Here you come again

"I am very worried," said Orin. "There is definitely something wrong. The thorns and the roses are not right, there's odd noises, and I swear that when I was down by the western arbour yesterday I heard one of the thorntrees growl at men."

Naomi shared his worry. "Apparently one of the gardeners has been talking about seeing what she swears is Queen Ygraine and..."

Their whispered conversation was interrupted by a thunderous deluge of horns blaring. Orin startled, dropping his tankard of strong, sweet tea. The gates of the Castle of Thorns are always open, closed only when invaders are literally visible from the walls. A symbol of the openness of the civil service, and a reminder that the folk of Dawn do not fear strangers. Through them now marched an entire warband of knights and courtiers, attired in bright crimson and shimmering gold.

The warriors' plate helms were styled in the aspect of roaring lions, and each of the courtiers had a glossy mane of golden hair. Pointed ears were very much on display, and there was something about these invaders that made Orin profoundly aware of how long it had been since he had last bestridden the battlefield like a lord of war. At the back of his head he made a mental note to start jogging around the battlements again, starting tomorrow.

There was another thunder of trumpets, and the visitors stopped and fanned out dramatically across the open courtyard. Their polished armour caught the late afternoon Summer sun, glinting and casting motes of gold across the courtyard walls. Orin could not shake the vague suspicion they were posing, attempting to intimidate the two civil servants - who they outnumbered by a factor of ten - with their glorious mien.

"Oh for virtues sake," muttered Naomi under her breath, rolling her eyes.

"Hail and well met, servants of the Imperial Throne!" The speaker was one of the courtiers, a statuesque woman who towered over both Orin and Naomi. She had come forward, trailing a scarlet garment that looked like a cross between a formal suit and a Dawnish marriage dress. "Take heart, for we are here to bring the words of our beloved mistress, that you may recount them to beloved Mirella, Archmage of Glory!"

Orin's eyes slid sideways. Naomi met his gaze and imperceptibly shrugged one shoulder.

"Welcome?" said Orin, not meaning it to come out as a question. He rallied. "Are you here to help with this garden's business?"

The courtier laughed, putting her hands on her hips as she did so in a way Orin did not think people actually did outside of stories and bad mummery. The laugh spread quickly, rippling through the ranks of the elfin knights like fire across a dry field. For some reason, this display of hilarity unsettled Orin more than any amount of braying horns. As the courtier's mirth faded, and she theatrically wiped a tear from here eye, she was suddenly all business. The civil servant could have sworn she became another few inches taller, and that as fierceness settled over her face a chill swept across the courtyard as if a cloud had briefly obscured the sun.

"Oh no!" she said, a widening grin spreading across her face that showed her sharp ivory teeth. "We are here to help you murder the Druj!"

The Imperial regio connects, somehow, to all realms and is a common source of messengers sent by eternals to respond to plenipotentiary messages.

Overview

• Six eternals have sent emissaries to Anvil in response to plenipotentiary messages from the Imperial archmages
• Five have agreed to meetings of one kind or another, either in person or via emissaries

After a mild hiccup last season, six eternals have sent emissaries in response to the archmage plenipotentiary messages from the Summer Solstice. All is right with the world! Ha, no, but anyway. Each archmage is of course empowered to send a single message to an eternal of their realm each season, with certain expectation of some kind of response. Sometimes that response borders on the rude, but there is always a response.

Often a plenipotentiary results in a parley - a formal meeting between the eternal and the archmage. Usually the archmage is afforded all due respect, treated as an equal who also represents a great power (the Empire). Sometimes things are handled more informally, with a smaller meeting or a large-scale free for all. Occasionally the eternal eschews a meeting altogether, and instead extends their assistance to the people of the Empire through boons and bargains.

This season five of the eternals have agreed to a meeting of one kind or another, either in person or with favoured lieutenants.

That Which Lies Above All (Day)

Gralka, Archmage of Day

• Sinokenon cannot help the Archmage with the matter they requested
• They have declined parley but offer a proposal to send heralds to help with a project Sinokenon has an interest in
• The current Archmage of Day is Skywise Gralka of the Imperial orcs

The being that emerges from the regio which speaks on behalf of Singular Point is a creature of light, a focused mote that emanates brilliant rays in all directions. The beams of illumnation move with geometric regularity as it speaks. It identifies itself as the Junior Minister of the Silver Directorate to the Unbound. After a little conversation, it makes clear that by this it means it is charged with dealing with the the Imperial Orcs nation.

