Know your enemy - Revision history

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Civil Service" to "[[Civil Service"

2026-01-15T22:26:38Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Civil Service" to "[[Civil Service"

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:26, 15 January 2026
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	Instead, they will look to the Vigilance Assembly. A [[statement of principle]] that specifically directs the Silent Bell to investigate something will be sufficient as long as it passes - it doesn't even need a [[greater majority]]. In the event more than one just [[judgement]] is raised and upheld by the assembly, they will follow the one with the greatest margin of success. Where there are any reports to be fulfilled, they'll pass them to the priest who raised the judgement. This is a change, but one that has been brewing for a while. The recent criticism of the Assembly of Nine, especially when it arguably placed them in opposition to the Vigilance assembly, has finally come to a head.		Instead, they will look to the Vigilance Assembly. A [[statement of principle]] that specifically directs the Silent Bell to investigate something will be sufficient as long as it passes - it doesn't even need a [[greater majority]]. In the event more than one just [[judgement]] is raised and upheld by the assembly, they will follow the one with the greatest margin of success. Where there are any reports to be fulfilled, they'll pass them to the priest who raised the judgement. This is a change, but one that has been brewing for a while. The recent criticism of the Assembly of Nine, especially when it arguably placed them in opposition to the Vigilance assembly, has finally come to a head.

	The sodality intends to report the information they find to the raising priest, and then pass it to the [[~~Imperial~~ Civil Service\|civil service]] to be published after the summit is over. That way nobody will be tempted to "experiment" with false virtues because the answers will be public knowledge - and better still, they can recognise such auras for what they are should they encounter them. However some members of the sodality believe it would be better to know ''nothing'' about the false virtues - that the more Imperial citizens know about them, the more individuals will be tempted to embrace them. The Vigilance Assembly must decide then, whether to proceed or not. The Silent Bell are prepared to take any risks necessary to investigate a malign spiritual aura each season, if the Assembly instructs them to do so, and if they identify where they should go to seek answers.		The sodality intends to report the information they find to the raising priest, and then pass it to the [[Civil Service\|civil service]] to be published after the summit is over. That way nobody will be tempted to "experiment" with false virtues because the answers will be public knowledge - and better still, they can recognise such auras for what they are should they encounter them. However some members of the sodality believe it would be better to know ''nothing'' about the false virtues - that the more Imperial citizens know about them, the more individuals will be tempted to embrace them. The Vigilance Assembly must decide then, whether to proceed or not. The Silent Bell are prepared to take any risks necessary to investigate a malign spiritual aura each season, if the Assembly instructs them to do so, and if they identify where they should go to seek answers.

	There are six malign spiritual forces commonly recognised within the Empire - each of which could be the subject of a single investigation by the Silent Bell. Obtaining this information will be expensive, involve significant risks and requires the Synod have a credible lead that the sodality can follow. The Silent Bell would need to follow up existing leads - and they would not be able to investigate any other matter while they were engaged in spying on or infiltrating a group to learn more. Worst of all, if the members of the sodality were caught, there could be drastic consequences.		There are six malign spiritual forces commonly recognised within the Empire - each of which could be the subject of a single investigation by the Silent Bell. Obtaining this information will be expensive, involve significant risks and requires the Synod have a credible lead that the sodality can follow. The Silent Bell would need to follow up existing leads - and they would not be able to investigate any other matter while they were engaged in spying on or infiltrating a group to learn more. Worst of all, if the members of the sodality were caught, there could be drastic consequences.

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Synod" to "[[Synod"

2026-01-15T21:30:11Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Synod" to "[[Synod"

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:30, 15 January 2026
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	{{CaptionedImage\|file=CardWisdom.jpg\|width=250\|caption=Silas of the Cenotaph, Cardinal of Wisdom\|align=left}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=CardWisdom.jpg\|width=250\|caption=Silas of the Cenotaph, Cardinal of Wisdom\|align=left}}
	==Overview==		==Overview==
	At the previous summit, the [[~~Imperial~~ Synod]] were placed in an invidious position - forced to [[The final cut\|choose between two outcomes]] that were, for many, equally undesirable. They could align the General Assembly with the [[Vigilance]] assembly and accept that there are Seven Virtues, and that the [[malign spiritual presences]] are so-called because they are dangerous to the Empire and hinder the quest for enlightenment. That would result in the virtuous remaining vigilant against the teachings or influence of so-called "false virtues". The cost to ensure that the Empire remained pure in this way would be to raise further questions about why '''Silas of the Cenotaph''', the current [[Cardinal of Wisdom]], remains in post despite them openly bearing an aura of false virtue.		At the previous summit, the [[Synod]] were placed in an invidious position - forced to [[The final cut\|choose between two outcomes]] that were, for many, equally undesirable. They could align the General Assembly with the [[Vigilance]] assembly and accept that there are Seven Virtues, and that the [[malign spiritual presences]] are so-called because they are dangerous to the Empire and hinder the quest for enlightenment. That would result in the virtuous remaining vigilant against the teachings or influence of so-called "false virtues". The cost to ensure that the Empire remained pure in this way would be to raise further questions about why '''Silas of the Cenotaph''', the current [[Cardinal of Wisdom]], remains in post despite them openly bearing an aura of false virtue.

	The only alternative offered was to align the General Assembly with the [[Wisdom]] Assembly and accept the need to explore spiritual powers other than the Seven Virtues. That would mean the virtuous being open to the idea that false virtues might be forces that benefit humanity. It would have opened up opportunities to explore the false virtues but at the price of seeing them flower across the Empire.		The only alternative offered was to align the General Assembly with the [[Wisdom]] Assembly and accept the need to explore spiritual powers other than the Seven Virtues. That would mean the virtuous being open to the idea that false virtues might be forces that benefit humanity. It would have opened up opportunities to explore the false virtues but at the price of seeing them flower across the Empire.

Matt: Text replacement - "[[Imperial Senate" to "[[Senate"

2026-01-15T13:11:50Z

Text replacement - "[[Imperial Senate" to "[[Senate"

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:11, 15 January 2026
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	The death of the Montanians makes it much harder for the Empire to learn more about the virtue of Freedom. Harder... but not completely impossible. A handful of Montanians survived the massacre. Warned of the impending attack by sympathisers within the Empire, those who could fight gave their lives to save those who couldn't. Their children and those too sick to fight fled to safety; to the [[The_Barrens#Eaves_of_Peytaht\|eaves]] of the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] where they were taken in by their allies the [[Great Forest Orcs]]. If the Empire wants to learn about Freedom, the surest way to find out more would be to speak to those Montanians who survived the destruction of their sept at the hands of the Varushkans.		The death of the Montanians makes it much harder for the Empire to learn more about the virtue of Freedom. Harder... but not completely impossible. A handful of Montanians survived the massacre. Warned of the impending attack by sympathisers within the Empire, those who could fight gave their lives to save those who couldn't. Their children and those too sick to fight fled to safety; to the [[The_Barrens#Eaves_of_Peytaht\|eaves]] of the [[Great Forest of Peytaht]] where they were taken in by their allies the [[Great Forest Orcs]]. If the Empire wants to learn about Freedom, the surest way to find out more would be to speak to those Montanians who survived the destruction of their sept at the hands of the Varushkans.

