Those memories of you

Revision as of 16:43, 6 September 2026

Caleb of Crown's Quay stood his ground, feet firmly planted as if he was about to do battle against some Pakkad bruiser. He wished he had any of the wargear he would be bearing if he was facing a rampaging Druj warrior. Or at least a massive two-hander. Instead he had a quill pen behind one finned ear, a book of lists, and some paperwork.

The ship captain before him radiated anger like a fireplace at midwinter. Her pale draughir features had darkened in a way Caleb found he really didn't like. Narrowed red eyes literally blazed with fury. She dragged her sharp upper teeth across her lower lip in a way that caused it to blush an equally unpalatable shade of crimson.

"There is surely some mistake here," she said, slurring her Imperial slightly in that way the Delvesfolk so often did. She knew there was no mistake. He knew she knew there was no mistake. She knew he-

"I'm afraid not," he said. "Giuseppe Sanguineo von Temeschwar, Senator for Temeschwar, proposed the matter to the Senate during the Summer Solstice, and it was agreed by those there present. Civil service records indicate that you were made aware that this was coming, as per the records after the Spring Equinox 387YE. The Consul..."

She slapped her hands together, decisively. She furrowed her heavy brows. For a moment Caleb thought he was going to get bitten, or raked with her nasty looking claws. He braced himself, but she did not attack.

"Fine then," she snarled through gritted fangs. "We will take our medicinal herbs elsewhere then."

"I'm afraid you're going to have the pay the approved duty on them wherever you take them," said Caleb. "Sorry."

"Not at Alivetti we are not," she said. She spun on her heel and marched back down the quay to where her crew lounged against the half a dozen or so crates they had already unloaded. They were trading tobacco and sips with the Highborn stevedores. When they saw their captain, and the expression on her face, they straightened up and started to load the boxes back onto the Duizendjaarvalk.

"Even if you do," Caleb called after her. "There'll still be a duty to pay before your goods can cross the border into the Empire, even if its not payable on the docks!"

"Not my problem!" the captain shouted back toward him without turning, making one of the universal gestures that indicated displeasure with an official just doing his job.

Caleb considered chasing after the captain and trying to reason with her, but he decided in the end to wisely conserve his energy. There were two other Sarcophan vessels approaching Crown's Quay and he knew in his bones they'd be no more happy to discover that everyone had to pay the new fees, yes even them, yes even though their families were very important. And, as the captain pointed out, what happened in Sarvos wasn't really his problem.

Sarcophan and Axos aren't exactly close but they are both used to living packed together in old, moribund cities.

Overview

The Sarcophan Delves are a great power, a cosmopolitan nation centred around an immense city that sprawls out across the banks of the Umshalla river. They have holdings all over the world, trading with nations great and small all over the Known World. Their recent announcement of the Pax Sarcophan, a commitment to keep the trade routes open in spite of the political machinations of other nations, has begun a slow reassessment of how much power these smiling, mercantile tomb-robbers wield on the grand stage. The Citadels of Axos by contrast are a tiny nation on the outskirts of the Empire, controlling a little over two territories. They are a people of cities, it's true, with nine-tenths of their people dwelling in the five massive citadels built in the time of the semi-mythical sorcerer kings. Yet they wield an influence larger than their size might suggest, being founding signatories to the Liberty Pact, and thanks in part to Imperial support welcoming traders from all the great nations to their docks.

Yet for all their differences, there are some similarities. They are both nations with an uneasy relationship to death, for example. The Axou necromantia are acknowledged masters of the cold magic of the grave, while the Sarcophan base much of their industry on the use of the ongelukkig living-corpses. They are both nations made more powerful through trade, and both would like to see themselves as friends to the Empire... and in both cases that friendship can prove to be something of a mixed blessing.

Sarcophan Delves

Sarcophan Delves

Status: Foreigner
Ports: Sarcophan, Betovering, and (temporarily) Jakhalsmarkt.
Ambassador: Dino i Riqueza of the Brass Coast

The Sarcophan Delves remain friendly to the Empire and enthusiastic about continued Imperial trade
They are disappointed by the imposition of mercantilist tariffs on their merchants

The merchant-princes of the Sarcophan Delves strive for neutrality. They are enthusiastic about trade, not only with the Empire but with everyone else in the known world. They hold it a mark of pride that they will deal with anyone who has goods, services, or money. While they have given up the practice of slavery with few regrets, they refuse to pick a side between the Liberty Pact and the so-called Freedom Accord.

Their primary goal is to ensure the ports of the world remain open to their ships, ideally with free trade agreements that allow their merchants to operate without onerous tariffs. A recent decision by the Senate to end free trade and impose mercantilist tariffs on vessels visiting the Empire has clearly caused some dissatisfaction. It remains to be seen precisely how that will affect the assorted ministries that deal directly in Sarcophan goods.

Dino i Riqueza, Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves

They recently declared the Pax Sarcophan - a commitment to combat piracy and ensure that independent traders are free to sail the seven seas regardless of the politics of the great powers. Perhaps as part of this increased involvement in political affairs, they have also extended their protection to the independent city-state of Beoraidh in Mareave, ostensibly to help guarantee its neutrality.