The Junior Minister reveals that That Which Lives In Its Name is not able to help the Archmage of Day locate or acquire black lotus. Finding things that are lost or hidden, is simply not a concern of the Turning Mirror. An attempt to assess the situation was made - the minister known as the Chief Vizier of the Eternal Mountain was instructed to speak with the One of the Orb, but the discussion came to nothing. The Archmage might make their own approach to the Dragons of Otkodov but the Minister is not confident they will have any better success. For its part, Turning Mirror is not especially concerned about black lotus. Rather than caring about the profound spiritual meaning it has for many orcs, the eternal instead is more interested in the ways the Buruk Tepel use access to it to control their nation.

Instead, suggests the Junior Minister, the Archmage may have more luck speaking with the Grand Vizier of the Thousand Eyes or possibly the Seeker of the Star. In either case, the Archmage should manage their expectations. While they may be on the brink of ruin, the Druj are masters of the wicked arts of obfuscation. That rare herb that the Buruk Tepel value above all else will be concealed with wards and shrouds that might challenge even the illimitable gaze of the Glass of the Heavens. So far it has only been when the desperate masters of the Mallum have been forced to move their prizes that there has been any chance to capture them at all. If a Day eternal could tell a magician where black lotus could be found, then it would ultimately be impossible to hide anything, and Druj society would not have developed in the way that it did.

The Junior Minister then turns to other matters. The Argent Mantra did not expect the Archmage to seek parley with it given the attitude of the Conclave, and of Imperial magicians in general. While the Empire may be "loyal", it has not given much indication that it welcomes the aid of Diamondmind. If the Conclave wishes, though, they could still engage the support of the eternal on a matter it feels it can give some assistance to. There are three possibilities:

• In less than a century the Imperial Orcs they have gone from thralls, to rebels, to wandering nomad warriors, to the masters of their own small nation. Such things are of interest to the Friend of All. If the Conclave chooses this path forward, Sinokenon will send ministers to Skarsind and Mareave to find ways to help the Unshackled build their nation.

• The highest calling of the League is to bring more people into the Empire. The Unifying Ponticex is always happy to see steps taken to end the dissonance of large numbers of people living within Imperial borders who are not themselves citizens. If the Conclave chooses this option, it will send diplomats to support the bishops of the League in their endeavour.

• The Grand Inspiration of the Way is a monumentally ambitious endeavour, but one that Pinnacle Point finds intriguing. As the "capstone" of the Way, it will provide a unifying force not only within the Empire but potentially across the Known World. If the Conclave chooses this option, Sinokenon will send viziers versed in the Doctrines of the Faith to find ways to support the project.

To take advantage of one of these proposals from Turning Mirror requires a declaration of acceptance raised before the Conclave and endorsed by that august body. It will only help with one of them however and only if the Conclave clearly communicates its preference. Alternatively, says the Junior Minister, the Conclave may choose to word the acceptance in such a way that they make it clear they do not want the assistance of That Which Lies Above All on this or any other matter. In this case, Sinokenon will accept their judgement and retire from making offers to Imperial citizens for the next year - a cooling off period as it were.

Lady of Pennants (Summer)

Mirella of the Twisted Rose, Archmage of Summer

• Eleonaris accepts the invitation to parley sent by the Summer Archmage
• The current Archmage of Summer is Mirella of the Twisted Rose

Almost as soon as the civil service have returned to the Castle of Thorns following the Summer Solstice, a full delegation of dignitaries from the Summer realm arrives at the gatehouse. A band of elfin heralds in elaborate formal wear, accompanied by a half-dozen soldiers in full plate bearing lion heraldry, request admittance and hospitality. The Lady of the Pennants, it seems, is well pleased to receive the missive from the Archmage of Summer. It has been far, far too long since the Young Lioness has reached out to the Queen of the Fields of Glory say the heralds. If Eleonaris ever felt felt she was being ignored then that would likely result in consequences no-one would enjoy. The two and a half years it's been may be the cause of some minor misunderstandings in the Archmage's missive, but it is a simple matter to correct them and move on to more important matters.