	The problem is that it's impossible to imagine that the survivors would want to have ''anything'' to do with the Empire. Any general attempt to approach them in a peaceful manner is certain to fail. The Montanians apparently believed they had a peace treaty signed by the [[~~Imperial~~ Senate]] that would protect them - they will not soon trust the Empire again. In their minds, the Empire is synonymous with treachery, lies, and murder. Spying on them would be equally impossible - even the Navarr members of the sodality would struggle to infiltrate a tiny handful of survivors hidden away by the Great Forest Orcs.		The problem is that it's impossible to imagine that the survivors would want to have ''anything'' to do with the Empire. Any general attempt to approach them in a peaceful manner is certain to fail. The Montanians apparently believed they had a peace treaty signed by the [[Senate]] that would protect them - they will not soon trust the Empire again. In their minds, the Empire is synonymous with treachery, lies, and murder. Spying on them would be equally impossible - even the Navarr members of the sodality would struggle to infiltrate a tiny handful of survivors hidden away by the Great Forest Orcs.

	There is ''one'' citizen who might be able to approach them - the person who sent the [[Call Winged Messenger\|winged messenger]] warning them that the Empire was coming to kill them all. If the Synod can find the person - or persons - who warned the Montanians then that individual might be able to approach the survivors and convince them to talk. It might not be easy to find them; since that person likely [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_of_Position\|committed treason]] by warning the Montanians, a crime which carries the death penalty, they might prefer to remain unknown.		There is ''one'' citizen who might be able to approach them - the person who sent the [[Call Winged Messenger\|winged messenger]] warning them that the Empire was coming to kill them all. If the Synod can find the person - or persons - who warned the Montanians then that individual might be able to approach the survivors and convince them to talk. It might not be easy to find them; since that person likely [[List_of_Criminal_Offences#Crimes_of_Position\|committed treason]] by warning the Montanians, a crime which carries the death penalty, they might prefer to remain unknown.

Hailmur: /* Take the Power Back */

2025-07-17T16:54:50Z

Take the Power Back

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:54, 17 July 2025
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	Passing the judgement still leaves the notable issue of what to do about those individuals who accepted the Peace [[aura\|auras]] - notably the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] who remains in position and his colleagues. They have escaped punishment by the law, due to the collapse of the trial, so what is their standing now? Two of the three cardinals stepped down - does the Cardinal of Wisdom now accept the verdict of the General Assembly or do they stand by their position that it was right to explore the false virtues? Will the General Assembly now try to remove the Cardinal from his position as they tried to do with the Cardinal of Ambition?		Passing the judgement still leaves the notable issue of what to do about those individuals who accepted the Peace [[aura\|auras]] - notably the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] who remains in position and his colleagues. They have escaped punishment by the law, due to the collapse of the trial, so what is their standing now? Two of the three cardinals stepped down - does the Cardinal of Wisdom now accept the verdict of the General Assembly or do they stand by their position that it was right to explore the false virtues? Will the General Assembly now try to remove the Cardinal from his position as they tried to do with the Cardinal of Ambition?
	{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual presences are a direct <u>threat</u> to the Empire. We send Viviane Barossa with 75 doses of liao to warn the virtuous folk of the Empire that their vigilance <u>must</u> continue. For nearly 400 years we have kept these dangerous forces at bay, and we must <u>not</u> drop our guard now.\|by=Viviane Barossa, General Assembly mandate\|vote=1526-464\|when=378YE Spring Equinox\|size=small}}		{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual presences are a direct <u>threat</u> to the Empire. We send Viviane Barossa with 75 doses of liao to warn the virtuous folk of the Empire that their vigilance <u>must</u> continue. For nearly 400 years we have kept these dangerous forces at bay, and we must <u>not</u> drop our guard now.\|by=Viviane Barossa, General Assembly mandate\|vote=1526-464\|when=378YE Spring Equinox\|size=small}}
	The embrace of Peace and the subsequent ambivalent responses have already undermined the authority of the [[Assembly of the Nine]]. Cynics point out that the priest who raised the mandate is the same Viviane Barossa who accepted the attempt by [[Axos]] to spread malign spiritual presence of Peace to the Empire. Do those words ''really'' represent what the former [[cardinal]] thinks, or is she even now under the influence of some malign aura? ~~The~~ four still ''possess the heretical relics given to them by the Axou''. They swore not to wall themselves off from the influence of Peace. If the Synod agree that they must keep these dangerous forces at bay then perhaps they could all start by removing the ~~four~~ auras of Peace ~~that are right at~~ the heart of the Synod?		The embrace of Peace and the subsequent ambivalent responses have already undermined the authority of the [[Assembly of the Nine]]. Cynics point out that the priest who raised the mandate is the same Viviane Barossa who accepted the attempt by [[Axos]] to spread malign spiritual presence of Peace to the Empire. Do those words ''really'' represent what the former [[cardinal]] thinks, or is she even now under the influence of some malign aura? Three of the four still ''possess the heretical relics given to them by the Axou'' (the one borne by Zadkiel was destroyed by the [[Court Reports\|actions]] of '''Vitore Von Temeschwar'''). They swore not to wall themselves off from the influence of Peace. If the Synod agree that they must keep these dangerous forces at bay then perhaps they could all start by removing the three auras of Peace remaining in the heart of the Synod?

	The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].		The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].

