Lay the foundations

"586... 587... 588..."

Zaccai stopped to draw breath. The burning sensation in his calves was getting steadily worse. It felt like there was a hot fire in the muscle in his left leg and his right was not much better. 588 he reminded himself. It was important to keep count. Someone had told him there were meant to be seven hundred and seventy-seven steps. It wasn't finished yet, so he couldn't check, but still it was important to keep count.

He took a deep breath and then set off again. "589... 590... 591..." Every other step brought him a foot closer to the top.

He glanced over the side, and the drop made his head spin. Far below, the people looked like dots. One of them was waving at him. It looked like Ezra but it was hard to be sure. "592... 593... 594..."

The rest of his family had already been to the top and back down again. They'd be at the bottom somewhere, waiting for him. Probably cursing him for doing this. "595... 596... 597..." They'd taken the easy route, hitching a lift on the loading platform used to raise stone to the top. Like regular visitors. The way proper visitors would get to the top when it was all finished. "598... 599... 600..." Zaccai didn't care for the idea of being a proper visitor. One hundred and seventy-seven to go.

He'd passed several stonecutters on the way, carving beautiful depictions of the symbols of Ambition into the hard stone. "601... 602... 603..." They'd stared at him like he was a rampaging barbarian. What in Virtue's name was he doing? "604... 605... 606..."

As soon as he'd set eyes on it he knew what he had to do. "607... 608... 609..." He decided it was the tallest of the seven towers, but the guide said they were all going to be exactly the same height. "610... 611... 612... " They wouldn't be the same height if he was working on it. He'd make this one taller than the rest. After all, it was the most important Virtue. "613... 614... 615..."

He stopped again. He was breathing heavily, but he was determined to make it. His Ambition today was to climb all the way to the top of the tallest tower in the whole world. And nothing, not burning legs, not burning lungs, was going to stop him.

Overview

The Highborn National Assembly have declared the completion of the Grand Inspiration of the Way to be their highest calling. The judgement, raised by Eli of the Cenotaph, comfortably won the support of the greater majority of the assembly - there can be no doubt about how important this is to the nation.

Despite the best efforts of all the cynics and pessimists, the greatest building project in the Empire - likely in the whole world - is almost on schedule. The original plans assumed that the work would take a minimum of three years to complete, but it could easily take longer. Barely more than two years have passed, and already slightly more than two-thirds of the thousand wains has been contributed. There was a lull in donations after the first year, but the flow of wains has never stopped - if anything, it has increased lately. There is a lot still to be done, but nobody can doubt the commitment to the Way.

The results are already stunning. Visitors to Bastion are awestruck by the sheer enormity of the structure, and it isn't even complete yet. The main focus, the seven great towers arranged around the central structure, seem to rise up to meet the clouds. One Dawnish troubadour was inspired to write that the Grand Inspiration appears to hold up the sky. A little romantic perhaps, but it captures some of the awe-inspiring majesty of the structure. Even with scaffolding everywhere, it is possible to sense how sublimely beautiful it will be when it is done. Great pillars of perfect white granite, stretching to span the divide between the earth and the heavens.

There is a great deal of work still to do; a little over 281 wains of white granite are needed, and a lot of money to find to finish it. But the Grand Inspiration will lay the foundations necessary to inspire pilgrims across the world to visit Bastion and be truly inspired. An astonishing legacy that will endure far beyond the lives of any now living. But first, it must actually be finished. The nation of Highguard has been straining every sinew to support this Ambition for two years now, but the statement by Eli of the Cenotaph causes passions to resurge, and enthusiasm to reach new peaks. People are starting to sense what could be...

The completion of the Grand Inspiration of the Way is the highest calling of the nation of Highguard. Through its completion we will lay the foundations necessary to inspire pilgrims to spread the Way across the known world. It will be the greatest tool we will leave our future lives and a legacy that will endure.