Firstly, the Lion of Summer does not have much interest one way or another with the workings of the Synod. She's sure they do important work in the Empire, but while their opinions surely matter a great deal to the citizens of the Empire they do not matter to her. Nor should they matter to any who might be inspired to offer their service to her. To be associated in any way with the Sovereign in Scarlet and Gold is a profound honour, and she is sure they respect that and will exalt any who achieve such a feat. Secondly, neither the Commander of the Golden Armies nor any of the other (lesser) regents of the Summer Realm are lowly merchants, and do not engage in "bargains" for their boons. They receive tribute and offer gifts and aid where it pleases them to do so.

With those points quickly made by the lead herald, they launch into the topic they are clearly far more interested in.

Honour

• Eleonaris requests that the sutannir of the Brass Coast receive her heralds at the Autumn Equinox
• A seat of honour, ideally a throne, must be set aside for Eleonaris herself (who cannot attend in person due to being an eternal)
• The heralds will report back to their mistress how eager the Freeborn are for an alliance with the Queen of the Brightening Skies
• The soiree should begin at 17.15 on Saturday

The Lady of Pennants is delighted to hear of the ambitions of General Velasco i Guerra, and of Alazhar i Taziel i Erigo. It is a fine thing to seek to spread glory across the Empire as her friends in Dawn do, and so she is keen to render her assistance. However proper courtly decorum, custom, and formality must be observed when arranging a meeting. Her courtiers love visiting the grand balls in the castles of Astolat and Semmerholm, yet they are also keen to enjoy the festivities thrown by the famous Sutannir of the Brass Coast. Thus a gathering is proposed, to delight and amuse the Leonine Empress and her representatives, and to put everyone in a good mood before formal parley might commence.

The Heralds propose that the Brass Coast camp at Anvil host a soiree at the Autumn Equinox, which these heralds intend to attend. They will then report back to their Mistress on just how fond the Freeborn are of their would-be patron in the matters the Archmage has raised. One key feature of the festivities, whatever form they take, must be a seat of honour set aside to represent the Queen herself (ideally a throne). Regretfully the Queen of the Brightening Sky cannot enter the mortal world herself. If she did so, the fabric of reality would no doubt tear itself asunder, ashamed that it is unable to appropriately manifest her full awe-inspiring majesty. Or so the elfin diplomats suggest.

The heralds will arrive at Anvil on Saturday at around seven in the evening. The question of who else will attend, the Lady of the Pennants leaves entirely to the discretion of the sutannir. At the end of the day, the success of the party will set Eleonaris' mood for the parley.

Words

• A formal parley will take place for six people after the party, at 22.00 on Saturday
• The outcome of the celebration in the Brass Coast will surely influence Eleonaris' mood for the parley
• The Archmage is invited to bring several folk and there is one "mystery guest" who knows who she is
• The parley will begin with a discussion of the frieze celebrating victory in the Sarangrave
• After that there will be a chance to discuss the Fire of the South and magic circlets

As to the parley itself, it will take place in an appropriate chamber reached via the Hall of Worlds later that same night - at ten o'clock at night. Archmage Mirella is welcome to bring Alazhar i Taziel i Erigo, Velasco i Guerra, and Arturo the Imperial Warcaster. The Greatest General in the Empire (who knows who she is) is also invited and should bring the troubadour who promised to compose a song befitting the stature of Eleonaris for a personal performance.

Before anything else is discussed, there will be a chance for the Archmage to explain the delays to the celebratory frieze that the Queen's heralds were told would be built in the Sarangrave by the Empire following their joint victory there.

After that, there will be ample chance to talk about the Fire of the South, magical circlets, and the calling of more Knights of Glory to fight alongside the Empire.

