [[Ratify_treaty_with_Thule_Winter_383YE|ratified a treaty]] with the Thule that ceded the region of Webwood to the orcs of [[Otkodov]].

Over Winter 383YE, a sea of sell swords, wagon raiders, wardens, Dawnish knights (both errant and questing), Navarr scouts, and Imperial Orc preachers descended on Ossium. They worked to clear out as many Druj as possible, support new vales, and reach out to the populace of the territory. With the aid of the Hounds of Glory and the Golden Axe, they ensured that the territory was secured and that the people there were part of the Varushkan nation. The original opportunity is described in the [[Beyond the light]] wind of fortune, and its resolution in the [[Blood makes noise]] wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ossium.jpg|caption=The forests of Ossium are dark, and full of traps for the unwary.|align=right|width=400}}

==Points of Interest==
===Lomaa===
A shambolic town on the Galath Fields, built over the Sunless Depths. The civil service has established an office here to help oversee the development of the territory. Many Varushkan settlers come here first, before dispersing across the territory, giving it a frontier feel. A number of merchants from further east are drawn here, making a quick profit selling vital supplies to the Varushkan, and it is also the site of a thriving market where representatives of the newly established vales come to sell their wares to traders intending to return east.

A triumphant stag, the [[Construct Statue Commemorating Conquest of Ossium|Pride of Ossium]], now dominates the central square of Lomaa, marking the site of the first sermon on the Way in Ossium. It is depicted trampling shackles and serpents underhoof, while the closing declaration of '''Vasili Zoryakovich Zverokaz‘s''' sermon shines in mithril inlay around the plinth: "''Together we rise to greatness''".

===Ketsov===
Ketsov is home to the [[Burgher of Ketsov#Ketsov|human clan of the same name]], an ambitious family who actually prospered under the Druj to an extent. The inhabitants of the town and the surrounding settlements clearly have Varushkan heritage. Descended from settlers who crossed the border from Karsk many years ago they were the most eager of the Ossium natives to embrace the Varushkan egregore. Symbols of the Bone Scorpion, that once adorned the town have been carefully and meticulously erased. In their place are new banners and paintings mostly most are variants of the stylised double-headed eagle clutching axes that is a traditional symbol of Varushka.

The [[Burgher_of_Ketsov|Ketsov Trade Exchange]] was established here shortly before the Summer Solstice 383YE, allowing the Ketsov to trade that same expertise in crafting magic items that made them useful to the Druj to their new Imperial neighbours. Almost all of the sprawling, extended family are now bonded to the Varushkan [[Egregores|egregore]] and the family has clearly embraced the advantages of being Imperial citizens. In Spring 384YE, for example, they petitioned to be allowed to settle a new vale in [[Karsk]] and with the [[384YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Ketsov_Mir_Mozga|permission of the Imperial Senate]] established the [[Karsk#Ketsov Mir Mozga|Ketsov Mir Mozga]] in the woods of [[Karsk#Lestasny|Lestasny]].

('''OOC Note:''' Further details of the Ketsov family can be found [[Burgher of Ketsov#The Ketsov_Family|here]].)

===The Iron Roads===
During the Autumn Equinox 382YE, the Civil Service presented a proposal for the [[Starting_at_the_end#The_Iron_Roads_of_Varushka|Iron Roads]], a network of Varushkan [[Varushkan Road|highways]] to link together the prominent vales, mines, and forests of the entire nation. With the roads underway, and Varushkan settlers flooding into Ossium, the civil service offices at Lomaa presented proposals for expanding the Iron Roads across Ossium as well. The settlements of [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]], [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]], and Lanit are now all connected by a great road from Karsk, running as far east as the ruins of the [[#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]] in the [[#Echofell|Echofell]], and down through Nearweald. Varushkan road builders had little experience working with the extensive marshes of the south, but their confidence that stone bridges could be used to reach the former Druj settlement of Orieb in the [[#Drownbark_Forest|Drownbark Forest]] proved well founded. As well as bringing prosperity to the [[forest]] owners of the territory, and to the [[Vale of the Sunless Depths]], the roads dramatically improved the infrastructure in the territory, removing the final ''under-developed'' quality from Ossium.

===The Field of Glory===
This ironic name is given to the site of one of the first significant engagements between the Imperial forces and the Druj. Some twenty thousand human and orc farmers and fishers who had fled the invading force were corralled by the Druj, given makeshift weapons and driven to engage Imperial forces. The result was a bloodbath, with barely a handful of Imperials injured or slain and thousands of farmers or fisherfolk wounded and killed. The battlefield has since been discovered to be rich in [[marrowort]], although some reports suggest the area is now haunted by the ghosts of terrified and angry orcs and humans caught between the malice of the Druj and the zeal of the Imperial armies. More information about the Field of Glory can be found in the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Field_of_Glory|Thousands or more]] wind of fortune.

===The Palace of Orieb===
The sprawling, partially flooded palace of Orieb is believed to have been home to the [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] of the Bone Serpent clan. It has been abandoned, but the maze-like structure has still only been partially mapped. It is a peculiar and somewhat unsettling combination of living area, apothecary workshop, palace, political hub, and herb garden with plants growing inside the structure in internal gardens - some open to the elements and others roofed with glass or cunning wooden shutters that can be adjusted to control the amount of rain and sun that reaches them. Following the Summer Solstice 384YE, the [[Minister of Historical Research]] [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Research_Palace_of_Orieb|dispatched an expedition]], led by seasoned [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] adventurer ''Snowstorm Henk'', to explore the palace and root out some of its secrets. They discovered several interesting facts about the place, as well as multiple hidden rooms, which are recounted in detail in the [[Expedition to Orieb]] briefing.

===Marshstand Skerry===
Standing in the Drownbark Forest, the [[Thousands or more#Marshstand Skerry|Marshstand Skerry]] is a low rock that allegedly used to be tended by a [[Druj_lore#Ghulai|ghulai]] of the Bone Serpent. It has apparently been abandoned since the territory was first invaded - allegedly since before the Webwood fell. The rock is surrounded by decades or perhaps even centuries worth of bones from creatures - some of them clearly humans or orcs - drowned or interred in the marshy waters to rot. The place has a poor reputation - it is both considered to be haunted and also known to be home to especially large, viciously bloodthirsty insects similar to mosquitoes. Marshstand Skerry is now overseen by the [[Cabalist of the Hollow Stone]] who ensures the appropriate sacrifices are made each season to harness its power.

===Vale of the [[Sunless Depths]]===
The Depths are a mithril mine under the settlement of Lomaa. Custodianship of the Depths is an [[Imperial Title]] that brings with it a Seat on the [[Bourse]]. It produces 14 Imperial wains of mithril every season. Control is allocated to any Imperial citizen by open auction during the Autumn Equinox.

During the Spring Equinox 384YE, the Senate [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Wealth_of_Lomaa|chose to allow]] the new [[boyar|boyars]] of [[Ossium]] to claim those parts of the mine that were not currently being exploited. The mine was upgraded, but the additional production claimed by the vales of Ossium - greatly enhancing the prosperity of the new settlements.

===Towers of Zulgan Tash===
The Towers appeared without warning, overnight, in the [[#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]] not far from the border with [[the Mallum]]. Composed of three cylindrical towers of dark green stone surrounded by an uneven wall with irregular crenulations, it looks nothing like traditional Varushkan architecture. The stone is smooth to the touch, all of a piece, and unmortared. It is also quite resistant to damage. When the wind blows, the towers emanate a mournful whistling noise that can be either relaxing or unsettling depending entirely on the temperament of the one who hears it. The marshes around the towers are subtly unnatural. Seemingly shallow ponds may prove to be almost bottomless; ribbons of thick fog cling to the stooped trees and drift across the scummy water regardless of other weather. A plethora of odd plants, some of them encountered nowhere else, flourish in the bogs. Sightings of large multi-legged lizards in the area have increased dramatically since the Towers appeared, and there have also been reports of strange entities that clearly do not hail from the mortal world - lantern-waving heron-like creatures, giant pale toads, and even creatures that appear to be ambulatory tree stumps. They do not appear to offer a threat to Varushkan travellers, but there have been a few minor, unfortunate incidents with visitors to the Drownbark Forest - none fatal to date.

The Towers are generally believed to be the result of a [[Culling_the_threat#Dripping_Echoes|powerful casting]] of the [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], anchored in place with [[ilium]] by the magicians of the Zulgan-Tash coven of [[Miekarova]]. Nobody remembers where they first heard the name of the fortification - but everyone knows it.

'''OOC Note:''' The Towers of Zulgan Tash are a rank one [[fortification]] that requires no upkeep.

===The Silent Pines===
The Silent Pines is a large weirwood grove in central Bonewood. It is controlled by the Thule. The human slaves who were part of the labour force used to maintain and farm the woodlands here were delivered to Karsk shortly after the orcs of Otkodov cemented their hold here. Many of the inhabitants of the Galath Fields and Bittershore claim the Silent Pines are "cursed" in some fashion. Despite this, many structures across Ossium were clearly crafted from weirwood taken from the groves - the timber is very dark and the Druj often polished and varnished it in such a way to call out the patterns hidden in the wood in a way that is both attractive and somewhat unsettling.

===Miasma Pillars===
At one time there were [[Druj_miasma#Miasma_Pillars|miasma pillars]] in each of the seven regions of Ossium, and the entire territory laboured under their oppressive shroud. Efforts by the [[Cardinal]] of [[Vigilance]] identified the locations of some of the stones that anchor the miasma in place, and the scouts pouring into the territory located the rest. As of the end of 383YE, it is believed that there are at most two miasma pillars still standing in Ossium. One most likely still stands at the Fang Tree, in the [[#Webwood|Webwood]], and the other may be somewhere in the depths of Thule-controlled [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] - although it's very unlikely the Thule would have left it standing if they knew how to deal with it. With most of the pillars supporting it destroyed by Imperial heroes, the miasma has almost entirely unravelled, but it still lies thick and oppressive over the Webwood.

===Trods===
The [[trods]] of Ossium, established by the [[Navarr]] during a brutal battle that took place in the territory during the Autumn Equinox 382YE, are only partially explored. Many of them run through dangerous, unmapped parts of the territory. It is surmised that the trods here, along with those in [[Karsk]], help to anchor the trods - and the [[vallorn]] - of [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]] to the wider network.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ossium Sketch.png|caption=For some time the Empire worked with only a very vague sketch map of the territory.|align=right|width=400}}
{{anchor|Tower of the Scorpion}}

===Tower of the Scorpion (Ruined)===
This tower of [[white granite]], was built by the [[Druj]]. Surrounded by a wall topped with twisted metal razors, It stood in the centre of a large, open killing field. A network of rope bridges extended from wooden towers that squatted under the shadow of the walls. In the season following the Autumn Equinox 382YE, Imperial armies captured the Tower of the Scorpion from the Amber Scorpion clan, significantly damaging, but still claiming it. The tower remained under Imperial control until it was [[Delirium#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|brought down]] by invading armies out of [[the Mallum]] in Summer 384YE.

==Regions==
The regions of Ossium have three [[#Special Qualities|special qualities]] which represent the challenges facing the [[Varushka|Varushkans]] in securing the territory.
===Bittershore===
Bittershore was the first region of Ossium encountered by the Empire, and also the first one to be conquered. It lies along the eastern banks of the Semmerlak, and one end of the Golden Causeway is anchored here. The Causeway is quiescent at the moment, but all it would take is a Dawnish witch to open it and the shimmering bridge would stretch back across the lake to [[Semmerholm#Laroc|Laroc]] in Semmerholm. Prior to the Imperial invasion, Bittershore was home to the Sand Fisher clan of orcs. The Imperial Senate [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|ceded]] the region of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] in [[Holberg]] to the Sand Fishers and the entire nation moved south across the Semmerlak to Holberg.

Varushkan settlers have already begun to establish vales on the shores of the lake, taking advantage of the rich fishing opportunities and fertile farmland. As the prosperity of the region increases, the likelihood that Varushka will be able to support another [[Army]] increases.

===Bonewood===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]]
The northernmost region of Ossium is the Bonewood, which allegedly takes its name either from the rich profusion of [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood trees]] or from the number of bleached bones that litter the forest, remnants of many historical battles between the Druj and either the Thule or the Varushkans. Even before it was conquered by the Thule, the forest had a dire reputation for being "haunted". The local orcs tell grim tales of shadowy figures that prey on travellers among the ancient pines, leaving blood-drained corpses in their wake. The Thule have not welcomed Imperial scouts into this area. They have been polite but firm, and made it clear that they are not welcome. The pine forests have been lightly mapped; they extend north to the borders of [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]], and west to the borders of [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]]. There is known to be a large weirwood forest here - the '''Silent Pines''' - which is now controlled by the Thule.

There is also a castle here - '''Fljajokep''' - controlled by the Thule. It overlooks the Silent Pines and was finished in a mere six months, the construction supplemented by powerful [[Autumn magic]]. It stands at one end of a narrow but well-travelled pathway that extends from the Silent Pines south toward Ketsov, and was used by the Druj to transport shipments of weirwood south into more open ground.
{{Anchor|Ossium characters}}
<div style="float:right; width: 550px; clear: right;"><box>'''Ossium Characters'''
Ossium is on the list of territories new Varushkan characters can come from. For now however, the only appropriate character backgrounds for Varushkans in Ossium are "Imperial citizen from somewhere else starting a new life as a Varushkan in Ossium" or "freed human slave who has embraced Varushkan culture". An obvious example of the latter would be someone who was freed from the [[Crawling Depths]] by the armies and introduced to Varushkan ways by the soldiers of the Golden Axe or the miners of Moresvah. It is explicitly not possible to start as a member of the Ketsov family, or similar group of Druj collaborators.

It's also of course also possible to move to Ossium in-character using the normal rules for [[Resource#Changing_Territories|changing territory]].

When creating a character from Ossium, you may wish to bear in mind that the wealth of the territory lies in its forests and marshes, rather than in its mines. [[Forest]], [[farm]], and [[herb garden]] personal resources are all excellent choices for characters whose home territory is Ossium, while [[mine|mines]] are particularly poor choices.</box></div>

===Drownbark Forest===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Marsh
The last region of Ossium conquered by the Empire, the Drownbark Forest is a stinking marsh covered with moss-shrouded, dripping forest. Varushkan settlers have comparatively little experience dealing with the marshy terrain of the Drownbark Forest, and there are no vales established here.

In the depths of Drownbark Forest is the Druj town of '''Orieb''', a settlement surrounding a sprawling and [[#Palace of Orieb|labyrinthine Druj palace]]. From discussions with the local populace, it appears that Orieb was the seat of one of the Druj clans that dominated Ossium - the Bone Serpent clan - ruled with an iron fist by an ancient [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] named ''Bleakbane''. The Buruk Tepel herself, and her apprentices, have not been accounted for. The town is composed of stinking hovels, populated by a number of freed orc and human slaves, who have thus far cooperated fully with the liberating forces. There only real concentration of Varushkans in the region is centred here - three bands of wagon raiders from Karsk and southern Volodmartz have congregated, creating a small enclave surrounding the Stinking Market where they sell valuables wrenched not only from the depths of the Drownbark Forest but also from daring raids across the border into Farweald and the Forest of Ulnak. More information about the Stinking Market can be found in the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Stinking Market|Thousands or more]] wind of fortune.

In Autumn 383YE, scouts reported the presence of something significantly more dangerous than even Druj bandits in the Drownbark Forest. There is at least one group of horrible unliving servants - tormented souls bound into the tormented corpses of Dawnish knights - in the Drownbark Forest. It's not clear if they are part of a larger force, or whether like the tormented souls of [[Reikos]] they have broken free of the control of their Druj masters. Regardless, the scouts deliver warnings to settlers in the area to give them a wide berth.

===Echofell===
* '''Quality:''' Forest
The Echofell was the home of the Amber Scorpion clan of the Druj, and the site of the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]]. The first real engagement of the invasion took place here when Imperial forces besieged the tower during torrential rain. The [[fortification]] was ultimately overrun and captured by the Empire and was garrisoned by a small force of Varushkans. A posting to the Tower of the Scorpion was seen as a particularly unpalatable tour of service by most Varushkan soldiers until it was [[Delirium#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|destroyed]] by invading armies out of [[the Mallum]] in Summer 384YE. While most of the Druj have been driven from the area eastward into the [[Forest of Ulnak]], the woods are home to a disturbing number of unpleasant insects and poisonous creatures that seem to enjoy feasting on human blood. During the Summer Solstice 385YE the Imperial Senate, following an [[Culling_the_threat#Securing_Echofell|appraisal]], voted to [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Authorise_supplying_Dreamers_of_the_Dark_Forest|authorise supplying equipment]] to the Dreamers of the Dark Forest - a sept who chose to not relocate to Skarsind. Both the Varushkan and Highborn National Assembly voted to enact mandates to encourage [[military unit|military units]] to train the sept which has seen the Dreamers push the Druj guerrillas from the region.

===Galath Fields===
Along with Bittershore, the Galath Fields represent the only real open ground in Ossium. The soil here is rich, and the damp grasslands are scattered with smaller settlements belonging to native orcs, most of whom are cautiously welcoming of the Imperial presence. There are two larger settlements - the town of [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]] which sits above the [[Crawling Depths]], and [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]], home to the human clan of the same name. As with Bittershore, the Galath Fields have proved popular with Varushkan settlers, especially those from wealthy [[Karov]] looking to start new vales in the comparative safety of the new territory.

===Nearweald===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Foreigners (Menrothat)
One of the last regions of Ossium conquered, Nearweald borders onto [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]] - the northernmost part of [[the Barrens]]. The woodlands here are dense and broken up by maze-like game trails, and overgrown pathways. Most of the Druj who inhabited this area retreated into the Barrens once it was clear Ossium was lost, but as with the Webwood there are still a few small bands living in the depths of the woods who emerge sporadically to raid Varushkan settlements. These raids are becoming more and more sporadic with the completion of the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Swords_of_Nearweald|fortified barracks]] offering more security to the scattered vales.

A particularly bloody-minded band of settlers from [[Volodmartz#Livardz|Livardz]] in [[Volodmartz]] have claimed an extensive section of the forest and despite some opposition from the bandits have established a relatively secure vale here named '''Karantzy''' from which they are engaging in extensive logging. The timber from the Nearweald is being sold to other settlers and has proved extremely popular for helping new settlers establish vales across Bittershore and Galath Fields. Boyar ''Irina Karantzy'' and her allies are making money hand over fist. Not only from the trees themselves - Nearweald is particularly rich in precious [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]] that has a particularly vibrant crimson colouration that is already being touted as "blood amber".

Nearweald is also home to perhaps the largest gathering of [[orc|orcs]] in Varushka. The ''sept'' of the [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|Menrothat]] live in small settlements across the region, as well as in several neighbouring regions. The ''sept'' includes some of those who tend the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Bone_Hives|Bone Hives]] in [[Ossium#Echofell|Echofell]], as well as members in small settlements in the eastern [[Ossium#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]], the western [[Forest of Ulnak]], and the northern [[the Barrens|Barrens]]. These orcs are particularly cautious and seem almost supernaturally adept at concealing their true numbers from the Imperials. There has been only limited contact with them since the territory was liberated from the Druj, primarily between them and the [[Imperial Orcs]] and [[Navarr]].

===Webwood===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]], [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|Under threat]] (Druj)
The Webwood is a dank, almost impenetrable forest with few trails. As its name implies it is home to large numbers of spiders - many of them either very large or very venomous. There is a well-hidden structure in its depths which apparently serves as a temple or lair for orcs dedicated to the service of the [[eternal]] [[Arhallogen]] dubbed the '''Temple of Arhallogen'''. It is not entirely clear if the orcs are really Druj or not, or whether they are an example of a nation that managed to maintain some level of independence despite living in a land oppressed by the Druj. The orcs have kept very much to themselves, but there have nonetheless been disappearances reported in the area which is littered with traps and deadfalls that pose a constant threat to travellers and settlers.

The "temple" has been recognised by the [[Conclave]] as being the property of Arhallogen, and Varushkan settlers are discouraged from attempting to establish vales here. This has not stopped the most ambitious or bloody minded from starting to build along the southern and western margins. Webwood is perhaps the most dangerous and least explored region of Ossium, and there are known to be at least two bands of Druj bandits in the depths who periodically emerge to raid Varushkan settlements, reaching as far afield as the north-western Galath Fields and the northern Echofell.

During the Winter Solstice 383YE the Imperial Senate ceded the region to the Thule as part of a [[Ratify_treaty_with_Thule_Winter_383YE|treaty]]. Presumably they will take steps to deal with the dangerous orcs here.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Bronimir.jpg|caption='''Bronimir''', Senator for Ossium|align=left|width=300}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Ossium|Territory=Ossium|Season=Winter}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the Winter Solstice 385YE the Thule control [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] and the [[#Webwood|Webwood]]. Varushka, and by extension the Empire, controls the rest of the territory.
* The [[#Towers of Zulgan Tash|Towers of Zulgan Tash]] in [[#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]] are a rank one [[fortification]]
* Fljajokep in [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] is a rank one fortification controlled by the Thule.
* Any [[commission]] intended to increase production of [[Materials#Metal|metals]] in Ossium is twice as expensive
* [[Forest|Forests]] in the territory benefit from the [[#The Iron Roads|Iron Roads]], Kurstrozi's Lumbermill, and the [[#Economics|naturally rich groves]] and produce an extra 8 measures each season.
* The [[Strategos_of_Navarr#Awstin's_Rest|Awstin's Rest Wayhouse]] in Nearweald allows Navarri characters to establish a [[Resource#Personal_Resource|personal resource]] in Ossium and gain the benefit of any [[great work]] in the territory

==Special Qualities==
Several regions of Ossium originally had special qualities that related to the problems faced by the Varushkans when bringing the former Druj-dominated territory into the Empire. While the qualities were tied to specific regions, their impact covered the entire territory - so the ''under-developed'' quality affected commissions anywhere in Ossium, not only when those commissions were built in the regions with the quality. In some ways, these qualities were similar to the army-movement restricting ''passes'' in territories such as [[Spiral]] and [[Skarsind]] - a way to create plot but do so in a player-facing way that characters can discuss in-character; so the characters can see where the problems were; they can see when they've been successful at addressing a problem; and they could see how much work remained to be done. These qualities were intended to be removable through player action - and the winds of fortune offer several ways that could be done.

===Under-developed===
* '''<s>Bittershore</s>, <s>Galath Fields</s>, <s>Nearweald</s>'''
Under the Druj, Ossium was a wild territory with minimal infrastructure. There were towns and villages, but the orcs seemed to take a perverse pleasure in ensuring that their subjects had as few comforts as possible. Roads are sparse, and barely maintained, and there was very little trade between settlements. This causes problems for the Empire - transporting materials where they need to go, and securing local labour to help build new commissions are both very challenging.

Over Winter 383YE, the [[Region_qualities#Under-developed|under-developed quality]] was removed from the region of Nearweald as recounted in the [[Blood makes noise]] wind of fortune. Following the Spring Equinox 384YE, the under-developed quality was removed from Galath Fields as a result of the [[Delirium#Game_Information_:_Isember|answer to the Isember question]].

===Underpopulated===
* '''<s>Nearweald</s>, <s>Drownbark Forest</s>, <s>Echofell</s>'''
The population of Ossium is made up of two distinct groups. The Varushkan settlers are primarily based around [[#Bittershore|Bittershore]] and the [[#Galath Fields|Galath Fields]], and are busy establishing new vales and exploring the opportunities represented by the territory. The former subjects of the Druj, both human and orc, are mostly keeping to themselves. Many orcs have left the territory to find new lives far from [[the Mallum]]. Most have gone to [[Skarsind]], but a few have settled in the marshes of [[Holberg]].

The original inhabitants who remain are deeply suspicious of the Empire, and afraid that they may be punished when the Druj inevitably return. Great swathes of the territory are almost entirely [[Region_qualities#Underpopulated|underpopulated]]- especially the eastern forests and marshes. While Varushkan territories are often sparsely populated compared to other Imperial nations, the lack of population here is particularly notable.

===Under threat===
* '''<s>Drownbark Forest</s>, <s>Echofell</s>, Webwood'''
While the Druj have lost their grip on the territory, they have by no means been entirely driven out. The forests and marshes provide copious hiding places from which the cruel orcs are free to launch raids against both Imperial settlers and former subjects. These guerrilla forces melt away when faced with serious opposition, retreating to their hidden camps, and returning after a respite to attack from another, unexpected direction. While they remain in force, Ossium can never be fully secure. At this time, the Webwood remains [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|under threat]]

==Further Reading==
* [[382YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#In_The_End_.28The_Mallum.29|382YE Autumn Equinox Winds of War]] - the original invasion of Ossium
* [[Chilled to the bone]] - first Wind of Fortune covering the Crawling Depths, Ketsov, and the Sand Fishers
* [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Stirring_Dull_Roots_With_Spring_Rain|382YE Winter Solstice Winds of War]] - Echofell, Webwood, and the Tower of the Scorpion
* [[Crafted from torment]] - second Wind of Fortune providing more details of the population and the question of assignment
* [[383YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Carve_Away_the_Stone|383YE Spring Equinox Winds of War]] - Nearweald and the Drownbark Forest
* [[A strange land]] - third Wind of Fortune providing suggestions for ways to develop the territory more
* [[Weight of the world]] - fourth Wind of Fortune providing insight into the situation with the orcs of Ossium
* [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_fortune#Ossium|Autumn Update]] - an update of the situation in Ossium for Autumn 383YE
* [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Journeys End|383 Winter Solstice Winds of War]] - The Fire of the South escort orc refugees to Skarsind
* [[Beyond the light]] - fifth Wind of Fortune, providing opportunities to secure the territory
* [[Thousands or more]] - partner to the above, a Wind of Fortune about opportunities and spoils of war in Ossium
* [[Blood makes noise]] - Spring 384YE detailing the success of ''Beyond the light'' and detailing more opportunities to remove negative qualities
* [[Culling the threat]] - Summer 385YE Wind of Fortune on how to remove the under threat qualities from Echofell and the Drownbark Forest
* [[Burgher of Ketsov#The Ketsov Family|The Ketsov Family]] - Notes about the Ketsov of Ossium
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

The Barrens

2026-06-03T16:02:12Z

Wrenna: /* The Bleaks */

{{Stub}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofTheBarrens.png|caption=Even conquered by the Empire, the Barrens is wild and unknown.|title=Regions of the Barrens|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
The Barrens describes an area to the east of Semmerholm that remained unconquered by the Empire until Spring 385YE. Dawn maintains a series of long-established outposts on the western edge that reinforce the border against the barbarians. In general the Barrens is rich and fertile but its natural resources are almost entirely unexploited - enough to make the most jaded [[Varushka|Varushkan]] merchant or wagon-raider salivate at the thought of all the untapped potential. There have been several attempts to settle it more fully, but the presence of several barbarian orcs makes establishing permanent settlements impossible. Nonetheless, the Dawnish refuse to abandon their [[#Dawnguard|foothold]] in the Barrens and it serves as a common proving ground for [[Knight-errant|knights-errant]].

The Barrens has always been a magnet for the exiled, the disenfranchised and the disgruntled. Between 325YE and 328YE it was also the scene of a short-lived rogue kingdom called Montane, founded by renegades during the events of the [[Freedom Heresy]]. The lonely territory is scattered with ruins, old stone circles, solitary towers and hidden [[regio]], any one of which could prove to be the home of some lost treasure ... or unspeakable horror.

Girdling the Barrens is the Nameless River, a broad, slow-moving waterway that connects [[the Semmerlak]], the Barren Sea, and the [[Therunin#Feverwater|Feverwater]] with the sea to the east.

==Recent History==
By the time [[Empress Britta]] ascended [[the Throne]], the [[Druj]] barbarians had dominated the eastern Barrens for a little over a century. They ruthlessly conquered the disparate barbarian nations who had lived there previously, and installed themselves as overlords. They used the central position of the Barrens to co-ordinate attacks on [[Holberg]] and [[Reikos]]; depleted armies would withdraw to the Barrens, and be replaced by fresh armies. There is also evidence that the Druj used the Barrens to move materials (weirwood, mithril and white granite) between the two conquered territories.

Further information about the long history of the Barrens, and detailed information about its recent history, can be found in '''[[Conflict in the Barrens]]'''

==Major Features==
{{anchor|Spires of Dusk (Ruined)}}{{anchor|Spires of Dusk}}
===Houndsgate===
The Druj called this fortress ''The Jaws of Suffering''; the Dawnish used to refer to it as the ''Spires of Dusk'' or occasionally ''Hounds Gate''. Built by the [[Druj]], twin spires of [[white granite]] and [[weirwood]] rise along the eastern borders of the Barrens. This is at least the second castle to stand on the site; an earlier iteration was destroyed in 379YE by a combination of an assault by the combined septs of the Barrens and powerful [[Spring magic]]. When the Imperial forces struck into the Barrens at the beginning of 384YE, however, it quickly became clear that the Druj had not only rebuilt the Towers of Dusk but they had significantly reinforced them and the surrounding lands. They glared across the Barrens toward the Towers of Dawn until the resurgent Druj destroyed that fortification. They became a powerful symbol of the Druj domination of the Barrens.

In Spring 385YE, however, the Empire launched a major offensive into the Barrens that reached the Spires of Dusk. Even forced back to defensive positions, the Druj might have managed to hold the territory if not for the [[Cost#The_Battle_of_Dusk|glorious sacrifice of the Hounds of Glory]]. The army spent its last iota of strength to bring the Spires into Imperial hands, and has now become something of a place of pilgrimage for both Dawnish folk who wish to reflect on their great deed, and Imperial pilgrims dedicated to [[Courage]], [[Pride]], and [[Ambition]].

During the Spring Equinox 386YE the Imperial Senate voted to [[Amend Spires of Dusk|remodel the fortification]]. Now, pennants of the armies who fought the Barrens campaign fly from the battlements. Intermingled with the pennants are favours that represent other contributions toward the campaign, and above it all stands statues of winged hounds crowned in flowers.

Gone are the fire-hardened spines and gibbets, replaced instead with heraldries of families who lost members to the charge which breached the gates. Proudly fluttering from a long scrolling pennant are the names [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_148|recognised]] by the National Assembly of Dawn.