Rafferty: /* War Within a Breath */

2025-07-17T16:50:35Z

War Within a Breath

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:50, 17 July 2025
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	A better option than embracing false virtues would be to send the Vigilant to find out this information, not through embracing false virtues, but through infiltration and espionage. Under normal circumstances the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)\|Silent Bell]] restrict themselves to investigating threats to the Empire from within its borders, but the sodality have been inspired both by the commitment of their assembly at Anvil to confronting and condemning cardinals, and by the words of the Courage assembly. As a result, they are prepared to put their particular set of skills to good use. If the Assembly believes it to be worthwhile, then members of the sodality will attempt to infiltrate or spy on those people who use false auras to learn what they can about them.		A better option than embracing false virtues would be to send the Vigilant to find out this information, not through embracing false virtues, but through infiltration and espionage. Under normal circumstances the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)\|Silent Bell]] restrict themselves to investigating threats to the Empire from within its borders, but the sodality have been inspired both by the commitment of their assembly at Anvil to confronting and condemning cardinals, and by the words of the Courage assembly. As a result, they are prepared to put their particular set of skills to good use. If the Assembly believes it to be worthwhile, then members of the sodality will attempt to infiltrate or spy on those people who use false auras to learn what they can about them.
	{{SOP\|statement=Pride tells us to embrace our past, Wisdom tells us that all knowledge is incomplete, Vigilance tells us to expose the truth. The synod urges those who went to Solokha and became dedicants of false virtues to declare themselves and to come forward for inquisition. This action will serve both their personal Pride by displaying rather than hiding their actions, the Wisdom of the Empire by expanding our knowledge of these presences, and our Vigilance as it increases our awareness of these potential threats. While this declaration will not make them immune from consequences, if their actions were undertaken virtuously, they should be treated as such.\|size=small\|by=Iniska Ashwood, General Assembly\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|vote=1550-62}}		{{SOP\|statement=Pride tells us to embrace our past, Wisdom tells us that all knowledge is incomplete, Vigilance tells us to expose the truth. The synod urges those who went to Solokha and became dedicants of false virtues to declare themselves and to come forward for inquisition. This action will serve both their personal Pride by displaying rather than hiding their actions, the Wisdom of the Empire by expanding our knowledge of these presences, and our Vigilance as it increases our awareness of these potential threats. While this declaration will not make them immune from consequences, if their actions were undertaken virtuously, they should be treated as such.\|size=small\|by=Iniska Ashwood, General Assembly\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|vote=1550-62}}
	~~Not everyone supports this agenda~~ - the sodality intends to report the information they find to the ~~Cardinal of Vigilance~~ and then pass it to the [[Imperial Civil Service\|civil service]] to be published after the summit is over. That way nobody will be tempted to "experiment" with false virtues because the answers will be public knowledge - and better still, they can recognise such auras for what they are should they encounter them. However some members of the sodality believe it would be better to know ''nothing'' about the false virtues - that the more Imperial citizens know about them, the more individuals will be tempted to embrace them. The Vigilance Assembly must decide then, whether to proceed or not. The Silent Bell are prepared to take any risks necessary to investigate a malign spiritual aura each season, if the Assembly instructs them to do so, and if they identify where they should go to seek answers.		There is a potential fly in the ointment however. The Silent Bell are no longer prepared to listen to the Assembly of Nine with regard to what they should investigate. As followers of Vigilance they are utterly committed to rooting out the pernicious influence of false virtues. It is impossible for them to reconcile that approach with the recent actions of the Assembly of Nine.

			Instead, they will look to the Vigilance Assembly. A [[statement of principle]] that specifically directs the Silent Bell to investigate something will be sufficient as long as it passes - it doesn't even need a [[greater majority]]. In the event more than one just [[judgement]] is raised and upheld by the assembly, they will follow the one with the greatest margin of success. Where there are any reports to be fulfilled, they'll pass them to the priest who raised the judgement. This is a change, but one that has been brewing for a while. The recent criticism of the Assembly of Nine, especially when it arguably placed them in opposition to the Vigilance assembly, has finally come to a head.

			The sodality intends to report the information they find to the raising priest, and then pass it to the [[Imperial Civil Service\|civil service]] to be published after the summit is over. That way nobody will be tempted to "experiment" with false virtues because the answers will be public knowledge - and better still, they can recognise such auras for what they are should they encounter them. However some members of the sodality believe it would be better to know ''nothing'' about the false virtues - that the more Imperial citizens know about them, the more individuals will be tempted to embrace them. The Vigilance Assembly must decide then, whether to proceed or not. The Silent Bell are prepared to take any risks necessary to investigate a malign spiritual aura each season, if the Assembly instructs them to do so, and if they identify where they should go to seek answers.

	There are six malign spiritual forces commonly recognised within the Empire - each of which could be the subject of a single investigation by the Silent Bell. Obtaining this information will be expensive, involve significant risks and requires the Synod have a credible lead that the sodality can follow. The Silent Bell would need to follow up existing leads - and they would not be able to investigate any other matter while they were engaged in spying on or infiltrating a group to learn more. Worst of all, if the members of the sodality were caught, there could be drastic consequences.		There are six malign spiritual forces commonly recognised within the Empire - each of which could be the subject of a single investigation by the Silent Bell. Obtaining this information will be expensive, involve significant risks and requires the Synod have a credible lead that the sodality can follow. The Silent Bell would need to follow up existing leads - and they would not be able to investigate any other matter while they were engaged in spying on or infiltrating a group to learn more. Worst of all, if the members of the sodality were caught, there could be drastic consequences.