The Brass Magistrates (Autumn)

Ashborn Trosk, Archmage of Autumn

• The Lictors have agreed to a parley at the Autumn Equinox
• They will also provide certain bargains to Imperial magicians via an arrangement with the City of Gold and Lead
• The current Archmage of Autumn is Ashborn Trosk

As the civil service begin setting up the various pieces of infrastructure again for the Autumn Equinox, a trio of manacled-carrying heralds approach the civil servant Jorgen at the Hub in Anvil. While still clearly heralds, they are garbed in manner reminiscent of that of an Unshackled thief-taker, a Marcher beater, and a Varushkan warden. Their appearance is made all the more jarring by the full-face iron masks and ever-present chains favoured by the denizens of the City of Bar and Bond.

They waste no time getting down to business. The Gaolers of the Green Iron Prison approve of the agenda proposed by the Archmage of Autumn. They have investigated each of the matters Ashborn Trosk brought before the Brass Magistrates for review.

Jurisdiction

• The Lictors do not judge the quoted proscription against sacrifice to represent a jurisdictional overstep
• They propose the Senate clarify that "human" in laws predating there being orc citizens be amended

The proscription proposed by Sofonisba Amilcara of the City Below during the Spring Equinox 388YE criminalising sacrifice seems to be a cut and dry case defining idolatry. In the opinion of the Brass Magistrates, the sacrifice of a mortal as an offering to an inhuman power is a perfectly valid example of idolatry as defined by the Senate when they created the law. It would be very difficult to argue that such a sacrifice does not constitute "worship" or "veneration." The Imperial magistrates have further interpreted the law to say that offering is likely to only encompass ritual acts of killing, not merely killing upon the instruction of an inhuman entity which matches the interpretation the Chainbound would make. As such, they do not see any overstep by the Synod in this matter.

Of course, it is clear that this proscription intrudes into the domain of the Conclave - but that is to be expected, given the unusual nature of the Imperial Constitution. There will always be situations where the authority of two or more parts of the Imperial government come into conflict. The Brass Magistrates provide a completely hypothetical example in which the Red Eyed Reaper finds a way to double the output of the Flaxen Pillars by encouraging the workers to engage in acts of worship of the Dho'uala. That would be a case where the authority of the Bourse to control weirwood production in the Empire would be in conflict with the Synod's responsibility to prevent blasphemy. That doesn't mean a proscription forbidding worship of the sovereigns would violate the Constitution.

Still, such conflicts are flaws inherent in the Imperial system and it would be better if they were removed. One of the heralds helpfully suggests that if the Empire were to disestablish the Conclave, the Military Council, the Bourse and the Synod, then all these conflicts would immediately vanish, since all authority would be vested in the Senate. In practice there are slightly less controversial changes to the Imperial Constitution which might be possible, such as removing the explicit protection of the Conclave and the Bourse from the interference of the Synod. That might be possible, although it's not clear the Constitutional Court would allow it (members of the Court apparently seem to disagree on this issue). Alternatively the Senate could amend the Constitution to make clear that deals with eternals were explicitly excluded from any restrictions under Imperial law - that would likewise be very difficult for the Court to accept, but from the perspective of the Lictors it would be more consistent, coherent law.

In the end there is little more that the Lictors can do to help on this point - they are always happy to provide specialised advice on the most correct interpretation of written law, but they do not have the power to make rulings on Imperial law after-all. Ultimately what is or is not constitutional comes down to a matter of rulings made by the Constitutional Court, it's not something that the Lictors can arbitrate on. They Lictors help catch law-breakers, but the Senate has not given them the dominion over the Empire that they would need to give binding rulings or pass judgement on those who broke the law.

Bonds

• The Archmage has invited the Furious Ones to host an Autumn market
• The Lictors are prepared to offer three bonds to hunt down criminals from the Autumn realm who are believed to be somewhere in the mortal world
• They intend to cooperate with the City of Gold and Lead to make more practical tools available to the Empire
• The Lictors have asked Berilo i Erigo to ensure everything runs smoothly

In response to an offer by the Archmage, the Lictors have agreed to engage in a degree of commerce with the Empire. They have negotiated with the City of Gold and Lead to serve as go-betweens to provide Imperial magicians the means to purchase some practical tools crafted in the City of Bar and Bond. This will be done through the auspices of the Ephisis' Scale ritual and handled exclusively by the merchants of the trading city. These offers are covered in more detail in the The bargain store wind of fortune.