Within lies a tomb for '''Garravaine De Rondell''', general of the Gryphon’s Pride, his resting place facing westwards towards [[Holberg]]. Within the grounds a small tree memorialises '''Brennos Brackensong''', general of the Quiet Step who was fatally wounded at the Battle of Dusk. Finally, a memorial stands to '''Mera De Couerdefer''', the war witch who was mortally wounded on the Carmine Fields saving soldiers of the Wolves of War

Everywhere painted flowers spill across walls, columns and doors, the grounds are dotted all over with blooms of black roses, and resplendent over the repaired gate are carved the words that carried much of the campaign “''Where they have sown fear, we will make flowers grow''".

The Spires of Dusk are gone, and now the Houndsgate protects the borders of the Barrens against the malice of [[the Mallum]]. The consecration of Houndsgate with [[liao#true liao|true liao]] has had a significant effect in the Barrens, as detailed in the '''[[Poetry_and_prose#The_Spires_of_Dusk|Poetry and prose]]''' wind of fortune.

===Eaves of Peytaht===
On the northern borders of the [[#Heart of Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]], a massive grove of weirwood trees that has been somewhat cultivated by the inhabitants of the Barrens. Part of the [[Great Forest of Peytaht|Great Forest]], the Eaves of Peytaht are controlled by the [[Great Forest Orcs]]; it is estimated that it might produce 25 wains of weirwood each season in Imperial hands.

===The Fangs===
Along the [[#Bitter Strand|eastern coast]] of the Barren sea, the Fangs are a series of perhaps a dozen massive rocky columns that rise out of the water which are mined for mithril. Several similar columns protrude from the headlands around this area. There are obvious signs of mine workings, and observation indicates that there is mithril ore to recover. It appears that the mines are quite primitive – the constant threat of flooding and the natural difficulty of mining at sea mean the Rahvin are exploiting only a fraction of the potential of this resource.

Controlled by the Rahvin, it is estimated that the Fangs would produce 16 wains of mithril each season in Imperial hands – or more if work were done to alleviate the problems left by the cruelty of Druj rule. This would require an initial investment of time and resources, as laid out in the '''[[Start_a_war#The_Disposal_of_the_Fangs|Start a war]]''' wind of fortune

In Winter 386YE, after a long period of debate and negotiation and an attack by the [[Gryphon's Pride]], the bourse resource was ceded to the Rahvin as part of a [[Ratify Rahvin Treaty Spring 387YE|greater treaty]].

{{anchor|Towers of the Dawn}}
===Towers of the Dawn (ruined)===
The four massively built white granite tower-keeps collectively known as the Towers of the Dawn once stood along the western borders of the Barrens in [[#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]]. This great [[fortification]] served as a base of operation for Dawnish knights exploring the Barrens, and a reminder to the orcs that while they may dominate the Barrens, they did not do so without opposition. During the [[Freedom Heresy]], the towers were the site of an atrocity as rebellious [[briar|briars]] murdered the yeomen and knights assigned to the First and Second towers. Ever after, the garrisons of the Towers of Dawn were unfriendly towards briars - and woe betide anyone who supported the 'virtues' of [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy|freedom]] within their earshot!

After several seasons of being attacked by Barrens orcs, the Towers of the Dawn were the subject of a major offensive by the Druj after the Spring Equinox 381YE. The fortification fell, smashed by overwhelming Druj force, and Dawnguard fell with it.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Aramis11718.jpg|caption=Aramis du Froste (left), first senator for the Barrens|align=right|width=300}}

==Regions==
Most of this information was gathered by the actions of brave Imperial [[military unit|forces]] working with a [[spy network]] [[Construct_Barrens_Spy_Network|constructed]] by order of the [[Senate]]. It is correct as of Autumn 378YE.
===Dawnguard===
Prior to the [[381YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Occupation_.28Dawnguard.29|Druj invasion]] of Summer 381YE Dawnguard was the location of a number of Imperial settlements, the most prominent of which was '''Drycastle'''. It held for centuries against the barbarians of the Barrens, and the Druj armies, protecting Semmerholm and northern Brocéliande alike from the depredations of the orcs. Many of the so-called "Barrens houses" can trace their origin back to pre-Imperial Dawn, and several were founded by those fleeing the vicious purges of [[The life of Penni the White|King Penni the White]]. Others were founded by political exiles, and consequently a strong streak of independence runs through the Dawnish of the Barrens.

Often under attack, sometimes defeated, but never truly conquered, the [[Noble house|houses]] of Dawn tended to be more martial than average, and much more prepared for violence than Dawnishfolk in other territories. Much glory awaited the brave knights who volunteered here for dangerous adventure, and it was a popular base of operation for both [[Questing knight|questing knights]] and [[Knight-errant|knights-errant]]. Before the Druj invasion, the [[#Towers of the Dawn|Towers of the Dawn]] watched over the western borders of the Barrens; when Dawnguard fell, the fortification fell with it. This ushered in a period of unmatched tyranny and oppression by the cruel masters of [[the Mallum]]. Those unwilling or unable to flee suffered greatly at the hands of the Druj, but in time were liberated by a major Imperial push to claim the entire territory once and for all.

===Murderdale===
Battle between orc forces and Imperial forces are common here, giving the region its name. The soil here is particularly fertile, and there are a number of ruined villages that represent previous attempts by Imperials to settle the Barrens.

Through much of 378YE, a steady stream of orcs from [[Brocéliande]] were marked moving from west to east. The presence of the Druj forces in the [[#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], and their superstition of the [[#Heart of Peytaht|forest of Peytaht]] to the south, meant that many of these recent arrivals took up residence in this region – although there has been little conflict between the indigenous orcs and the Brocéliande refugees.

===Heart of Peytaht===
* '''Qualities:''' Forest, Watchful, Great Forest Orcs
The [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] stretches across the southern Barrens, and into [[Reikos]] to the south west. Stories from [[Highguard]] that describe the forest as being possessed of some dark spirit - something that partakes of the nature of a [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] - appear to be based on fact. The deeper a force presses into the forest the more uneasy they feel – the more they report being watched, and the more certain they become that they are unwelcome. Imperial forces have not pressed into the deeper forest. There is, however, no hint of discernible [[vallorn]] presence here.

In the past, the forest was said to be equally hostile to human and orc, and attempts by either Imperial or barbarian forces to explore the interior invariably met with tragedy - assuming they were ever heard of again. This seems to have changed in 367YE when the Druj launched a crippling surprise attack through the forest into Reikos; it is unclear what the situation is today, however. .

There appear to be no permanent orc forces in this forest - especially now the Great Forest orcs have left the Barrens. The Druj forces that passed through the forest from Reikos, on their way to Holberg, reportedly suffered significant losses for doing so. Even today, corpses are occasionally found huddled against the boles of the massive trees, or hung by their entrails from thick branches. The orcs appear to have died in agony and great terror.

On the north-eastern borders of the forest is a massive strand of weirwood trees, one that has clearly been cultivated for some time. The [[#Eaves of Peytaht|Eaves of Peytaht]] is the equivalent of a [[Bourse]] seat that produces a bounty of weirwood each season.

===The Carmine Fields===
The soil on these wide plains has a red colour which the fanciful might say is from blood but is more likely due to a high clay quotient. This region is covered with isolated rice fields, and other crops that prosper on this kind of soil.

The region has clearly been settled by orc farmers and hunters for a very long time. However, as of 378YE there are signs of recent invasion; several settlements have been burnt to the ground and the populace enslaved.

===Farweald===
* '''Quality:''' Forest
On the northern side of the Barren Sea is a damp forest that rises slowly to the north-east. As of 378YE, it is occupied by what seems to be several large groups of indigenous orcs who have built makeshift fortified camps along the rivers and the eastern borders. It would provide a strategic location from which to strike across the river into [[Holberg]].
{{CaptionedImage|file=Hugh statue.png|caption=A grand statue of a dead hero, raised by ''koboldi''|align=right|width=300}}

===Hope's Rest===
* '''Quality:''' Hills, [[Region_qualities#Rimebound|Rimebound]]
The weather in Hope's Rest is invariably worse than elsewhere in the Barrens. When it rains here, it buckets it down and the wind blows it's strong enough to knock you off your feet. Gales are common, turning to blizzards in winter that drive the snow into deep drifts and embankments. The vast lake that forms a border where the Barrens meets [[Therunin]] regularly freezes over in winter, that reveal strange figures with long gangly limbs and azure skin swimming beneath the thick ice.

In depth exploration of this region has proved tricky due to the rough terrain. Several times, spies encountered well-hidden traps designed to kill – spiked pits, spring-loaded impaling arms and the like. The high hills surround a well-fortified keep that appears to have only recently been completed. The southern slopes drop towards a large fresh-lake of brackish water on the other side of which are the marshy forests of [[Therunin]].

At one point, there was a small [[fortification]] high in the hills here, named '''Dourfell Keep'''. It was not garrisoned by orcs but by humans. Imperial spies were unable to get a very close look at them but they appeared to show signs of very strong [[briar]] lineage, and the castle itself appeared to surround a strong Spring [[regio]]. Scouts reported the remains of dozens of rotted and skeletonised Druj bodies nailed to trees, impaled on spikes and crucified on makeshift “x”s. Popular belief suggested this was a community of briars descended from those who entered the Barrens as part of the [[Freedom Heresy]], and that they were allied with the indigenous orcs - especially those of the Great Forest.

Some time before the Spring Equinox 381YE, however, Dourfell Keep was destroyed. Rumour suggests that the community of briars themselves destroyed the fortification with [[Spring magic]], to prevent it falling into Druj hands, Some exiled survivors of the community crossed into [[Therunin]] along with the Great Forest orcs in later 380YE. In recent months heralds of the [[Golden_magicians_fayre#Frozen_Strength|Thane of the Rimebound Shore]] have been observed sheltering in the ruins of the keep whenever a gale or a blizzard is blowing.

A grand statue of ''Hugh Farrier'', some thirty feet tall, stands in the region. Built by the ''koboldi'' of [[Adamant]] and facing east towards the Mallum, it serves as a grim reminder of the cost of war against the Druj.

===The Untrod Groves===
* '''Quality:''' Forest
A deep, tangled forest that stretches from the hills of [[#Hopes Rest|Hopes Rest]] to the very edge of the [[#The Plain of Teeth|Plain of Teeth]]. The woods seem largely uninhabited by the orcs, and the only trails appear to be game trails, trackless, it is easy to become lost in the groves – but reports also indicate that the woods are rich with untapped reserves of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming|iridescent gloaming]], [[Materials#Beggar's_Lye|beggarwood]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]].

===Bitter Strand===
* '''Quality:''' Coastal, Rahvin
The Barren sea is technically a great lake, but the waters are not drinkable – they are not as salty as the Bay of Catazar but it is obvious that some mineral gives the waters a foul taste. They are home to a vicious species of predatory fish the size of an ox with armoured plates on the head. The northern coast is relatively smooth, but the southern coast is scattered with islands, many of them inhabited. Conquering this region would be made considerably easier by the addition of forces skilled at fighting amphibious assaults, such as the Red Wind Corsairs. Along the eastern coast of the Barren sea, where it narrows as it feeds into the [[#Saltmarsh|Saltmarsh]], are the [[#The Fangs|Fangs]] a series of perhaps a dozen massive rocky columns that rise out of the water which are mined for mithril.

In Winter 386YE, after a long period of debate and negotiation, this region was ceded to the Rahvin sept.

===The Bleaks===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Foreigners (Karass)
The southern forests become danker and damper as Therunin gets closer. The woods are home to a number of orc clans, many of whom live in the branches of ancient trees. There are heavily wooded marshes in the south; there are occasional sightings of both [[Legendary_beasts#Hydra|hydra]] and small [[marshwalkers]]. The [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle#Last_Battle_Wayhouse|Last Battle]] wayhouse is in the east of the region, from which Navarri thorns engage in reconnaissance and patrols across the border into Therunin and the Sarangrave. There are scattered settlements all across the Bleaks belonging to the Karass sept: it is hard to be sure exactly of their numbers, as their locations often change without warning. While the Karass can also be found in the Plains of Teeth and in the Untrod Groves, it is in this region that they are found in the greatest number.

===Saltmarsh===
* '''Qualities:''' Coastal, <s>Marsh</s>
The eastern Barren Sea floods out across a great flat basin that contains the Saltmarsh. It is covered with treacherous rivers and streams that shift their banks regularly and without warning. The place is thick with flies and mosquitoes that leave nasty stinging welts on exposed flesh. The orcs who lived here maintain huts on stilts, and also moved about using long wooden stilts that occasionally gave them the appearance of walking on water. There appeared to be a large number of [[herb garden|herb gardens]] maintained here by the indigenous orcs, no doubt captured from the Druj during the rebellion. With the Druj having largely recaptured the Barrens, it is not clear what the situation of the orcs here might be.

In Summer 384YE, then [[Archmage of Spring]] '''Ser Fabienne De Miel''' unleashed a [[Into_the_valley#A_Sudden_Flood_.28Conjunction.29|devastating storm]] in the northern Barrens that battered [[#Bitter Strand|Bitter Strand]] and flooded Saltmarsh.

'''OOC Note:''' The region lost the ''Marsh'' quality and gained the ''Coastal'' quality, a situation predicted to continue until such a time as an equally volatile [[Every time it rains|astronomantic conjunction]] occurs and someone takes advantage of it.

===The Plains of Teeth===
The Druj oversaw their domination of the Barrens from this broken plain, and signs suggest that now they have returned, they are starting to do so again. This area may once have been heavily forested but it was ruthlessly cleared to provide building materials for the [[#Spires of Dusk|Spires of Dusk]]. This [[fortification]] guarded access to the Druj lands to the east. After the Spring Equinox 381YE, it was finally confirmed (after a year or more of rumour) that the towers had been destroyed - allegedly by indigenous orcs working in conjunction with Imperial citizens - although the details are not common knowledge.
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Gwendoloena de Sarroi.jpg|caption='''Gwendoloena de Sarroi''', Senator for the Barrens|align=left|width=500}}</div>
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_the_Barrens|Territory=the Barrens|Season=Spring}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the Spring Equinox 387YE the Great Forest Orcs control the Heart of Peytaht and the Rahvin control Bitter Strand. Dawn, and by extension the Empire, controls the rest of the territory.
* [[#Houndsgate|Houndsgate]] is a rank two [[fortification]] in the Plains of Teeth.
* The [[Keeper of the Last Battle|Last Battle Wayhouse]] in the Bleaks allows Navarri characters to establish a [[Resource#Personal_Resource|personal resource]] in the Barrens 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]].
* Prior to the [[381YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Occupation_.28Dawnguard.29|Druj invasion]] of Summer 381YE, there were between ten and twenty thousand Dawnish citizens living the Dawnguard. With the chaos following the invasion it is impossible to say how many are still alive. There was no substantial Dawnish population outside of Dawnguard.

==Further Reading==
* [[Not to conquer]] - 385YE Autumn Wind of Fortune exploring the factions of the Barrens in more detail
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]] - provides an initial analysis of the history of the territory

[[Category:Dawn]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

Ossium

2026-06-03T15:56:42Z

Wrenna: /* Nearweald */

[[Category:Varushka]] [[Category:Gazetteer]]
{{CaptionedImage|file=Region of Ossium.png|caption=Even with a map, there are parts of Ossium that remain unknown to the Empire.|align=left|width=400}}
==Overview==
Ossium is the north-western territory of [[the Mallum]], which borders [[Karsk]], [[Holberg]], and the [[Forest of Ulnak]], and lies across [[the Semmerlak]] from [[Weirwater]] and [[Semmerholm]]. It is a land of dense, twisted forests and dripping marsh, rich in both natural resources and threats. Only a small portion of the territory is open - the majority of Ossium is shrouded in old, moss-bearded trees, pools of stagnant water, and narrow, fast-flowing streams. The majority of the population are [[orc|orcs]] - primarily subjects dominated by the [[Druj]], the former masters of the [[territory]]. There are also scattered small groups of humans, primarily former slaves of the Druj or privileged enclaves such as the [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]].

The Empire has made some progress in encouraging the orcs to see them as liberators rather than simply more tyrants. Preachers from several Imperial nations have visited the civilian population and introduced them to the idea of the virtues, and invitations have been given to any orcs who wish to do so to travel to [[Skarsind]] and begin new lives as [[Imperial Orcs]].

Most Imperial trade currently passes west into Karsk. There are very few actual roads in the territory, although thanks to the [[Navarr]] there are a number of newly minted [[trods]]. The Thule have apparently been working to clear a road linking their fortress and the Silent Pines to their own territory - but they have chosen to cut east and west to connect with their holdings in Krevsaty rather than forge north through the depths of the Bonewood into Sküld.

Many Varushkans are a little unhappy that there are not better roads - the lack of a road-building initiative is likely to slow down the exploitation of the rich woodlands. An obvious alternative for increasing the prosperity of the territory would be to construct a port in Bittershore, now that the Sand Fishers have relocated, allowing for trade with Dawn and the western territories of Varushka.

In addition to the [[Sunless Depths]] and the Silent Pines, the territory is actually remarkably rich in raw materials. The forests are full of [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood]] and [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]], with extensive deposits of [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]] reported in the Drownbark Forest. The Galath Fields and the inland portions of Bittershore are composed of rich, fertile soil that is already producing fine harvests for Varushkan settlers. There are almost no [[mine|mines]] in the territory, however, and it seems the best locations for establishing mana sites are buried in the depths of the forests in out-of-the-way areas that in some cases are still controlled by orc bandits.

==Economics==
* '''All forest personal resources in Ossium produce 2 additional measures'''
* '''Any commission intended to increase production of metals in Ossium would be twice the normal cost'''
The rich groves and stretches of woodland in Ossium are unusually fertile and suitable for exploitation. As a result, any Varushkan who owns a [[forest]] in Ossium can expect it to produce 2 extra measures of the appropriate material every season. This benefit reflects the natural bounty of the area, coupled with a long history of under-use and should endure for many years to come.

Ossium is ''very'' poor in [[materials#Materials#Metals|valuable metals]]. Any [[sinecure]], [[ministry]], [[great work]], or similar [[commission]] designed to produce [[green iron]], [[weltsilver]], [[tempest jade]], or [[orichalcum]], or which tries to improve the production of such mines, will need twice as much in terms of materials and time.

==Recent History==
The invasion was preceded by the construction of the [[Semmerholm#The_Golden_Causeway|Golden Causeway]], a gift from the eternal [[Eleonaris]]. In Autumn 382YE, the causeway allowed the armies of [[Dawn]] to cross the Semmerlak and [[382YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#In_The_End_.28The_Mallum.29|invade Ossium]], taking the Druj by surprise. Supported by the Golden Axe of [[Varushka]], and by a major [[Thule]] force out of [[Otkodov]], they quickly crushed the Bone Serpent and Amber Scorpion clans. Following initial successes on [[#Bitter Shore|Bitter Shore]] and [[#Galath Plains|Galath Plains]], Winter saw them conquer the [[#Echofell|Echofell]], and culminated in a [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Stirring_Dull_Roots_With_Spring_Rain|pitched battle]] at the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]]. The Druj attempted to fight back, but they were unable to prevent the allied forces [[383YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Carve_Away_the_Stone|conquering the whole of Ossium]] by the Spring Equinox 383YE.

During the Winter Solstice 382YE the Senate [[Assignment of Ossium|voted]] to [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Assignment|assign]] the territory to the nation of [[Varushka]].

Following the Autumn Equinox 383YE, the [[Fire of the South]] [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Journeys_End|escorted a great number of Ossium orcs]], through Varushka to [[Skarsind]], to begin new lives far from the threat of the Mallum. Many orcs stayed behind however, refusing to leave their homes due to stubbornness or distrust of the Empire. There are also scattered ''human'' settlements in Ossium - especially in [[#Galath Fields|Galath Fields]] and [[#Bittershore|Bittershore]] - representing former slaves of the Druj as well as people who made an "accommodation" with the orc overlords. Many - but by no means all - of these humans are of Varushkan descent.

At the Winter Solstice 383YE summit, the Imperial Senate [[Ratify_treaty_with_Thule_Winter_383YE|ratified a treaty]] with the Thule that ceded the region of Webwood to the orcs of [[Otkodov]].

Over Winter 383YE, a sea of sell swords, wagon raiders, wardens, Dawnish knights (both errant and questing), Navarr scouts, and Imperial Orc preachers descended on Ossium. They worked to clear out as many Druj as possible, support new vales, and reach out to the populace of the territory. With the aid of the Hounds of Glory and the Golden Axe, they ensured that the territory was secured and that the people there were part of the Varushkan nation. The original opportunity is described in the [[Beyond the light]] wind of fortune, and its resolution in the [[Blood makes noise]] wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ossium.jpg|caption=The forests of Ossium are dark, and full of traps for the unwary.|align=right|width=400}}

==Points of Interest==
===Lomaa===
A shambolic town on the Galath Fields, built over the Sunless Depths. The civil service has established an office here to help oversee the development of the territory. Many Varushkan settlers come here first, before dispersing across the territory, giving it a frontier feel. A number of merchants from further east are drawn here, making a quick profit selling vital supplies to the Varushkan, and it is also the site of a thriving market where representatives of the newly established vales come to sell their wares to traders intending to return east.

A triumphant stag, the [[Construct Statue Commemorating Conquest of Ossium|Pride of Ossium]], now dominates the central square of Lomaa, marking the site of the first sermon on the Way in Ossium. It is depicted trampling shackles and serpents underhoof, while the closing declaration of '''Vasili Zoryakovich Zverokaz‘s''' sermon shines in mithril inlay around the plinth: "''Together we rise to greatness''".

===Ketsov===
Ketsov is home to the [[Burgher of Ketsov#Ketsov|human clan of the same name]], an ambitious family who actually prospered under the Druj to an extent. The inhabitants of the town and the surrounding settlements clearly have Varushkan heritage. Descended from settlers who crossed the border from Karsk many years ago they were the most eager of the Ossium natives to embrace the Varushkan egregore. Symbols of the Bone Scorpion, that once adorned the town have been carefully and meticulously erased. In their place are new banners and paintings mostly most are variants of the stylised double-headed eagle clutching axes that is a traditional symbol of Varushka.

The [[Burgher_of_Ketsov|Ketsov Trade Exchange]] was established here shortly before the Summer Solstice 383YE, allowing the Ketsov to trade that same expertise in crafting magic items that made them useful to the Druj to their new Imperial neighbours. Almost all of the sprawling, extended family are now bonded to the Varushkan [[Egregores|egregore]] and the family has clearly embraced the advantages of being Imperial citizens. In Spring 384YE, for example, they petitioned to be allowed to settle a new vale in [[Karsk]] and with the [[384YE_Spring_Equinox_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Ketsov_Mir_Mozga|permission of the Imperial Senate]] established the [[Karsk#Ketsov Mir Mozga|Ketsov Mir Mozga]] in the woods of [[Karsk#Lestasny|Lestasny]].

('''OOC Note:''' Further details of the Ketsov family can be found [[Burgher of Ketsov#The Ketsov_Family|here]].)

===The Iron Roads===
During the Autumn Equinox 382YE, the Civil Service presented a proposal for the [[Starting_at_the_end#The_Iron_Roads_of_Varushka|Iron Roads]], a network of Varushkan [[Varushkan Road|highways]] to link together the prominent vales, mines, and forests of the entire nation. With the roads underway, and Varushkan settlers flooding into Ossium, the civil service offices at Lomaa presented proposals for expanding the Iron Roads across Ossium as well. The settlements of [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]], [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]], and Lanit are now all connected by a great road from Karsk, running as far east as the ruins of the [[#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]] in the [[#Echofell|Echofell]], and down through Nearweald. Varushkan road builders had little experience working with the extensive marshes of the south, but their confidence that stone bridges could be used to reach the former Druj settlement of Orieb in the [[#Drownbark_Forest|Drownbark Forest]] proved well founded. As well as bringing prosperity to the [[forest]] owners of the territory, and to the [[Vale of the Sunless Depths]], the roads dramatically improved the infrastructure in the territory, removing the final ''under-developed'' quality from Ossium.

===The Field of Glory===
This ironic name is given to the site of one of the first significant engagements between the Imperial forces and the Druj. Some twenty thousand human and orc farmers and fishers who had fled the invading force were corralled by the Druj, given makeshift weapons and driven to engage Imperial forces. The result was a bloodbath, with barely a handful of Imperials injured or slain and thousands of farmers or fisherfolk wounded and killed. The battlefield has since been discovered to be rich in [[marrowort]], although some reports suggest the area is now haunted by the ghosts of terrified and angry orcs and humans caught between the malice of the Druj and the zeal of the Imperial armies. More information about the Field of Glory can be found in the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Field_of_Glory|Thousands or more]] wind of fortune.

===The Palace of Orieb===
The sprawling, partially flooded palace of Orieb is believed to have been home to the [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] of the Bone Serpent clan. It has been abandoned, but the maze-like structure has still only been partially mapped. It is a peculiar and somewhat unsettling combination of living area, apothecary workshop, palace, political hub, and herb garden with plants growing inside the structure in internal gardens - some open to the elements and others roofed with glass or cunning wooden shutters that can be adjusted to control the amount of rain and sun that reaches them. Following the Summer Solstice 384YE, the [[Minister of Historical Research]] [[384YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Research_Palace_of_Orieb|dispatched an expedition]], led by seasoned [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] adventurer ''Snowstorm Henk'', to explore the palace and root out some of its secrets. They discovered several interesting facts about the place, as well as multiple hidden rooms, which are recounted in detail in the [[Expedition to Orieb]] briefing.

===Marshstand Skerry===
Standing in the Drownbark Forest, the [[Thousands or more#Marshstand Skerry|Marshstand Skerry]] is a low rock that allegedly used to be tended by a [[Druj_lore#Ghulai|ghulai]] of the Bone Serpent. It has apparently been abandoned since the territory was first invaded - allegedly since before the Webwood fell. The rock is surrounded by decades or perhaps even centuries worth of bones from creatures - some of them clearly humans or orcs - drowned or interred in the marshy waters to rot. The place has a poor reputation - it is both considered to be haunted and also known to be home to especially large, viciously bloodthirsty insects similar to mosquitoes. Marshstand Skerry is now overseen by the [[Cabalist of the Hollow Stone]] who ensures the appropriate sacrifices are made each season to harness its power.

===Vale of the [[Sunless Depths]]===
The Depths are a mithril mine under the settlement of Lomaa. Custodianship of the Depths is an [[Imperial Title]] that brings with it a Seat on the [[Bourse]]. It produces 14 Imperial wains of mithril every season. Control is allocated to any Imperial citizen by open auction during the Autumn Equinox.

During the Spring Equinox 384YE, the Senate [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Wealth_of_Lomaa|chose to allow]] the new [[boyar|boyars]] of [[Ossium]] to claim those parts of the mine that were not currently being exploited. The mine was upgraded, but the additional production claimed by the vales of Ossium - greatly enhancing the prosperity of the new settlements.

===Towers of Zulgan Tash===
The Towers appeared without warning, overnight, in the [[#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]] not far from the border with [[the Mallum]]. Composed of three cylindrical towers of dark green stone surrounded by an uneven wall with irregular crenulations, it looks nothing like traditional Varushkan architecture. The stone is smooth to the touch, all of a piece, and unmortared. It is also quite resistant to damage. When the wind blows, the towers emanate a mournful whistling noise that can be either relaxing or unsettling depending entirely on the temperament of the one who hears it. The marshes around the towers are subtly unnatural. Seemingly shallow ponds may prove to be almost bottomless; ribbons of thick fog cling to the stooped trees and drift across the scummy water regardless of other weather. A plethora of odd plants, some of them encountered nowhere else, flourish in the bogs. Sightings of large multi-legged lizards in the area have increased dramatically since the Towers appeared, and there have also been reports of strange entities that clearly do not hail from the mortal world - lantern-waving heron-like creatures, giant pale toads, and even creatures that appear to be ambulatory tree stumps. They do not appear to offer a threat to Varushkan travellers, but there have been a few minor, unfortunate incidents with visitors to the Drownbark Forest - none fatal to date.

The Towers are generally believed to be the result of a [[Culling_the_threat#Dripping_Echoes|powerful casting]] of the [[Dripping Echoes of the Fen]], anchored in place with [[ilium]] by the magicians of the Zulgan-Tash coven of [[Miekarova]]. Nobody remembers where they first heard the name of the fortification - but everyone knows it.

'''OOC Note:''' The Towers of Zulgan Tash are a rank one [[fortification]] that requires no upkeep.

===The Silent Pines===
The Silent Pines is a large weirwood grove in central Bonewood. It is controlled by the Thule. The human slaves who were part of the labour force used to maintain and farm the woodlands here were delivered to Karsk shortly after the orcs of Otkodov cemented their hold here. Many of the inhabitants of the Galath Fields and Bittershore claim the Silent Pines are "cursed" in some fashion. Despite this, many structures across Ossium were clearly crafted from weirwood taken from the groves - the timber is very dark and the Druj often polished and varnished it in such a way to call out the patterns hidden in the wood in a way that is both attractive and somewhat unsettling.

===Miasma Pillars===
At one time there were [[Druj_miasma#Miasma_Pillars|miasma pillars]] in each of the seven regions of Ossium, and the entire territory laboured under their oppressive shroud. Efforts by the [[Cardinal]] of [[Vigilance]] identified the locations of some of the stones that anchor the miasma in place, and the scouts pouring into the territory located the rest. As of the end of 383YE, it is believed that there are at most two miasma pillars still standing in Ossium. One most likely still stands at the Fang Tree, in the [[#Webwood|Webwood]], and the other may be somewhere in the depths of Thule-controlled [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] - although it's very unlikely the Thule would have left it standing if they knew how to deal with it. With most of the pillars supporting it destroyed by Imperial heroes, the miasma has almost entirely unravelled, but it still lies thick and oppressive over the Webwood.

===Trods===
The [[trods]] of Ossium, established by the [[Navarr]] during a brutal battle that took place in the territory during the Autumn Equinox 382YE, are only partially explored. Many of them run through dangerous, unmapped parts of the territory. It is surmised that the trods here, along with those in [[Karsk]], help to anchor the trods - and the [[vallorn]] - of [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]] to the wider network.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ossium Sketch.png|caption=For some time the Empire worked with only a very vague sketch map of the territory.|align=right|width=400}}
{{anchor|Tower of the Scorpion}}

===Tower of the Scorpion (Ruined)===
This tower of [[white granite]], was built by the [[Druj]]. Surrounded by a wall topped with twisted metal razors, It stood in the centre of a large, open killing field. A network of rope bridges extended from wooden towers that squatted under the shadow of the walls. In the season following the Autumn Equinox 382YE, Imperial armies captured the Tower of the Scorpion from the Amber Scorpion clan, significantly damaging, but still claiming it. The tower remained under Imperial control until it was [[Delirium#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|brought down]] by invading armies out of [[the Mallum]] in Summer 384YE.