Noserenda at 16:26, 17 July 2025

2025-07-17T16:26:23Z

Twiggy at 16:04, 17 July 2025

2025-07-17T16:04:57Z

Show changes

Hailmur: /* Testify */

2025-07-17T15:42:07Z

Testify

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:42, 17 July 2025
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	* '''Wintermark will now be more vulnerable to the influence of cults looking to spread false virtues'''		* '''Wintermark will now be more vulnerable to the influence of cults looking to spread false virtues'''
	* '''The nation could enact a mandate to reject false virtues to defend Wintermarkers against their influence'''		* '''The nation could enact a mandate to reject false virtues to defend Wintermarkers against their influence'''
	{{SOP\|statement=Despise folly and chastise the fool who spreads it. We send Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark with 50 doses of liao to encourage Wintermark citizens to heed the guidance of the stormcrows and ignore the judgements of other assemblies. Cold cannot compromise.\|by=Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark, Wintermark Assembly\|vote=220-58 (~~{{GM}}~~)\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|size=small}}		{{SOP\|statement=Despise folly and chastise the fool who spreads it. We send Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark with 50 doses of liao to encourage Wintermark citizens to heed the guidance of the stormcrows and ignore the judgements of other assemblies. Cold cannot compromise.\|by=Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark, Wintermark Assembly\|vote=220-58 (Greater Majority)\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|size=small}}
	Leading members of the Wintermark Assembly criticized the Assembly of Nine for the decision to expose themselves to malign spiritual forces, calling them irresponsible and accusiang them of acting with reckless disregard for the Empire's wellbeing. The judgement concluded with a collective plea from the [[Stormcrow\|Stormcrows]] at Anvil for the people of Wintermark to turn their backs on the other assemblies.		Leading members of the Wintermark Assembly criticized the Assembly of Nine for the decision to expose themselves to malign spiritual forces, calling them irresponsible and accusiang them of acting with reckless disregard for the Empire's wellbeing. The judgement concluded with a collective plea from the [[Stormcrow\|Stormcrows]] at Anvil for the people of Wintermark to turn their backs on the other assemblies.
	{{CaptionedImage\|file=Winter Stormcrow.jpg\|width=250\|caption=Stormcrows push others to live up to the legacy of heroes.\|align=left}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=Winter Stormcrow.jpg\|width=250\|caption=Stormcrows push others to live up to the legacy of heroes.\|align=left}}
	Faced with an opportunity to back up their words with liao, the Assembly gave Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark permission to travel the length and breadth of Wintermark encouraging people to heed the guidance of the stormcrows and ignore the judgements of other assemblies. As a result of their commitment, Wintermark will not be affected by any mandate passed by any assembly of the Synod other than the Wintermark Assembly unless it passes with a greater majority.		Faced with an opportunity to back up their words with liao, the Assembly gave Ingrid Talon-of-the-Mark permission to travel the length and breadth of Wintermark encouraging people to heed the guidance of the stormcrows and ignore the judgements of other assemblies. As a result of their commitment, Wintermark will not be affected by any mandate passed by any assembly of the Synod other than the Wintermark Assembly unless it passes with a greater majority.
	{{SOP\|statement=Malign spiritual auras are not to be trifled with.Should you encounter an aura of malign or unknown providence, you should go to a Stormcrow so they may assess and deal with it. If you are under the effect of a malign influence, the Stormcrows can and will guide you back to Virtue and your heroic skein.\|by=Rafe, Wintermark Assembly\|vote=288-10 (~~{{GM}}~~)\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|size=small}}		{{SOP\|statement=Malign spiritual auras are not to be trifled with.Should you encounter an aura of malign or unknown providence, you should go to a Stormcrow so they may assess and deal with it. If you are under the effect of a malign influence, the Stormcrows can and will guide you back to Virtue and your heroic skein.\|by=Rafe, Wintermark Assembly\|vote=288-10 (Greater Majority)\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|size=small}}
	As a result of this decision, the mandate by the General Assembly urging people to remain vigilant and to turn their back on the false virtues will not have a significant effect in any Wintermark territory. Urizen and Varushka are similarly affected, due to their own longstanding issues with the Synod. Ironically, although it was the embrace of false virtue that caused Wintermark to reject the Asssembly of Nine and the Synod, the message that people have taken from it is to reject the Synod unless its speaks with the clear authority of a greater majority, not to reject false virtues themselves. As a result Wintermark will be more vulnerable to the spread of false virtues, as it has ignored the Synod's mandate to reject them.		As a result of this decision, the mandate by the General Assembly urging people to remain vigilant and to turn their back on the false virtues will not have a significant effect in any Wintermark territory. Urizen and Varushka are similarly affected, due to their own longstanding issues with the Synod. Ironically, although it was the embrace of false virtue that caused Wintermark to reject the Asssembly of Nine and the Synod, the message that people have taken from it is to reject the Synod unless its speaks with the clear authority of a greater majority, not to reject false virtues themselves. As a result Wintermark will be more vulnerable to the spread of false virtues, as it has ignored the Synod's mandate to reject them.

Hailmur: /* War Within a Breath */

2025-07-17T15:40:35Z

War Within a Breath

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 17 July 2025
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	* '''They could not investigate anything else while doing this'''		* '''They could not investigate anything else while doing this'''
	A frequent point raised in the debate is the need to discover more about the false virtues. People see the importance of this - the wider Empire knows little about the auras of the false virtues or the tenets of those who extol their benefits. That makes it harder to remain vigilant, and harder to identify the influence of a false virtue. The more the Empire knew about the false virtues, the more Vigilant they could be in weeding out their pernicious influence.		A frequent point raised in the debate is the need to discover more about the false virtues. People see the importance of this - the wider Empire knows little about the auras of the false virtues or the tenets of those who extol their benefits. That makes it harder to remain vigilant, and harder to identify the influence of a false virtue. The more the Empire knew about the false virtues, the more Vigilant they could be in weeding out their pernicious influence.
	{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual forces are categorised as such because they encourage acts detrimental to the choices and actions required to achieve enlightenment. Or because they are detrimental to the creation of a society in which such choices and actions can be freely mades. All virtuous citizens should abhor and shun them. However they are forces used by enemies of the Empire and without the knowledge of what we face we are less prepared to fight them. This is an unwelcome truth we all need to face. Until the Imperial Synod decides how investigation into these forces should be carried out. No citizen should take experimentation into their own hands.\|size=small\|by=Melchior of Adina’s Charge, Courage Assembly\|vote=246-30 (~~{{GM}}~~)\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE}}		{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual forces are categorised as such because they encourage acts detrimental to the choices and actions required to achieve enlightenment. Or because they are detrimental to the creation of a society in which such choices and actions can be freely mades. All virtuous citizens should abhor and shun them. However they are forces used by enemies of the Empire and without the knowledge of what we face we are less prepared to fight them. This is an unwelcome truth we all need to face. Until the Imperial Synod decides how investigation into these forces should be carried out. No citizen should take experimentation into their own hands.\|size=small\|by=Melchior of Adina’s Charge, Courage Assembly\|vote=246-30 ((Greater Majority))\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE}}
	The decision of the Synod to reject the influence of false virtues has ensured that most people do not believe it is a good idea to open yourself to the influence of the auras of a false virtue in the hope of learning more about them. One scathing priest likens it to the idea of trying to identify whether a glass of wine has been poisoned by drinking it.		The decision of the Synod to reject the influence of false virtues has ensured that most people do not believe it is a good idea to open yourself to the influence of the auras of a false virtue in the hope of learning more about them. One scathing priest likens it to the idea of trying to identify whether a glass of wine has been poisoned by drinking it.

	Recent contact with Axos has exposed a number of citizens to the false virtues. The Synod urged these people to come forward for [[inquisition]], but there is scant evidence in the [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements\|Assembly judgements]] that anyone actually did so. In theory those who have deliberately embroiled themselves in the [[It_never_happened#A_Nest_of_Vipers\|Axou sects]] devoted to false virtues might be able to provide useful information - presuming they can be trusted to deal honestly. The Synod judgement implies that considerable leniency will be shown to those who come forward, but given they could face death for their actions if they were condemned by the Vigilance Assembly then it could be in their interests to present their actions and what they discovered in the best possible light.		Recent contact with Axos has exposed a number of citizens to the false virtues. The Synod urged these people to come forward for [[inquisition]], but there is scant evidence in the [[387YE_Spring_Equinox_Synod_judgements\|Assembly judgements]] that anyone actually did so. In theory those who have deliberately embroiled themselves in the [[It_never_happened#A_Nest_of_Vipers\|Axou sects]] devoted to false virtues might be able to provide useful information - presuming they can be trusted to deal honestly. The Synod judgement implies that considerable leniency will be shown to those who come forward, but given they could face death for their actions if they were condemned by the Vigilance Assembly then it could be in their interests to present their actions and what they discovered in the best possible light.