There is another element to their response however. The Lictors themselves will host a "bond auction" in the Hall of Worlds at 14:00 on Saturday. There are a number of criminals of the Iron Labyrinth who are attempting to evade capture and imprisonment by hiding in the mortal plane with their accomplices and some hired constructs who need to be apprehended. As the Lictors enjoy the Amity of the Conclave, they are capable of tracking and capturing these reprehensible miscreants themselves, but is is established precedent to offer these bonds to imperial citizens when desired.

Not all Imperial Citizens, mind you. In line with the Archmage's suggestion the Binders wish to hire professionals rather than anyone who might lob in a bid and not have the experience to action the contract, and thus bidding will be restricted to Marcher Beaters, Unshackled Thief-Takers and Varushkan Wardens. All bidding must be done in ingots of green iron. The winner will be charged with gathering a combat-ready group to deal with the target, and will be the one who receives the reward from the Brass Magistrates assuming the contract is successfully discharged.

Once the contracts have been sold, the Lictors will investigate the winning bidders to ensure they have not misrepresented themselves. Any who are found to have done so will be in breach of contract. Their green iron will be confiscated, and the Lictors will enquire with the magistrates as to what legal redress is be available to them.

The three bonds are:

• Golden Almozulo - In breach of a supply contract with the City of Gold and Lead. Reward: 30 pawns of warm ashes
• Stonecutter - Criminal damage to the property of the City of Fire and Stone. Reward: 30 grasping whetstones. These are small items that can be applied to a weapon to allow the wielder to entangle a foe provided they strike quickly.
• Ringsnap - Attempting to break into the prison of the Chainbound in order to free prisoners. Reward: A mystic scroll detailing an Autumn ritual that summons a cohort of Furious Warders from the City of Bar and Bond to aid a military unit, enhancing their ability to succeed at guarding actions. The ritual draws on the power of the Lictors, and has an assurance that will terminate its power if anyone who has mastered this ritual is convicted of a crime by Imperial magistrates. (OOC Note: if you have this ritual mastered and are convicted of a crime, you must let PD know). As with most mystic scrolls, this reward allows up to a dozen magicians to master the ritual.

Rather than the Archmage, interestingly, the Lictors have specifically asked Berilo i Erigo of the Brass Coast to ensure everything runs smoothly. It is not clear what the relationship between this Freeborn and the Lictors might be. One of the reasons given is that, during the auction, the Archmage will be otherwise engaged - discussing another matter with a carefully selected representative of the Advocates of the Rod. No details of what that matter might be are revealed.

Conscience-of-Kings (Night)

Brat Umbral Path, Archmage of Night

• Lashonar is hurt by the Conclave's rejection and accusations of collaborating with its enemies
• It has agreed to a parley in the Hall of Worlds
• The current Archmage of Night is Brat Umbral Path

Around halfway between Summer and Autumn, a tiny herald of the Conscience-of-Kings appears at Anvil. No larger than a medium-sized cat, they are in form akin to a kingfisher, albeit one with three-fingered hands as well as jewel-bright wings. They have a tightly curled scroll that unfurls to surprising length, and a thin-stemmed silver trumpet no longer than a pencil which they parp enthusiastically before breathlessly delivering the message of their master in a piping little voice.

The Guardian of the Southern Skies thanks the new Archmage of Night for their invitation. They will send representatives to parley in the Hall of Worlds. It is thankful also to Grandmaster Xanthippe for removing the unfair and unjust enmity under which he had been placed. Before she will attend the parley however, she wants the Empire to understand that she has been the victim of slander and lies. The Speaker in Dreams would never knowingly share secrets that might harm their friends. It exists to bring folk together so that they can speak, and if those people sometimes engage in conspiracy and plotting that is their responsibility, not the responsibility of the Lady of the Southern Skies. Indeed, the Mediator of the Moonshy knows for a fact that in the past Imperial citizens have met with secret-spillers under the shelter of its wings without opprobrium to their own benefit. All speech is sacred, and if there are consequences they are for the speakers not those who give them a forum to speak. And so on.