==Regions==
The regions of Ossium have three [[#Special Qualities|special qualities]] which represent the challenges facing the [[Varushka|Varushkans]] in securing the territory.
===Bittershore===
Bittershore was the first region of Ossium encountered by the Empire, and also the first one to be conquered. It lies along the eastern banks of the Semmerlak, and one end of the Golden Causeway is anchored here. The Causeway is quiescent at the moment, but all it would take is a Dawnish witch to open it and the shimmering bridge would stretch back across the lake to [[Semmerholm#Laroc|Laroc]] in Semmerholm. Prior to the Imperial invasion, Bittershore was home to the Sand Fisher clan of orcs. The Imperial Senate [[Powers_of_the_Imperial_Senate#Concedence|ceded]] the region of [[Holberg#Misericorde|Misericorde]] in [[Holberg]] to the Sand Fishers and the entire nation moved south across the Semmerlak to Holberg.

Varushkan settlers have already begun to establish vales on the shores of the lake, taking advantage of the rich fishing opportunities and fertile farmland. As the prosperity of the region increases, the likelihood that Varushka will be able to support another [[Army]] increases.

===Bonewood===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]]
The northernmost region of Ossium is the Bonewood, which allegedly takes its name either from the rich profusion of [[Materials#Beggar's Lye|beggarwood trees]] or from the number of bleached bones that litter the forest, remnants of many historical battles between the Druj and either the Thule or the Varushkans. Even before it was conquered by the Thule, the forest had a dire reputation for being "haunted". The local orcs tell grim tales of shadowy figures that prey on travellers among the ancient pines, leaving blood-drained corpses in their wake. The Thule have not welcomed Imperial scouts into this area. They have been polite but firm, and made it clear that they are not welcome. The pine forests have been lightly mapped; they extend north to the borders of [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]], and west to the borders of [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]]. There is known to be a large weirwood forest here - the '''Silent Pines''' - which is now controlled by the Thule.

There is also a castle here - '''Fljajokep''' - controlled by the Thule. It overlooks the Silent Pines and was finished in a mere six months, the construction supplemented by powerful [[Autumn magic]]. It stands at one end of a narrow but well-travelled pathway that extends from the Silent Pines south toward Ketsov, and was used by the Druj to transport shipments of weirwood south into more open ground.
{{Anchor|Ossium characters}}
<div style="float:right; width: 550px; clear: right;"><box>'''Ossium Characters'''
Ossium is on the list of territories new Varushkan characters can come from. For now however, the only appropriate character backgrounds for Varushkans in Ossium are "Imperial citizen from somewhere else starting a new life as a Varushkan in Ossium" or "freed human slave who has embraced Varushkan culture". An obvious example of the latter would be someone who was freed from the [[Crawling Depths]] by the armies and introduced to Varushkan ways by the soldiers of the Golden Axe or the miners of Moresvah. It is explicitly not possible to start as a member of the Ketsov family, or similar group of Druj collaborators.

It's also of course also possible to move to Ossium in-character using the normal rules for [[Resource#Changing_Territories|changing territory]].

When creating a character from Ossium, you may wish to bear in mind that the wealth of the territory lies in its forests and marshes, rather than in its mines. [[Forest]], [[farm]], and [[herb garden]] personal resources are all excellent choices for characters whose home territory is Ossium, while [[mine|mines]] are particularly poor choices.</box></div>

===Drownbark Forest===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Marsh
The last region of Ossium conquered by the Empire, the Drownbark Forest is a stinking marsh covered with moss-shrouded, dripping forest. Varushkan settlers have comparatively little experience dealing with the marshy terrain of the Drownbark Forest, and there are no vales established here.

In the depths of Drownbark Forest is the Druj town of '''Orieb''', a settlement surrounding a sprawling and [[#Palace of Orieb|labyrinthine Druj palace]]. From discussions with the local populace, it appears that Orieb was the seat of one of the Druj clans that dominated Ossium - the Bone Serpent clan - ruled with an iron fist by an ancient [[Druj_lore#Buruk_Tepel|Buruk Tepel]] named ''Bleakbane''. The Buruk Tepel herself, and her apprentices, have not been accounted for. The town is composed of stinking hovels, populated by a number of freed orc and human slaves, who have thus far cooperated fully with the liberating forces. There only real concentration of Varushkans in the region is centred here - three bands of wagon raiders from Karsk and southern Volodmartz have congregated, creating a small enclave surrounding the Stinking Market where they sell valuables wrenched not only from the depths of the Drownbark Forest but also from daring raids across the border into Farweald and the Forest of Ulnak. More information about the Stinking Market can be found in the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Stinking Market|Thousands or more]] wind of fortune.

In Autumn 383YE, scouts reported the presence of something significantly more dangerous than even Druj bandits in the Drownbark Forest. There is at least one group of horrible unliving servants - tormented souls bound into the tormented corpses of Dawnish knights - in the Drownbark Forest. It's not clear if they are part of a larger force, or whether like the tormented souls of [[Reikos]] they have broken free of the control of their Druj masters. Regardless, the scouts deliver warnings to settlers in the area to give them a wide berth.

===Echofell===
* '''Quality:''' Forest
The Echofell was the home of the Amber Scorpion clan of the Druj, and the site of the [[#Tower of the Scorpion|Tower of the Scorpion]]. The first real engagement of the invasion took place here when Imperial forces besieged the tower during torrential rain. The [[fortification]] was ultimately overrun and captured by the Empire and was garrisoned by a small force of Varushkans. A posting to the Tower of the Scorpion was seen as a particularly unpalatable tour of service by most Varushkan soldiers until it was [[Delirium#Tower_of_the_Scorpion|destroyed]] by invading armies out of [[the Mallum]] in Summer 384YE. While most of the Druj have been driven from the area eastward into the [[Forest of Ulnak]], the woods are home to a disturbing number of unpleasant insects and poisonous creatures that seem to enjoy feasting on human blood. During the Summer Solstice 385YE the Imperial Senate, following an [[Culling_the_threat#Securing_Echofell|appraisal]], voted to [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Authorise_supplying_Dreamers_of_the_Dark_Forest|authorise supplying equipment]] to the Dreamers of the Dark Forest - a sept who chose to not relocate to Skarsind. Both the Varushkan and Highborn National Assembly voted to enact mandates to encourage [[military unit|military units]] to train the sept which has seen the Dreamers push the Druj guerrillas from the region.

===Galath Fields===
Along with Bittershore, the Galath Fields represent the only real open ground in Ossium. The soil here is rich, and the damp grasslands are scattered with smaller settlements belonging to native orcs, most of whom are cautiously welcoming of the Imperial presence. There are two larger settlements - the town of [[#Lomaa|Lomaa]] which sits above the [[Crawling Depths]], and [[#Ketsov|Ketsov]], home to the human clan of the same name. As with Bittershore, the Galath Fields have proved popular with Varushkan settlers, especially those from wealthy [[Karov]] looking to start new vales in the comparative safety of the new territory.

===Nearweald===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Menrothat
One of the last regions of Ossium conquered, Nearweald borders onto [[The Barrens#Farweald|Farweald]] - the northernmost part of [[the Barrens]]. The woodlands here are dense and broken up by maze-like game trails, and overgrown pathways. Most of the Druj who inhabited this area retreated into the Barrens once it was clear Ossium was lost, but as with the Webwood there are still a few small bands living in the depths of the woods who emerge sporadically to raid Varushkan settlements. These raids are becoming more and more sporadic with the completion of the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Swords_of_Nearweald|fortified barracks]] offering more security to the scattered vales.

A particularly bloody-minded band of settlers from [[Volodmartz#Livardz|Livardz]] in [[Volodmartz]] have claimed an extensive section of the forest and despite some opposition from the bandits have established a relatively secure vale here named '''Karantzy''' from which they are engaging in extensive logging. The timber from the Nearweald is being sold to other settlers and has proved extremely popular for helping new settlers establish vales across Bittershore and Galath Fields. Boyar ''Irina Karantzy'' and her allies are making money hand over fist. Not only from the trees themselves - Nearweald is particularly rich in precious [[Materials#Ambergelt|ambergelt]] that has a particularly vibrant crimson colouration that is already being touted as "blood amber".

Nearweald is also home to perhaps the largest gathering of [[orc|orcs]] in Varushka. The ''sept'' of the [[Blood_makes_noise#The_Sept_of_the_Menrothat|Menrothat]] live in small settlements across the region, as well as in several neighbouring regions. The ''sept'' includes some of those who tend the [[Thousands_or_more#The_Bone_Hives|Bone Hives]] in [[Ossium#Echofell|Echofell]], as well as members in small settlements in the eastern [[Ossium#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]], the western [[Forest of Ulnak]], and the northern [[the Barrens|Barrens]]. These orcs are particularly cautious and seem almost supernaturally adept at concealing their true numbers from the Imperials. There has been only limited contact with them since the territory was liberated from the Druj, primarily between them and the [[Imperial Orcs]] and [[Navarr]].

===Webwood===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, [[Otkodov]], [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|Under threat]] (Druj)
The Webwood is a dank, almost impenetrable forest with few trails. As its name implies it is home to large numbers of spiders - many of them either very large or very venomous. There is a well-hidden structure in its depths which apparently serves as a temple or lair for orcs dedicated to the service of the [[eternal]] [[Arhallogen]] dubbed the '''Temple of Arhallogen'''. It is not entirely clear if the orcs are really Druj or not, or whether they are an example of a nation that managed to maintain some level of independence despite living in a land oppressed by the Druj. The orcs have kept very much to themselves, but there have nonetheless been disappearances reported in the area which is littered with traps and deadfalls that pose a constant threat to travellers and settlers.

The "temple" has been recognised by the [[Conclave]] as being the property of Arhallogen, and Varushkan settlers are discouraged from attempting to establish vales here. This has not stopped the most ambitious or bloody minded from starting to build along the southern and western margins. Webwood is perhaps the most dangerous and least explored region of Ossium, and there are known to be at least two bands of Druj bandits in the depths who periodically emerge to raid Varushkan settlements, reaching as far afield as the north-western Galath Fields and the northern Echofell.

During the Winter Solstice 383YE the Imperial Senate ceded the region to the Thule as part of a [[Ratify_treaty_with_Thule_Winter_383YE|treaty]]. Presumably they will take steps to deal with the dangerous orcs here.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Bronimir.jpg|caption='''Bronimir''', Senator for Ossium|align=left|width=300}}
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_Ossium|Territory=Ossium|Season=Winter}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the Winter Solstice 385YE the Thule control [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] and the [[#Webwood|Webwood]]. Varushka, and by extension the Empire, controls the rest of the territory.
* The [[#Towers of Zulgan Tash|Towers of Zulgan Tash]] in [[#Drownbark Forest|Drownbark Forest]] are a rank one [[fortification]]
* Fljajokep in [[#Bonewood|Bonewood]] is a rank one fortification controlled by the Thule.
* Any [[commission]] intended to increase production of [[Materials#Metal|metals]] in Ossium is twice as expensive
* [[Forest|Forests]] in the territory benefit from the [[#The Iron Roads|Iron Roads]], Kurstrozi's Lumbermill, and the [[#Economics|naturally rich groves]] and produce an extra 8 measures each season.
* The [[Strategos_of_Navarr#Awstin's_Rest|Awstin's Rest Wayhouse]] in Nearweald allows Navarri characters to establish a [[Resource#Personal_Resource|personal resource]] in Ossium and gain the benefit of any [[great work]] in the territory

==Special Qualities==
Several regions of Ossium originally had special qualities that related to the problems faced by the Varushkans when bringing the former Druj-dominated territory into the Empire. While the qualities were tied to specific regions, their impact covered the entire territory - so the ''under-developed'' quality affected commissions anywhere in Ossium, not only when those commissions were built in the regions with the quality. In some ways, these qualities were similar to the army-movement restricting ''passes'' in territories such as [[Spiral]] and [[Skarsind]] - a way to create plot but do so in a player-facing way that characters can discuss in-character; so the characters can see where the problems were; they can see when they've been successful at addressing a problem; and they could see how much work remained to be done. These qualities were intended to be removable through player action - and the winds of fortune offer several ways that could be done.

===Under-developed===
* '''<s>Bittershore</s>, <s>Galath Fields</s>, <s>Nearweald</s>'''
Under the Druj, Ossium was a wild territory with minimal infrastructure. There were towns and villages, but the orcs seemed to take a perverse pleasure in ensuring that their subjects had as few comforts as possible. Roads are sparse, and barely maintained, and there was very little trade between settlements. This causes problems for the Empire - transporting materials where they need to go, and securing local labour to help build new commissions are both very challenging.

Over Winter 383YE, the [[Region_qualities#Under-developed|under-developed quality]] was removed from the region of Nearweald as recounted in the [[Blood makes noise]] wind of fortune. Following the Spring Equinox 384YE, the under-developed quality was removed from Galath Fields as a result of the [[Delirium#Game_Information_:_Isember|answer to the Isember question]].

===Underpopulated===
* '''<s>Nearweald</s>, <s>Drownbark Forest</s>, <s>Echofell</s>'''
The population of Ossium is made up of two distinct groups. The Varushkan settlers are primarily based around [[#Bittershore|Bittershore]] and the [[#Galath Fields|Galath Fields]], and are busy establishing new vales and exploring the opportunities represented by the territory. The former subjects of the Druj, both human and orc, are mostly keeping to themselves. Many orcs have left the territory to find new lives far from [[the Mallum]]. Most have gone to [[Skarsind]], but a few have settled in the marshes of [[Holberg]].

The original inhabitants who remain are deeply suspicious of the Empire, and afraid that they may be punished when the Druj inevitably return. Great swathes of the territory are almost entirely [[Region_qualities#Underpopulated|underpopulated]]- especially the eastern forests and marshes. While Varushkan territories are often sparsely populated compared to other Imperial nations, the lack of population here is particularly notable.

===Under threat===
* '''<s>Drownbark Forest</s>, <s>Echofell</s>, Webwood'''
While the Druj have lost their grip on the territory, they have by no means been entirely driven out. The forests and marshes provide copious hiding places from which the cruel orcs are free to launch raids against both Imperial settlers and former subjects. These guerrilla forces melt away when faced with serious opposition, retreating to their hidden camps, and returning after a respite to attack from another, unexpected direction. While they remain in force, Ossium can never be fully secure. At this time, the Webwood remains [[Region_qualities#Under_Threat|under threat]]

==Further Reading==
* [[382YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_war#In_The_End_.28The_Mallum.29|382YE Autumn Equinox Winds of War]] - the original invasion of Ossium
* [[Chilled to the bone]] - first Wind of Fortune covering the Crawling Depths, Ketsov, and the Sand Fishers
* [[382YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Stirring_Dull_Roots_With_Spring_Rain|382YE Winter Solstice Winds of War]] - Echofell, Webwood, and the Tower of the Scorpion
* [[Crafted from torment]] - second Wind of Fortune providing more details of the population and the question of assignment
* [[383YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Carve_Away_the_Stone|383YE Spring Equinox Winds of War]] - Nearweald and the Drownbark Forest
* [[A strange land]] - third Wind of Fortune providing suggestions for ways to develop the territory more
* [[Weight of the world]] - fourth Wind of Fortune providing insight into the situation with the orcs of Ossium
* [[383YE_Autumn_Equinox_winds_of_fortune#Ossium|Autumn Update]] - an update of the situation in Ossium for Autumn 383YE
* [[383YE_Winter_Solstice_winds_of_war#Journeys End|383 Winter Solstice Winds of War]] - The Fire of the South escort orc refugees to Skarsind
* [[Beyond the light]] - fifth Wind of Fortune, providing opportunities to secure the territory
* [[Thousands or more]] - partner to the above, a Wind of Fortune about opportunities and spoils of war in Ossium
* [[Blood makes noise]] - Spring 384YE detailing the success of ''Beyond the light'' and detailing more opportunities to remove negative qualities
* [[Culling the threat]] - Summer 385YE Wind of Fortune on how to remove the under threat qualities from Echofell and the Drownbark Forest
* [[Burgher of Ketsov#The Ketsov Family|The Ketsov Family]] - Notes about the Ketsov of Ossium
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

The Barrens

2026-06-03T15:56:40Z

Wrenna: /* The Bleaks */

{{Stub}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=RegionsofTheBarrens.png|caption=Even conquered by the Empire, the Barrens is wild and unknown.|title=Regions of the Barrens|align=left|width=500}}
==Overview==
The Barrens describes an area to the east of Semmerholm that remained unconquered by the Empire until Spring 385YE. Dawn maintains a series of long-established outposts on the western edge that reinforce the border against the barbarians. In general the Barrens is rich and fertile but its natural resources are almost entirely unexploited - enough to make the most jaded [[Varushka|Varushkan]] merchant or wagon-raider salivate at the thought of all the untapped potential. There have been several attempts to settle it more fully, but the presence of several barbarian orcs makes establishing permanent settlements impossible. Nonetheless, the Dawnish refuse to abandon their [[#Dawnguard|foothold]] in the Barrens and it serves as a common proving ground for [[Knight-errant|knights-errant]].

The Barrens has always been a magnet for the exiled, the disenfranchised and the disgruntled. Between 325YE and 328YE it was also the scene of a short-lived rogue kingdom called Montane, founded by renegades during the events of the [[Freedom Heresy]]. The lonely territory is scattered with ruins, old stone circles, solitary towers and hidden [[regio]], any one of which could prove to be the home of some lost treasure ... or unspeakable horror.

Girdling the Barrens is the Nameless River, a broad, slow-moving waterway that connects [[the Semmerlak]], the Barren Sea, and the [[Therunin#Feverwater|Feverwater]] with the sea to the east.

==Recent History==
By the time [[Empress Britta]] ascended [[the Throne]], the [[Druj]] barbarians had dominated the eastern Barrens for a little over a century. They ruthlessly conquered the disparate barbarian nations who had lived there previously, and installed themselves as overlords. They used the central position of the Barrens to co-ordinate attacks on [[Holberg]] and [[Reikos]]; depleted armies would withdraw to the Barrens, and be replaced by fresh armies. There is also evidence that the Druj used the Barrens to move materials (weirwood, mithril and white granite) between the two conquered territories.

Further information about the long history of the Barrens, and detailed information about its recent history, can be found in '''[[Conflict in the Barrens]]'''

==Major Features==
{{anchor|Spires of Dusk (Ruined)}}{{anchor|Spires of Dusk}}
===Houndsgate===
The Druj called this fortress ''The Jaws of Suffering''; the Dawnish used to refer to it as the ''Spires of Dusk'' or occasionally ''Hounds Gate''. Built by the [[Druj]], twin spires of [[white granite]] and [[weirwood]] rise along the eastern borders of the Barrens. This is at least the second castle to stand on the site; an earlier iteration was destroyed in 379YE by a combination of an assault by the combined septs of the Barrens and powerful [[Spring magic]]. When the Imperial forces struck into the Barrens at the beginning of 384YE, however, it quickly became clear that the Druj had not only rebuilt the Towers of Dusk but they had significantly reinforced them and the surrounding lands. They glared across the Barrens toward the Towers of Dawn until the resurgent Druj destroyed that fortification. They became a powerful symbol of the Druj domination of the Barrens.

In Spring 385YE, however, the Empire launched a major offensive into the Barrens that reached the Spires of Dusk. Even forced back to defensive positions, the Druj might have managed to hold the territory if not for the [[Cost#The_Battle_of_Dusk|glorious sacrifice of the Hounds of Glory]]. The army spent its last iota of strength to bring the Spires into Imperial hands, and has now become something of a place of pilgrimage for both Dawnish folk who wish to reflect on their great deed, and Imperial pilgrims dedicated to [[Courage]], [[Pride]], and [[Ambition]].

During the Spring Equinox 386YE the Imperial Senate voted to [[Amend Spires of Dusk|remodel the fortification]]. Now, pennants of the armies who fought the Barrens campaign fly from the battlements. Intermingled with the pennants are favours that represent other contributions toward the campaign, and above it all stands statues of winged hounds crowned in flowers.

Gone are the fire-hardened spines and gibbets, replaced instead with heraldries of families who lost members to the charge which breached the gates. Proudly fluttering from a long scrolling pennant are the names [[385YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_148|recognised]] by the National Assembly of Dawn.

Within lies a tomb for '''Garravaine De Rondell''', general of the Gryphon’s Pride, his resting place facing westwards towards [[Holberg]]. Within the grounds a small tree memorialises '''Brennos Brackensong''', general of the Quiet Step who was fatally wounded at the Battle of Dusk. Finally, a memorial stands to '''Mera De Couerdefer''', the war witch who was mortally wounded on the Carmine Fields saving soldiers of the Wolves of War

Everywhere painted flowers spill across walls, columns and doors, the grounds are dotted all over with blooms of black roses, and resplendent over the repaired gate are carved the words that carried much of the campaign “''Where they have sown fear, we will make flowers grow''".

The Spires of Dusk are gone, and now the Houndsgate protects the borders of the Barrens against the malice of [[the Mallum]]. The consecration of Houndsgate with [[liao#true liao|true liao]] has had a significant effect in the Barrens, as detailed in the '''[[Poetry_and_prose#The_Spires_of_Dusk|Poetry and prose]]''' wind of fortune.

===Eaves of Peytaht===
On the northern borders of the [[#Heart of Peytaht|Heart of Peytaht]], a massive grove of weirwood trees that has been somewhat cultivated by the inhabitants of the Barrens. Part of the [[Great Forest of Peytaht|Great Forest]], the Eaves of Peytaht are controlled by the [[Great Forest Orcs]]; it is estimated that it might produce 25 wains of weirwood each season in Imperial hands.

===The Fangs===
Along the [[#Bitter Strand|eastern coast]] of the Barren sea, the Fangs are a series of perhaps a dozen massive rocky columns that rise out of the water which are mined for mithril. Several similar columns protrude from the headlands around this area. There are obvious signs of mine workings, and observation indicates that there is mithril ore to recover. It appears that the mines are quite primitive – the constant threat of flooding and the natural difficulty of mining at sea mean the Rahvin are exploiting only a fraction of the potential of this resource.

Controlled by the Rahvin, it is estimated that the Fangs would produce 16 wains of mithril each season in Imperial hands – or more if work were done to alleviate the problems left by the cruelty of Druj rule. This would require an initial investment of time and resources, as laid out in the '''[[Start_a_war#The_Disposal_of_the_Fangs|Start a war]]''' wind of fortune

In Winter 386YE, after a long period of debate and negotiation and an attack by the [[Gryphon's Pride]], the bourse resource was ceded to the Rahvin as part of a [[Ratify Rahvin Treaty Spring 387YE|greater treaty]].

{{anchor|Towers of the Dawn}}
===Towers of the Dawn (ruined)===
The four massively built white granite tower-keeps collectively known as the Towers of the Dawn once stood along the western borders of the Barrens in [[#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]]. This great [[fortification]] served as a base of operation for Dawnish knights exploring the Barrens, and a reminder to the orcs that while they may dominate the Barrens, they did not do so without opposition. During the [[Freedom Heresy]], the towers were the site of an atrocity as rebellious [[briar|briars]] murdered the yeomen and knights assigned to the First and Second towers. Ever after, the garrisons of the Towers of Dawn were unfriendly towards briars - and woe betide anyone who supported the 'virtues' of [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy|freedom]] within their earshot!

After several seasons of being attacked by Barrens orcs, the Towers of the Dawn were the subject of a major offensive by the Druj after the Spring Equinox 381YE. The fortification fell, smashed by overwhelming Druj force, and Dawnguard fell with it.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Aramis11718.jpg|caption=Aramis du Froste (left), first senator for the Barrens|align=right|width=300}}

==Regions==
Most of this information was gathered by the actions of brave Imperial [[military unit|forces]] working with a [[spy network]] [[Construct_Barrens_Spy_Network|constructed]] by order of the [[Senate]]. It is correct as of Autumn 378YE.
===Dawnguard===
Prior to the [[381YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Occupation_.28Dawnguard.29|Druj invasion]] of Summer 381YE Dawnguard was the location of a number of Imperial settlements, the most prominent of which was '''Drycastle'''. It held for centuries against the barbarians of the Barrens, and the Druj armies, protecting Semmerholm and northern Brocéliande alike from the depredations of the orcs. Many of the so-called "Barrens houses" can trace their origin back to pre-Imperial Dawn, and several were founded by those fleeing the vicious purges of [[The life of Penni the White|King Penni the White]]. Others were founded by political exiles, and consequently a strong streak of independence runs through the Dawnish of the Barrens.

Often under attack, sometimes defeated, but never truly conquered, the [[Noble house|houses]] of Dawn tended to be more martial than average, and much more prepared for violence than Dawnishfolk in other territories. Much glory awaited the brave knights who volunteered here for dangerous adventure, and it was a popular base of operation for both [[Questing knight|questing knights]] and [[Knight-errant|knights-errant]]. Before the Druj invasion, the [[#Towers of the Dawn|Towers of the Dawn]] watched over the western borders of the Barrens; when Dawnguard fell, the fortification fell with it. This ushered in a period of unmatched tyranny and oppression by the cruel masters of [[the Mallum]]. Those unwilling or unable to flee suffered greatly at the hands of the Druj, but in time were liberated by a major Imperial push to claim the entire territory once and for all.

===Murderdale===
Battle between orc forces and Imperial forces are common here, giving the region its name. The soil here is particularly fertile, and there are a number of ruined villages that represent previous attempts by Imperials to settle the Barrens.

Through much of 378YE, a steady stream of orcs from [[Brocéliande]] were marked moving from west to east. The presence of the Druj forces in the [[#Carmine Fields|Carmine Fields]], and their superstition of the [[#Heart of Peytaht|forest of Peytaht]] to the south, meant that many of these recent arrivals took up residence in this region – although there has been little conflict between the indigenous orcs and the Brocéliande refugees.

===Heart of Peytaht===
* '''Qualities:''' Forest, Watchful, Great Forest Orcs
The [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] stretches across the southern Barrens, and into [[Reikos]] to the south west. Stories from [[Highguard]] that describe the forest as being possessed of some dark spirit - something that partakes of the nature of a [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] - appear to be based on fact. The deeper a force presses into the forest the more uneasy they feel – the more they report being watched, and the more certain they become that they are unwelcome. Imperial forces have not pressed into the deeper forest. There is, however, no hint of discernible [[vallorn]] presence here.

In the past, the forest was said to be equally hostile to human and orc, and attempts by either Imperial or barbarian forces to explore the interior invariably met with tragedy - assuming they were ever heard of again. This seems to have changed in 367YE when the Druj launched a crippling surprise attack through the forest into Reikos; it is unclear what the situation is today, however. .

There appear to be no permanent orc forces in this forest - especially now the Great Forest orcs have left the Barrens. The Druj forces that passed through the forest from Reikos, on their way to Holberg, reportedly suffered significant losses for doing so. Even today, corpses are occasionally found huddled against the boles of the massive trees, or hung by their entrails from thick branches. The orcs appear to have died in agony and great terror.

On the north-eastern borders of the forest is a massive strand of weirwood trees, one that has clearly been cultivated for some time. The [[#Eaves of Peytaht|Eaves of Peytaht]] is the equivalent of a [[Bourse]] seat that produces a bounty of weirwood each season.

===The Carmine Fields===
The soil on these wide plains has a red colour which the fanciful might say is from blood but is more likely due to a high clay quotient. This region is covered with isolated rice fields, and other crops that prosper on this kind of soil.

The region has clearly been settled by orc farmers and hunters for a very long time. However, as of 378YE there are signs of recent invasion; several settlements have been burnt to the ground and the populace enslaved.

===Farweald===
* '''Quality:''' Forest
On the northern side of the Barren Sea is a damp forest that rises slowly to the north-east. As of 378YE, it is occupied by what seems to be several large groups of indigenous orcs who have built makeshift fortified camps along the rivers and the eastern borders. It would provide a strategic location from which to strike across the river into [[Holberg]].
{{CaptionedImage|file=Hugh statue.png|caption=A grand statue of a dead hero, raised by ''koboldi''|align=right|width=300}}

===Hope's Rest===
* '''Quality:''' Hills, [[Region_qualities#Rimebound|Rimebound]]
The weather in Hope's Rest is invariably worse than elsewhere in the Barrens. When it rains here, it buckets it down and the wind blows it's strong enough to knock you off your feet. Gales are common, turning to blizzards in winter that drive the snow into deep drifts and embankments. The vast lake that forms a border where the Barrens meets [[Therunin]] regularly freezes over in winter, that reveal strange figures with long gangly limbs and azure skin swimming beneath the thick ice.

In depth exploration of this region has proved tricky due to the rough terrain. Several times, spies encountered well-hidden traps designed to kill – spiked pits, spring-loaded impaling arms and the like. The high hills surround a well-fortified keep that appears to have only recently been completed. The southern slopes drop towards a large fresh-lake of brackish water on the other side of which are the marshy forests of [[Therunin]].

At one point, there was a small [[fortification]] high in the hills here, named '''Dourfell Keep'''. It was not garrisoned by orcs but by humans. Imperial spies were unable to get a very close look at them but they appeared to show signs of very strong [[briar]] lineage, and the castle itself appeared to surround a strong Spring [[regio]]. Scouts reported the remains of dozens of rotted and skeletonised Druj bodies nailed to trees, impaled on spikes and crucified on makeshift “x”s. Popular belief suggested this was a community of briars descended from those who entered the Barrens as part of the [[Freedom Heresy]], and that they were allied with the indigenous orcs - especially those of the Great Forest.

Some time before the Spring Equinox 381YE, however, Dourfell Keep was destroyed. Rumour suggests that the community of briars themselves destroyed the fortification with [[Spring magic]], to prevent it falling into Druj hands, Some exiled survivors of the community crossed into [[Therunin]] along with the Great Forest orcs in later 380YE. In recent months heralds of the [[Golden_magicians_fayre#Frozen_Strength|Thane of the Rimebound Shore]] have been observed sheltering in the ruins of the keep whenever a gale or a blizzard is blowing.

A grand statue of ''Hugh Farrier'', some thirty feet tall, stands in the region. Built by the ''koboldi'' of [[Adamant]] and facing east towards the Mallum, it serves as a grim reminder of the cost of war against the Druj.