			'''Melchior of Adina’s Charge''' scathingly denounced the use of "false virtue" but also presented an unwelcome truth that must be faced - that enemies of the Empire embrace these powers and seek to employ them against the virtuous. No citizen, said Melchior, should take these matters into their own hands. Even those who are not dedicants of Courage can see the virtue of these words. Yet Melchior also speaks of the need for the Imperial Synod to find out how they can find out about these weapons. Their words strike a chord, and lead to a proposal from within a different assembly.
	{{CaptionedImage\|file=Assembly Courage.png\|align=right\|width=150}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=Assembly Courage.png\|align=right\|width=150}}
	'''Melchior of Adina’s Charge''' scathingly denounced the use of "false virtue" but also presented an unwelcome truth that must be faced - that enemies of the Empire embrace these powers and seek to employ them against the virtuous. No citizen, said Melchior, should take these matters into their own hands. Even those who are not dedicants of Courage can see the virtue of these words. Yet Melchior also speaks of the need for the Imperial Synod to find out how they can find out about these weapons. Their words strike a chord, and lead to a proposal from within a different assembly.

	A better option that embracing false virtues would be to send the Vigilant to find out this information, not through embracing false virtues, but through infiltration and espionage. Under normal circumstances the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)\|Silent Bell]] restrict themselves to investigating threats to the Empire from within its borders, but the sodality have been inspired both by the commitment of their assembly at Anvil to confronting and condemning cardinals, and by the words of the Courage assemnly. As a result, they are prepared to put their particular set of skills to good use. If the Assembly believes it to be worthwhile, then members of the sodality will attempt to infiltrate or spy on those people who use false auras to learn what they can about them.		A better option that embracing false virtues would be to send the Vigilant to find out this information, not through embracing false virtues, but through infiltration and espionage. Under normal circumstances the [[Silent Bell (Sodality)\|Silent Bell]] restrict themselves to investigating threats to the Empire from within its borders, but the sodality have been inspired both by the commitment of their assembly at Anvil to confronting and condemning cardinals, and by the words of the Courage assemnly. As a result, they are prepared to put their particular set of skills to good use. If the Assembly believes it to be worthwhile, then members of the sodality will attempt to infiltrate or spy on those people who use false auras to learn what they can about them.
	{{SOP\|statement=Pride tells us to embrace our past, Wisdom tells us that all knowledge is incomplete, Vigilance tells us to expose the truth. The synod urges those who went to Solokha and became dedicants of false virtues to declare themselves and to come forward for inquisition. This action will serve both their personal Pride by displaying rather than hiding their actions, the Wisdom of the Empire by expanding our knowledge of these presences, and our Vigilance as it increases our awareness of these potential threats. While this declaration will not make them immune from consequences, if their actions were undertaken virtuously they should be treated as such.\|size=small\|by=Iniska Ashwood, General Assembly\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|vote=1550-62}}		{{SOP\|statement=Pride tells us to embrace our past, Wisdom tells us that all knowledge is incomplete, Vigilance tells us to expose the truth. The synod urges those who went to Solokha and became dedicants of false virtues to declare themselves and to come forward for inquisition. This action will serve both their personal Pride by displaying rather than hiding their actions, the Wisdom of the Empire by expanding our knowledge of these presences, and our Vigilance as it increases our awareness of these potential threats. While this declaration will not make them immune from consequences, if their actions were undertaken virtuously they should be treated as such.\|size=small\|by=Iniska Ashwood, General Assembly\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|vote=1550-62}}

Hailmur: /* Take the Power Back */

2025-07-17T15:40:14Z

Take the Power Back

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 17 July 2025
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	The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].		The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].
	{{SOP\|statement=I, Silas of the Cenotaph, warn that Peace is not Apathetic it is an active Vindictive force. It is not an absence of of violence it is instead a last resort. It is the demand to take on the opinions, suffering and ideas of others no matter who they are. This I have warned, this I demand we destroy wherever we find it, this I have learned. I await and welcome judgement.\|by=Silas, Assembly of Nine\|vote=9-0 (~~{{GM}}~~)\|when=Spring Equinox 387YE\|size=small}}		{{SOP\|statement=I, Silas of the Cenotaph, warn that Peace is not Apathetic it is an active Vindictive force. It is not an absence of of violence it is instead a last resort. It is the demand to take on the opinions, suffering and ideas of others no matter who they are. This I have warned, this I demand we destroy wherever we find it, this I have learned. I await and welcome judgement.\|by=Silas, Assembly of Nine\|vote=9-0 (Greater Majority)\|when=Spring Equinox 387YE\|size=small}}
	People are also eager to hear from the Wisdom Assembly on the matter of their cardinal, now that the Synod has said that people must not embrace false virtues. The Cardinal has defended his actions in terms of the Wisdom and learning gained from his experience with Peace - and received the strong backing of the Assembly. The other two cardinals both resigned their position, one immediately, one in the face of an impending revocation. The Cardinal of Wisdom does not appear to have any intention of doing that, and thus far the General Assembly seem disinclined to revoke him.		People are also eager to hear from the Wisdom Assembly on the matter of their cardinal, now that the Synod has said that people must not embrace false virtues. The Cardinal has defended his actions in terms of the Wisdom and learning gained from his experience with Peace - and received the strong backing of the Assembly. The other two cardinals both resigned their position, one immediately, one in the face of an impending revocation. The Cardinal of Wisdom does not appear to have any intention of doing that, and thus far the General Assembly seem disinclined to revoke him.

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	Most of the faithful have accepted the mandate as the end of the matter and moved on from the issue. Their only concern now is the presence of these hallowed items in Anvil. But many Wisdom priests are keen to know if '''Silas of the Cenotaph''' remains defiant in the face of the Synod's decision. If he says nothing then people will assume that he has accepted the Synod's judgement then nothing more will come of it.		Most of the faithful have accepted the mandate as the end of the matter and moved on from the issue. Their only concern now is the presence of these hallowed items in Anvil. But many Wisdom priests are keen to know if '''Silas of the Cenotaph''' remains defiant in the face of the Synod's decision. If he says nothing then people will assume that he has accepted the Synod's judgement then nothing more will come of it.
	{{SOP\|statement=We, the Wisdom Assembly Understand that theological experiments are part of the Way. However such experiments require careful safeguards and observation. We ask that any such experiments are conducted in full view of the Wisdom assembly so we can assist you in doing so with Virtue.\|by=Amris Johan Merikovich, Wisdom Assembly\|vote=356-18 (~~{{GM}}~~)\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|size=small}}		{{SOP\|statement=We, the Wisdom Assembly Understand that theological experiments are part of the Way. However such experiments require careful safeguards and observation. We ask that any such experiments are conducted in full view of the Wisdom assembly so we can assist you in doing so with Virtue.\|by=Amris Johan Merikovich, Wisdom Assembly\|vote=356-18 (Greater Majority)\|when=Spring Equinox 378YE\|size=small}}
	But if the cardinal openly defies the mandate and continues to assert the Wisdom of his actions in the public record, then [[dedication\|dedicates]] of Wisdom across the Empire will be inspired to follow him. On the face of it, the Cardinal appears to have a strong argument for their actions - much of which does seem to accord with the guidance on Wisdom. If they choose to stick to their position, then that will place the Wisdom Assembly at odds with the wider Synod. This is not an unusual position for the Assembly, which has been here before, most recently over the matter of the sword scholars and the wisdom of questioning authority. If the faithful believe that the Wisdom Assembly supports the embrace of false virtues as a way to discover more about them, then the words of the General Assembly will not deter very many of them.		But if the cardinal openly defies the mandate and continues to assert the Wisdom of his actions in the public record, then [[dedication\|dedicates]] of Wisdom across the Empire will be inspired to follow him. On the face of it, the Cardinal appears to have a strong argument for their actions - much of which does seem to accord with the guidance on Wisdom. If they choose to stick to their position, then that will place the Wisdom Assembly at odds with the wider Synod. This is not an unusual position for the Assembly, which has been here before, most recently over the matter of the sword scholars and the wisdom of questioning authority. If the faithful believe that the Wisdom Assembly supports the embrace of false virtues as a way to discover more about them, then the words of the General Assembly will not deter very many of them.