Eater-of-Silence does not demand an apology from the Conclave - it is not that petty - but it was wounded by the decision to enact enmity without any Imperial magician first speaking with it. Two folk meeting in good faith can build a bridge of words to cross any chasm; this the Keeper of the Gates of Wisdom fundamentally believes.

That is water over the weir for now though, and it does not do to dwell too much on the past. A mistake has been rectified, and so to the business of speech.

More Words

• Lashonar agrees to an informal parley to take place in the Hall of Worlds at 23.15 on Friday night
• They still would like the ritual text of Summoning the Loquacious Birds returned to them

After the tumble of words, the wee herald takes a breath that swells its delicate little chest out like a balloon, and launches into a discussion of the meat of the matter; the parley itself. There is one requirement however; at the beginning of the parley the Archmage of Night must formally free anyone and everyone who wishes to do so to speak as they like, without having to wait their turn. That is, they must surrender their ability to determine who speaks. If this is not done, the parley will end immediately.

Assuming Brat Umbral Path wishes to go ahead, there are three things that Everchatter wishes to see discussed.

The first is an explanation as to why the Conclave enacted sudden enmity against it and what can be done to ensure that does not happen again. At the moment, the Voice of the Gloaming Sky has taken the almost unprecedented step of removing access to the Caucus Forum from the Empire, something which has already caused mild distress to those wishing to speak to Imperial citizens. Before the Liege of the Forum is prepared to restore access, never mind to allow the Empire to use that place of communication, it will require assurance that this will not happen again next time someone arbitrarily decides the Mellifluous Magpie has said "too much".

Then there is the matter of its ritual Summoning the Loquacious Birds. Lashonar has withdrawn her support, so that any message an Imperial magician tries to send with it will be returned to the coven involved alone. That is her right to do so but it is still a bone of contention that when she asked for the ritual text to be returned, nobody would even discuss it with her. He can only assume it has been stolen, which is why they asked the Imperial magistrates to investigate. This situation cannot continue and must be resolved one way or another before trust between the Conclave and Words of Initiation can be restored.

Lastly, they will speak of Night eternals. Brat Umbral Path hints that they are seeking communion with the bright spirit of the endless deeps, Foam Dancer, the One Who Leaps From The Waves For Purest Joy. The Concierge of Consequence knows that they will not speak to Imperial magicians because of the Lantern Shark who swims the night-dark ocean of the Empire's dreams. As with anyone else, the Bringer Together could be prevailed upon to arrange a meeting with some of the mortals who know Wondersnake via the Caucus Forum. For now, however, Whispershout is still nursing their injured feelings over the Conclave's recent decisions and is not inclined to go to any extra effort until wounded pride can be sutured.

As to the spreading of words and songs across the Empire... The Laughing Herald has sung with the Navarr recently. Indeed it was just after it provided its aid in Brocéliande that the Conclave declared enmity against it. If the Archmage wishes to discuss this kind of thing it will require a show of faith from the Empire. Grant Lashonar amity. Allow him and his servants to travel freely throughout the Empire, carrying the words of any and all who would ask for their help. Let them see to it that no voice is silenced. The Roaring Cadence has already sent its servants to Therunin to ensure that those fighting against darkness there can speak to one another. Let the Empire offer it the freedom to go where it wishes, guarantee there will be no censorship or restraint on the words that must fly free, and Storysmith will consider how it can address the Archmage's request.

The little herald, exhausted by the long speech, is revived with a small cup of sugar water provided by the Civil Service, and after effusive thanks, flutters erratically off toward the Imperial Regio, trumpet and crumpled scroll grasped firmly in its little three-fingered hands.

Knight of Swords (Winter)

Bloodcrow Arora, Archmage of Winter

• Surut has agreed to parley with the Archmage of Winter
• They will send an escort to the Hall of Worlds at 23.45 on Saturday
• The Archmage may bring two others with them to meet Lord Cam Lech the Masked, a favoured henchman of Surut
• Lord Cam Lech has suggested some guests, most of whom are currently dead
• The current Archmage of Winter is Bloodcrow Arora of the Imperial Orcs

It has been quite a while since the Burned Prince was approached by an Archmage of Winter as an individual. Their messenger is a lone knight, wrapped in rusted and ruined chain, who leaves footprints of charred, dead grass and ashes wherever they tread during their menacing walk from the Imperial regio to the Hub. When they arrive, a hush falls over the busy tent, and more than one person who has been waiting to speak to a civil servant suddenly remembers pressing business elsewhere. In a voice like cracking bone and tearing skin, the knight launches into their spiel without preamble.