===The Untrod Groves===
* '''Quality:''' Forest
A deep, tangled forest that stretches from the hills of [[#Hopes Rest|Hopes Rest]] to the very edge of the [[#The Plain of Teeth|Plain of Teeth]]. The woods seem largely uninhabited by the orcs, and the only trails appear to be game trails, trackless, it is easy to become lost in the groves – but reports also indicate that the woods are rich with untapped reserves of [[Materials#Iridescent Gloaming|iridescent gloaming]], [[Materials#Beggar's_Lye|beggarwood]] and [[Materials#Dragonbone|dragonbone]].

===Bitter Strand===
* '''Quality:''' Coastal, Rahvin
The Barren sea is technically a great lake, but the waters are not drinkable – they are not as salty as the Bay of Catazar but it is obvious that some mineral gives the waters a foul taste. They are home to a vicious species of predatory fish the size of an ox with armoured plates on the head. The northern coast is relatively smooth, but the southern coast is scattered with islands, many of them inhabited. Conquering this region would be made considerably easier by the addition of forces skilled at fighting amphibious assaults, such as the Red Wind Corsairs. Along the eastern coast of the Barren sea, where it narrows as it feeds into the [[#Saltmarsh|Saltmarsh]], are the [[#The Fangs|Fangs]] a series of perhaps a dozen massive rocky columns that rise out of the water which are mined for mithril.

In Winter 386YE, after a long period of debate and negotiation, this region was ceded to the Rahvin sept.

===The Bleaks===
* '''Quality:''' Forest, Karass
The southern forests become danker and damper as Therunin gets closer. The woods are home to a number of orc clans, many of whom live in the branches of ancient trees. There are heavily wooded marshes in the south; there are occasional sightings of both [[Legendary_beasts#Hydra|hydra]] and small [[marshwalkers]]. The [[Keeper_of_the_Last_Battle#Last_Battle_Wayhouse|Last Battle]] wayhouse is in the east of the region, from which Navarri thorns engage in reconnaissance and patrols across the border into Therunin and the Sarangrave. There are scattered settlements all across the Bleaks belonging to the Karass sept: it is hard to be sure exactly of their numbers, as their locations often change without warning. While the Karass can also be found in the Plains of Teeth and in the Untrod Groves, it is in this region that they are found in the greatest number.

===Saltmarsh===
* '''Qualities:''' Coastal, <s>Marsh</s>
The eastern Barren Sea floods out across a great flat basin that contains the Saltmarsh. It is covered with treacherous rivers and streams that shift their banks regularly and without warning. The place is thick with flies and mosquitoes that leave nasty stinging welts on exposed flesh. The orcs who lived here maintain huts on stilts, and also moved about using long wooden stilts that occasionally gave them the appearance of walking on water. There appeared to be a large number of [[herb garden|herb gardens]] maintained here by the indigenous orcs, no doubt captured from the Druj during the rebellion. With the Druj having largely recaptured the Barrens, it is not clear what the situation of the orcs here might be.

In Summer 384YE, then [[Archmage of Spring]] '''Ser Fabienne De Miel''' unleashed a [[Into_the_valley#A_Sudden_Flood_.28Conjunction.29|devastating storm]] in the northern Barrens that battered [[#Bitter Strand|Bitter Strand]] and flooded Saltmarsh.

'''OOC Note:''' The region lost the ''Marsh'' quality and gained the ''Coastal'' quality, a situation predicted to continue until such a time as an equally volatile [[Every time it rains|astronomantic conjunction]] occurs and someone takes advantage of it.

===The Plains of Teeth===
The Druj oversaw their domination of the Barrens from this broken plain, and signs suggest that now they have returned, they are starting to do so again. This area may once have been heavily forested but it was ruthlessly cleared to provide building materials for the [[#Spires of Dusk|Spires of Dusk]]. This [[fortification]] guarded access to the Druj lands to the east. After the Spring Equinox 381YE, it was finally confirmed (after a year or more of rumour) that the towers had been destroyed - allegedly by indigenous orcs working in conjunction with Imperial citizens - although the details are not common knowledge.
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Gwendoloena de Sarroi.jpg|caption='''Gwendoloena de Sarroi''', Senator for the Barrens|align=left|width=500}}</div>
{{Senate Elections|Senator_for_the_Barrens|Territory=the Barrens|Season=Spring}}

==OOC Notes==
* As of the Spring Equinox 387YE the Great Forest Orcs control the Heart of Peytaht and the Rahvin control Bitter Strand. Dawn, and by extension the Empire, controls the rest of the territory.
* [[#Houndsgate|Houndsgate]] is a rank two [[fortification]] in the Plains of Teeth.
* The [[Keeper of the Last Battle|Last Battle Wayhouse]] in the Bleaks allows Navarri characters to establish a [[Resource#Personal_Resource|personal resource]] in the Barrens 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]].
* Prior to the [[381YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Occupation_.28Dawnguard.29|Druj invasion]] of Summer 381YE, there were between ten and twenty thousand Dawnish citizens living the Dawnguard. With the chaos following the invasion it is impossible to say how many are still alive. There was no substantial Dawnish population outside of Dawnguard.

==Further Reading==
* [[Not to conquer]] - 385YE Autumn Wind of Fortune exploring the factions of the Barrens in more detail
* [[Conflict in the Barrens]] - provides an initial analysis of the history of the territory

[[Category:Dawn]]
[[Category:Gazetteer]]
[[Category:Imperial Territory]]

Ylenwe

2026-06-02T06:36:38Z

Wrenna:

<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=YlenrithArt.jpg|title="The Swan" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Current whereabouts unknown.|caption=In the past, ''the Swan'' was concerned with purity and harmony. Recent changes have seen the eternal undergo a subtle but profound transformation and adopt a new identity.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Eternal of Day==
===Sobriquets===
Ylenwe is called ''the Dove'', sometimes ''Dove of the Perfect Morning''. Since zir reemergence, zir heralds have begun using names such as ''Morningstar'', ''Pathway to Serenity'', ''Nested Interval'', ''Morning Glory'', ''Childe of Gentleness'', ''Cradlesong'', and variations on these themes. Zie has less well-known sobriquets than many other eternals, but as zie finds strength and healing in the aftermath of the [[Cold Sun]] crisis, zie appears to be finding zirself equipped with more and more.

Zie uses zie/zir/zirself pronouns almost exclusively.
==Appearance==
Ylenwe (''Il-LEN-way'') appears as a humanoid, often with strong [[merrow]] characteristics. Zie is neither female nor male, although zir physical form may suggest elements of any gender. Zie is usually dressed simply in a single pale colour, often white, light green or soft pastel blues. Zie usually wears a cloak of white feathers, and a belt of silver scales. Zie always speaks quietly, never raising zir voice except to sing.

As with [[Roshanwe]], the eternal is said to make zir home at the point where the ocean of the realm of Day rises to touch the sky. Also like Roshanwe, zie expresses emotions such as bittersweet joy and quiet sadness in a way that is comprehensible to humans. While zie is clearly a creature with great emotional depth, zie rarely expresses those emotions - and when zie does zie does so through the medium of song.

Ylenwe claims that zie never lies - that lying creates unnecessary dissonance - but this claim is difficult to substantiate.

The Dove is often accompanied by one or two heralds; they are generally either musicians or mathematicians and some observers have suggested that they treat Ylenwe with a kind of restrained awe or worship that can be slightly unsettling.

==Concerns==
Prior to 384YE, Ylenwe was strongly associated with concepts of purity and harmony. After the [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Spring parley]] with [[Archmage of Day]] Skywise Gralka, it seems that zie has undergone a subtle but far-reaching transformation. Zie has abandoned the pursuit of purity, and taken on a new name. Focus, clarity, calm, and reason remain powerful touchstones as far as Ylenwe is concerned, but the emphasis is on working toward achieving harmony rather than destroying things that are "corrupt" or "impure."

In [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions|Winter 381YE]], as a result of allegations regarding the kidnap of Imperial citizens, Ylenwe was declared an [[Alignment#Enmity|enemy of the Empire]] by the [[Conclave]]. A [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] was [[Shake_it_off#Swan.27s_Polite_Request|requested]] by the eternal in Winter 384YE, and the [[Archmage of Day]] at the time met with zir [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|during the Spring Equinox]]. Ultimately, Ylenwe was reconciled with the Conclave by Skywise Gralka during the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Yelenwe|Summer Solstice]] of the same year.

Zie is a consummate musician, and regularly expounds the idea that true communication takes place only through music (and occasionally through dance). The Dove appears to believe that spoken and written language impedes, rather than promotes, communication and suggests that it might be a dead end that encourages division rather than harmony. When individuals make music together their spirits briefly move into alignment with each other and with the greater scheme of things - they become a metaphor for the power of unity without sacrificing individual identity. Emotions and passions expressed through music are 'harnessed' to the will of the musicians, and allow for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis catharsis], without which they can overwhelm the good sense of an individual and cause them harm. Ylenwe teaches that it is not wrong to feel things strongly, but that unless powerful emotions are carefully controlled they can lead to suffering and dissonance. By expressing them through music, they can be experienced in a contained and ordered way and provide strength and spiritual communion, rather than encouraging selfishness and disharmony.

Ylenwe encourages magicians to practice their magic with music - even the passionate dancing of the [[The Brass Coast magical traditions|hakima]] - and especially favours magicians who employ the [[Music of the spheres]] in their rituals.

Finally, music is also used as the gateway to Ylenwe's only true passion; mathematics. Zie firmly believes that the study of mathematics is the only 'pure' discipline, and that through it every truth of existence can be expressed in an elegant, simple and above-all truthful way. Mortals who study mathematics as more than "''the physics of bottlecaps''" are of great interest to Ylenwe.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenrith.jpg|caption=Ylenwe was once Ylenrith, who appeared as a humanoid with strong <br>merrow traits.|align=right|width=300}}
This eternal is interested in medicine and healing, but focuses on treating the "entire patient" - finding the root cause of illness rather than focusing on treating symptoms, and recognising the link between the body and the spirit.

In the past, Ylenwe was closely associated with the rune [[Cavul]], but that association has apparently been broken by the recent transformation. Zie is still associated with fresh water, but no longer has any association with magical fire.

As Ylenrith, the eternal was viewed with some suspicion by followers of the [[The Way|Way]]. Zie made no effort to conceal zir disdain for the auras created through [[Religious skills#Consecration|consecrate]], [[Religious skills#Hallow|hallowing]] and [[Religious skills#Anointing|anointing]]. Some religious magicians further pointed to the way that zir heralds seem to encourage worship of the eternal, and warned that zir philosophy and boons may represent an attempt to spread [[Religious_Crimes#Idolatry|idolatrous]] worship of an eternal to the Empire. They also point to the tranquillity zie seeks to promulgate as being no different to the malign spiritual presence of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] which ultimately robs humanity of its drive to strive and leads to stagnation and death. It remains to be seen if the "new" Ylenwe will have the same attitudes.

==Boons==
Ylenwe can remove almost any strong passion, alleviate pain, and grant [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul|clarity and clear-thinking]], especially though the [[Solace of Chimes|use of music]]. In the same way zie can help restore harmony to a mind or spirit, zie can also help bring equilibrium to physical things, especially by [[Ascetic Star of Atun|helping to treat infection and disease]]. Zie sometimes offers zir boons through consumable items (usually clear water) or enchanted musical instruments. At least [[Abraxus_Stone#The_Swan.27s_Chalice|one story]] concerns an apparently familiar magic item - in this case an [[Abraxus Stone]] - that the eternal commits to "renewing" each year through the use of a dedicated herald.

With Ylenwe's new focus, it remains to be seen what form the boons zie can offer will take.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=300]]</div>
==Further Reading==
* [[Ourselves_and_immortality#And_Eternity|Ourselves and immortality]] - 387YE Winter plenipotentiary response
* [[Speak_to_me#Zie_of_the_Morning|Speak to me]] - 387YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Have you seen me lately]] - 385YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Hunter_of_stars#Ylenrith|Hunter of stars]] - 382YE Spring plenipotentiary response

[[Category:Eternals]]
{{pdf}}

Ylenwe

2026-06-02T06:29:27Z

Wrenna:

<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=YlenrithArt.jpg|title="The Swan" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Current whereabouts unknown.|caption=In the past, ''the Swan'' was concerned with purity and harmony. Recent changes have seen the eternal undergo a subtle but profound transformation and adopt a new identity.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Eternal of Day==
===Sobriquets===
Ylenwe is called ''the Dove'', sometimes ''Dove of the Perfect Morning''. Since zir reemergence, zir heralds have begun using names such as ''Morningstar'', ''Pathway to Serenity'', ''Nested Interval'', ''Morning Glory'', ''Cradlesong'', and variations on these themes. Zie has less well-known sobriquets than many other eternals, but as zie finds strength and healing in the aftermath of the [[Cold Sun]] crisis, zie appears to be finding zirself equipped with more and more.

Zie uses zie/zir/zirself pronouns almost exclusively.
==Appearance==
Ylenwe (''Il-LEN-way'') appears as a humanoid, often with strong [[merrow]] characteristics. Zie is neither female nor male, although zir physical form may suggest elements of any gender. Zie is usually dressed simply in a single pale colour, often white, light green or soft pastel blues. Zie usually wears a cloak of white feathers, and a belt of silver scales. Zie always speaks quietly, never raising zir voice except to sing.

As with [[Roshanwe]], the eternal is said to make zir home at the point where the ocean of the realm of Day rises to touch the sky. Also like Roshanwe, zie expresses emotions such as bittersweet joy and quiet sadness in a way that is comprehensible to humans. While zie is clearly a creature with great emotional depth, zie rarely expresses those emotions - and when zie does zie does so through the medium of song.

Ylenwe claims that zie never lies - that lying creates unnecessary dissonance - but this claim is difficult to substantiate.

The Dove is often accompanied by one or two heralds; they are generally either musicians or mathematicians and some observers have suggested that they treat Ylenwe with a kind of restrained awe or worship that can be slightly unsettling.

==Concerns==
Prior to 384YE, Ylenwe was strongly associated with concepts of purity and harmony. After the [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Spring parley]] with [[Archmage of Day]] Skywise Gralka, it seems that zie has undergone a subtle but far-reaching transformation. Zie has abandoned the pursuit of purity, and taken on a new name. Focus, clarity, calm, and reason remain powerful touchstones as far as Ylenwe is concerned, but the emphasis is on working toward achieving harmony rather than destroying things that are "corrupt" or "impure."

In [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions|Winter 381YE]], as a result of allegations regarding the kidnap of Imperial citizens, Ylenwe was declared an [[Alignment#Enmity|enemy of the Empire]] by the [[Conclave]]. A [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] was [[Shake_it_off#Swan.27s_Polite_Request|requested]] by the eternal in Winter 384YE, and the [[Archmage of Day]] at the time met with zir [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|during the Spring Equinox]]. Ultimately, Ylenwe was reconciled with the Conclave by Skywise Gralka during the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Yelenwe|Summer Solstice]] of the same year.

Zie is a consummate musician, and regularly expounds the idea that true communication takes place only through music (and occasionally through dance). The Dove appears to believe that spoken and written language impedes, rather than promotes, communication and suggests that it might be a dead end that encourages division rather than harmony. When individuals make music together their spirits briefly move into alignment with each other and with the greater scheme of things - they become a metaphor for the power of unity without sacrificing individual identity. Emotions and passions expressed through music are 'harnessed' to the will of the musicians, and allow for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis catharsis], without which they can overwhelm the good sense of an individual and cause them harm. Ylenwe teaches that it is not wrong to feel things strongly, but that unless powerful emotions are carefully controlled they can lead to suffering and dissonance. By expressing them through music, they can be experienced in a contained and ordered way and provide strength and spiritual communion, rather than encouraging selfishness and disharmony.

Ylenwe encourages magicians to practice their magic with music - even the passionate dancing of the [[The Brass Coast magical traditions|hakima]] - and especially favours magicians who employ the [[Music of the spheres]] in their rituals.

Finally, music is also used as the gateway to Ylenwe's only true passion; mathematics. Zie firmly believes that the study of mathematics is the only 'pure' discipline, and that through it every truth of existence can be expressed in an elegant, simple and above-all truthful way. Mortals who study mathematics as more than "''the physics of bottlecaps''" are of great interest to Ylenwe.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenrith.jpg|caption=Ylenwe was once Ylenrith, who appeared as a humanoid with strong <br>merrow traits.|align=right|width=300}}
This eternal is interested in medicine and healing, but focuses on treating the "entire patient" - finding the root cause of illness rather than focusing on treating symptoms, and recognising the link between the body and the spirit.

In the past, Ylenwe was closely associated with the rune [[Cavul]], but that association has apparently been broken by the recent transformation. Zie is still associated with fresh water, but no longer has any association with magical fire.

As Ylenrith, the eternal was viewed with some suspicion by followers of the [[The Way|Way]]. Zie made no effort to conceal zir disdain for the auras created through [[Religious skills#Consecration|consecrate]], [[Religious skills#Hallow|hallowing]] and [[Religious skills#Anointing|anointing]]. Some religious magicians further pointed to the way that zir heralds seem to encourage worship of the eternal, and warned that zir philosophy and boons may represent an attempt to spread [[Religious_Crimes#Idolatry|idolatrous]] worship of an eternal to the Empire. They also point to the tranquillity zie seeks to promulgate as being no different to the malign spiritual presence of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] which ultimately robs humanity of its drive to strive and leads to stagnation and death. It remains to be seen if the "new" Ylenwe will have the same attitudes.

==Boons==
Ylenwe can remove almost any strong passion, alleviate pain, and grant [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul|clarity and clear-thinking]], especially though the [[Solace of Chimes|use of music]]. In the same way zie can help restore harmony to a mind or spirit, zie can also help bring equilibrium to physical things, especially by [[Ascetic Star of Atun|helping to treat infection and disease]]. Zie sometimes offers zir boons through consumable items (usually clear water) or enchanted musical instruments. At least [[Abraxus_Stone#The_Swan.27s_Chalice|one story]] concerns an apparently familiar magic item - in this case an [[Abraxus Stone]] - that the eternal commits to "renewing" each year through the use of a dedicated herald.

With Ylenwe's new focus, it remains to be seen what form the boons zie can offer will take.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=300]]</div>
==Further Reading==
* [[Ourselves_and_immortality#And_Eternity|Ourselves and immortality]] - 387YE Winter plenipotentiary response
* [[Speak_to_me#Zie_of_the_Morning|Speak to me]] - 387YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Have you seen me lately]] - 385YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Hunter_of_stars#Ylenrith|Hunter of stars]] - 382YE Spring plenipotentiary response

[[Category:Eternals]]
{{pdf}}

Ylenwe

2026-06-01T20:49:03Z

Wrenna:

<div style="float:left; width: 400px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=YlenrithArt.jpg|title="The Swan" artist unknown. Part of the Sunspire collection, auctioned in 125YE to raise funds for the construction of the Halls of Knowledge. Current whereabouts unknown.|caption=In the past, ''the Swan'' was concerned with purity and harmony. Recent changes have seen the eternal undergo a subtle but profound transformation and adopt a new identity.|align=left|width=400}}</div>
==Eternal of Day==
===Sobriquets===
Ylenwe is called ''the Dove'', sometimes ''Dove of the Perfect Morning''. Since zir reemergence, zir heralds have begun using names such as ''Morningstar'', ''Pathway to Serenity'', ''Nested Interval'', ''Cradlesong'', and variations on these themes. Zie has less well-known sobriquets than many other Eternals, but as zie finds strength and healing in the aftermath of the [[Cold Sun]] crisis, zie appears to be finding themselves equipped with more and more.

Zie uses zie/zir/zirself pronouns almost exclusively.
==Appearance==
Ylenwe (''Il-LEN-way'') appears as a humanoid, often with strong [[merrow]] characteristics. Zie is neither female nor male, although zir physical form may suggest elements of any gender. Zie is usually dressed simply in a single pale colour, often white, light green or soft pastel blues. Zie usually wears a cloak of white feathers, and a belt of silver scales. Zie always speaks quietly, never raising zir voice except to sing.

As with [[Roshanwe]], the eternal is said to make zir home at the point where the ocean of the realm of Day rises to touch the sky. Also like Roshanwe, zie expresses emotions such as bittersweet joy and quiet sadness in a way that is comprehensible to humans. While zie is clearly a creature with great emotional depth, zie rarely expresses those emotions - and when zie does zie does so through the medium of song.

Ylenwe claims that zie never lies - that lying creates unnecessary dissonance - but this claim is difficult to substantiate.

The Dove is often accompanied by one or two heralds; they are generally either musicians or mathematicians and some observers have suggested that they treat Ylenwe with a kind of restrained awe or worship that can be slightly unsettling.

==Concerns==
Prior to 384YE, Ylenwe was strongly associated with concepts of purity and harmony. After the [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Spring parley]] with [[Archmage of Day]] Skywise Gralka, it seems that zie has undergone a subtle but far-reaching transformation. Zie has abandoned the pursuit of purity, and taken on a new name. Focus, clarity, calm, and reason remain powerful touchstones as far as Ylenwe is concerned, but the emphasis is on working toward achieving harmony rather than destroying things that are "corrupt" or "impure."

In [[381YE_Winter_Solstice_Conclave_sessions|Winter 381YE]], as a result of allegations regarding the kidnap of Imperial citizens, Ylenwe was declared an [[Alignment#Enmity|enemy of the Empire]] by the [[Conclave]]. A [[Archmage#Parely|parley]] was [[Shake_it_off#Swan.27s_Polite_Request|requested]] by the eternal in Winter 384YE, and the [[Archmage of Day]] at the time met with zir [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|during the Spring Equinox]]. Ultimately, Ylenwe was reconciled with the Conclave by Skywise Gralka during the [[385YE_Summer_Solstice_Conclave_sessions#Alignment:_Yelenwe|Summer Solstice]] of the same year.

Zie is a consummate musician, and regularly expounds the idea that true communication takes place only through music (and occasionally through dance). The Dove appears to believe that spoken and written language impedes, rather than promotes, communication and suggests that it might be a dead end that encourages division rather than harmony. When individuals make music together their spirits briefly move into alignment with each other and with the greater scheme of things - they become a metaphor for the power of unity without sacrificing individual identity. Emotions and passions expressed through music are 'harnessed' to the will of the musicians, and allow for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catharsis catharsis], without which they can overwhelm the good sense of an individual and cause them harm. Ylenwe teaches that it is not wrong to feel things strongly, but that unless powerful emotions are carefully controlled they can lead to suffering and dissonance. By expressing them through music, they can be experienced in a contained and ordered way and provide strength and spiritual communion, rather than encouraging selfishness and disharmony.

Ylenwe encourages magicians to practice their magic with music - even the passionate dancing of the [[The Brass Coast magical traditions|hakima]] - and especially favours magicians who employ the [[Music of the spheres]] in their rituals.

Finally, music is also used as the gateway to Ylenwe's only true passion; mathematics. Zie firmly believes that the study of mathematics is the only 'pure' discipline, and that through it every truth of existence can be expressed in an elegant, simple and above-all truthful way. Mortals who study mathematics as more than "''the physics of bottlecaps''" are of great interest to Ylenwe.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Ylenrith.jpg|caption=Ylenwe was once Ylenrith, who appeared as a humanoid with strong <br>merrow traits.|align=right|width=300}}
This eternal is interested in medicine and healing, but focuses on treating the "entire patient" - finding the root cause of illness rather than focusing on treating symptoms, and recognising the link between the body and the spirit.

In the past, Ylenwe was closely associated with the rune [[Cavul]], but that association has apparently been broken by the recent transformation. Zie is still associated with fresh water, but no longer has any association with magical fire.

As Ylenrith, the eternal was viewed with some suspicion by followers of the [[The Way|Way]]. Zie made no effort to conceal zir disdain for the auras created through [[Religious skills#Consecration|consecrate]], [[Religious skills#Hallow|hallowing]] and [[Religious skills#Anointing|anointing]]. Some religious magicians further pointed to the way that zir heralds seem to encourage worship of the eternal, and warned that zir philosophy and boons may represent an attempt to spread [[Religious_Crimes#Idolatry|idolatrous]] worship of an eternal to the Empire. They also point to the tranquillity zie seeks to promulgate as being no different to the malign spiritual presence of [[Malign_spiritual_presences#Peace|peace]] which ultimately robs humanity of its drive to strive and leads to stagnation and death. It remains to be seen if the "new" Ylenwe will have the same attitudes.

==Boons==
Ylenwe can remove almost any strong passion, alleviate pain, and grant [[Crystal Clarity of the Rational Soul|clarity and clear-thinking]], especially though the [[Solace of Chimes|use of music]]. In the same way zie can help restore harmony to a mind or spirit, zie can also help bring equilibrium to physical things, especially by [[Ascetic Star of Atun|helping to treat infection and disease]]. Zie sometimes offers zir boons through consumable items (usually clear water) or enchanted musical instruments. At least [[Abraxus_Stone#The_Swan.27s_Chalice|one story]] concerns an apparently familiar magic item - in this case an [[Abraxus Stone]] - that the eternal commits to "renewing" each year through the use of a dedicated herald.

With Ylenwe's new focus, it remains to be seen what form the boons zie can offer will take.
<div style="float:right; width: 250px; clear: right;">[[file:Ylenwe001.webp|align=right|width=300]]</div>
==Further Reading==
* [[Ourselves_and_immortality#And_Eternity|Ourselves and immortality]] - 387YE Winter plenipotentiary response
* [[Speak_to_me#Zie_of_the_Morning|Speak to me]] - 387YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Have_you_seen_me_lately#Ylenrith|Have you seen me lately]] - 385YE Spring plenipotentiary response
* [[Hunter_of_stars#Ylenrith|Hunter of stars]] - 382YE Spring plenipotentiary response

[[Category:Eternals]]
{{pdf}}

Eater-of-Hope

2026-06-01T14:33:04Z

Wrenna: /* The Axos Connection */ Removed double entry in list

[[Category:Religion]][[Category:History]]
==Overview==
At the Spring Equinox 383YE, ''Caleb of the Cenotaph'', [[Minister of Historical Research]], instructed the historical research department to look into the origins of the Eater-of-Hope, the malign spirit that had tormented the Empire in recent years until it was permanently exorcised by '''Solas''', [[High Exorcist]] of the Empire using a dose of [[Liao#True Liao|true liao]] during the Winter Solstice 382YE.

Headed by Octavia Stream's Source, the [[Historical_research#The_Department_of_Historical_Research|Department of Historical Research]] was unable to find much of relevance to the creature or its origins. However, as the findings were being prepared for wider publication, a chance encounter with a visiting [[Axos|Axou]] scholar provided some additional information.

==The Spirit==
The Eater-of-Hope is the name given to a specific malign creature, similar to a ghost but apparently in possession of significantly greater spiritual power and guided by a malign intelligence not generally associated with the apparitions and phantoms familiar to Imperial priests and scholars. It seems that the spirit escaped from the Labyrinth during a performance of [[Whispers through the Black Gate]] cast on [[Cardinal]] '''Ynez di Caricomare'''. The creature was driven off at the time, but attached itself to a number of Imperial conflicts where it may have somehow fed off or worsened the situation. There are rumours that the creature was involved in the destruction of Embersfall spire in [[Zenith]] during the Autumn 380YE. Interestingly these stories claim that both the High Exorcist and the heavily pregnant Theodosia of Canterspire - then host to the Urizen egregore spirit - were both present. The spire was consumed in fire, and not a single magician of the spire escaped the flames. At the time, the area surrounding the spire was shrouded with a spreading aura of supernatural [[Sorrow_and_death|sadness]]; at the time the destruction of Embersfall was ascribed to the magic and given that the Druj invaded [[381YE_Summer_Solstice_winds_of_war#Valley_of_Darkness_.28Zenith.29|less than a year later]] the facts of what happened there will likely never be known.

The Eater-of-Hope was not heard from again until the eruption of the {{Black Plateau}} during the [[382YE_Spring_Equinox_winds_of_war#Leviathan_Wakes_.28Spiral.29|Battle of Solen's Doubt]] in early 382YE. The spirit was apparently drawn to [[Spiral]] by the terrible aura of despair and fear that covered the territory. It apparently fed on the hopes and dreams of the unfortunate inhabitants, both human and [[orc]], whose minds had been shattered by the swirling nexus of [[Night magic]] spilling forth from the [[Spiral#The Black Plateau|{{Black Plateau}}]]. The Eater-of-Hope rallied these tragic victims, driven to violent madness by a combination of the Plateau and the spirit's attentions, creating an army of murderous killers that threatened both the Empire and the [[Grendel]] before a large force of Imperial heroes from Anvil were able to defeat them.

The spirit was driven off by [[exorcism]] once more - it had attached itself to a Grendel warlord who functioned as the leader of the chaotic horde - but it was clear it would return swiftly. At the Winter Solstice Solas was granted a dose of true liao by the Empire so that he could deal with the menace permanently. The spirit was eventually tracked down to [[Semmerholm]] and the High Exorcist and his followers confronted the spectre for the final time.

In an encounter worthy of the great tales of history, the High Exorcist confronted his nemesis and finally drove it from the Empire for good.
<div style="float:right; width: 450px; clear: right;"><quote by="Caleb of the Cenotaph, Minister for Historical Research, Spring 383YE">In response to concerns raised to the Department by Solus, High Exorcist of the Empire, we seek to utilise one of the two available research commissions to investigate the origin of the Eater of Hope. The focus of the research will be ritualistic practices, possibly associated with torture and punishment, of the late Terunael historical period, especially associated with the city of Emrys (ruins in southwest Sküld.) We seek to cross-reference this matter to the following significant people: Merenael, Fallahd, Tegwen of the Hammer. These names have come to light during the destruction of the Eater of Hope. We seek to understand how this entity was created so that we can be vigilant against the significant spiritual threat that it represents should other such creatures be identified.</quote></div>

==Origins==
Octavia of Stream's Source was assigned to [[Research_origin_of_Eater_of_Hope|carry out the research]] into the origins of the this creature, with a focus on the ritualistic practices, possibly associated with torture and punishment, of the late Terunael historical period, especially associated with the city of Emrys (ruins in southwest [[Otkodov#Sk.C3.BCld|Sküld]]). Her research found little specific to the Eater-of-Hope, but she did uncover some details of encounters between Imperial citizens and similar creatures.
===The Third Visionary===
Octavia carried out a swift review of available records and tales to find accounts of other dark spirits or similar entities but was unable to turn up any leads that merited further investigation. What she did find were two fragmentary accounts of past life visions all of which made reference to the presence of a third entity in the vision, in addition to the visionary and their guide priest.