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	The one position that nobody will accept is the idea that cardinals and the priests who attend [[Anvil]] should be free to investigate false Virtues while the common people of the Empire must not. People look to the Synod for leadership, they look to the Synod to embody the Virtues and exemplify them. They want the Synod to lift up the most Virtuous, to extol and promote Virtue, to represent the best of what the Empire has to offer. It's not reasonable, but they expect the priests of Anvil to ''behave'' better than they do, not to ''be'' better than they are. People are not that worried about the presence of a lone priest in some obscure part of [[the Marches]] who is prone to talking about how much they hate the [[Jotun]] a little too often. They are deeply concerned about the presence of powerful malign spiritual auras at the heart of the Empire exerting a compelling influence on the souls of the people elected to embody Virtue.		The one position that nobody will accept is the idea that cardinals and the priests who attend [[Anvil]] should be free to investigate false Virtues while the common people of the Empire must not. People look to the Synod for leadership, they look to the Synod to embody the Virtues and exemplify them. They want the Synod to lift up the most Virtuous, to extol and promote Virtue, to represent the best of what the Empire has to offer. It's not reasonable, but they expect the priests of Anvil to ''behave'' better than they do, not to ''be'' better than they are. People are not that worried about the presence of a lone priest in some obscure part of [[the Marches]] who is prone to talking about how much they hate the [[Jotun]] a little too often. They are deeply concerned about the presence of powerful malign spiritual auras at the heart of the Empire exerting a compelling influence on the souls of the people elected to embody Virtue.
	{{CaptionedImage\|file=Assembly Vigilance.png\|align=right\|width=150}}		{{CaptionedImage\|file=Assembly Vigilance.png\|align=right\|width=150}}

	==War Within a Breath==		==War Within a Breath==
	* '''The Vigilance Assembly could employ the Silent Bell to find out more about false virtues'''		* '''The Vigilance Assembly could employ the Silent Bell to find out more about false virtues'''

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:54, 17 July 2025
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	Passing the judgement still leaves the notable issue of what to do about those individuals who accepted the Peace [[aura\|auras]] - notably the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] who remains in position and his colleagues. They have escaped punishment by the law, due to the collapse of the trial, so what is their standing now? Two of the three cardinals stepped down - does the Cardinal of Wisdom now accept the verdict of the General Assembly or do they stand by their position that it was right to explore the false virtues? Will the General Assembly now try to remove the Cardinal from his position as they tried to do with the Cardinal of Ambition?		Passing the judgement still leaves the notable issue of what to do about those individuals who accepted the Peace [[aura\|auras]] - notably the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] who remains in position and his colleagues. They have escaped punishment by the law, due to the collapse of the trial, so what is their standing now? Two of the three cardinals stepped down - does the Cardinal of Wisdom now accept the verdict of the General Assembly or do they stand by their position that it was right to explore the false virtues? Will the General Assembly now try to remove the Cardinal from his position as they tried to do with the Cardinal of Ambition?
	{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual presences are a direct <u>threat</u> to the Empire. We send Viviane Barossa with 75 doses of liao to warn the virtuous folk of the Empire that their vigilance <u>must</u> continue. For nearly 400 years we have kept these dangerous forces at bay, and we must <u>not</u> drop our guard now.\|by=Viviane Barossa, General Assembly mandate\|vote=1526-464\|when=378YE Spring Equinox\|size=small}}		{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual presences are a direct <u>threat</u> to the Empire. We send Viviane Barossa with 75 doses of liao to warn the virtuous folk of the Empire that their vigilance <u>must</u> continue. For nearly 400 years we have kept these dangerous forces at bay, and we must <u>not</u> drop our guard now.\|by=Viviane Barossa, General Assembly mandate\|vote=1526-464\|when=378YE Spring Equinox\|size=small}}
	The embrace of Peace and the subsequent ambivalent responses have already undermined the authority of the [[Assembly of the Nine]]. Cynics point out that the priest who raised the mandate is the same Viviane Barossa who accepted the attempt by [[Axos]] to spread malign spiritual presence of Peace to the Empire. Do those words ''really'' represent what the former [[cardinal]] thinks, or is she even now under the influence of some malign aura? ~~The~~ four still ''possess the heretical relics given to them by the Axou''. They swore not to wall themselves off from the influence of Peace. If the Synod agree that they must keep these dangerous forces at bay then perhaps they could all start by removing the ~~four~~ auras of Peace ~~that are right at~~ the heart of the Synod?		The embrace of Peace and the subsequent ambivalent responses have already undermined the authority of the [[Assembly of the Nine]]. Cynics point out that the priest who raised the mandate is the same Viviane Barossa who accepted the attempt by [[Axos]] to spread malign spiritual presence of Peace to the Empire. Do those words ''really'' represent what the former [[cardinal]] thinks, or is she even now under the influence of some malign aura? Three of the four still ''possess the heretical relics given to them by the Axou'' (the one borne by Zadkiel was destroyed by the [[Court Reports\|actions]] of '''Vitore Von Temeschwar'''). They swore not to wall themselves off from the influence of Peace. If the Synod agree that they must keep these dangerous forces at bay then perhaps they could all start by removing the three auras of Peace remaining in the heart of the Synod?