The Duke of the Clenched Fist commends the Conclave on rescinding its weak interdiction of effective war magic. That alone inclines him to look kindly on the requests of the Archmage. As such, the Gauntlet of Flame accedes to a request for parley. At around a quarter to midnight on Saturday during the summit, he will send an escort to the Hall of Worlds to bring the Archmage of Winter into the presence of Lord Cam Lech the Masked, one of his favoured henchmen, to discuss matters military.

The Harbinger of Spikes will receive the Archmage and no more than two others. It is up to the Archmage who they wish to bring, but Lord Cam Lech has expressed an interest in meeting Jaromir Ostrovyn Kostka, the General of the Northern Eagle, the last general of the Iron Helms Alderei the Fair, the former General of the Gryphon's Pride Archavion Wolfborne, Gobaith of Summer's Grove the commander of the Dance of Blood, and General Anke Carsten von Temeschwar of the Wolves of War. Jorgen, the civil servant with most experience dealing with these kinds of matters, tries to point out that of those five, four are dead - in at least one case for a century and a half - but the herald waves this aside as an irrelevancy.

There is one matter that the Knight-Commander of the Bleak Parade wants to be clear about however. He has no intention of withdrawing support from the Druj. Every time an Archmage asks, he will provide the Druj with more support. This doesn't mean he won't help the Empire - quite the contrary - but it is up to him who he provides his boons to and he will not be dictated to. Candidly, says the messenger just before they depart, if the servants of the Ashen Heart are not among the Druj when the Mallum finally burns, how will he be able to feast on their anguish and despair?

Wisdom of Dead Wood (Spring)

Arwydd Clearbramble, Archmage of Spring

• Llofir has responded to the plenipotentiary of the Archmage of Spring
• It is concerned that the Empire has abandoned its ambition to destroy the vallorn
• It offers assistance to hasten the end of the Druj
• It proposes a parley in the Hall of Worlds after the Spring session of the Arcane Colloquium (16.30 on Saturday)
• The current Archmage of Spring is Arwydd Clearbramble of Navarr

The looming mushroom creature that visits the Hub shortly after the Summer Solstice arrives on the gloomiest and dampest evening of the year so far. It slouches through Anvil, drawing quite a bit of attention, but when spoken to it is delicately polite and regrets that it is on a mission for the Rotlord and so cannot delay its business. Whenever it stops for more than a few moments, little toadstools sprout around its "feet" which prove to have disturbingly hallucinogenic qualities - as several foolish citizens find to their chagrin. The End of Empires offers greetings to the Archmage of Spring, Arwydd Clearbramble.

Arwydd has asked about the peculiar coral husks haunting the Gullet between the Marches and Wintermark, and regretfully the Wisdom of Dead Wood does not have much it is can say on that matter. The origin of the creatures is in the Spring realm, as the Archmage may have surmised. They are nothing to do with the Quiet One itself, but it bears them no particular ill will. They are not endless; they are living creatures and individuals that will fall and rot in their time. They will prosper or fail, as will those who are threatened by them, and the Long Thinker has no especial urge to interfere one way or another.

As a result, Rotlord is not minded to place their hand on the scales. They do not mind whether the Empire destroys the coral husks or the husks destroy the Empire; either outcome is acceptable to the Lady of Spores. What they will do is look to see what opportunities they can engineer for the heralds of the Empire to come into contact with the coral husks - that way one or the other can triumph.

All that said... the herald does provide a warning however. There is a danger in underestimating these beings. As time goes by, each of their iterations is more complex than the last. The first husks the Empire encountered were... templates. Simple meat bodies infused with the parasitic coral. With each generation, the innate chaos of Spring creates new strains and variants and while most of them fail, some will thrive. These strains, tailored to surviving and overcoming opposition, will present new challenges. Tactics that have proven effective before will not necessarily remain effective - the Winterfolk, the Marchers, and the Jotun will need to adapt or they will be subsumed.