The oldest account concerns a [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Varushka_religious_beliefs|wise one]] called ''Nellakov of Pyetr's Vale'', but more commonly referred to as Old Nell. They were granted a dose of true liao by [[Empress Aenea]], apparently in gratitude for the wise one's support in the [[Senate]] and took ''Father Anatoli Karov'' as their guide priest. In the vision Nellakov was leading a group of missionaries in foreign lands when one member of the group was either murdered or executed, the details are not clear. There is relatively little information about the vision, the account seems more concerned with the ghost encountered by the guide priest.

According to Karov, the spirit was present in the area from the beginning of the vision, though it was clear that neither the visionary nor any of the other participants could see it. Indeed he appears to have been the only one present able to interact with the spirit in anyway. According to Karov he initially assumed the thing was benign in some way, even wondered if it might be some [[Paragons_and_exemplars|exemplar]] or other inspirational figure, but he quickly reversed his opinion. Conversation between Karov and the wraith convinced him that its intentions were entirely malevolent, he was left with the overwhelming impression that the thing was deliberately encouraging the scene to turn violent and intimidating in some way.

By the time vision ended, Karov, was left witless with terror and remained that way for the best part of an hour during which time he was unable to do much more than shake and cry piteously for help. Attempts to [[Anointing|anoint]] him failed but eventually it was determined through [[insight]] that he was suffering from a powerful spiritual aura that was breaking his spirit and leaving him cowed and terrorised. Once the [[aura]] was broken, the priest recovered and was able to tell his story.

At the time it was speculated that one of the two visionaries may have brought this spirit with them into the Labyrinth when they consumed the true liao. Nellakov was a very active priest who regularly used the [[Sentinel Gate]] to investigate matters of [[Religious_crime#Heresy|heresy]] and [[Religious_crime#Blasphemy|blasphemy]] in the Empire and earlier that year they had been involved in a series of confrontations with a heretical cult operating in [[Karsk]] that were in league with a [[Varushkan_Monster#Sovereigns|sovereign]] referred to as the Night Terror. Nellakov had been left deeply shaken by her encounter with the Night Terror. The suggestion was that some fragment of this fell creature had infected her soul and been taken into the Labyrinth and it was that that the priest had encounter. However no proof was ever found for this idea though every imaginable investigation was carried out up to and including a question to the [[eternal]] [[Leviathan]] and the idea was eventually ruled out in favour of the belief that the thing must have been present in the Labyrinth at the point where the visionaries entered.
===The Intruder===
The later account concerns a [[the Marches|Marcher]] [[The_Marches_military_concerns#Beaters|beater]] called ''Nedry Fletcher'' who purchased his dose of liao from the [[Bourse]] public auction during the rule of [[Empress Mariika]]. Nedry's guide priest was a [[The_Marches_religious_beliefs#Monks_and_Friars|friar]] called ''Margery Vintner'', [[Cardinal]] of [[Ambition]]. The vision seemed straight-forward enough with Nedry called on to advise a Marcher [[Yeoman of the Marches|yeoman]] called ''Simon Fisher'' on whether to enter a wickerman or not. In the end Nedry chose instead to [[The_Marches_religious_beliefs#Shriving|shrive]] the character he met in the vision, but as that was taking place, a mob began to form nearby of people apparently seeking to attack the culprit.

At this point a third character entered the vision, Margery described it as shaped like a tall figure dressed in a dark billowing cloak. The creature addressed Margery directly challenging her right to be present and belittling her in ways she described as numerous and profane. Nedry appeared to be unable to see the figure, indeed he reported nothing of interest after the vision. Margery claims that she circled the vision three times, exchanging insults with the creature, as her temper grew. By that point the vision had grown increasingly disturbed, with people breaking into the chamber to confront Nedry and Simon. One of the intruders attacked Nedry with a knife, stabbing him twice, at which point Nedry's vision ended.

Margery however remained behind. She is adamant on this point, that she was still present in the vision, despite the fact that Nedry was nowhere to be seen. What she witnessed then was the mob turn on Simon and butcher him, all while egged on by the disturbing spirit. Margery's experience of the vision ended at the point where Simon died - with the evil spirit clearly still present and apparently mocking her.
===The City of Emrys===
To date, Octavia has been unable to find any historical accounts or even stories that link the Terunael City of Emrys to the Eater-of-Hope in any way, beyond the claims recorded in volume three of [[Seer_of_the_Gateway#Publication_2|Echoes of the Labyrinth]]. According to the account of guide priest Allegra of Shatterspire contained in that book, the past life vision of Iulian of Shatterspire involved both the northernmost Terunael city and the appearance of a creature that may well be the first contemporary incident of the Eater-of-Hope.

Likewise there are some accounts of enemies of the Terunael being tortured for information or punishment, but there are no records of any kind of this being linked to the Eater-of-Hope in anyway. This doesn't mean the two things are not linked of course - merely that Octavia has been unable to find a link.

She was able to find one reference to the production of embittered ghosts through the practice of torture. She found a disturbing account written in the time of [[Emperor James]] by a [[Dawn|Dawnish]] [[knight-errant]] named ''Arthoor of Moors Top''. Arthoor was captured by the [[Druj]] while fighting as part of the [[Gryphon%27s_Pride|Gryphon's Pride]]. He was brutally tortured by the Druj, both physically and mentally, as inch by agonising inch, the skin was flayed from his body and the bodies of his companions. Each day a vile concoction of herbs was rubbed into raw flesh, not to heal but to aggravate the wounds still further.

The camp was attacked by brave heroes from Anvil, who were able to drive off the Druj and rescue Arthoor and some of his allies, but not before three of them had succumbed to their ill-treatment at the hands of the Druj. Arthoor was adamant that they had not died of their wounds, but rather they had succumbed mentally and spiritually to the torture. He seemed certain that his fellow [[Yeofolk of Dawn|yeofolk]] had simply lost all hope and given up. Of relevance to this research is that Arthoor is certain that in each case where one of their number died, a black ghost like entity appeared shortly after. The shades were dressed in back robes, but each time their face was a twisted mirror of the compatriot who had passed away.

The Druj seemed fearful of the shades and gave them a wide berth, but they were clearly not surprised by their appearance. In fact Arthoor was convinced they were expecting them, if not actively creating them in some way through their evil. The heroes who assaulted the camp described encountering a number of black shades, who threw curses at those who attacked the camp and were difficult to kill.

In the view of Octavia, this line of research does not offer any productive leads for further investigation. Whatever the Eater-of-Hope is or was, its origin and nature are not well known in the Empire.

==The Axos Connection ==
Shortly before the Autumn Equinox 383YE, a well-respected professor in the faculty of natural philosophy at the Citadel of Maykop in [[Axos]] - ''Mistress Isephenia'' - proposed that the Empire might offer formal invitation to Axou students to apply for places at Imperial centres of learning. As part of a [[Ambassador#Treaty|treaty]] presented by [[Ambassador to Axos|Ambassador]] Tarquinius, the [[Senate]] [[Ratify_treaty_with_the_Axos_Autumn_383YE|confirmed a warm welcome]] for Axou students, and laid the groundwork for the establishment of a campus intended to serve these foreign students. As part of the discussion around where the campus would be located, Mistress Isephenia visited several Imperial universities and colleges. It was during one of these visits that she gave a short lecture on these malign spirits - based apparently on work recently compiled in Maykop in response to a request from Ambassador Tarquinius.

While Mistress Isephenia has no specific information about the Eater-of-Hope, it seems to belong to a class of entities familiar to Axou ''necromantia''. Called variously wraiths, spectres, lemuré, manés, phantoms, shades, daimon, and gaolers. They are entities of pure spirit similar to ghosts and spirits but uniquely malign in intent. There is an order of historians in Maykop dedicated to tracking evidence of the better known lemuré and chronicling their various appearances. This school is confident that encounters with apparently unconnected spirits are actually meetings with a comparatively limited handful of the entities - although this may be wishful thinking on their behalf.

Like any ghost, these beings cannot exist in the mortal world without anchors. If these anchors are identified and destroyed, spiritual creatures of this kind are invariably drawn back into the Labyrinth. Unlike a true ghost, these entities are generally not connected to anchors related to their time as living mortals. Indeed, some necromantia believe these gaolers never ''were'' living mortals and are somehow products of the Labyrinth itself - formed by the Creator (who the Axou consider to be [[Axos_religion#The_Malign_Creator|innately jealous of humanity]]) to torment the living and the dead alike. Rather, the anchors of a wraith that allow it to persist in the world of the living are believed to come in two forms.

The first are created when the spirit emerges from the Labyrinth, and as such will be related to the circumstances surrounding its escape. The entities seem to draw some of their purpose or identity in the mortal world from other spirits, which apparently tend to be consumed in the process in some fashion - speculation among necromantia suggests that they are only able to emerge into the world "through" an existing ghost, using it as a gateway and destroying it in the process. The Ilarch stresses that this is purely speculation, however.

There is a story about an entity that the necromantia call the ''Vasiliás Tustavrodrómi'' who emerged in Issyk just over a century ago following a poorly-thought-out ritual. During the ritual, one of the magicians that raised it suffered a fatal seizure and the "Crossroad King" manifested as if it were the spirit of the dead magician, anchoring itself to his body, his rod, and his Necromantic Crown. The creature then set about attempting to take control of Issyk, but was exposed and driven back into the Labyrinth before it could inflict too much damage on the Citadel.

The other way that anchors can be created is through the use of [[Autumn magic]], as if the entity were a normal ghost. The item that is to be the anchor must still have an emotional, spiritual, or symbolic connection to the entity, and both must be present. The ritual is not straightforward - it would require multiple necromantia. Mistress Isephenia is not an accomplished ''necromantia'' herself and so is unaware of the specifics of such rituals.

As there are two ways to create anchors, the ''necromantia'' of Maykop say there are two known ways to deal with the spirit. The first, as with any spiritual entity, is to destroy the links to each of its anchors. The most reliable way to do this is through the ceremony of exorcism - simply destroying the physical item may work but there are known to be circumstances where even a piece of the anchor was enough for a ghost. Any spirit that lacks anchors can remain in the mortal realm for only a very short time - a matter of minutes usually but this varies dramatically. A few spectres are said to have endured for a handful of hours after their anchors were destroyed, and spent those last few hours relentlessly hunting down the people the thought were responsible for the destruction of their tethers to the mortal world.

The general consensus however is that destroying such anchors is a temporary solution. The entity is thrown back into the Labyrinth, but it can return again later. It cannot leave the Labyrinth merely by willing it - a gateway must be opened for it - but eventually it will return.

Destroying anchors can also be ineffective due to the inability to be absolutely certain that one has secured all of them. To be absolutely the spirit is dealt with, as many anchors as possible must be dealt with and the spirit itself confronted and subject to a ceremony of exorcism using a ceremony of puissant power. In Imperial terms, through the use of a dose of true liao. The Axou have no imperial liao of their own - instead they rely on a fatally toxic substance that is apparently fatal to any priest who consumes it. As a consequence necromantia and priests alike eschew its use except in the most absolutely dire situations. It has ''been'' used in the past however on two separate occasions and there is plenty of evidence that rather than being simply thrown back into the Labyrinth to await another chance to emerge, an entity subject to such an empowered ceremony is annihilated - its spiritual being torn apart and scattered to oblivion. Regardless of whether one accepts this assertion, the Axou are certain that Imperial Liao will certainly sever it from any anchors that have not been accounted for.

Voice irresistable

2026-05-31T14:59:22Z

Wrenna: /* Grim Faces */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>"They remain committed to rendering the vallorn vulnerable then." It was not a question. The One-Who-Waits rarely asked questions, and when it did it was usually a prelude to something awful happening.

Ambassador Runa kept his eyes downcast, as was appropriate. He never failed to marvel at the change that a Hollow underwent when one of the Five spoke through it. The slumped, unfocused, slack-jawed orc of mere minutes before was replaced with a towering, terrible presence, its stance hunched, its gaze burning into the top of Runa's head like a hot poker in ice, as if it could read the very thoughts of the new Ambassador. Perhaps it could. The Dragons were as far beyond the warlocks in their magical mastery as the warlocks were beyond the lowest bonded labouring in a mine.

"It seems to be more complicated than that, Revered One." It was ''always'' more complicated than that, when the Empire was involved. "The Ambassador said they remain committed and I am inclined to believe her. On the other hand some of the Generals who spoke with Hekla said that it will be at least five years before any concrete movement is made, and a further five before victory, if not more."

Silence stretched, as the Dragon digested this information. Occasionally Runa wondered if the reason Fraynir spoke as it did was because it was stating how it expected the world to be, and any challenge to that needed to be examined carefully to determine how it might best be beaten into the shape it required it to take.

"Chaos." Said the Dragon. The Hollow coughed. It was an old Hollow. "Not unexpected."

The One-Who-Waits was quoting Runa's predecessor, Rak, who always used that word every time he tried explain the reason dealing with the Empire was so challenging. In general Otkodov changed slowly, carefully, expertly guided by the hand of the Dragons. In comparison the Empire seemed to regularly undergo the kind of transformation that would cause the Great Wyrm of the Night Skies to say "steady on!" on an almost weekly basis.

The Hollow growled. Fraynir was still irritated that the former Ambassador had had the temerity, bad timing, and ill grace to drop dead on what would have been his final trip to Anvil before his well-earned retirement. Runa felt that frustration himself of course. The plan had always been for Rak to remain available to offer his experience of the Empire to his successor, for as long as his declining health allowed. Now Runa knew he was in real danger of allowing the valuable detente Rak and his Imperial counterparts had constructed to fall apart - something the Dragons would never forgive.

Finally Fraynir, through the Hollow, cleared its throat.

"It has been a thousand years. Ten years longer is inconvenient." The Hollow sagged, dropped back into its chair, like the discarded puppet it was. Runa waited a minute or so to ensure that the Dragon had definitely ceased gracing him with its ageless wisdom. He squeezed the bridge of his nose and let out a gusting sigh before walking to the window and staring out across the frozen lake toward Wendell's Hope. Now began the task of trying to determine exactly what the One-Who-Waits wanted, and what the other four wanted, and come up with a plan to deliver that thing, without triggering a chaotic shift in Empire-Otkodov relations.

Like many who receive everything they thought they wanted, Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided was beginning to wonder if he had made a terrible, terrible mistake.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=thulebanner1.jpeg|align=left|caption=The Dragons rarely act without considering all the potential consequences; when they do act they are capable of doing so with overwhelming conviction.|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[Thule]] - the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]] - live in cold lands to the north of the Empire. They share a long mountainous border with [[Wintermark]], the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], and [[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.

For now, though, that peace endures. [[Dawn]] and [[Navarr]] send great shipments 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; and ensure Imperial access to the
[[Guardian_of_the_Maze_of_Zoria#The_Maze_of_Zoria|Maze of Zoria]] (while sending their own 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.

The official ambassador to the Empire from Otkodov used to be ''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided''. Unfortunately, it appears that the former ambassador passed away on their journey south to [[Anvil]] shortly before the Winter Solstice, and a new ambassador has taken their place.
{{Nation|nation=[[Thule]]|status=Foreigner|port=None|ambassador=Kindra Surefoot of [[Wintermark]]}}

==New Faces==
* '''The new Ambassador from Otkodov to the Empire is Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided'''
Following a delegation to Anvil [[Invited_with_asperity#State_Visit|last summit]], a small flurry of activity overtakes the ambassadorial offices in [[Miekarova]]. [[Thule_lore#Warlocks|Warlocks]] and [[Thule_lore#Bonded|bonded]] alike are seen rushing back and forth arranging things ready for their new boss, ''Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided'''. The new ambassador will certainly have his own ways of doing things, his own preferences, and perhaps his own staff to install. Much must be done to make the [[Miekarova#Embassy_to_Otkodov|ambassadorial offices]] in [[Miekarova#Mieriada|Mieriada]] ready for their new occupant.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Kindra Surefoot.jpg|caption='''Kindra Surefoot''', Ambassador to Otkodov|align=right|width=300}}
As quickly as it began, the activity subsides. Civil servants working with the ambassadorial offices report that it is as though Runa has ''always'' been the Speaker for the Dragons Undivided. Imperial title holders change frequently and their support staff must adapt to the new situation quickly to keep things running efficiently, but it is strange to see the same process in the context of the Thule, where many things have the feeling of being timeless and unchanging. One observer notes that conversations about things which happened only a season or two ago always seem a little stilted because the Thule staff speak of anything from Rak's tenure in the same way they talk about events from an ancient era long ago.
==Forward to the Future==
* '''Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided proposes a more private meeting with the Imperial ambassador at the Summer Solstice'''
The new ambassador is keen to establish further cooperation to benefit both parties under the auspices of the peace. Runa suggests that he meet with the ambassador at the Summer Solstice, in more private chambers as requested. For this season, they would appreciate if the ambassador could prepare a few items for the agenda and send them over for consideration - presumably the issues raised in their last missive and anything else pressing that may arise in the meantime. Runa will inform the [[Civil Service|civil service]] of any items the Thule wish to discuss ahead of the Summer Solstice, so that both parties may be prepared for the discussion.
==Ice and Weirwood==
* '''Thania of the Blackstaff remains interested in securing ritual texts researched at the Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun'''
* '''Orobus the Chained is still interested in acquiring weirwood'''
Last season, two offers were presented to the Empire by the Thule. One involved the purchase of certain ritual texts from the Conclave, for magic researched at the [[Master of Ice and Darkness#Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun|Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun]] before the warlocks [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness#Warlocks_of_Otkodov|now resident there]] had moved in. Thania of the Blackstaff, who leads the warlock contingent, is only a little disappointed that the [[dissemination]] of these ritual texts has not taken place - mostly because she is used to dealing with her peers in Otkodov where everything tends to move at a glacial speed until it doesn't. She's let it be known that the opportunity still exists, and will do so as long as she is in Miekarova and has the favour of the Dragons. Details of the opportunity have been added to the [[Master of Ice and Darkness]] page.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Lann.png|title=Rune: Lann|align=right}}
The other was an enquiry from ''Orobus the Chained'', one of the Dragons themselves, who was interested in [[Invited_with_asperity#Orobus and the Bonewood|acquiring weirwood saplings]] from the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]] and/or the [[Golden Trees of Seren]] which she plans to transplant into the [[Ossium#Bonewood|Silent Pines]] in [[Ossium]]. She is apparently looking for trees that "remember" the vallorn, who will be able to "share" their experiences with the trees of the Bonewood. 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. Runa says that the offer is still open, but only in the short term as it will soon be "too late" apparently. If either of the new Bourse seat holders are interested in taking advantage of this offer, they will either need to send a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to Runa directly, or ask the Ambassador to communicate their agreement in their own missive. Either way this opportunity is lost by the end of the Spring Equinox.
==Walls of Starless Night==
* '''The Thule remain committed to the destruction of the vallorn as it will serve their long-term interests'''
* '''The Dragon Fraynir invites an appraisal into ways their warding techniques might be adapted by the Empire'''
* '''In return, the Dragon requires a ritual text of ''Dreadful Ending'' from the Conclave'''
As discussed [[Invited_with_asperity#Fraynir_and_the_Black_Waste|last season]], the Thule have a vested interest in discussion of the [[vallorn]]. They cooperated with the Empire in finding a solution to the problem of the Doom of Terunael, offering their understanding of the vallorn of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Stathas]] in Sküld, which surrounds the city of Emrys. Their motives are not altruistic; they desire access to the largely untouched ruins of Emrys, and an end to the [[Wither the Seed|punishing Winter curse]] that, along with the cold climate, keeps "their" vallorn quiescent.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Appraise Thule Wards'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Appraisal]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* As with any appraisal, prsents opportunities related to the Thule use of permanent Winter wards to provide sanctuaries to when fighting the exsurgent vallorn.
* The Senate will need to specify which prognosticator will undertake the appraisal as normal
</td></tr>
</table></div>
''Fraynir, the One-Who-Waits'' has instructed the ambassador to offer a ritual to the Empire they say will help contain the threat. In return they asked for a copy of [[Dreadful Ending]], a ritual that destroys [[Druj_miasma#Miasma_Pillars|Druj miasma pillars]]. Unbeknownst to the Dragon, the Empire already has a ritual that sounds very similar to ''Walls of Starless Night'' - [[Wardens of the Black Waste]]. As such, Ambassador Kindra has suggested that an exchange would be more compelling if it ''also'' included details of the wards Fraynir is establishing around the vallorn of the north.

As a consequence, Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided has conveyed the words of the Dragons. Rather than allow any misunderstanding, the One-Who-Waits offers a chance for the [[Senate]] to commission an [[appraisal]] into the matter of how the Empire might duplicate the project the Thule have undertaken in Sküld. As long as the [[dissemination]] of ''Dreadful Ending'' has been sanctioned by the [[Conclave]], either before or at the same time the appraisal is commissioned, the warlocks who are overseeing the project will cooperate fully with Imperial prognosticators. Runa advises that if the Empire wishes to go ahead, the Ambassador will want to make sure that whoever comes to work with the Thule is versed in magical theory - the realm does not matter but it will be frustrating for everyone involved if the warlocks have to start from the basics of how wards are created and work.

The civil service confirm that the Prognosticator's Office is capable of undertaking such a project with the Thule. They do not anticipate it taking any longer than usual, and given it comes in response to an explicit invitation there should be no repeat of previous unfortunate events involving members of the Department of Historical Research. It's worth noting however that the project Fraynir is undertaking involves creating warded camps where Thule warriors can recover and recuperate while fighting the vallorn, that anchor permanent wards and do not offer complete protection from vallornspawn - they weaken the more dangerous such creatures but they do little to physically hold them back. The needs and resources of the Empire are different to those of the Thule, but there is confidence that there would still be value in this rare sharing of expertise.

Provided the Conclave is in agreement, of course.
==Mushrooms and Malachite==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=SpringRune.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=DayRune.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=NightRune.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Last season magic was worked in Sermersuaq, Miekarova, and Ossium that impacted the Thule living there
* '''Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided expresses concern about Imperial magic that effects citizens of Otkodov
* '''An ultimatuum has been issued relating to one of the three pieces of magic worked
At the Winter Solstice, two powerful magical workings were laid down by Imperial magicians that have impacted the Thule. This is inevitable, because while ''politically'' [[Skarsind#Crow's Ridge|Crow's Ridge]], [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]], [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]], [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]], [[Miekarova#Mieriada|Mieriada]] and [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]], are part of Otkodov, as far as the [[Laws_of_magic#The_Law_of_Dominion|Law of Dominion]] is concerned these regions are still part of the territory in which they lie.

If the [[Spring magic]] laid over [[Ossium]] had been a typical [[Regrow the Land's Heart]] there would likely be no issue here. As it is, that [[enchantment]] was [[Mushroom,_mushroom,_mushroom#Regrow_the_Land's_Heart|empowered]] by the [[Llofir|Rot lord]] and that is a somewhat different matter. Ambassador Kindra provided advance warning, but as Runa politely points out, only after it was a little late for the warlocks of Thule to do anything about it. This particular enchantment has caused a little consternation in the [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]] and [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]]. The presence of [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] of the ''End of Empires'' is something the warlocks were able to deal with but the magic they brought with them nonetheless lead to an amount of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]] that the Thule were not entirely prepared for. There are boons and consequences for any eternal bargain, and ''Orobus the Chained'' has advised that this time the benefits in Ossium outweigh the problems. This will not always be the case, however. Runa proposes that one of the matters to be discussed at the upcoming Summer summit be a protocol for performing rituals on territories shared with the Thule - ''especially'' Ossium.

[[Sermersuaq]] has also been effected by potent, large scale magic, but here the Dragons are much less concerned. The effect brought the realm of ''[[Realms#Day|Sky and Ice]]'' into alignment with the plains and mountains, and provided the benefit of helping to remove the lingering corruption caused by human magicians meddling with the [[constellations|constellation]] known as the ''[[the Claw|Dragons Talon]]''. It also opened the way for heralds of the Day realm to enter the Silver Peaks unbidden; again the warlocks there were able to deal with them without causing problems though it was an unexpected additional drain on their time.

There is one final act of magic that has impacted lands that the Thule claim as part of Otkodov, and Runa is significantly less happy about this. It apparently involved a magical shroud laid over an area of [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]] associated with ancient Ushkan history. It is now apparently impossible for anyone to visit any of the [[Miekarova#The_Painted_Caves|Painted Caves]] in that region, and this has caused some concern among local warlocks. Runa is clear that this is unacceptable. The Empire ceded Miechernya, and the Thule agreed to "''maintain their current policy for the treatment of Imperial citizens choosing to remain and live in ceded lands''." There is no element of the [[Ratify_Thule_Treaty_Spring_387YE|treaty]] that allows for this kind of behaviour. Only the fact that this enchantment was of limited duration - it will fade during the Spring Equinox - has prevent any further fallout. If it happens again, ''Hinodir of the Bright Orb'' will remove it, and Runa will require the Empire to provide the mana required to do so in recompense.

The fact the Empire has laid three enchantments over territories containing Thule land in the same season is a cause for concern. Runa intends to discuss it in more detail at the Summer meeting, but in the interim requests that the Ambassador ensure that he is made aware of ritual magic that might impact the Thule living in Imperial territories so that they can at least prepare for it. This is in no way to be considered approval for such actions - and anything that harms the Thule directly will need to be mediated. Runa intends to discuss this in detail at the Summer meeting.

Further details of the three enchantments mentioned here, with reference to how they effect the Empire, can be found in the '''{{TBC}}''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Spider&WebIllustrationInk.JPG|align=right|width=300}}
==Bright Orbs in the Heavens==
* '''The Thule are very concerned about the chaos spreading in the Empire
* '''Hinodr of the Bright Orb advises Imperial magicians to stop meddling with the constellations
* '''Runa passes on words of cautious involving investigation of trolls
Last season the Empire experienced chaotic magic of its own as the Imperial regio "broke" and related supernatural events spread not only through Imperial territories but into neighbouring lands. The warlocks of Otkodov were mystified to find powerful magical shrouds blanketing Verthandi, Urdr, and Skuld, but Hinodir of the Bright Orb with her keen eye has identified that this is the result of some kind of ongoing wide-scale disorder related to the stars rather than cover for some Imperial attack.

Following on from the recent matter of the "Falconer", however, this is cause for some concern. The Dragons do not allow Thule warlocks to "meddle" with the constellations; astronomancy is practiced of course but it is a magical tradition that is carefully monitored to prevent exactly this kind of chaos. Only the Dragons truly understand the constellations, say the Thule. Other magicians tamper with them at their peril. Runa passes along a word of advice from Hinodir themselves; ancient wisdom teaches that drawing too close a connection between the constellations and any Empire is a surefire way to bring about that Empire's end. You can learn more about the situation besetting the Empire in the '''{{TBC}}''' wind of fortune.

On a thematically similar note, Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided mentions that Imperial scholars should also be very careful in their dealings with trolls. Specifically he mentions that it is vitally important that the Empire not underestimate just how destructive the constructed soldiers of the trolls can be. Even a single troll is capable of building a literal army of these things given enough time, and they are disproportionately terrible on the battlefield due to the difficulty of actually harming what amount to a cohort of walking stone walls armed with razor-sharp axes that do not feel pain or experience doubt. Exactly how Runa is aware that the Empire is having ''any'' dealings with trolls is not clear, but the civil service note that this is a ''very'' specific piece of advice from the new ambassador.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Forest of Ulnak regions.png|caption=The Forest of Ulnak is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
==Grim Faces==
* '''The Thule claim victory in their initial assault on the Forest of Ulnak
* '''None of the Empire's armies participated; those captains who supported the Thule will know more about the situation
The Thule have begun their attack against the Druj in the [[Forest of Ulnak]]. After the Winter Solstice their armies marched east out of [[Ossium]] and began a systematic conquest of the northern territory of [[the Mallum]]. During the Solstice, recruiters from Otkodov visited Anvil to secure Imperial mercenaries to support their armies, apparently with significant success.

[[Thule_lore#Dragons|Tathenon the Gyre]] is pleased by the number of Imperial captains who supported the ''Earthquake Drummers'' army in the attack against the Mallum. It is beneficial to both nations that the Thule and the Empire fight side-by-side against their mutual enemy. It is unfortunate, says Runa diplomatically, that despite the Thule committing three armies to the liberation of Sermersuaq, the Empire was unable to spare any of their own for an attack against the Druj. Yet the Dragons are far-sighted, and consider that Imperial efforts in the south - for all that it is far away - have still contributed to their victory albeit in a limited fashion. ''Hinodir of the Bright Orb'' has noted that if the captains likely involved in spying on the Forest had simply supported the Thule armies they would be even closer to their goal of ending Druj domination of the territory (the civil service believe the expert [[divination|diviner]] was able to identify that there was scouting taking place, but are confident he will not know how many people were involved, despite the dragon's claim).

Exact details of the campaign are not forthcoming beyond the fact that the Thule have been "victorious." Tathenon the Gyre continues to extend the hand of cooperation however. Military captains can join the Earthquake Drummers in their continued conquest of the Forest of Ulnak; the details of this [[opportunity]] are the same as presented in last events '''[[Invited_with_asperity#Hinodir,_Tathenon,_and_the_Eastern_Woods|Invited with asperity]]''' wind of fortune.

Likewise, Tathenon remains open to Imperial armies joining the assault. All they require is that the [[general]] acknowledges that they are following the strategy of Tathenon the Gyre. A general who does so will support the Thule conquest of the territory, contributing their efforts to that of the orc 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.

The civil service again 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, and that might even lead to unfortunate "friendly fire" incidents.
===Participation: Ulnak===
* '''Characters whose military units were operating in the Forest of Ulnak this season will receive additional information'''
Individual captains who accompanied the Earthquake Drummers, and anyone supporting the [[spy network]] in the Forest, will have more information about the situation there. This will take the form of a short out-of-character briefing in their packs, the information from which they can share or keep private as they see fit.

