Voice irresistable

"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.

The Dragons rarely act without considering all the potential consequences; when they do act they are capable of doing so with overwhelming conviction.

Overview

The Thule - the orcs of Otkodov - live in cold lands to the north of the Empire. They share a long mountainous border with Wintermark, the Unshackled, and Varushka. Their magocratic nation is ruled by the five 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 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 Maze of Zoria (while sending their own warlocks to study at the 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.

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.

Thule

• Status: Foreigner
• Ports: 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 last summit, a small flurry of activity overtakes the ambassadorial offices in Miekarova. Warlocks and 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 ambassadorial offices in Mieriada ready for their new occupant.

Kindra Surefoot, Ambassador to Otkodov

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 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 Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun before the warlocks 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.

The other was an enquiry from Orobus the Chained, one of the Dragons themselves, who was interested in acquiring weirwood saplings from the Heartwood of the Great Vale and/or the Golden Trees of Seren which she plans to transplant into the 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 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 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 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 punishing Winter curse that, along with the cold climate, keeps "their" vallorn quiescent.

Appraise Thule Wards

Commission Type: Appraisal

Availability: Until the end of the Summer Solstice 388YE

Effect: As with any appraisal, presents 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

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 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

• 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 affects citizens of Otkodov
• An ultimatum 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 Crow's Ridge, Silver Peaks, Krevsaty, Bonewood, Webwood, Mieriada and Miechernya, are part of Otkodov, as far as the 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 empowered by the 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 Bonewood and Webwood. The presence of 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 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 affected by potent, large scale magic, but here the Dragons are much less concerned. The effect brought the realm of 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 constellation known as the Dragon's 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 Miechernya associated with ancient Ushkan history. It is now apparently impossible for anyone to visit any of the 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 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 prevented 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.

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 caution 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 Sküld, 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 herself; 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 amounts 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.

The Forest of Ulnak is mapped, but parts of the territory remain unknown.

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.

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 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 event's 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 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 tasked with rooting out threats to Otkodov arising from supernatural sources. Last season they were tasked by Caridis the Binder of Runes and Oaths to work with Sławomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh and 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 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 Further Reading

• Thule
• Thule lore
• Otkodov - details of the Thule nation
• Verthandi - a territory in Otkodov

Winds

• Voice irresistable - 388YE Spring diplomatic wind of fortune
• Invited with asperity - 387YE Winter diplomatic wind of fortune
• Bedight in veils - 387YE Autumn diplomatic wind of fortune
• I wish you would - 387YE Summer diplomatic wind of fortune
• Louder than words - 387YE Spring diplomatic wind of fortune
• About today - 386YE Winter diplomatic wind of fortune
• Authority and acceptance - 386YE Autumn diplomatic wind of fortune
• The price of peace - 386YE Summer diplomatic wind of fortune

• Northern trade network - The Thule participate in this network in the northern Empire
• Sungold Pass - historical research closely involving the Thule

Click Expand to see a summary of various pages related to the Thule.