Eli of the Cenotaph, Highguard National Assembly, Winter 387YE, Vote: Upheld with a Greater Majority 750-0

The Possible Dream

• The Cinderpath Exchange has gained the ability to purchase additional white granite for the next year

White Granite
72 crowns	3 wains of white granite
144 crowns	6 wains of white granite
216 crowns	9 wains of white granite
288 crowns	12 wains of white granite
360 crowns	15 wains of white granite
435 crowns	18 wains of white granite
516 crowns	21 wains of white granite
603 crowns	24 wains of white granite

With the commitment of the founding people of the Empire reaching new peaks, there is an inevitable surge in citizens looking to help any way they can. People are already selling their white granite on the Cinderpath Exchange, but in chapters all over the nation people look for whatever they can find to contribute. A handful of herbs might not amount to much, but when the goods are sold and the money pooled with others, they can raise enough to buy from League merchants, arrange a shipment with Sumaah traders or order a consignment from the Sarcophan Delves. Any way at all that people can employ to obtain more white granite - and every wain earmarked for the Exchange as soon as it arrives.

The effects are immediate, with more white granite available than ever before. Prices are high and rising, but that is inevitable given how much white granite people are trying to procure. There are still costs to be paid, for shipping and to reimburse those citizens who could never afford to just donate the white granite. But citizens are doing everything they can to support the Exchange, in the belief that that is the best possible way to enable the nation to complete the Grand Inspiration.

As a result of the increased support, the Cinderpath Exchange has gained four additional ranks, allowing the Cinderpath Custodian to purchase more white granite. The effects will last for at least a year, and maybe longer with the right encouragement, provided citizens can see the benefits of their support are going to the Grand Inspiration.

Let the Bells Ring Out

Approve Seven Great Bells

Motion Type: Amend commission

Neccessary Details: Amend the designs for the Grand Inspiration of the Way to incorporate seven great bells

Effect: Reduces the cost of the Grand Inspiration of the Way by 49 white granite and increases the cost by 49 mithril.

Special: Adds seven enormous mithril bells to the final design of the Grand Inspiration of the Way Does not require any funds or consume a Senate commission Would add 30 crowns a season to the Virtue fund once the Grand Inspiration is complete

Availability: Until the end of the Spring Equinox 388YE

• The Imperial Senate could vote to substitute 49 wains of mithril for 49 wains of white granite this season
• The bells will increase donations to the Virtue fund by 30 crowns a season once the Grand Inspiration is complete

Bells have always played a crucial role in Highborn life and they are foremost in the minds of many citizens at the moment due to the the current pilgrimage of the hallowed bells of Virtue around the Empire. The centrepiece of the designs for the Grand Inspiration focus on seven great towers, one for each of the virtues, but to date there has been no planning for the bells that might be installed atop them.

If the existing designs were adapted, arrangements could be made for seven great bells to be installed, one in each tower. Each bell would be forged from seven wains of mithril, for a grand total of forty-nine wains in total. Various plans are proposed for how the effect of these new bells could be paired with the Hallowed Bells of Virtue, but nobody can agree on how to do that, so the matter is left for the Assembly to decide.

While the proposal would require mithril to complete the Grand Inspiration, the new designs would require less white granite, as the towers would then be open on all sides to allow the bells to swing freely and be heard for miles around. If the idea were adopted, then it would reduce the amount of white granite needed to complete the grand inspiration almost on a one-for-one basis.

Despite the small inrease in costs, The plan could make it easier for the Highborn to finish the work by providing an alternative way to complete the construction. Either way, the benefits would be significant, the inspirational effects of the great bells would lead to substantial donations to the Virtue fund by awestruck visitors to Bastion. As a result, the Virtue fund would receive 30 crowns a season, once the Grand Inspiration was complete.

The change would require a Senate motion to adapt the designs. That would have to be enacted this summit, before any more work is done on the Grand Inspiration, but the mithril could be provided later. Fortunately, the change to design is small so the change itself would not cost anything or need another commission.

The Family Silver

The Lady of the Counting House will trade in almost anything.

• Following inquiries, the City of Gold and Lead has agreed they will make an offer to purchase a single existing Highborn commission each season for the coming year
• This summit, the Senator for Necropolis can use the ritual Ephisis' Scale to put a single commission up for sale to discover the best offer the City will make for it
• The herald will attempt to agree a price with the senator or their proxy in the Hall of Worlds on the final day
• Any deal will need the approval of the Imperial Senate at the following summit

Following the other approach of the City of Gold and Lead to buy an Imperial commission, Magister Joanna has approached the heralds of the Lady of the Counting House to ask whether City might be willing to make offers to buy one or more Highborn commissions that are no longer needed

The City has wains to spend, of course - many of which they've bought from the Empire in recent times. Selling off the family silver is not the most appealing of prospects, but could it be worth it, if it provided the wains the nation needed? It might be painful to dispose of something in this way, but the more sacrifices people are willing to make, the quicker the Grand Inspiration can be completed.