	The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].		The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:26, 17 July 2025
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	The Imperial Synod has opted to forgo the opportunity to explore the malign spiritual forces, and instead keep the Empire pure. The mandate spread by Viviane Barossa did not get a [[greater majority]], however. Indeed there was considerable opposition to it. However, it did pass with a clear majority of over a thousand votes. Backed by the words of the Synod, citizens in most nations of the Empire will turn their back on the allure of false virtues. Many will look to challenge those they believe may be involved with these dangerous powers, or even report their suspicions to relevant authorities.		The Imperial Synod has opted to forgo the opportunity to explore the malign spiritual forces, and instead keep the Empire pure. The mandate spread by Viviane Barossa did not get a [[greater majority]], however. Indeed there was considerable opposition to it. However, it did pass with a clear majority of over a thousand votes. Backed by the words of the Synod, citizens in most nations of the Empire will turn their back on the allure of false virtues. Many will look to challenge those they believe may be involved with these dangerous powers, or even report their suspicions to relevant authorities.

	The notable exception to these arrangements are in [[Urizen]], [[Varushka]], and [[Wintermark]]. There is a healthy degree of ~~skepticism~~ towards the Synod in these nations - and as a result mandates that fail to achieve a greater majority are ineffective there. The impact of that seems muted, at least for now, but the Synod is storing up trouble for the future. Even now figures like ''[[A wisdom of questions\|Severus of the Blinding Sun]]'', the old traditionalist [[sword scholar]], are peddling teachings of [[Malign spiritual presences#Hatred\|Hate]] across citadels in Urizen. When loyal priests claim that the false virtues must be denounced, Severus easily refutes their words by pointing out that there are members of the Assembly of Nine who bear those self-same auras. Not that Severus hangs around to debate them much - he makes a point of never preaching in the same place twice and disappears into the hills when he gets the slightest hint that the authorities might seek to apprehend him.		The notable exception to these arrangements are in [[Urizen]], [[Varushka]], and [[Wintermark]]. There is a healthy degree of scepticism towards the Synod in these nations - and as a result mandates that fail to achieve a greater majority are ineffective there. The impact of that seems muted, at least for now, but the Synod is storing up trouble for the future. Even now figures like ''[[A wisdom of questions\|Severus of the Blinding Sun]]'', the old traditionalist [[sword scholar]], are peddling teachings of [[Malign spiritual presences#Hatred\|Hate]] across citadels in Urizen. When loyal priests claim that the false virtues must be denounced, Severus easily refutes their words by pointing out that there are members of the Assembly of Nine who bear those self-same auras. Not that Severus hangs around to debate them much - he makes a point of never preaching in the same place twice and disappears into the hills when he gets the slightest hint that the authorities might seek to apprehend him.

	There is nothing that can be done to avoid this fate right now - the poison is in the flesh and the body must heal itself. Elsewhere the majority of the Imperial nations will be fine. There may still be a few [[Religious_crime#Heresy\|heretics]] proposing [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy\|anarchy]] or [[Malign spiritual presences#Peace\|peace]] just as there always have been, but they will likely be quickly identified and dealt with before they have become well-established. The situation will be very different in Urizen, Varushka, and Wintermark - heresy is much more likely here now as people are more open to the idea of exploring false virtues - when that happens it will put down deep roots that will be painful and difficult to uproot.		There is nothing that can be done to avoid this fate right now - the poison is in the flesh and the body must heal itself. Elsewhere the majority of the Imperial nations will be fine. There may still be a few [[Religious_crime#Heresy\|heretics]] proposing [[Malign spiritual presences#Anarchy\|anarchy]] or [[Malign spiritual presences#Peace\|peace]] just as there always have been, but they will likely be quickly identified and dealt with before they have become well-established. The situation will be very different in Urizen, Varushka, and Wintermark - heresy is much more likely here now as people are more open to the idea of exploring false virtues - when that happens it will put down deep roots that will be painful and difficult to uproot.
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	Passing the judgement still leaves the notable issue of what to do about those individuals who accepted the Peace [[aura\|auras]] - notably the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] who remains in position and his colleagues. They have escaped punishment by the law, due to the collapse of the trial, so what is their standing now? Two of the three cardinals stepped down - does the Cardinal of Wisdom now accept the verdict of the General Assembly or do they stand by their position that it was right to explore the false virtues? Will the General Assembly now try to remove the Cardinal from his position as they tried to do with the Cardinal of Ambition?		Passing the judgement still leaves the notable issue of what to do about those individuals who accepted the Peace [[aura\|auras]] - notably the [[Cardinal of Wisdom]] who remains in position and his colleagues. They have escaped punishment by the law, due to the collapse of the trial, so what is their standing now? Two of the three cardinals stepped down - does the Cardinal of Wisdom now accept the verdict of the General Assembly or do they stand by their position that it was right to explore the false virtues? Will the General Assembly now try to remove the Cardinal from his position as they tried to do with the Cardinal of Ambition?
	{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual presences are a direct <u>threat</u> to the Empire. We send Viviane Barossa with 75 doses of liao to warn the virtuous folk of the Empire that their vigilance <u>must</u> continue. For nearly 400 years we have kept these dangerous forces at bay, and we must <u>not</u> drop our guard now.\|by=Viviane Barossa, General Assembly mandate\|vote=1526-464\|when=378YE Spring Equinox\|size=small}}		{{SOP\|statement=The malign spiritual presences are a direct <u>threat</u> to the Empire. We send Viviane Barossa with 75 doses of liao to warn the virtuous folk of the Empire that their vigilance <u>must</u> continue. For nearly 400 years we have kept these dangerous forces at bay, and we must <u>not</u> drop our guard now.\|by=Viviane Barossa, General Assembly mandate\|vote=1526-464\|when=378YE Spring Equinox\|size=small}}
	The embrace of Peace and the subsequent ambivalent responses have already undermined the authority of the [[Assembly of the Nine]]. Cynics point out that the priest who raised the mandate is the same Viviane Barossa who accepted the attempt by [[Axos]] to spread malign spiritual presence of Peace to the Empire. Do those words ''really'' represent what the former [[cardinal]] thinks, or is she even now under the influence of some malign aura? The four still ''possess the heretical relics given to them by the ~~Axiou~~''. They swore not to wall themselves off from the influence of Peace. If the Synod agree that they must keep these dangerous forces at bay then perhaps they could all start by removing the four auras of Peace that are right at the heart of the Synod?		The embrace of Peace and the subsequent ambivalent responses have already undermined the authority of the [[Assembly of the Nine]]. Cynics point out that the priest who raised the mandate is the same Viviane Barossa who accepted the attempt by [[Axos]] to spread malign spiritual presence of Peace to the Empire. Do those words ''really'' represent what the former [[cardinal]] thinks, or is she even now under the influence of some malign aura? The four still ''possess the heretical relics given to them by the Axou''. They swore not to wall themselves off from the influence of Peace. If the Synod agree that they must keep these dangerous forces at bay then perhaps they could all start by removing the four auras of Peace that are right at the heart of the Synod?