The eternal is interested in the vallorn and the Druj. It wishes to speak with the Archmage about the curious decision to interdict the completion of the trod network. Given this is a step required to bring the end of the vallorn, why has Silk Farkas made it illegal to do so? Why has the Conclave that has claimed in the past to seek the destruction of the Doom of Terunael turned aside from the path? What does this mean for the magicians of the League, Varushka, Dawn, and Navarr? What does it mean for Llofir?

As such, the eternal intends to extend a portion of its consciousness into the Hall of Worlds after the Spring session of the Arcane Colloquium to speak to the Archmage about this confusing development. If it can be resolved to the satisfaction of Wisdom of Dead Wood, there may be time to discuss the "developing relationship", but that will depend on the Archmage.

End of Empire

• Llofir offers aid to hasten the end of the Druj
• During the Autumn Equinox, it seeks the Hallow of the Green World for the Mallum
• The ritual would be magnitude 100 if cast on the Mallum this season

On the matter of the Druj, though, the Despoiler of Grain is much more inclined to offer assistance. It bears no particular enmity for them - it is simply that they are clearly falling into ruin. If they are too sickly to survive, they should perish, and let new life rise from their remains. That Which Cannot Be Killed In Any Way That Matters has a similar proposition to the one it offered the Navarr a year ago. If the Empire evokes Hallow of the Green World during the Autumn equinox, either from a regio in the Mallum or using the general of the Citadel Guard as the focus, that enchantment will settle over the crumbling Druj Empire. The Citadel Guard are in the Salt Flats of Sanath, and while Ruination has not forgotten their role in attacking its garden, it cannot help but approve their use of Spring magic as part of the Technique of the Transcendent Claw. So it will not question if the magicians of the Empire deploy them as a tool for bringing further destruction to the Druj.

The effects will be concentrated in the Salt Flats, but will be felt everywhere the Druj have dominion - specifically also in the Forest of Ulnak. The ritual will allow Llofir to focus his "gifts" on the failing Druj nation as part of his identity as Ender of Empires. With the tools at its disposal, it will act to hasten the collapse of the Druj, bringing sickness and ruin.

The enchantment will offer some support to the Druj, given it promotes the growth of healing herbs, but the Inevitable Circle doubts that will be of much comfort given how bad their situation is. Furthermore, the enchantment will also free the other Spring eternals to act directly in the Druj Empire. Yaw'nagrah and Arhallogen already have a fair amount of freedom there, and support the Druj. On the other hand, Prince with a Thousand Foes is chomping at the bit to be able to act freely in the Mallum, and thanks partially to former Archmage Ibiss Briarheart, Siakha has lost interest in the Druj and revels in any chance to devour the weak. For that matter, there are other Spring eternals with no interest in the Empire who might be goaded to intervene if the doors were opened for them to do so. At the end of the day, the Turner of the Wheel believes the chaos caused by these competing eternals will, in the long term, speed the fall of the Druj even if it provides them a little aid in the short term.

To cast the ritual on the Empire would require significant effort, but the Druj nation is very much smaller than it used to be. It could be cast on the Mallum at magnitude 100 at the coming Autumn Equinox. At least, thanks to the Unfettered Mind, it is no longer illegal to cast the ritual, which should be some consolation to those who are more concerned with law and order than with the unbridled energies of life and death and regrowth.

Timetable

The times, the locations, and the eternals involved in meetings related to specific plenipotentiary responses are summarised here.

Day	Time	Eternal	Realm	Note
Friday	23:15	Lashonar	Night	Informal Parley in the Hall of Worlds
Saturday	14.00	Lictors	Autumn	Auction of bounty hunting contracts
Saturday	16.30	Llofir	Spring	Formal parley in the Hall of Worlds
Saturday	17.15 and 22.00	Eleonaris	Summer	A celebration in the Freeborn camp and parley in a chamber respectively
Saturday	23:45	Surut	Winter	Parley; a chamber reached from the Hall of Worlds