The heralds of the City of Gold and Lead confirm they could definitely make enquiries... To that end, they will provide each of the Senators of Highguard in turn, with a single chit each season for the coming year; Necropolis at this summit, Reikos in Summer 388YE, Bastion in Autumn 388YE and finally Casinea in Winter 388YE.

If the chit is placed in an Ephisis box along with a note naming a single extant structure or other defined feature (the Invisible Hand will trade in almost anything, remember) within their territory, and what the Senator might be interested in trading for it (assumedly, white granite), then agents of the Hidden Prince will make an offer for it to the Senator or their agent in the Hall of Worlds on the final day of the summit.

The city cautions that the senator will not receive as good a deal as the one they recently offered, given that they're going to the market rather than the market coming to them. Nonetheless, the negotiation would proceed in the normal fashion so that price discovery can take place. Should an agreement be made, the City would put the sale to the Senate at the start of the following summit to see if the deal can be finalised. If it is, then expert heralds will, stone by stone, and brick by brick, disassemble the structure and transport it to the autumn realm, to be rebuilt for their buyer, exactly as it was, whoever that might be.

The Second Age

The art provided by Millward Cowley and Skywise Gralka has served as its own inspiration.

• Congregations can preach the coming of the Second Age of the Virtue
• Each congregation that takes the action will reduce the labour costs needed to complete the Grand Inspiration

It is foolish to get lost in the trees and fail to see the forest. The Grand Inspiration of the Way is not simply a grand pile of wains, but the statement that Highguard and the Empire are the centre of the faith. The indisputable founding place of the Way that undeniably marks the heirs of the First Empress as the ultimate authority on the doctrines of the Way. As it stands, the only 'rival' to that title is Timoj in Sumaah. The completion of the Grand Inspiration will secure the dominant position of the Empire as the definitive source of inspiration and guidance for everyone who follows the Way.

The timing is apposite; there is something in the stars at the moment, people can feel it. A sense that history is being written, that the age is turning. If the First Age of Virtue began with the revelation of the first Empress, might not the completion of the Grand Inspiration herald the dawn of the Second Age of Virtue? A bold statement certainly, but one that seems to chime with the times.

In the coming year, congregations can take the lecture to Foretell the Coming of the Second Age of Virtue, to preach the good news of the coming epoch. The more congregations that took part each season, the greater the benefits would be. The individual effects would be tiny, but a thousand raindrops can quickly turn into a flood. Virtuous citizens would make a pilgrimage to Bastion, to volunteer to help with the work of completing the Grand Inspiration, working to raise the monument to the heavens - doing their part to support the Grand Inspiration and ushering in a new era. They may not be builders, but they believe in the dream to be given form. Children, the elderly, all united by faith to add even a single brick and know they were part of this momentous occasion in the history of mortal ascension.

Any congregation that chooses to "Foretell the Coming of the Second Age of Virtue" would become part of the Way Assembly and receive votes and liao as normal, but the more congregations that take the option, the more volunteers there will be in Bastion, helping with the construction work and reducing the labour costs accordingly. A starting congregation taking the lecture will effectively contribute seven rings to the outstanding costs to build the Grand Inspiration; upgraded or enchanted resources will provide proportionately more.

A Lasting Legacy

Empower the Speaker

Motion Type: Amend title

Necessary Details: Amend the title of Speaker for the Highborn Assembly to give them the power to announce a single commission or improvement for an appropriate shrine, church or inspirational location each season

Effect: Allows the Speaker to announce a single commission that uses more white granite than all other resources combined each season without requiring a Senate commission

Requirement: Requires the Grand Inspiration of the Way to be complete before the start of the Spring Equinox 389YE

Availability: Until the end of the Autumn Equinox 389YE

• If the Grand Inspiration can be completed in a year, the Custodes Clavium are offering to empower the Speaker for the Highborn Assembly
• If the Senate granted permission that would enable the Speaker to arrange a white granite commission each season to build on the legacy of the Grand Inspiration

The Custodes Clavium are a Highborn chapter in Bastion, dedicated to recording the lives of exemplars and paragons as well as those who have sat on the Throne. Their exarch is a passionate supporter of the Grand Inspiration, and is eager to see it completed. The chapter asks that the nation strive to finish the work before another year has passed, believing that only by setting themselves such a demanding target will they achieve the impossible.