==Stolen Faces==
* '''A large number of Varushkan captains worked with the Thule Claws of the Dragon to root out the face-peeler horrors in Karsk and Ossium'''
The ''Claws of the Dragon'' are a cabal of Thule warlocks taked with rooting out threats to Otkodov arising from supernatural sources. Last season they were tasked by ''[[Thule_lore#Dragons|Caridis the Binder of Runes and Oaths]]'' to work with '''Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh''' and [[Invited_with_asperity#Caridis,_Sławomir,_and_the_Face-peelers|root out the face-peelers]] of Ossium and Karsk. The joint project involved scouring the wild places and isolated vales of eastern Varushka, including delving into those regions ceded to the Thule. The ultimate intent was to locate and destroy the ''trudniki'' - anthropophagic [[Varushkan_Monster#Wolves|wolves]] that combine stolen faces with malignant glamour to infiltrate and deceive in pursuit of their cannibalistic drives.

The quest to deal with the cannibals has caused some disruption in the two territories especially for those of the [[draughir]] [[lineage]] due to some unfortunate similarities between the most common trudnik disguise and the appearance of those who bear the touch of [[Winter magic]]. Thankfully, this disruption has now subsided, and it seems that the cooperative effort has been successful.

Full details of what has happened during the pursuit of the face-peelers can be found in the '''[[Lean and athirst]]''' wind of fortune.

{{Thule links}}

Voice irresistable

2026-05-31T14:59:13Z

Wrenna: /* Grim Faces */

[[Category:Winds of Fortune]][[Category:388YE Spring]][[Category:Foreign Nations]]
<ic>"They remain committed to rendering the vallorn vulnerable then." It was not a question. The One-Who-Waits rarely asked questions, and when it did it was usually a prelude to something awful happening.

Ambassador Runa kept his eyes downcast, as was appropriate. He never failed to marvel at the change that a Hollow underwent when one of the Five spoke through it. The slumped, unfocused, slack-jawed orc of mere minutes before was replaced with a towering, terrible presence, its stance hunched, its gaze burning into the top of Runa's head like a hot poker in ice, as if it could read the very thoughts of the new Ambassador. Perhaps it could. The Dragons were as far beyond the warlocks in their magical mastery as the warlocks were beyond the lowest bonded labouring in a mine.

"It seems to be more complicated than that, Revered One." It was ''always'' more complicated than that, when the Empire was involved. "The Ambassador said they remain committed and I am inclined to believe her. On the other hand some of the Generals who spoke with Hekla said that it will be at least five years before any concrete movement is made, and a further five before victory, if not more."

Silence stretched, as the Dragon digested this information. Occasionally Runa wondered if the reason Fraynir spoke as it did was because it was stating how it expected the world to be, and any challenge to that needed to be examined carefully to determine how it might best be beaten into the shape it required it to take.

"Chaos." Said the Dragon. The Hollow coughed. It was an old Hollow. "Not unexpected."

The One-Who-Waits was quoting Runa's predecessor, Rak, who always used that word every time he tried explain the reason dealing with the Empire was so challenging. In general Otkodov changed slowly, carefully, expertly guided by the hand of the Dragons. In comparison the Empire seemed to regularly undergo the kind of transformation that would cause the Great Wyrm of the Night Skies to say "steady on!" on an almost weekly basis.

The Hollow growled. Fraynir was still irritated that the former Ambassador had had the temerity, bad timing, and ill grace to drop dead on what would have been his final trip to Anvil before his well-earned retirement. Runa felt that frustration himself of course. The plan had always been for Rak to remain available to offer his experience of the Empire to his successor, for as long as his declining health allowed. Now Runa knew he was in real danger of allowing the valuable detente Rak and his Imperial counterparts had constructed to fall apart - something the Dragons would never forgive.

Finally Fraynir, through the Hollow, cleared its throat.

"It has been a thousand years. Ten years longer is inconvenient." The Hollow sagged, dropped back into its chair, like the discarded puppet it was. Runa waited a minute or so to ensure that the Dragon had definitely ceased gracing him with its ageless wisdom. He squeezed the bridge of his nose and let out a gusting sigh before walking to the window and staring out across the frozen lake toward Wendell's Hope. Now began the task of trying to determine exactly what the One-Who-Waits wanted, and what the other four wanted, and come up with a plan to deliver that thing, without triggering a chaotic shift in Empire-Otkodov relations.

Like many who receive everything they thought they wanted, Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided was beginning to wonder if he had made a terrible, terrible mistake.</ic>
<div style="float:left; width: 300px; clear: right;">{{CaptionedImage|file=thulebanner1.jpeg|align=left|caption=The Dragons rarely act without considering all the potential consequences; when they do act they are capable of doing so with overwhelming conviction.|width=300}}</div>
==Overview==
The [[Thule]] - the [[orc|orcs]] of [[Otkodov]] - live in cold lands to the north of the Empire. They share a long mountainous border with [[Wintermark]], the [[Imperial Orcs|Unshackled]], and [[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.

For now, though, that peace endures. [[Dawn]] and [[Navarr]] send great shipments 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; and ensure Imperial access to the
[[Guardian_of_the_Maze_of_Zoria#The_Maze_of_Zoria|Maze of Zoria]] (while sending their own 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.

The official ambassador to the Empire from Otkodov used to be ''Rak Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided''. Unfortunately, it appears that the former ambassador passed away on their journey south to [[Anvil]] shortly before the Winter Solstice, and a new ambassador has taken their place.
{{Nation|nation=[[Thule]]|status=Foreigner|port=None|ambassador=Kindra Surefoot of [[Wintermark]]}}

==New Faces==
* '''The new Ambassador from Otkodov to the Empire is Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided'''
Following a delegation to Anvil [[Invited_with_asperity#State_Visit|last summit]], a small flurry of activity overtakes the ambassadorial offices in [[Miekarova]]. [[Thule_lore#Warlocks|Warlocks]] and [[Thule_lore#Bonded|bonded]] alike are seen rushing back and forth arranging things ready for their new boss, ''Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided'''. The new ambassador will certainly have his own ways of doing things, his own preferences, and perhaps his own staff to install. Much must be done to make the [[Miekarova#Embassy_to_Otkodov|ambassadorial offices]] in [[Miekarova#Mieriada|Mieriada]] ready for their new occupant.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Kindra Surefoot.jpg|caption='''Kindra Surefoot''', Ambassador to Otkodov|align=right|width=300}}
As quickly as it began, the activity subsides. Civil servants working with the ambassadorial offices report that it is as though Runa has ''always'' been the Speaker for the Dragons Undivided. Imperial title holders change frequently and their support staff must adapt to the new situation quickly to keep things running efficiently, but it is strange to see the same process in the context of the Thule, where many things have the feeling of being timeless and unchanging. One observer notes that conversations about things which happened only a season or two ago always seem a little stilted because the Thule staff speak of anything from Rak's tenure in the same way they talk about events from an ancient era long ago.
==Forward to the Future==
* '''Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided proposes a more private meeting with the Imperial ambassador at the Summer Solstice'''
The new ambassador is keen to establish further cooperation to benefit both parties under the auspices of the peace. Runa suggests that he meet with the ambassador at the Summer Solstice, in more private chambers as requested. For this season, they would appreciate if the ambassador could prepare a few items for the agenda and send them over for consideration - presumably the issues raised in their last missive and anything else pressing that may arise in the meantime. Runa will inform the [[Civil Service|civil service]] of any items the Thule wish to discuss ahead of the Summer Solstice, so that both parties may be prepared for the discussion.
==Ice and Weirwood==
* '''Thania of the Blackstaff remains interested in securing ritual texts researched at the Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun'''
* '''Orobus the Chained is still interested in acquiring weirwood'''
Last season, two offers were presented to the Empire by the Thule. One involved the purchase of certain ritual texts from the Conclave, for magic researched at the [[Master of Ice and Darkness#Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun|Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun]] before the warlocks [[Master_of_Ice_and_Darkness#Warlocks_of_Otkodov|now resident there]] had moved in. Thania of the Blackstaff, who leads the warlock contingent, is only a little disappointed that the [[dissemination]] of these ritual texts has not taken place - mostly because she is used to dealing with her peers in Otkodov where everything tends to move at a glacial speed until it doesn't. She's let it be known that the opportunity still exists, and will do so as long as she is in Miekarova and has the favour of the Dragons. Details of the opportunity have been added to the [[Master of Ice and Darkness]] page.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Lann.png|title=Rune: Lann|align=right}}
The other was an enquiry from ''Orobus the Chained'', one of the Dragons themselves, who was interested in [[Invited_with_asperity#Orobus and the Bonewood|acquiring weirwood saplings]] from the [[Heartwood of the Great Vale]] and/or the [[Golden Trees of Seren]] which she plans to transplant into the [[Ossium#Bonewood|Silent Pines]] in [[Ossium]]. She is apparently looking for trees that "remember" the vallorn, who will be able to "share" their experiences with the trees of the Bonewood. 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. Runa says that the offer is still open, but only in the short term as it will soon be "too late" apparently. If either of the new Bourse seat holders are interested in taking advantage of this offer, they will either need to send a [[Call Winged Messenger|Winged Messenger]] to Runa directly, or ask the Ambassador to communicate their agreement in their own missive. Either way this opportunity is lost by the end of the Spring Equinox.
==Walls of Starless Night==
* '''The Thule remain committed to the destruction of the vallorn as it will serve their long-term interests'''
* '''The Dragon Fraynir invites an appraisal into ways their warding techniques might be adapted by the Empire'''
* '''In return, the Dragon requires a ritual text of ''Dreadful Ending'' from the Conclave'''
As discussed [[Invited_with_asperity#Fraynir_and_the_Black_Waste|last season]], the Thule have a vested interest in discussion of the [[vallorn]]. They cooperated with the Empire in finding a solution to the problem of the Doom of Terunael, offering their understanding of the vallorn of [[Otkodov#Sküld|Stathas]] in Sküld, which surrounds the city of Emrys. Their motives are not altruistic; they desire access to the largely untouched ruins of Emrys, and an end to the [[Wither the Seed|punishing Winter curse]] that, along with the cold climate, keeps "their" vallorn quiescent.
<div style="float:right; width: 400px; clear: right; margin-left:10px;">
<table class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
<tr><td style="background-color: LightYellow;">'''Appraise Thule Wards'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Commission Type:''' [[Appraisal]]</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Availability:''' Until the end of the Summer Solstice 388YE</td></tr>
<tr><td>'''Effect:'''
* As with any appraisal, prsents opportunities related to the Thule use of permanent Winter wards to provide sanctuaries to when fighting the exsurgent vallorn.
* The Senate will need to specify which prognosticator will undertake the appraisal as normal
</td></tr>
</table></div>
''Fraynir, the One-Who-Waits'' has instructed the ambassador to offer a ritual to the Empire they say will help contain the threat. In return they asked for a copy of [[Dreadful Ending]], a ritual that destroys [[Druj_miasma#Miasma_Pillars|Druj miasma pillars]]. Unbeknownst to the Dragon, the Empire already has a ritual that sounds very similar to ''Walls of Starless Night'' - [[Wardens of the Black Waste]]. As such, Ambassador Kindra has suggested that an exchange would be more compelling if it ''also'' included details of the wards Fraynir is establishing around the vallorn of the north.

As a consequence, Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided has conveyed the words of the Dragons. Rather than allow any misunderstanding, the One-Who-Waits offers a chance for the [[Senate]] to commission an [[appraisal]] into the matter of how the Empire might duplicate the project the Thule have undertaken in Sküld. As long as the [[dissemination]] of ''Dreadful Ending'' has been sanctioned by the [[Conclave]], either before or at the same time the appraisal is commissioned, the warlocks who are overseeing the project will cooperate fully with Imperial prognosticators. Runa advises that if the Empire wishes to go ahead, the Ambassador will want to make sure that whoever comes to work with the Thule is versed in magical theory - the realm does not matter but it will be frustrating for everyone involved if the warlocks have to start from the basics of how wards are created and work.

The civil service confirm that the Prognosticator's Office is capable of undertaking such a project with the Thule. They do not anticipate it taking any longer than usual, and given it comes in response to an explicit invitation there should be no repeat of previous unfortunate events involving members of the Department of Historical Research. It's worth noting however that the project Fraynir is undertaking involves creating warded camps where Thule warriors can recover and recuperate while fighting the vallorn, that anchor permanent wards and do not offer complete protection from vallornspawn - they weaken the more dangerous such creatures but they do little to physically hold them back. The needs and resources of the Empire are different to those of the Thule, but there is confidence that there would still be value in this rare sharing of expertise.

Provided the Conclave is in agreement, of course.
==Mushrooms and Malachite==
<div style="float:right; width: 200px; clear: left;">
{{CaptionedImage|file=SpringRune.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=DayRune.jpg|align=right|width=200}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=NightRune.jpg|align=right|width=200}}</div>
* '''Last season magic was worked in Sermersuaq, Miekarova, and Ossium that impacted the Thule living there
* '''Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided expresses concern about Imperial magic that effects citizens of Otkodov
* '''An ultimatuum has been issued relating to one of the three pieces of magic worked
At the Winter Solstice, two powerful magical workings were laid down by Imperial magicians that have impacted the Thule. This is inevitable, because while ''politically'' [[Skarsind#Crow's Ridge|Crow's Ridge]], [[Sermersuaq#Silver Peaks|Silver Peaks]], [[Karsk#Krevsaty|Krevsaty]], [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]], [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]], [[Miekarova#Mieriada|Mieriada]] and [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]], are part of Otkodov, as far as the [[Laws_of_magic#The_Law_of_Dominion|Law of Dominion]] is concerned these regions are still part of the territory in which they lie.

If the [[Spring magic]] laid over [[Ossium]] had been a typical [[Regrow the Land's Heart]] there would likely be no issue here. As it is, that [[enchantment]] was [[Mushroom,_mushroom,_mushroom#Regrow_the_Land's_Heart|empowered]] by the [[Llofir|Rot lord]] and that is a somewhat different matter. Ambassador Kindra provided advance warning, but as Runa politely points out, only after it was a little late for the warlocks of Thule to do anything about it. This particular enchantment has caused a little consternation in the [[Ossium#Bonewood|Bonewood]] and [[Ossium#Webwood|Webwood]]. The presence of [[Inhabitants of the realms#Heralds|heralds]] of the ''End of Empires'' is something the warlocks were able to deal with but the magic they brought with them nonetheless lead to an amount of [[Spring magic#Ruin|ruin]] that the Thule were not entirely prepared for. There are boons and consequences for any eternal bargain, and ''Orobus the Chained'' has advised that this time the benefits in Ossium outweigh the problems. This will not always be the case, however. Runa proposes that one of the matters to be discussed at the upcoming Summer summit be a protocol for performing rituals on territories shared with the Thule - ''especially'' Ossium.

[[Sermersuaq]] has also been effected by potent, large scale magic, but here the Dragons are much less concerned. The effect brought the realm of ''[[Realms#Day|Sky and Ice]]'' into alignment with the plains and mountains, and provided the benefit of helping to remove the lingering corruption caused by human magicians meddling with the [[constellations|constellation]] known as the ''[[the Claw|Dragons Talon]]''. It also opened the way for heralds of the Day realm to enter the Silver Peaks unbidden; again the warlocks there were able to deal with them without causing problems though it was an unexpected additional drain on their time.

There is one final act of magic that has impacted lands that the Thule claim as part of Otkodov, and Runa is significantly less happy about this. It apparently involved a magical shroud laid over an area of [[Miekarova#Miechernya|Miechernya]] associated with ancient Ushkan history. It is now apparently impossible for anyone to visit any of the [[Miekarova#The_Painted_Caves|Painted Caves]] in that region, and this has caused some concern among local warlocks. Runa is clear that this is unacceptable. The Empire ceded Miechernya, and the Thule agreed to "''maintain their current policy for the treatment of Imperial citizens choosing to remain and live in ceded lands''." There is no element of the [[Ratify_Thule_Treaty_Spring_387YE|treaty]] that allows for this kind of behaviour. Only the fact that this enchantment was of limited duration - it will fade during the Spring Equinox - has prevent any further fallout. If it happens again, ''Hinodir of the Bright Orb'' will remove it, and Runa will require the Empire to provide the mana required to do so in recompense.

The fact the Empire has laid three enchantments over territories containing Thule land in the same season is a cause for concern. Runa intends to discuss it in more detail at the Summer meeting, but in the interim requests that the Ambassador ensure that he is made aware of ritual magic that might impact the Thule living in Imperial territories so that they can at least prepare for it. This is in no way to be considered approval for such actions - and anything that harms the Thule directly will need to be mediated. Runa intends to discuss this in detail at the Summer meeting.

Further details of the three enchantments mentioned here, with reference to how they effect the Empire, can be found in the '''{{TBC}}''' wind of fortune.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Spider&WebIllustrationInk.JPG|align=right|width=300}}
==Bright Orbs in the Heavens==
* '''The Thule are very concerned about the chaos spreading in the Empire
* '''Hinodr of the Bright Orb advises Imperial magicians to stop meddling with the constellations
* '''Runa passes on words of cautious involving investigation of trolls
Last season the Empire experienced chaotic magic of its own as the Imperial regio "broke" and related supernatural events spread not only through Imperial territories but into neighbouring lands. The warlocks of Otkodov were mystified to find powerful magical shrouds blanketing Verthandi, Urdr, and Skuld, but Hinodir of the Bright Orb with her keen eye has identified that this is the result of some kind of ongoing wide-scale disorder related to the stars rather than cover for some Imperial attack.

Following on from the recent matter of the "Falconer", however, this is cause for some concern. The Dragons do not allow Thule warlocks to "meddle" with the constellations; astronomancy is practiced of course but it is a magical tradition that is carefully monitored to prevent exactly this kind of chaos. Only the Dragons truly understand the constellations, say the Thule. Other magicians tamper with them at their peril. Runa passes along a word of advice from Hinodir themselves; ancient wisdom teaches that drawing too close a connection between the constellations and any Empire is a surefire way to bring about that Empire's end. You can learn more about the situation besetting the Empire in the '''{{TBC}}''' wind of fortune.

On a thematically similar note, Runa Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided mentions that Imperial scholars should also be very careful in their dealings with trolls. Specifically he mentions that it is vitally important that the Empire not underestimate just how destructive the constructed soldiers of the trolls can be. Even a single troll is capable of building a literal army of these things given enough time, and they are disproportionately terrible on the battlefield due to the difficulty of actually harming what amount to a cohort of walking stone walls armed with razor-sharp axes that do not feel pain or experience doubt. Exactly how Runa is aware that the Empire is having ''any'' dealings with trolls is not clear, but the civil service note that this is a ''very'' specific piece of advice from the new ambassador.
<div style="float:right; width: 600px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Forest of Ulnak regions.png|caption=The Forest of Ulnak is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.|align=right|width=600}}</div>
==Grim Faces==
* '''The Thule claim victory in their initial assault on the Forest of Ulnak
* '''None of the Empire's armies participated; those captains who supported the Thule will know more about the situation
The Thule have begun their attack against the Druj in the [[Forest of Ulnak]]. After the Winter Solstice their armies marched east out of [[Ossium]] and began a systematic conquest of the northern territory of [[the Mallum]]. During the Solstice, recruiters from Otkodov visited Anvil to secure Imperial mercenaries to support their armies, apparently with significant success.

[[Thule_lore#Dragons|Tathenon the Gyre]] is pleased by the number of Imperial captains who supported the ''Earthquake Drummers'' army in the attack against the Mallum. It is beneficial to both nations that the Thule and the Empire fight side-by-side against their mutual enemy. It is unfortunate, says Runa diplomatically, that despite the Thule committing three armies to the liberation of Sermersuaq, the Empire was unable to spare any of their own for an attack against the Druj. Yet the Dragons are far-sighted, and consider that Imperial efforts in the south - for all that it is far away - have still contributed to their victory albeit in a limited fashion. ''Hinodir of the Bright Orb'' has noted that if the captains likely involved in spying on the Forest had simply supported the Thule armies they would be even closer to their goal of ending Druj domination of the territory (the civil service believe the expert [[divination|diviner]] was able to identify that there was scouting taking place, but are confident she will not know how many people were involved, despite the dragon's claim).

Exact details of the campaign are not forthcoming beyond the fact that the Thule have been "victorious." Tathenon the Gyre continues to extend the hand of cooperation however. Military captains can join the Earthquake Drummers in their continued conquest of the Forest of Ulnak; the details of this [[opportunity]] are the same as presented in last events '''[[Invited_with_asperity#Hinodir,_Tathenon,_and_the_Eastern_Woods|Invited with asperity]]''' wind of fortune.

Likewise, Tathenon remains open to Imperial armies joining the assault. All they require is that the [[general]] acknowledges that they are following the strategy of Tathenon the Gyre. A general who does so will support the Thule conquest of the territory, contributing their efforts to that of the orc 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.

The civil service again 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, and that might even lead to unfortunate "friendly fire" incidents.
===Participation: Ulnak===
* '''Characters whose military units were operating in the Forest of Ulnak this season will receive additional information'''
Individual captains who accompanied the Earthquake Drummers, and anyone supporting the [[spy network]] in the Forest, will have more information about the situation there. This will take the form of a short out-of-character briefing in their packs, the information from which they can share or keep private as they see fit.

==Stolen Faces==
* '''A large number of Varushkan captains worked with the Thule Claws of the Dragon to root out the face-peeler horrors in Karsk and Ossium'''
The ''Claws of the Dragon'' are a cabal of Thule warlocks taked with rooting out threats to Otkodov arising from supernatural sources. Last season they were tasked by ''[[Thule_lore#Dragons|Caridis the Binder of Runes and Oaths]]'' to work with '''Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh''' and [[Invited_with_asperity#Caridis,_Sławomir,_and_the_Face-peelers|root out the face-peelers]] of Ossium and Karsk. The joint project involved scouring the wild places and isolated vales of eastern Varushka, including delving into those regions ceded to the Thule. The ultimate intent was to locate and destroy the ''trudniki'' - anthropophagic [[Varushkan_Monster#Wolves|wolves]] that combine stolen faces with malignant glamour to infiltrate and deceive in pursuit of their cannibalistic drives.

The quest to deal with the cannibals has caused some disruption in the two territories especially for those of the [[draughir]] [[lineage]] due to some unfortunate similarities between the most common trudnik disguise and the appearance of those who bear the touch of [[Winter magic]]. Thankfully, this disruption has now subsided, and it seems that the cooperative effort has been successful.

Full details of what has happened during the pursuit of the face-peelers can be found in the '''[[Lean and athirst]]''' wind of fortune.

{{Thule links}}

Imperial elections

2026-05-30T14:33:36Z

Wrenna:

{{CaptionedImage|file=Merlot.jpg|title=Merlot oversees and records the results of elections in all five political houses of the Empire.|caption=Merlot of the Civil Service, Overseer of Imperial Elections|align=right|width=450}}
All [[Imperial title|Imperial titles]] are elected or appointed at one of the quarterly gatherings at Anvil. These take place at the Summer and Winter Solstices and the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes. This is also when the Imperial Institutions meet and exercise their legal powers.

Some titles have tenure, the citizen may hold the title until it is revoked, they die or they relinquish the position. Most titles are either re-appointed each year following the Imperial [[election schedule]] or after the citizen has held the title for a year if one of the [[appointments by the Senate]]. Titles in the Conclave can be reappointed at any time by successful [[declaration]].

Elections are held by various different means (for example each nation uses their own traditional voting method to appoint their [[senator|senators]] whilst [[general|generals]] are usually appointed by unanimous agreement of a nations senators and [[sinecure|sinecures]] vary) and are observed to ensure there are no election irregularities by Merlot, the Civil Service Overseer of Imperial Elections. For example, with a few exceptions, an imperial citizen can only vote once per year on a particular matter. This is most commonly an issue with citizens of [[Navarr]] who as wanderers, often change the territory they are in, but are not then allowed to vote in their new territory until a full year has passed since they last had the opportunity to vote in their previous location's [[senator]] elections.

For a list of who currently holds every Imperial title see [[current Imperial titles]].

==Extraordinary Elections==
* '''If a scheduled title falls vacant early for any reason, then the Imperial civil service will arrange for an extraordinary election'''
* '''If the title becomes vacant at a summit, then the election takes place at the following summit'''
* '''Any citizen elected in an extraordinary election will hold the title until the date of the next election according to the regular schedule'''

If a title that is elected annually with a regular scheduled election date falls vacant for any reason, then the civil service will arrange an extraordinary election. This is an extra election which takes place to give the Empire an opportunity to fill the vacant title before the regular scheduled date. Any citizen elected to a position in an extraordinary election will hold the position until the title becomes due to be re-elected at the normal scheduled date.

This usually means they will hold the position for a reduced term - for example the Senator for Zenith is elected each year at the Winter Solstice summit. If the title falls vacant on the run up to the Summer Solstice, then the civil service will arrange an extraordinary election to appoint a new senator for Zenith at the Summer Solstice. The elected citizen will hold the position for two seasons - with a new election held at the regular date at the next Winter Solstice.

If a scheduled title becomes vacant on the run-up to a summit, then an extraordinary election will take place at the forthcoming summit. If a title becomes vacant during a summit, then an extraordinary election is held at the following summit.

The civil service have the power to arrange an extraordinary election where it is necessary to move a scheduled election date to ensure the smooth running of the Imperial government.

==Eligibility to Vote==
* '''Where relevant, the Empire identifies where your character lives based on the location of their resource'''
* '''To change territory, you must obtain a new resource in a new territory'''
In nations such as the Marches, the League and Navarr, your eligibility to vote in a senatorial election is based on your territory. Imperial citizens (especially the Navarr) may move freely around the Empire as they choose, however a resource ''cannot'' move. Because of this, the civil service use the location of your personal resource to determine your "territory" for determining eligibility for voting in senatorial elections. If you are a member of a nation that votes by territory and you wish to vote in a different territory then you must [[Resource#Changing_Territories|get a new personal resource in the new territory]].

The need to change resource still applies if you own a military unit or a fleet. Both these resources include the active service and involvement of a large number of Imperial citizens. These citizens have homes, families and roots in the territory they are based in - and they do not wish to change territory even though you do.

The laws for Imperial elections state that, if eligibility to vote in an election is restricted in some way, then you cannot vote if you were eligible to vote in an equivalent but different election in the last twelve months. For example, if you were eligible to vote for the [[Cardinal]] of Prosperity at the Winter Solstice - and you change faith to be part of the Ambition [[assembly]] - you cannot legally vote for the election of the Cardinal of Ambition until twelve months have passed from the date of the first election. To be eligible to vote you merely need to be present in Anvil at the summit where the election takes place (it does not matter if you did not actually vote). You must abstain from voting in an election if it occurs less than four events after the previous election. If you are in any doubt about your eligibility then you should consult Merlot, the civil service overseer of elections who can advise you.

Some nations do not restrict eligibility to vote in this way - for example, Highborn citizens with a congregation may vote in every Highborn senatorial election, regardless of their territory.

This restriction does not apply to eligibility to vote for a national title when a citizen changes nation.

Any Imperial citizen who believes that another citizen is committing electoral fraud by voting in an election they are not eligible for should bring the matter to the attention of the election overseer and the magistrates.

==Eligibility to Stand==
* '''You must be an Imperial citizen to be eligible for an Imperial position or for a virtue position'''
* '''You must be a member of the appropriate nation to be eligible for a national position.
* '''You do not need to be present to be granted an Imperial title'''
Only Imperial citizens may hold an Imperial title which is an Imperial or virtue position. If the title is a national position, then only a member of the appropriate nation is eligible to hold the title. In all cases, the rules for eligibility may restrict who can vote in the election for the title, but they do not restrict who is eligible to hold the position. For example, only League citizens who possess a business in Sarvos may vote in the Sarvos senatorial elections - but they may choose to vote for any citizen of the League.

It is not necessary for a citizen to be present to be granted an Imperial title, it is perfectly legal for citizens to elect a proxy or support a candidate who is absent for any reason.

==Multiple Titles==
* '''It is not legal for a citizen to accept two Imperial titles'''
The constitution mandates that no Imperial citizen may wield the power of two Imperial titles at the same time. If a citizen who holds an Imperial title is granted a second Imperial title, then they must either renounce their current title or turn down the new position. To avoid any risk of being prosecuted for subverting Imperial law, a citizen should not wield any powers of their new Imperial title until they have had a chance to inform the civil servants in charge of elections which title they intend to renounce.

[[Category:The Empire]]
[[Category:Title]]
[[Category:Elections]]

388YE Spring Equinox winds of fortune

2026-05-26T22:36:02Z

Wrenna:

[[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==
===Arranging Grace (Sodality)===
* '''The Throne; Imperial Senate; artists of all stripes; patrons of the arts; Azure Sutannir, Curator of Memories, Curator of the Blood Red River, Dean of the First Voice Glade, High Bard of the Empire, Voice of the Twin Roses'''
[[The Throne]] has [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Appraise_the_Cat's_Graces|instructed]] the [[Civil Service|civil service]] to [[appraisal|appraise]] the constitutional implications around the creation of the ''Cat's Graces''. This potential [[Imperial sodality]] would be concerned with the promulgation of the arts across the Empire and by all accounts has strong backing across [[Anvil]] despite a [[Senate motion|motion]] to [[387YE_Summer_Solstice_Senate_sessions#Establish_the_Cat's_Graces|formalise]] them as an Imperial sodality narrowly failing to pass the [[Senate]]. Magistrate Abraham has reviewed the proposed manifesto of this new sodality, and delivers their findings first to [[Emperor Vesna]] and then to the rest of the Empire.

You can read about the new sodality and its implications, as well as some possibilities related to its manifesto, in the '''[[Arranging grace]]''' wind of fortune.

==Other Events==
===Greenwatcher===
* '''The title of Greenwatcher was mistakenly marked as inactive'''
* '''The title still exists with its responsibilities, but has no powers'''
* '''It will be available to elect at the Spring Equinox 388YE'''
The [[Greenwatcher]] was marked as inactive following [[Ossegrahn]] finally [[Songs like trees|turning away]] from the Empire. This was a mistake, as the responsibilities are still relevant. The title has been reinstated, though with none of the previously associated powers, as they were all derived from the eternal.

The Greenwatcher is still responsible for striving to prevent the vallorn from harming people of any nation, whether Imperial or not; they are also expected to actively work to warn others of the danger presented by the vallorn and ensure they take its threat seriously; finally, if the Greenwatch were to come under threat, it is the responsibility of the Greenwatcher to deal with those threats.

===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 was 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.