	The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].		The Synod has acted to prevent the spread of heresy in most nations of the Empire, but if they do not find a way to publicly deal with the presence of these false virtues then the loss of credibility experienced by the Assembly of Nine will spread and it will become harder for the Virtue and national assemblies to move hearts and minds of the Empire with [[statement of principle\|statements of principle]].
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	But if the cardinal openly defies the mandate and continues to assert the Wisdom of his actions in the public record, then [[dedication\|dedicates]] of Wisdom across the Empire will be inspired to follow him. On the face of it, the Cardinal appears to have a strong argument for their actions - much of which does seem to accord with the guidance on Wisdom. If they choose to stick to their position, then that will place the Wisdom Assembly at odds with the wider Synod. This is not an unusual position for the Assembly, which has been here before, most recently over the matter of the sword scholars and the wisdom of questioning authority. If the faithful believe that the Wisdom Assembly supports the embrace of false virtues as a way to discover more about them, then the words of the General Assembly will not deter very many of them.		But if the cardinal openly defies the mandate and continues to assert the Wisdom of his actions in the public record, then [[dedication\|dedicates]] of Wisdom across the Empire will be inspired to follow him. On the face of it, the Cardinal appears to have a strong argument for their actions - much of which does seem to accord with the guidance on Wisdom. If they choose to stick to their position, then that will place the Wisdom Assembly at odds with the wider Synod. This is not an unusual position for the Assembly, which has been here before, most recently over the matter of the sword scholars and the wisdom of questioning authority. If the faithful believe that the Wisdom Assembly supports the embrace of false virtues as a way to discover more about them, then the words of the General Assembly will not deter very many of them.

	There have been statements like the most recent one by '''Amris Johan Merikovich''' that seem to imply that Silas' actions are not only acceptable but virtuous - making the claim that the Wisdom Assembly are the right people in the Empire to investigate false virtues. The Cardinal of Wisdom is due for ~~reelection~~ at the coming Solstice, so the whole Wisdom Assembly is likely to have an opportunity to pass the final word on this matter.		There have been statements like the most recent one by '''Amris Johan Merikovich''' that seem to imply that Silas' actions are not only acceptable but virtuous - making the claim that the Wisdom Assembly are the right people in the Empire to investigate false virtues. The Cardinal of Wisdom is due for re-election at the coming Solstice, so the whole Wisdom Assembly is likely to have an opportunity to pass the final word on this matter.

	The one position that nobody will accept is the idea that cardinals and the priests who attend [[Anvil]] should be free to investigate false Virtues while the common people of the Empire must not. People look to the Synod for leadership, they look to the Synod to embody the Virtues and exemplify them. They want the Synod to lift up the most Virtuous, to extol and promote Virtue, to represent the best of what the Empire has to offer. It's not reasonable, but they expect the priests of Anvil to ''behave'' better than they do, not to ''be'' better than they are. People are not that worried about the presence of a lone priest in some obscure part of [[the Marches]] who is prone to talking about how much they hate the [[Jotun]] a little too often. They are deeply concerned about the presence of powerful malign spiritual auras at the heart of the Empire exerting a compelling influence on the souls of the people elected to embody Virtue.		The one position that nobody will accept is the idea that cardinals and the priests who attend [[Anvil]] should be free to investigate false Virtues while the common people of the Empire must not. People look to the Synod for leadership, they look to the Synod to embody the Virtues and exemplify them. They want the Synod to lift up the most Virtuous, to extol and promote Virtue, to represent the best of what the Empire has to offer. It's not reasonable, but they expect the priests of Anvil to ''behave'' better than they do, not to ''be'' better than they are. People are not that worried about the presence of a lone priest in some obscure part of [[the Marches]] who is prone to talking about how much they hate the [[Jotun]] a little too often. They are deeply concerned about the presence of powerful malign spiritual auras at the heart of the Empire exerting a compelling influence on the souls of the people elected to embody Virtue.
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	The malign spiritual aura of [[Malign Spiritual Presences#Hatred\|Hatred]] is not unknown in the Empire. The people of [[Mournwold#Whittle\|Whittle in the Mournwold]] relied on the strength of Hatred to fight off the [[Jotun]] for many years. Sadly, they are gone now, when the attempts to reintegrate them into the Empire predictably failed. Such incidents are not uncommon however - the Marcher Assembly may denounce Hatred, but there are households in the Marches who are still nursing grudges to this day that are considerably older than the Assembly.		The malign spiritual aura of [[Malign Spiritual Presences#Hatred\|Hatred]] is not unknown in the Empire. The people of [[Mournwold#Whittle\|Whittle in the Mournwold]] relied on the strength of Hatred to fight off the [[Jotun]] for many years. Sadly, they are gone now, when the attempts to reintegrate them into the Empire predictably failed. Such incidents are not uncommon however - the Marcher Assembly may denounce Hatred, but there are households in the Marches who are still nursing grudges to this day that are considerably older than the Assembly.

	Not just the Marchers, there are mentions of Purity here and there in the history of the Highborn. According to some, there were many ~~Highguard~~ who expected the early Synod to embrace the "virtue" they called Purity, and more than a few who refused to give it up when the Synod denounced it. A recent piece of [[historical research]] commissioned by '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' as [[Minister of Historical Research]] delved into the teachings and practice of hatred and the document it produced -''[[Maude, and the nature of Hatred]]'' - is available across the Empire. Even today it seems constant Vigilance is required to keep the pernicious influence of Hatred out of Highguard - and there are notable failures that [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_179\|reach right to the top of Highborn society]].		Not just the Marchers, there are mentions of Purity here and there in the history of the Highborn. According to some, there were many Highborn who expected the early Synod to embrace the "virtue" they called Purity, and more than a few who refused to give it up when the Synod denounced it. A recent piece of [[historical research]] commissioned by '''Caleb of the Cenotaph''' as [[Minister of Historical Research]] delved into the teachings and practice of hatred and the document it produced -''[[Maude, and the nature of Hatred]]'' - is available across the Empire. Even today it seems constant Vigilance is required to keep the pernicious influence of Hatred out of Highguard - and there are notable failures that [[386YE_Summer_Solstice_Synod_judgements#Judgement_179\|reach right to the top of Highborn society]].

	The largest extant group of followers of Hatred that anyone knows about are among those [[sword scholar\|sword scholars]] who refused to abandon their support for the teachings of [[Sulemaine]] when told to do so by the Synod. Many of these sword scholars were devotees of [[Wisdom]] but some, like ''Severus of the Blinding Sun'', were passionate about the power of Hatred. Rather than renounce their beliefs, they retreated into the mountains of Urizen, where they live in hiding to this day.		The largest extant group of followers of Hatred that anyone knows about are among those [[sword scholar\|sword scholars]] who refused to abandon their support for the teachings of [[Sulemaine]] when told to do so by the Synod. Many of these sword scholars were devotees of [[Wisdom]] but some, like ''Severus of the Blinding Sun'', were passionate about the power of Hatred. Rather than renounce their beliefs, they retreated into the mountains of Urizen, where they live in hiding to this day.