If the Grand Inspiration can be completed before the beginning of the Spring Equinox 389YE, a little more than three years after it was first proposed, then it would demonstrate the towering accomplishments that are made possible when people pursue the Way. It is a demanding schedule; there is still a great deal to be done, but what harm could it do to try?

If the Empire are able to meet that Ambition within a year, then the Custodes Clavium would commit to place all the resources of their chapter at the disposal of the Speaker of the Highborn Assembly. The chapter are experts at the construction of shrines, churches and inspirational memorials to exemplars and paragons. In the past they have tried to support the use of recognition by the Synod, but that practice has fallen away for various reasons. Instead they propose to place their skills at the disposal of the Highborn Speaker. Who better to decide what the nation should build?

Their proposal would require the Imperial Senate to approve new legal powers for the Speaker, but with little direct cost to the Empire, that seems achievable. If that happened, then the Speaker would be able to announce a single commission for a new site, or an improvement to an extant one to make it bigger and more impressive. This construction would not require a Senate commission - the Custodes Clavium would provide all the skills needed.

Choices

Prioritise the Titles

Judgement Type: Statement of Principle

Assembly: Highborn National Assembly

Wording: A clearly written statement identifying which one of the five sets of Virtue positions should be given offices in the Grand Inspiration of the Way next

Effect: Highguard will consider what benefits could be had by granting those positions offices in the Grand Inspiration of the Way as part of their ongoing highest calling

Availability: Until the beginning of the Spring Equinox 389YE

• The Highborn have declared the Grand Inspiration of the Way to be their highest calling
• Over the next year there will be many decisions to make regarding the nature of the holy site and how it will be used
• The Assembly must decide which question to consider next
• For the next year, the architects will take special note of any Highborn Assembly statement of principle regarding the construction or use of the Grand Inspiration

Now that the Highborn Assembly have declared the Grand Inspiration of the Way to be their highest calling, the focus on the nation will remain firmly on the great commission for the year ahead. There will be fewer opportunities to attend to other matters, but if an opportunity does arise to help fund or amend the project, then it will not be overlooked.

However, now that minds are focused on the Grand Inspiration, people are already starting to post questions about how best to employ this numinous wonder. Those issues are best addressed before the Grand Inspiration is complete, so the coming year is the perfect time to consider them. The commission is enormous, a huge edifice on an almost incomprehensible scale, but all the work thus far has been on the actual construction. There is still a great deal to be done on how the interiors will be laid out, to determine how people will actually use the Grand Inspiration. The architects are looking to the Highborn Assembly to provide that direction and will pay particular attention to any statement of principle in the Highborn Assembly concerning the construction or use of the Grand Inspiration.

One obvious matter is who could be housed in the Grand Inspiration of the Way and what could be done to support them. The new structure will have seven inspirational towers, with many rooms in them.... There are eight cardinals, a dozen inquisitors, seven gatekeepers, seven champions, seven voices...

All of them would benefit from having resplendent offices in Bastion - it would increase the prestige of the title and provide other benefits that made it easier for them to carry out their appointed role. To ensure the work is not rushed, it would be best to consider each one in turn, rather than try to do them all. But the order in which they are assessed will be important. Currently the Grand Inspiration is empty - but that won't be true once rooms in the towers start being allocated. As a result, the earlier a set of titles are considered, the greater the benefits on offer are likely to be.

Now that the Highborn have declared the Grand Inspiration to be their highest calling, the work is just beginning.

Let the Call Ring Out

• The Virtue Assemblies and the three remaining National Assemblies have at least two more seasons and maybe longer to decide their highest calling
• Provided one assembly names their highest calling each season, then the opportunity will not expire

Despite the initial findings of the civil service, there is no reduction on fervour from priests and layfolk of the Empire to find the true calling of their assemblies. People are eager to be engaged, but pleased that their assembly has demonstrated their great Wisdom by refusing to rush such a weighty decision.

As such, people are happy to remain patient, provided it is clear the matter has not simply been forgotten. As long as at least one highest calling is passed each season, the opportunity to raise any of the remaining highest callings will still be available at the following event.