===Seeking the Karass===
* '''The preacher Jim led shamans, mystagogues and other willing members of the Imperial Orc assembly on a delegation to learn of the ancestors and beliefs held by the Karass'''
* '''A report of that expedition, which was successful, will be made available to each member of the assembly'''
* '''There was an opportunity during the expedition to form a bridge to a significant ancestor of the Karass. Additional briefing material is available for any character with a congregation who believes they would have made this bridge'''

Last season, the Imperial Orc Assembly [[387YE_Winter_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_158|voted]] to support [[Every_day_of_your_life#Spanning_the_Abyss|Bloodcrow Knott's declaration of his highest calling]] by asking shamans and mystagogues to join him on an expedition to learn more of the ancestors of the Karass. While it was not easy, the expedition has proved fruitful, and those who went with Jim had a chance to learn much of the Karass. A report will be made available to all members of the Imperial Orc assembly present at the Spring Equinox.

During the expedition, Nerru, an elderly member of the Illarawm successfully formed a bridge to an ancestor of the Karass with the help of Lenna, a young member of that sept. Anyone who receives the report may decide on reading it, that their character would have taken this opportunity to bridge to this ancestor with Lenna and Nerru's aid. If you do decide this, please let us know, a note will be made, and you will have access to additional briefing material designed to give a sense of the wisdom imparted by this pivotal Karass ancestor.

==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===
<table><tr><td style="background-color: LightGray;">'''Location'''</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">'''Opportunity'''</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">'''Opposition'''</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">'''Link'''</td><td style="background-color: LightGray;">'''Outcome'''</td></tr>
<tr><td>[[Mitwold|Mitwold, The Meadows, ''Two Barrel Field'']]</td><td>Defeat the Wayford Traitors</td><td>Traitorous Marchers</td><td>[[Rose_grow_the_rushes_o%27#Battle_Opportunity:_A_Dog_Barks|A Dog Barks]]</td><td>[[Field Marshal]] was '''William Guildenstern''' of [[the Marches]]; ''Bill of Beatsdown'' was killed; ''Stephen of Sarcombe'' survived; ''Jim Moor'' was murdered on the field; ''Jyll Longleys'', ''Jack Poultice'', and ''Dusty Cobb'' survived; The three items of worth were lost.</td></tr>

<tr><td>[[Sarangrave|Sarangrave, Thornfen, ''Camp Askoun Orama'']]</td><td>Protect the ''Shield''</td><td>Druj</td><td>[[Fire_and_the_flood#Battle_Opportunity:_The_Dead_Whisper|The Dead Whisper]]</td><td>[[Field Marshal]] was '''Earl Zoran De Orzel''' of [[Dawn]]; Druj successfully engaged; all ingots and measures captured; ''Rebuker of the Unwanted'' recovered; situation with captives unclear.</td></tr>

<tr><td>[[Skallahn|Skallahn, Ulfrsmoor, ''Eagle Scour'']]</td><td>Intercept Ghodi Uksahkka</td><td>Jotun</td><td>[[Rubies_in_the_snow#Battle_Opportunity:_The_Queen_Waits|The Queen Waits]]</td><td>Not taken; ''Ghodi Uksahkka'' safely arrived in Kierheim; Tromsdalen fyrd formed</td></tr>

<tr><td>[[Mareave|Mareave, Fleisardh, ''Capstone Veld'']]</td><td>Deny the Haulers of the Tide</td><td>Grendel</td><td>[[Scarlet_sands#Battle_Opportunity:_Rocks_Fall|Rocks Falls]]</td><td>Not taken; Fleisardh has gained the coastal quality; Weltsilver seals remain; ''Pinerunner Pattar'' discovered; ''Questionner Kester'' still alive</td></tr>
</table>

===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
|-
|}

Beliefs of the Great Forest

2026-05-18T14:15:26Z

Wrenna: /* Spirits and Trees */

[[Category:Great Forest Orcs]][[Category:Religion]]
<div style="float:left; width: 500px; clear: left;">{{CaptionedImage|file=Biogradska suma.jpg|align=left|caption=The orcs of the Great Forest believe that it once stretched across the whole of what is now the Empire and the Mallum.|width=500}}</div>
==Introduction==
During the Autumn Equinox 385YE, the Assembly of Pride took advantage of [[Tooth_by_tooth#Pride_and_Prejudice|an opportunity]] to send missionaries and [[wayfarer|wayfarers]] to other nations that did not share their understanding of the Way - not to convert them, but to increase the Empire's understanding of their beliefs. Their [[mandate]] was [[385YE_Autumn_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_26|enacted by]] Neala Blackhawk, who encouraged priests versed in Pride to visit the Great Forest Orcs. The timing seems propitious, given the Navarr and the orcs were working together to [[Ripples_and_shadows#Eaves_of_Peytaht|recover their homes]] in the [[the Barrens#Eaves of Peytaht|Eaves of Peytaht]]. Unfortunately, events quickly spiralled out of control when news of what had happened at [[Ripples_and_shadows#Hope's_Rest|Hope's Rest]], and later [[Ripples_and_shadows#Black_Wind|among the Black Wind]] reached them.

The priests visiting the Great Forest Orcs were able to increase their understanding of the Great Forest Orcs spiritual beliefs before events overtook them and what began in celebration ended in anger and fear. Apparently Chief Vallack has instructed his people to have no more discussion of spiritual matters for fear that the Empire use their beliefs and traditions as justification to declare them heretics.

The bulk of this report comes from the (primarily Navarr) priests of Pride who accompanied the Great Forest Orcs back to their homes in the Barrens, with a few notes from priests who have spoken to orcs settling in [[Therunin]], and later [[Miaren]] and [[Hercynia]].
==Virtues==
It's clear that the orcs of the Great Forest have been discussing the Way with our people – both their neighbours in Therunin and with people from many other nations while walking the [[trods]]. Their general consensus is that it has little to interest them, being primarily concerned with the souls of humans. Interestingly, however, they don't deny the value of the virtues although they don't enumerate and distinguish between them the way Imperial citizens do. Rather they have a small number of teachings that lay out a route by which they might seek to avoid the [[Imperial_Orcs_religious_beliefs#The_Howling_Abyss|Howling Abyss]] - although their conception of it is different to that of the [[Imperial Orcs]]. These teachings are very close that what the Empire would consider [[Wisdom]], [[Vigilance]], and [[Loyalty]] in particular.
==Spirits and Trees==
When the Great Forest Orcs first came to the Empire as refugees, there was a belief that they believed in “invisible spirits” that live in the forest and protect them from the Howling Abyss. The main breakthrough in recent discussions was regarding the nature of these spirits.

Unlike the Imperial Orcs, and many of the other septs the Empire is familiar with, the Great Forest Orcs do not believe that their ancestors “cross” the Howling Abyss. They do not believe in the concept of a world beyond this one; for the orcs of the Great Forest only the material world exists. They do believe that the world has spiritual aspects that cannot be understood by any living mortal, however. Speaking with some of their [[Shamans|shaman]] can apparently be a challenging experience because they employ a great deal of metaphor and symbolism. One of the priests involved in discussion, a mystic from distant Wintermark, apparently had some success teasing out these symbols and did good work exploring their parables and proverbs.

It is reasonably well know that the Great Forest Orcs conceive of the "Great Forest" as being an immense primeval woodland that once stretched across all of what is today the Empire and the Mallum. They've spoken of this before, and part of their reason for travelling the trods was to "reconnect" with pockets of this ancient woodland they say still exists especially in the wild woods of [[Varushka]]. The "Great Forest" is also apparently manifest in any number of [[weirwood]] groves, and the orcs have several times demonstrated a particular facility for working with the towering trees.

The belief in the Great Forest leads them to believe that the Howling Abyss is a consequence of the destruction of that forest; that it lies in the gaps between the remaining woodlands and as they widen the Abyss becomes more potent. After death, the Howling Abyss will seek to consume their spirits. Those who are strong enough to resist will remain in the world, and become part of the spirit of the Great Forest. They conceive of this state as being part of a grand gestalt of every Great Forest Orc ancestor. Unlike many other orcs, those of the Great Forest don't usually differentiate the voices they hear as belonging to one ancestor or another. Rather they think of them all as being the voice of the Great Forest. A chorus of voices, made up of all who have gone before who had the willpower and “silence of the soul” to resist the Howling Abyss.

==Weirwood Groves==
This is one of the reasons they are drawn to weirwood groves. They believe that the groves are the hearts of the ancient forest, or the most profound expression of its original expanse. They use rhythmic music and dance, as well as the more traditional bouts of physical prowess, to increase the volume of the ancestors' words but they believe that being in living groves of weirwood makes those voices clearer. They consider their prowess with weirwood, both in harvesting it and shaping it, to be a consequence of their connection to their ancestral spirits.
==Doctrine==
The priests of the Pride assembly who spoke with the Great Forest Orcs have tentatively proposed that their beliefs don't ''seem'' to contradict either the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Howling_Abyss|Doctrine of the Howling Abyss]] or the [[The_Doctrines_of_the_Faith#The_Doctrine_of_the_Ancestors|Doctrine of the Ancestors]].

They don't quite agree that an orc must be "known for their deeds" - rather there are several routes to becoming strong enough to resist destruction in the Howling Abyss, and their conception of the Howling Abyss and what it means to cross it is certainly different to that of most Imperial Orcs, but the fundamentals appear similar. In some ways there is similarity with the [[Yerende#Beliefs|beliefs]] of the [[Yerende]] sect, but where the [[Ossium|Ossian]] sept values "diligence" the Great Forest Orcs focus seems to be more around concepts of clarity, awareness of the world around them, self-knowledge, and commitment.

Obviously, these emissaries are not doctrinal scholars, and the decision is not theirs to make. Several have expressed the hope that recent developments in the Synod - the commitment of the Navarr to [[386YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements#Judgement_56|stand by their allies]] in the Great Forest in particular - will mean there is further opportunity to increase Imperial understanding of these allied orcs.
==Further Reading==
* [[Great Forest Orcs]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T10:29:22Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire". Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Historians of the Bay of Catazar generally place historical events within various eras. INSERT FLUFF ABOUT ERAS, MENTION SKEIN OF YEARS. MENTION ABOUT THE EDGES OF ERAS - AMBIGUITY. NOTE ABOUT ERAS AND DIVINATION IN OTHERS PARTS OF THE WORLD?

TIMELINE VISUALISATION?

==Resurgence (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (BRITTA), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS UPTIME".

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].

===(376YE) Death of the Young Empress===
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

</div>

==Decline (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (AHRAZ RESIGNS), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (WEAK THRONES, DIVIDED EMPIRE), VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS IN THE LIFETIME OF MOST PLAYER-CHARACTERS". ENDS WITH THE FALL OF SKARSIND/ASCENSION OF BRITTA.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
</div>

==Renewal (DATERANGE)==
CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT HOW THIS RELATES TO PCs (MANY PCs WILL HAVE HAD GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE END OF THIS ERA). HIGHLIGHT THE SLAVERY TRANSITION. BE CLEAR ABOUT THRONE AND DATE AND START AND END. BE CLEAR: DOES IT END WHEN THE BORDERS OR FIXED OR AT THE SECOND INTERREGNUM? WHAT CHARACTERISES AN INTERREGNUM? SLAVERY ENDED HERE.

The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
</div>

==Turmoil (DATERANGE)==
CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT NICOVAR: THIS IS THE EARLIEST PERIOD THAT THE EMPIRE HAS ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE DOCUMENTATION FROM. WHY DO WE DO THIS OC? WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT START AND END? SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

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===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? (THE FIRST INTERREGNUM). WHEN DOES THIS END? (THE BARRABINE DISASTER?). CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. VIBE. OC NOTE: ENTERING A PERIOD OF STORY MORE THAN HISTORY. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
</div>
==Consolidation (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? WHEN DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION AND GENERAL VIBE. OC NOTE: MANY "CORE" TERRITORIES CONQUERED HERE - SEMMERHOLM, KARAHMAN. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation (DATERANGE)==
WHERE DOES THIS START? WHERE DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE, OC NOTE IF NEEDED. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
</div>
==Pre-Imperial (DATERANGE)==
UNCLEAR WHERE THIS STARTS? ENDS WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (PRESUMABLY NOT "PRE-IMPERIAL" AT THE TIME). OC NOTE ABOUT HISTORY AND RELATING TO IT.
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Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
GIVE CLEAR START (OBVIOUS). ENDS WITH THE HIGHBORN COMING? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. WE NOTE ASAVEA IS FOUNDED HERE BUT ALSO CLAIM FOREIGN SCHOLARS CLAIM OTHERWISE??
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
WHAT AREA DOES TERUNAEL COVER? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE IT? WHERE DID IT ARISE FROM? WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. CONTEXT.
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
</div>
==Ancient==
EARLY HISTORY OF ORCS AND HUMANS. CLEARLY LINK ANY RELEVANT HR.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
</div>
==Before History==
BRIEF OC CONTEXT. MENTION LEVIATHAN?
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T10:29:03Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire". Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Historians of the Bay of Catazar generally place historical events within various eras. INSERT FLUFF ABOUT ERAS, MENTION SKEIN OF YEARS. MENTION ABOUT THE EDGES OF ERAS - AMBIGUITY. NOTE ABOUT ERAS AND DIVINATION IN OTHERS PARTS OF THE WORLD?

==Resurgence (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (BRITTA), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS UPTIME".

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].

===(376YE) Death of the Young Empress===
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

</div>

==Decline (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (AHRAZ RESIGNS), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (WEAK THRONES, DIVIDED EMPIRE), VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS IN THE LIFETIME OF MOST PLAYER-CHARACTERS". ENDS WITH THE FALL OF SKARSIND/ASCENSION OF BRITTA.

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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
</div>

==Renewal (DATERANGE)==
CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT HOW THIS RELATES TO PCs (MANY PCs WILL HAVE HAD GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE END OF THIS ERA). HIGHLIGHT THE SLAVERY TRANSITION. BE CLEAR ABOUT THRONE AND DATE AND START AND END. BE CLEAR: DOES IT END WHEN THE BORDERS OR FIXED OR AT THE SECOND INTERREGNUM? WHAT CHARACTERISES AN INTERREGNUM? SLAVERY ENDED HERE.

The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
</div>

==Turmoil (DATERANGE)==
CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT NICOVAR: THIS IS THE EARLIEST PERIOD THAT THE EMPIRE HAS ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE DOCUMENTATION FROM. WHY DO WE DO THIS OC? WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT START AND END? SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

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===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? (THE FIRST INTERREGNUM). WHEN DOES THIS END? (THE BARRABINE DISASTER?). CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. VIBE. OC NOTE: ENTERING A PERIOD OF STORY MORE THAN HISTORY. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
</div>
==Consolidation (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? WHEN DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION AND GENERAL VIBE. OC NOTE: MANY "CORE" TERRITORIES CONQUERED HERE - SEMMERHOLM, KARAHMAN. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation (DATERANGE)==
WHERE DOES THIS START? WHERE DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE, OC NOTE IF NEEDED. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
</div>
==Pre-Imperial (DATERANGE)==
UNCLEAR WHERE THIS STARTS? ENDS WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (PRESUMABLY NOT "PRE-IMPERIAL" AT THE TIME). OC NOTE ABOUT HISTORY AND RELATING TO IT.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
GIVE CLEAR START (OBVIOUS). ENDS WITH THE HIGHBORN COMING? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. WE NOTE ASAVEA IS FOUNDED HERE BUT ALSO CLAIM FOREIGN SCHOLARS CLAIM OTHERWISE??
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
WHAT AREA DOES TERUNAEL COVER? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE IT? WHERE DID IT ARISE FROM? WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. CONTEXT.
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
</div>
==Ancient==
EARLY HISTORY OF ORCS AND HUMANS. CLEARLY LINK ANY RELEVANT HR.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
</div>
==Before History==
BRIEF OC CONTEXT. MENTION LEVIATHAN?
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T10:28:52Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire". Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Historians of the Bay of Catazar generally place historical events within various eras. INSERT FLUFF ABOUT ERAS, MENTION SKEIN OF YEARS. MENTION ABOUT THE EDGES OF ERAS - AMBIGUITY. NOTE ABOUT ERAS AND DIVINATION IN OTHERS PARTS OF THE WORLD?

==Resurgence (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (BRITTA), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS UPTIME".

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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].

===(376YE) Death of the Young Empress===
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

</div>

==Decline (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (AHRAZ RESIGNS), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (WEAK THRONES, DIVIDED EMPIRE), VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS IN THE LIFETIME OF MOST PLAYER-CHARACTERS". ENDS WITH THE FALL OF SKARSIND/ASCENSION OF BRITTA.

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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
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==Renewal (DATERANGE)==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT HOW THIS RELATES TO PCs (MANY PCs WILL HAVE HAD GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE END OF THIS ERA). HIGHLIGHT THE SLAVERY TRANSITION. BE CLEAR ABOUT THRONE AND DATE AND START AND END. BE CLEAR: DOES IT END WHEN THE BORDERS OR FIXED OR AT THE SECOND INTERREGNUM? WHAT CHARACTERISES AN INTERREGNUM? SLAVERY ENDED HERE.

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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
</div>

==Turmoil (DATERANGE)==
CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT NICOVAR: THIS IS THE EARLIEST PERIOD THAT THE EMPIRE HAS ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE DOCUMENTATION FROM. WHY DO WE DO THIS OC? WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT START AND END? SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

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===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? (THE FIRST INTERREGNUM). WHEN DOES THIS END? (THE BARRABINE DISASTER?). CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. VIBE. OC NOTE: ENTERING A PERIOD OF STORY MORE THAN HISTORY. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
</div>
==Consolidation (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? WHEN DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION AND GENERAL VIBE. OC NOTE: MANY "CORE" TERRITORIES CONQUERED HERE - SEMMERHOLM, KARAHMAN. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation (DATERANGE)==
WHERE DOES THIS START? WHERE DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE, OC NOTE IF NEEDED. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
</div>
==Pre-Imperial (DATERANGE)==
UNCLEAR WHERE THIS STARTS? ENDS WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (PRESUMABLY NOT "PRE-IMPERIAL" AT THE TIME). OC NOTE ABOUT HISTORY AND RELATING TO IT.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
GIVE CLEAR START (OBVIOUS). ENDS WITH THE HIGHBORN COMING? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. WE NOTE ASAVEA IS FOUNDED HERE BUT ALSO CLAIM FOREIGN SCHOLARS CLAIM OTHERWISE??
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
WHAT AREA DOES TERUNAEL COVER? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE IT? WHERE DID IT ARISE FROM? WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. CONTEXT.
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
</div>
==Ancient==
EARLY HISTORY OF ORCS AND HUMANS. CLEARLY LINK ANY RELEVANT HR.
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This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
</div>
==Before History==
BRIEF OC CONTEXT. MENTION LEVIATHAN?
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T10:26:09Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire". Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Historians of the Bay of Catazar generally place historical events within various eras. INSERT FLUFF ABOUT ERAS, MENTION SKEIN OF YEARS. MENTION ABOUT THE EDGES OF ERAS - AMBIGUITY. NOTE ABOUT ERAS AND DIVINATION IN OTHERS PARTS OF THE WORLD?

==Resurgence (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (BRITTA), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS UPTIME".

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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].

===(376YE) Death of the Young Empress===
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

</div>

==Decline (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (AHRAZ RESIGNS), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (WEAK THRONES, DIVIDED EMPIRE), VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS IN THE LIFETIME OF MOST PLAYER-CHARACTERS". ENDS WITH THE FALL OF SKARSIND/ASCENSION OF BRITTA.

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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
</div>

==Renewal (DATERANGE)==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT HOW THIS RELATES TO PCs (MANY PCs WILL HAVE HAD GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE END OF THIS ERA). HIGHLIGHT THE SLAVERY TRANSITION. BE CLEAR ABOUT THRONE AND DATE AND START AND END. BE CLEAR: DOES IT END WHEN THE BORDERS OR FIXED OR AT THE SECOND INTERREGNUM? WHAT CHARACTERISES AN INTERREGNUM? SLAVERY ENDED HERE.

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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
</div>

==Turmoil (DATERANGE)==

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT NICOVAR: THIS IS THE EARLIEST PERIOD THAT THE EMPIRE HAS ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE DOCUMENTATION FROM. WHY DO WE DO THIS OC? WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT START AND END? SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

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This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? (THE FIRST INTERREGNUM). WHEN DOES THIS END? (THE BARRABINE DISASTER?). CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. VIBE. OC NOTE: ENTERING A PERIOD OF STORY MORE THAN HISTORY. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
</div>
==Consolidation (DATERANGE)==
WHEN DOES THIS START? WHEN DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION AND GENERAL VIBE. OC NOTE: MANY "CORE" TERRITORIES CONQUERED HERE - SEMMERHOLM, KARAHMAN. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation (DATERANGE)==
WHERE DOES THIS START? WHERE DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE, OC NOTE IF NEEDED. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
</div>
==Pre-Imperial (DATERANGE)==
UNCLEAR WHERE THIS STARTS? ENDS WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (PRESUMABLY NOT "PRE-IMPERIAL" AT THE TIME). OC NOTE ABOUT HISTORY AND RELATING TO IT.
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Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
GIVE CLEAR START (OBVIOUS). ENDS WITH THE HIGHBORN COMING? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. WE NOTE ASAVEA IS FOUNDED HERE BUT ALSO CLAIM FOREIGN SCHOLARS CLAIM OTHERWISE??
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
WHAT AREA DOES TERUNAEL COVER? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE IT? WHERE DID IT ARISE FROM? WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. CONTEXT.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
</div>
==Ancient==
EARLY HISTORY OF ORCS AND HUMANS. CLEARLY LINK ANY RELEVANT HR.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
</div>
==Before History==
BRIEF OC CONTEXT. MENTION LEVIATHAN?
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T10:25:12Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire". Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Historians of the Bay of Catazar generally place historical events within various eras. INSERT FLUFF ABOUT ERAS, MENTION SKEIN OF YEARS. MENTION ABOUT THE EDGES OF ERAS - AMBIGUITY. NOTE ABOUT ERAS AND DIVINATION IN OTHERS PARTS OF THE WORLD?

==Resurgence (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (BRITTA), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS UPTIME".

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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].

===(376YE) Death of the Young Empress===
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

</div>

==Decline (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (AHRAZ RESIGNS), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (WEAK THRONES, DIVIDED EMPIRE), VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS IN THE LIFETIME OF MOST PLAYER-CHARACTERS". ENDS WITH THE FALL OF SKARSIND/ASCENSION OF BRITTA.

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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
</div>

==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT HOW THIS RELATES TO PCs (MANY PCs WILL HAVE HAD GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE END OF THIS ERA). HIGHLIGHT THE SLAVERY TRANSITION. BE CLEAR ABOUT THRONE AND DATE AND START AND END. BE CLEAR: DOES IT END WHEN THE BORDERS OR FIXED OR AT THE SECOND INTERREGNUM? WHAT CHARACTERISES AN INTERREGNUM? SLAVERY ENDED HERE.

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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
</div>

==Turmoil==

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT NICOVAR: THIS IS THE EARLIEST PERIOD THAT THE EMPIRE HAS ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE DOCUMENTATION FROM. WHY DO WE DO THIS OC? WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT START AND END? SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion==
WHEN DOES THIS START? (THE FIRST INTERREGNUM). WHEN DOES THIS END? (THE BARRABINE DISASTER?). CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. VIBE. OC NOTE: ENTERING A PERIOD OF STORY MORE THAN HISTORY. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
</div>
==Consolidation==
WHEN DOES THIS START? WHEN DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION AND GENERAL VIBE. OC NOTE: MANY "CORE" TERRITORIES CONQUERED HERE - SEMMERHOLM, KARAHMAN. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation==
WHERE DOES THIS START? WHERE DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE, OC NOTE IF NEEDED. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
</div>
==Pre-Imperial==
UNCLEAR WHERE THIS STARTS? ENDS WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (PRESUMABLY NOT "PRE-IMPERIAL" AT THE TIME). OC NOTE ABOUT HISTORY AND RELATING TO IT.
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Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
GIVE CLEAR START (OBVIOUS). ENDS WITH THE HIGHBORN COMING? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. WE NOTE ASAVEA IS FOUNDED HERE BUT ALSO CLAIM FOREIGN SCHOLARS CLAIM OTHERWISE??
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
WHAT AREA DOES TERUNAEL COVER? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE IT? WHERE DID IT ARISE FROM? WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. CONTEXT.
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
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==Ancient==
EARLY HISTORY OF ORCS AND HUMANS. CLEARLY LINK ANY RELEVANT HR.
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This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
</div>
==Before History==
BRIEF OC CONTEXT. MENTION LEVIATHAN?
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T10:24:18Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire". Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Historians of the Bay of Catazar generally place historical events within various eras. INSERT FLUFF ABOUT ERAS, MENTION SKEIN OF YEARS. MENTION ABOUT THE EDGES OF ERAS - AMBIGUITY. NOTE ABOUT ERAS AND DIVINATION IN OTHERS PARTS OF THE WORLD?

==Resurgence (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (BRITTA), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS UPTIME".

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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].

===(376YE) Death of the Young Empress===
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

</div>

==Decline (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (AHRAZ RESIGNS), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (WEAK THRONES, DIVIDED EMPIRE), VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS IN THE LIFETIME OF MOST PLAYER-CHARACTERS". ENDS WITH THE FALL OF SKARSIND/ASCENSION OF BRITTA.

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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
</div>

==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT HOW THIS RELATES TO PCs (MANY PCs WILL HAVE HAD GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE END OF THIS ERA). HIGHLIGHT THE SLAVERY TRANSITION. BE CLEAR ABOUT THRONE AND DATE AND START AND END. BE CLEAR: DOES IT END WHEN THE BORDERS OR FIXED OR AT THE SECOND INTERREGNUM? WHAT CHARACTERISES AN INTERREGNUM? SLAVERY ENDED HERE.

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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
</div>

==Turmoil==

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT NICOVAR: THIS IS THE EARLIEST PERIOD THAT THE EMPIRE HAS ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE DOCUMENTATION FROM. WHY DO WE DO THIS OC? WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT START AND END? SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion==
WHEN DOES THIS START? (THE FIRST INTERREGNUM). WHEN DOES THIS END? (THE BARRABINE DISASTER?). CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. VIBE. OC NOTE: ENTERING A PERIOD OF STORY MORE THAN HISTORY. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
</div>
==Consolidation==
WHEN DOES THIS START? WHEN DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION AND GENERAL VIBE. OC NOTE: MANY "CORE" TERRITORIES CONQUERED HERE - SEMMERHOLM, KARAHMAN. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation==
WHERE DOES THIS START? WHERE DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE, OC NOTE IF NEEDED. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
</div>
==Pre-Imperial==
UNCLEAR WHERE THIS STARTS? ENDS WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (PRESUMABLY NOT "PRE-IMPERIAL" AT THE TIME). OC NOTE ABOUT HISTORY AND RELATING TO IT.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
GIVE CLEAR START (OBVIOUS). ENDS WITH THE HIGHBORN COMING? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. WE NOTE ASAVEA IS FOUNDED HERE BUT ALSO CLAIM FOREIGN SCHOLARS CLAIM OTHERWISE??
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
WHAT AREA DOES TERUNAEL COVER? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE IT? WHERE DID IT ARISE FROM? WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. CONTEXT.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
</div>
==Ancient==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
</div>
==Before History==
BRIEF OC CONTEXT. IS "DARK AGES" A SEPARATE ERA? MENTION LEVIATHAN?
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T10:23:58Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire". Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

Historians of the Bay of Catazar generally place historical events within various eras. INSERT FLUFF ABOUT ERAS, MENTION SKEIN OF YEARS. MENTION ABOUT THE EDGES OF ERAS - AMBIGUITY. NOTE ABOUT ERAS AND DIVINATION IN OTHERS PARTS OF THE WORLD?

==Resurgence (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (BRITTA), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS UPTIME".

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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].

===(376YE) Death of the Young Empress===
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

</div>

==Decline (DATERANGE)==
BLURB THAT DESCRIBES WHEN THIS STARTS (AHRAZ RESIGNS), CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (WEAK THRONES, DIVIDED EMPIRE), VIBE. OC NOTE ABOUT "THIS WAS IN THE LIFETIME OF MOST PLAYER-CHARACTERS". ENDS WITH THE FALL OF SKARSIND/ASCENSION OF BRITTA.

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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
</div>

==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT HOW THIS RELATES TO PCs (MANY PCs WILL HAVE HAD GRANDPARENTS WHO LIVED THROUGH THE END OF THIS ERA). HIGHLIGHT THE SLAVERY TRANSITION. BE CLEAR ABOUT THRONE AND DATE AND START AND END. BE CLEAR: DOES IT END WHEN THE BORDERS OR FIXED OR AT THE SECOND INTERREGNUM? WHAT CHARACTERISES AN INTERREGNUM? SLAVERY ENDED HERE.

<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
</div>

==Turmoil==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

CLEARLY DESCRIBE START AND END DATES AND THRONES. OC NOTE ABOUT NICOVAR: THIS IS THE EARLIEST PERIOD THAT THE EMPIRE HAS ANY KIND OF CONSISTENT AND RELIABLE DOCUMENTATION FROM. WHY DO WE DO THIS OC? WHEN EXACTLY DOES IT START AND END? SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion==
WHEN DOES THIS START? (THE FIRST INTERREGNUM). WHEN DOES THIS END? (THE BARRABINE DISASTER?). CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. VIBE. OC NOTE: ENTERING A PERIOD OF STORY MORE THAN HISTORY. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
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==Consolidation==
WHEN DOES THIS START? WHEN DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION AND GENERAL VIBE. OC NOTE: MANY "CORE" TERRITORIES CONQUERED HERE - SEMMERHOLM, KARAHMAN. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.

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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation==
WHERE DOES THIS START? WHERE DOES THIS END? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA, VIBE, OC NOTE IF NEEDED. SLAVERY PRESENT HERE.
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===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
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==Pre-Imperial==
UNCLEAR WHERE THIS STARTS? ENDS WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA (PRESUMABLY NOT "PRE-IMPERIAL" AT THE TIME). OC NOTE ABOUT HISTORY AND RELATING TO IT.
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Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
GIVE CLEAR START (OBVIOUS). ENDS WITH THE HIGHBORN COMING? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. WE NOTE ASAVEA IS FOUNDED HERE BUT ALSO CLAIM FOREIGN SCHOLARS CLAIM OTHERWISE??
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
WHAT AREA DOES TERUNAEL COVER? WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE IT? WHERE DID IT ARISE FROM? WHEN? CHARACTERISATION OF ERA. CONTEXT.
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
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==Ancient==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
</div>
==Before History==
BRIEF OC CONTEXT. IS "DARK AGES" A SEPARATE ERA? MENTION LEVIATHAN?
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T09:56:12Z

Wrenna:

__NOTOC__
==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

==Resurgence==
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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].
===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

====(376YE) Death of the Young Empress====
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.
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==Decline==
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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
</div>
==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.
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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
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==Turmoil==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
</div>
==Expansion==
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
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==Consolidation==
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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
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==Foundation==
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===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
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==Pre-Imperial==
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Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
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==Chaos==
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
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==Ancient==
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This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
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==Before History==
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
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==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T09:55:38Z

Wrenna:

==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

==Resurgence==
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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].
===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

====(376YE) Death of the Young Empress====
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.
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==Decline==
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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
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==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.
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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
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==Turmoil==
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This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.
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==Expansion==
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
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==Consolidation==
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===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
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==Foundation==
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===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
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==Pre-Imperial==
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Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
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==Chaos==
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
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==Ancient==
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This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
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==Before History==
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
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==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T09:55:13Z

Wrenna:

==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

==Resurgence==
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===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].
===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

====(376YE) Death of the Young Empress====
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.
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==Decline==
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===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.
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==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.
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===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.
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==Turmoil==
This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.

==Expansion==
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===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.
</div>
==Consolidation==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.
</div>
==Foundation==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.
</div>
==Pre-Imperial==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.
</div>
==Chaos==
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
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At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].
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==Ancient==
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed">
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.
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==Before History==
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Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.
</div>

==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna/History

2026-05-05T09:48:26Z

Wrenna: Created page with "==Overview== Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few Highborn historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from..."

==Overview==
Imperial historians date from the foundation of the Empire. Events that happened after the Empire is created are recorded as '''YE''' for "Year of the Empire" and '''BE''' for "Before the Empire." Most nations had their own calendars before the foundation of the Empire so historical documents that predate the Empire use different systems. A very few [[Highguard|Highborn]] historians stubbornly cling to the numbering '''SL''' for "Since Landfall" dating from the point at which they first set foot on these shores, but this is a largely discredited system.

==Resurgence==
===(380YE - 383YE) Reign of Empress Lisabetta, "Empress of Flowers"===
Appointed by the Senate at the Spring Equinox, Lisabetta Giacomi von Holberg of the House of Seven Mirrors claimed she was inspired by her countryman, the intellectual [[Emperor Frederick]], and by the example of the glorious [[Empress Richilde]], paragon of [[Pride]].
===(374YE - 376YE) Reign of Empress Britta, "the Young Empress"===
A Steinr woman named [[Empress Britta|Britta]] became the nineteenth Empress. In the wake of the disastrous Emperor Walter (who was already being termed "the Ham-fisted") she took up the sword and shield and challenged the corruption of the Senate and Synod. She surrounded herself with competent generals, and began to formulate and prosecute a campaign to recover lost territories and drive the barbarians back.

A popular and charismatic figure, she united the people of the Empire behind her and dealt ruthlessly with her enemies. She had the wisdom to select competent advisors. People began to call her the Young Empress, and hailed her as the reincarnation of the First Empress, come to protect the Empire in its time of need.

====(376YE) Death of the Young Empress====
The Empress Britta was killed during a disastrous attempt to retake Skarsind. Perhaps galvanised by this, the fastest campaign of conquest in Imperial history saw five territories previously lost returned to the Imperial fold. In the three years after her death, Skarsind, Karsk, Segura, Holberg, and Reikos were recaptured.

==Decline==
===(371YE - 373YE) Reign of Emperor Walter, "the Ham-fisted"===
[[Emperor Walter]] [[Upwold]] was a [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[naga]] who took the Throne under dubious circumstances and was widely considered to be a disaster for the Empire. Under his 'reign' the Senate fell even further into open bickering and factionalism. He choked to death on an olive pit in 373YE during a state dinner with a group of [[Sarcophan Delves|Sarcophan]] and [[Principalities of Jarm|Jarmish]] diplomats.

In the final year of his reign, the Thule continue their attacks across the northern borders of the Empire, taking control of the Wintermark territory of [[Skarsind]]. Some scholars speculate that the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death may have been linked to the loss of the Winterfolk holdings there.

===The Crows Gather===
Emperor Hugh's reign was marked by a catastrophic sequence of defeat, military blunders, and loss of territory. Almost as soon as he gained the Throne in 349YE, the Navarr territory of [[Liathaven]] was conquered by the [[Jotun]]. They move quickly to capitalise on their unexpected attack, efficiently conquering the [[Mournwold]] by the end of the year.

In 363YE, [[Segura]] was conquered by a unified force of orcs from the Lasambrian Hills; efforts to push into Kahraman, Feroz, and Madruga were repulsed by Imperial forces but disorganised attempts by the Empire to recapture the westernmost territory met with abject failure.

Four years later, the [[Druj]] launched an attack previously considered impossible; striking through the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] from [[the Barrens]], they quickly overwhelmed the defenders of [[Reikos]], conquering the territory by the close of 367YE.

Finally, in 368YE, the [[Thule]] joined the attack against the Empire, seizing the northern parts of the eastern territory of [[Karsk]] from [[Varushka]]. Hugh himself died during a desperate attempt to drive back the orcs of Otkodov.

===(348YE - 368YE) Reign of Emperor Hugh, "the Ill-Prepared"===
After the death of Empress Giselle de Sarvos, [[Emperor Hugh|Hugh de Rousillon]] of [[Dawn]] took the crown. Nephew of the Dawnish general Leon de Rousillon, and a noble of a politically and militarily powerful Dawnish [[Noble house|noble house]], Hugh was a personable, enthusiastic and idealistic knight with extensive battlefield experience. Unfortunately, he was an absolutely abysmal administrator, incapable of delegation, torn between the realities of political life and his personal idealism. His reign was marked by a dizzying number of feasts, banquets, and tourneys during which he desperately tried to woo an increasingly jaded [[Senate]], as well as a sequence of crushing military defeats as Generals began to compete with each other over dwindling resources.

By the end of his reign, the Emperor was almost unrecognisable as the energetic young man he had been when the took the Throne. Decades of feasting had left him corpulent and unhealthy, barely able to fit into his harness. Trying to stay ahead of the manipulations and machinations of the Senate had left him exhausted and despondent. According to those who saw him in the fateful battle for Karsk that spelled the end of his reign and ultimately his life, he was a broken man who embraced the peace offered by death.
===(331YE - 346YE) Reign of Empress Giselle, "the Unwise"===
[[Empress Giselle]] de [[Sarvos]] of the [[The League|League]] took the Throne following the loss of [[Spiral]] in 331YE and despite some early efforts entirely failed to re-take that territory. Her reign was marked with a period of political upheaval largely caused by the Empress herself whose blatant favouritism towards the League split the Senate and the Synod, and caused problems among the generals and the archmages. Her reign ended with her death during the battle for [[Holberg]] which saw that territory lost to the Empire.

===(331YE) The Decline begins===
In 331YE the territory of [[Spiral]] was lost to [[Urizen]]. This marked the start of the current period called the Decline. A greedy and corrupt Senate, more concerned with internal political manoeuvring than the strength of the Empire, supported two weak occupants of the Throne ([[Empress Giselle]] de Sarvos and [[Emperor Hugh]] the Ill-Prepared of House Rousillon) and a third catastrophically incompetent Emperor (the weak and self-indulgent naga-lineaged [[Emperor Walter]] Upwold who did not enter the Senate once during his two year reign).

The Synod was mostly concerned with dogmatic disputes and began to lose sight of its mission.

In 346YE the territory of [[Holberg]] was lost to the barbarians. This triggered a defensive mindset and a period of recriminations. More territories were lost, leading to further defensiveness and less inter-nation cooperation. The generals of the Military Council found it impossible to collaborate effectively during this period. The addition of the first [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]] generals in 351YE simply made the matter worse.

Several more territories on the edges of the Empire were also lost during this time.

==Renewal==
The renewal period started with the fixing of the borders in 265YE and lasted until the end of the reign of Emperor Ahraz. It marked a period of introspection, but also of strengthening and renewing an Empire ravaged by the violence and confusion of the years of Turmoil. With the acceptance of the Imperial Orcs as a tenth nation, the Empire's strength appeared assured.

===(324YE - 329YE) Reign of Emperor Ahraz, "the Liberator"===
The only [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] Emperor to date, [[Emperor Ahraz|Ahraz]] came to the Throne with promises to end the Orc Rebellion. He did so by bringing the slaves into the Empire, and by recognising the right of orcs to be citizens. His reign was marked with turmoil, and he abdicated in 329YE a broken man.

====(324YE - 328YE) The Freedom Heresy====
A briar priest preaching the heretical Virtue of Freedom ultimately inspired an [[Freedom Heresy|attempt to secede from the Empire]]. When the rebellion was defeated by Imperial forces, the priest led her followers into [[the Barrens]] where they attempted to found a rogue state, the kingdom of Montane. In 328YE the heretics were destroyed by barbarian orcs, and in 329YE the ringleaders of the heresy were tried and executed for heresy and blasphemy.

=== (300YE - 318YE) Reign of Empress Deanne, "the Fair"===
[[Empress Deanne]] ended the Second Interregnum by taking the Throne in 300YE, primarily in response to increased orc aggression. Her early reign was taken up with organising a fractious and complacent Senate, and helping a largely inexperienced Military Council deal with the dual threat of Grendel invasions along the southern coast, and a major effort by the Druj in [[the Barrens]] to claim [[the Barrens#Dawnguard|Dawnguard]].

====(322YE - 324YE) The Orc Rebellion====
Prior to 322YE, many orcs that were defeated in battle were enslaved. Orcs had no rights in the Empire before this time, as they were not considered people in the eyes of the Constitution. There were slave populations in Dawn, Wintermark and Highguard and especially in Varushka and The League.

During this period an orc hero arose among his people, leading them in [[The Orc Rebellion|armed revolt]] that saw them occupy parts of Varushka, the League, Dawn and the Marches. The Freeborn Emperor Ahraz arranged a deal with the orcs, and a motion to recognise them as people was brought before the Senate. The motion passed by a tiny margin, making the Imperial Orcs citizens of the Empire.

===(281YE - 300YE) The Second Interregnum===
After James' reign, a period of relative peace settled on the Empire. The borders were reinforced. Relationships between the Senate, Synod and Military Council achieved a degree of status quo. The Conclave and the Bourse focused on their own interests and were free to explore new avenues. Modern scholars suggest that this was a period of increasing complacency and introspection for the Empire, but others point to the high quality of life for most citizens, the various advances in magic, the arts and technology, and consider it a golden age built on the solid foundations laid by Emperor James' reign.

==Turmoil==
This period saw the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and his catastrophic effect on the history of the Empire. It was characterised by a sequence of military defeats as earlier conquests were lost to resurgent barbarian forces beginning with Segura in the Brass Coast in 204YE and ending with the war in Karsk in 259YE. Most of the defeats were eventually reversed, with the borders moving back and forth. By the end of the years of turmoil, the Empire actually controlled slightly more land than at the beginning, but the period is still regarded as a low point in Imperial history.

===(257YE - 281YE) Reign of Emperor James, "the Wise"===
The [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Emperor James]] took the Throne as a peacemaker - not to make peace with the barbarians, but to make peace within the Empire. He was responsible for fixing the borders of the Empire.

====(265YE) Fixing the borders====
The Senate decreed that the Empire was now large enough and argued that further expansion was counterproductive, despite vociferous argument from the Synod and the Military Council. Trade routes with various foreigners were established, and peace treaties were signed with various barbarians, ushering in an era of economic growth and prosperity.

Some barbarians continued to threaten the borders, but the armies shifted to a more defensive role.

===(249YE - 257YE) Reign of Empress Brannan, "the Relentless"===
The [[Navarr|Navarri]] [[Empress Brannan]] followed Guntherm to the Throne, and was another military-minded ruler dedicated to smashing the orcs and expanding the borders of the Empire. Ultimately, her abusive attitude to the powers of The Throne, and allegations of improper relations with certain [[eternal|eternals]] resulted in her being the only Throne to be [[Revocation|revoked]] by the [[Synod]]. Despite her failings, she showed what the Empire was capable of when sufficient resources were given to its armies. Some of the most glorious battles in Imperial history took place during her reign, and with her support the Navarr in particular made great advances in their fight to destroy the [[vallorn]] and reclaim their lost cities.

===(239YE - 248YE) Reign of Emperor Guntherm, "the Bold" ''or'' "the Bloodthirsty"===
The [[Steinr]] [[Emperor Guntherm]] ascended the Throne after a series of successful campaigns against the [[Jotun]] barbarians. He was committed to expanding the reach of the Empire, and chafed under the economic restrictions placed by his predecessor. The early part of his reign is committed to strengthening the borders of the Empire, and a number of castles and fortresses were built during his reign. The latter part of his reign is known for [[Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm|some of the bloodiest battles]] in Imperial history.

===(212YE - 234YE) Reign of Empress Mariika, "the Cunning"===
After three years without an Emperor or Empress, the [[Suaq]] [[Empress Mariika]] ascended the Throne. The Empire was on the verge of financial collapse, and Mariika's reign is remembered for her ruthless and efficient reorganisation of the Imperial Economy. She disbanded two entire armies, slashed funding to the Military Council, gave the Bourse control of a number of raw material surpluses, recognised several informal positions as Imperial offices, and generally took steps to ensure the Empire avoided economic disaster.

===(200YE - 209YE) Reign of Emperor Nicovar, "the Mad"===
The first reversals in the Empire's fortune occurred during the reign of [[Emperor Nicovar]]. Initially a brilliant administrator, Nicovar expanded the role of the civil service in support of the Empire. However, a decade of attempting to micromanage every element of the Empire, as well as a reliance on the magic of Day to gather and interpret ever greater amounts of information, eventually caused him to descend into madness.

The [[draughir]] Emperor became increasingly unstable, perceiving patterns in events that appeared paranoid to others. His unpopular policies divided the [[Senate]] and the [[Synod]], and there were rumbles of civil war. He began to demand extreme amounts of record keeping and it became clear that he was not in his right mind.

Things came to a head in 209YE when Emperor Nicovar sent his troops to burn down the Empire's libraries. There was a revolt, which culminated in the destruction of the central repository of records in Highguard and several key spires in Urizen. The mad emperor was executed by the captain of his own guard, the [[Navarr]] [[Thorn]] Isaella. Despite appeals for clemency from the Synod, Isaella took full responsibility. She was convicted as a traitor, but at the same time was both lauded as an exemplar of courage and duty, and a hero of the Empire.

The destruction of the libraries left a big hole in the history of the Empire - thousands of books and scrolls were lost. While records still existed, there were many gaps and those that remained were fragmentary. Since then scholars have attempted to recreate the books and records they had lost, but with mixed success.

==Expansion==
===(180YE - 199YE) Reign of Emperor Barabbas, "the Mariner"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Emperor Barabbas]] was driven by the desire to expand the Empire to control the entire Bay of Catazar. He was only marginally successful, managing primarily to alienate the people of [[Iron Confederacy|Surann]] and [[Skoura]] and ultimately seeing his ''Barabbine fleet'' sink in a terrible storm that would have left the Imperial Navy crippled if not for the foresight of his [[The Brass Coast|Freeborn]] allies.

====(183YE) Expansion into Segura====
A united front by the hakima of the Guerra and Riqueza led to the Brass Coast expansion into [[Segura]].

===(168YE - 179YE) Reign of Emperor Frederick, "the Philosopher"===
[[Emperor Frederick|Frederick Ritter van Holberg]] reigned for eleven years, over a time of relative peace during which the Empire consolidated the gains secured in the reign of Empress Varkula. He was a philosopher and political scholar who fiercely protected the rights of the individual over those of the state, and encouraged citizens of all nations to view the prosperity and security of the Empire as both their responsibility and something in which to take great pride.

===(125YE - 167YE) Reign of Empress Varkula, "the Undying"===
Taking advantage of a weakened and divided Senate the ruthless [[Varushka|Varushkan]] [[Empress Varkula]] manipulated (and in some cases, allegedly extorted) her way to the Throne. She then set about dramatically increasing the military strength of the Empire. Her reign saw the Empire's borders expand, and also saw a reduction in the powers of the Synod that had expanded in the reigns of more pious Emperors and Empresses.

====(167YE) Domination of Miekarova====
Steady expansion by the Varushkan boyars over the preceding century led to the inclusion of [[Miekarova]] within the Empire.

====(154YE) Skarsind pacified====
Although it proved impossible to drive the barbarian orcs from [[Skarsind]], enough of the territory was conquered and fortified for it to be declared an Imperial territory.

====(136YE) Fall of Holberg====
Imperial armies from Dawn conquered the territory of [[Holberg]]. The city of Holberg was convinced to join the Empire by League diplomats, leading to a political coup in the Senate that resulted in the territory being assigned to the League.

====(125YE) Assimilation of Zenith====
The seers of Urizen completed the assimilation of [[Zenith]] after a lengthy campaign involving Highborn and League forces and a long sequence of powerful rituals.

===(103YE - 120YE) Reign of Empress Aenea, "the Builder"===
The [[Highguard|Highborn]] [[Empress Aenea]] spent most of her reign improving the infrastructure of the Empire. Several border wars occurred during Aenea's time on the Throne, and at various points the Empire was at war with [[Faraden]], the [[Iron Confederacy]], [[Axos]], [[Skoura]] and even (technically) the [[Sumaah Republic]].

===(91YE - 102YE) The First Interregnum===
Following the reign of Empress Teleri there was a period known as the ''First Interregnum'' during which there was nobody seated on the Throne. This period was marked by close co-operation between the Conclave, Bourse, Senate and Military Council with the Imperial Synod serving a vital role as supporters and intermediaries. As the interregnum progressed, however, there was increasing dissatisfaction with the dominance of the Synod.

==Consolidation==
===(71YE - 91YE) Reign of Empress Teleri, "the Pious"===
This [[Navarr]] [[Empress Teleri|Empress]] was deeply involved in the business of the Synod, and it was during her reign that they first began to exert the political powers they possessed. During her reign, the Synod gained increasing influence over all other parts of Imperial life, especially the Imperial Senate.

====(88YE) Invasion of Kahraman====
Freeborn and Marcher armies concluded a successful pincer invasion of the mountainous territory of [[Kahraman]]. The occupants were split in two by the invasion and forced out of the territory in the following years.

====(74YE) Westward expansion====
A campaign to secure the western flank of the Empire took the Mourn from orcs and secured Mitwold to the sea.

===(36YE - 69YE) Reign of Empress Richilde, "the Sun Queen"===
Following the reign of Emperor Giovanni, there was a brief period during which the Throne was unoccupied. The next Empress was [[Empress Richilde]] of [[Dawn]]. Senator for [[Astolat]], this accomplished Dawnish noble parlayed her cleverness and charisma into political influence. She instituted the Imperial bards, served as a patroness of the arts, accompanied the Imperial armies on campaign as an inspirational symbol of The Throne, and worked extensively to encourage both national and Imperial pride. After her death, she was recognised as an [[paragons and exemplars|exemplar]] and later a paragon of [[Pride]].

====(56YE) Reikos gained====
Highborn forces finally succeeded in conquering [[Reikos]] on the borders of the Great Forest of Peytaht. The territory was accepted as part of the Empire although it took over a year to return the first senator for the territory.

====(54YE) Scouring of Redoubt====
A combined Imperial force assisted the seers of Urizen in systematically removing the majority of orc occupants from the territory of [[Redoubt]]. Urizen control of the territory expanded allowing it to be represented in the Senate.

====(52YE) Semmerholm defeated====
An unusual alliance between Marcher and Dawnish forces caused the destruction of a major orc nation in the territory now known as [[Semmerholm]].

====(46YE) Karsk captured====
Imperial armies from Wintermark and Dawn supported the Varushkan force's conquest of [[Karsk]]. The war was long and did not produce tales of heroism or glory.

==Foundation==
===(22YE - 34YE) Reign of Emperor Giovanni, "the Peacemaker"===
After the death of the First Empress, [[Emperor Giovanni]] of [[Tassato]] was chosen by the Senate to replace her. An advisor to the late Empress, Giovanni was a statesman and politician rather than a military leader like his predecessor. He set about ensuring the Empire had the infrastructure required to help it prosper. His first act was to initiate a tradition of meeting once every three months at the site of the first meeting where the Empire was formed. A Senate building was built on the site, and it was declared Imperial Territory.

Giovanni approached the people of [[Urizen]] with an invitation to join the Empire, and this time they accepted. In return they offered their expertise as scholars and mages. Urizen scholarship slowly helped to raise levels of education and literacy across the Empire. Harnessing the power of Urizen divination with the expertise of the civil service helped Giovanni to transform the Imperial Civil Service into its current form.

The Urizen worked with the Empire to create the [[Conclave]], inspired by experiences during the war with Alderei the Fair in Varushka. The divided magicians of the Empire, each jealously guarding their own secrets, were barely able to neutralise the much smaller force of the Volodny, and the Senate was keen to ensure that this does not happen again.

Giovanni also laid the foundations of the [[Bourse]], and worked with the Senate and Synod to codify the body of Imperial Law. During his reign he established a single [[currency]] based on steel coins issued by the Imperial Mint, based in Tassato under the ultimate control of the Civil Service. Giovanni died in 34YE but his legacy was at least as durable as that of his predecessor. His relentless commitment to civilisation earned Giovanni the epithet "Peacemaker".

====(27YE) Reclamation of Miaren====
After fifteen years or so of active preparation, the [[Navarr]] destroyed the vallorn of [[Miaren]] with a combination of military might and [[Wither the Seed|potent rituals]]. The city of Seren [[Reclamation of Seren|was recovered]] and became a centre for investigation of both vallorn and the history of Terunael for the next hundred years.

===Year Zero===
With an eye to the conflict between the human nations and the risks posed by the orcs, the [[First Empress]] began her crusade in Highguard. She gathered around a small group of like-minded individuals from various nations and with their assistance, and with the aid of the Navarr, she brought together the leaders of humanity to discuss the barbarian threat. Her vision and charisma - and the hard work of her allies - convinced many of them to recognise the value of an Empire. The people of [[Urizen]] declined to join, but sufficient folk from [[The Brass Coast]], [[Dawn]], [[Highguard]], [[The League]], [[The Marches]], [[Navarr]], [[Varushka]] and [[Wintermark]] accepted the proposal to allow them to form the Empire.

====(22YE) Death of the First Empress ====
The [[First Empress]] led her troops from the front, rallying and inspiring them in their campaigns against their enemies. She died on campaign in battle against orc barbarians on the Brass Coast who were subsequently wiped out. She was interred in the [[Necropolis]] at Highguard, creating the tradition for many dead Emperors and Empresses that followed.

The last known [[horse]], the mount of the First Empress, died at this time. Highguard tales described the pair's final battle, but Urizen records of army logistics from this period suggest that the horse died before the Empress. Although the first Empress is always shown on a horse, there were no more horses after this time.

====(6YE) The Senate, The Synod and the Military Council====
The Empress and her advisors laid the groundwork for Imperial structures to support and empower the Empire. Building on traditions of government in Wintermark, the [[Senate]] was created to advise the Empress and give the nations a voice in the rule of the Empire. Following a plan developed in the Marches, the [[Military Council]] of generals was set up to coordinate the military forces of the various nations. The [[Synod]] was formed by the priests of Highguard, allowing the Imperial Faith to serve as a unifying force with a remit to ensure that the leaders of the Empire did not become corrupt.

====(1YE - 5YE) Internal conflict====
In the early years the Empire concentrated on consolidating its position. The creation of the Empire led to a brief but bloody civil war in the Marches and the first of many battles with the orcs. During this time the first [[Nationality#Egregore|egregores]] were created through a ritual created by the [[hakima]] of [[The Brass Coast]] to ensure that the various nations are able to maintain their distinct cultural identity.

The most significant conflict was in Varushka where the Imperial forces engaged those of the corrupt boyar [[Alderei the Fair]] who threatened to conquer Varushka and create his own corrupt Empire. With the magical aid of the [[Volodny]] magicians, his armies proved to be a match for the Imperial forces. The efforts of powerful magicians ultimately neutralised the Volodny and the tyrant boyar was defeated by the Marcher general [[Life of Tom Drake|Tom Drake]], although his body was never recovered.

==Pre-Imperial==
Three waves of colonisation brought people that founded new human nations. The [[Highguard|Highborn]] are generally held to be the first, landing in the south, while the forebears of [[Dawn]] and [[The Marches]] settled in the east. Some scholars suggest that the [[Steinr]] and Vard appeared in the north during this period, after the foundation of Highguard, but there is no true consensus one way or another.

When the first waves of human colonisation began, most of the initial inhabitants (sometimes called the ''[[People of the North]]'') were in retreat - the Navarr to their forests, the Urizen to their mountains, the [[Suaq]] and the [[Kallavesi]] to the inhospitable north, the [[Varushka History|Ushka]] huddled around their camp fires, and the [[Feni]] lurking in their wilderness. There were also humans living among the orcs, largely as chattel, slaves or subjects. Where these humans were freed from orc oppression, they were usually assimilated by the conquerors leaving no records of their own culture.

These nations grew in size and power through constant warfare with their neighbours, particularly the barbarian orcs who claimed the land as their own. While the nations were successful, life was hard and brutal for the initial settlers and historians believe that it was only a matter of time before these new human nations would have been overrun and subjugated, like their predecessors.

==Chaos==
After the fall of Terunael, the lands of the Bay of Catazar descended into chaos. Following the calamity, the barbarian [[orc|orcs]], who had largely been pushed out of the central lands, swept back in. A great many humans were enslaved, or killed, and their continued invasions sped the collapse of whatever infrastructure had survived the Bane of Terunael. Those human cultures who survived were isolated or lived in places the orcs were not interested in - the Suaq and Kallavesa in the north-west, the Ushka in the north-east, and the Urizen in the south-east.

Some historians believe that it was during the latter part of this period that the Vard and the Steinr fell from the heavens, and encountered (respectively) the people who would later form Wintermark and Varushka. Regardless, the Chaos is generally considered to end with the arrival of the Highborn.

Imperial histories tend to place the founding of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] and the city that would become the [[Sarcophan Delves]] during this period, despite the claims of foreign scholars to the contrary.

==Terunael==
At its height, the Terunael empire may have lasted for between a hundred and three hundred years. During this period, the orcs were slowly driven out of the heartlands of what is today the Empire. The Terunael traded and warred with other human cultures - Imperial scholars believe that the Suaq, the Kallavesi, the Ushka, the Feni, and the Urizen, or their forebears, were all present in some form or another during this time along with several cultures that no longer exist about whom we have only fragmentary records - such as the [[Gwerin Morfa]].

Terunael culture was centred around their cities. The heart of their Empire, the city of Terunael, stood in [[Brocéliande]] while other cities existed in [[Miaren]], [[Hercynia]], [[Liathaven]], and [[Therunin]]. Some historians believe there were between two and five other cities, located outside the area that the Empire now controls. Exact information about this period is fragmentary, but it is generally believed that the rulers of Terunael were its magicians.

This period ends with the catastrophic Fall, and the creation of the [[vallorn]].

==Ancient==
This period begins with the earliest recorded human habitation of the Bay of Catazar. it starts perhaps as long as two thousand years before the founding of the Empire. The ruins of the first orc and human settlements date from this period. There is some argument among Imperial scholars as to who was here "first" - the orcs or the humans. Very little is known for sure about the Ancient period, meaning that along with the time Before History it is sometimes called the Dark Ages.

According to historians among the [[Navarr]], [[Urizen]] and [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]], the orcs occupied land that had once belonged to early human kingdoms. What is known is that there were some powerful human kingdoms at this time, but that they were ultimately defeated and overthrown by the orcs.

At some point during this period, the forbears of the Suaq, Kallavesi, Ushka, Urizen, Terunael, and Feni settled around the Bay and began to build their cultures. There are ruins in many other places around the world that date from this period; the Asaveans claim that the city of [[Asavean_Archipelago_ports#Nemoria|Nemoria]] was founded during this period, making it the oldest city in the world.

==Before History==
Between the creation of the world, and the first records of human civilisation, an unknown period passes. Some historians speak in terms of eons, others in terms of millennia. Most agree that there was a time before the existence of humans and orcs, when the world may have been dominated by other species - perhaps the dragons whose bones are such a [[Materials#Dragonbone|valuable material]]. This period, and the period that follows it, are sometimes called the Dark Ages - before the illumination of history.


==Other Media==
This page was recorded and uploaded to YouTube in March 2021 by the Orcs Planet. It's unlikely that more than a few details will change significantly, meaning these three recordings should remain broadly useful as another way to experience the broad strokes of Imperial History. There are three videos: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZDQKi3fTOk&t=59s Pre history to 22YE], [https://youtu.be/MlaP7jVC5OU 22YE to 209YE], and [https://youtu.be/XiGw__Fu9Ko 209YE to 383YE].
[[Category:History]]
[[Category:The Empire]]

User:Wrenna

2026-05-05T09:45:51Z

Wrenna:

It is pitch dark here. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

[[User:Wrenna/History]]

User:Wrenna

2026-05-05T09:44:04Z

Wrenna:

It is pitch dark here. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

[[User:Wrenna/Timeline]]

Court Reports

2026-02-24T21:04:00Z

Wrenna:

[[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
|+ 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 Dagon, Cardinal of Loyalty, and a clemency plea for Eliina, whose priest is not recorded.||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.
|-
|}

{| 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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 Kalliact which took place in Spiral in Autumn and Winter 384YE. The purpose of these murders was to clear the way for Kalliact to make a treaty with the Senate for Spiral to rejoin the Empire. Kalliact 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 Kalliact, 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 Kalliact 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
|+ 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
|+ 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 Kalliact 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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. || Vivianne 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|}

Court Reports

2026-02-24T21:03:41Z

Wrenna:

[[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
|+ 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 Chief 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 Dagon, Cardinal of Loyalty, and a clemency plea for Eliina, whose priest is not recorded.||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.
|-
|}

{| 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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 Kalliact which took place in Spiral in Autumn and Winter 384YE. The purpose of these murders was to clear the way for Kalliact to make a treaty with the Senate for Spiral to rejoin the Empire. Kalliact 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 Kalliact, 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 Kalliact 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
|+ 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
|+ 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 Kalliact 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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. || Vivianne 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|+ 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
|}