The main locus of Sarcophan influence in the Empire is the Alivetti estates in Sarvos, where Burgemeester Vandersaar oversees an enclave ceded to the Delves by the Senate. The estates have become a matter of concern for the Imperial magistrates due to the fact that Sarcophan merchants do not restrict the goods and services they offer in line with Imperial law. The change in the tariff structure for Sarcophan merchants also has some potential to create an additional headache. Goods coming to the Alivetti estates will not be evaluated by custom officials until they pass into Sarvos proper - and it is much easier for an Imperial or Sarcophan who wishes to do so to slip past anyone trying to inspect their goods when they are using a land border.

Some of their number have taken part in agricultural enterprises in Wintermark, and they have made inroads into Varushka in recent years, and the deBruin family have recently entered into a lucrative agreement to provide weirwood to Urizen. There are also a number of warehouses and Magazijn built to allow the Kruidenkenner, an influential apothecary guild to supply herbs to Imperial citizens at a bargain price. The Delves, in short, are quite invested in the Empire.

Kraft Brothers

Wintermark farmers voted to end their association with the Kraft brothers
Brenna's Gift returns to providing the standard benefit of 36 rings to each farm in Hahnmark
Hahnmark farmers can no longer purchase doses of viezesmaak from the Kraft brothers

At the Spring Equinox, the farmers of Hahnmark voted nine to two to end their association with the Kraft brothers. These Sarcophan entrepreneurs had been involved in a mutually lucrative business arrangement for some time now, taking advantage of the alpine climate of central Wintermark to cultivate plants that don't prosper in the warm, marshy climate of the Delves. The brothers are philosophical about the decision; they have made a profit on their time being involved in the Wintermark viezesmaak trade, and there are apparently no hard feelings.

Following the Summer Solstice, Brenna's Gift no longer provides doses of viezesmaak. Instead it returned to its original purpose, providing 36 additional rings to each farm in Hahnmark. This also ended the ability of Hahnmark farmers to purchase viezesmaak from the Kraft Brothers.

The brothers have spent the last six months winding up their interests in Hahnmark, but they are apparently still keen to explore investment opportunities in the Empire. It remains to be seen what hare-brained scheme they will come up with next.

Jakhalsmarkt

The House of the Jakhal want 70 thrones to enable Imperial fleets to continue to access the Jakhalsmarkt

For the better part of a year Imperial ship captains have been able to trade with the Jakhalsmarkt. The opportunity was arranged by Annabel de Gouden of the House of the Jackal, responding to the Imperial need for luxury goods and substances of use to ritual magicians. It seems that de Gouden and her House have made a canny investment; the number of traders from the Empire visiting the Jakhalsmarkt has only increased over the last four seasons.

It isn't clear what is the greater draw; the golden apples, warm ashes, and prismatic ink ("Triumph Vis" in the parlance of some Urizen traders), the flawless tempest jade and fine jewellery, or the rare star jewels, magic items normally available only from the Principalities of Jarm. With Imperial Consul Slawomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh having announced an embargo on trade with the "independent" nation of Zemelslo, the Jakhalsmarkt is the only place Imperial captains can legally purchase Jarmish goods.

Slawomir Rabovich Bolotstrazh, Imperial Consul

Of course this was never meant to be a permanent arrangement. As mentioned during the Spring Equinox, access to the markets of the Jackal is a premium commodity, and continuing to benefit from the trade will require some investment from the Empire if the opportunity is to continue. Annabel de Gouden took a chance that Imperial merchants would want the valuable goods the Jackal are offering, but those goods still need to be sourced and brought to market.

Mistress de Gouden has assessed the situation and puts forward an offer. She and her people will continue to keep Jakhalsmarkt open to Imperial traders, and commit to ensuring there are valuable goods for them to buy - vis and star jewels. Nothing needs to change in that regard. However, to secure sources for these goods for the next year will require an up-front investment of 70 Thrones from the Empire. She would prefer to receive that investment from the Imperial Senate, but is equally happy to do business with Ambassador Dino (although actually she'd really prefer to work with a group like the Court of Far Horizons, with whom she imagines it would be possible to make a much better deal, but she understands politics do not always give one what one wants).

If the investment is forthcoming, the House of the Jackal will keep Jakhalsmarkt open for another year allowing Imperial fleet captains to visit and take advantage of the services on offer until the start of the Autumn Equinox 389YE. Without it, regretfully, access to the port will be lost as de Gouden will not be able to provide the volume of goods needed to make the arrangement profitable. One matter to bear in mind however is that de Gouden operates a no-refunds policy; if the Senate interferes in trade with the Jakhalsmarkt, the Empire will simply lose out.

Draaikolkbloem

The Zuredruiven vintners are pleased to learn Hahnmark has given the Kraft Brothers the elbow
They're still excited about encouraging cultivation of draaikolkbloem in Hahnmark
Every Wintermark herb garden owner has received a dose of draaikolkbloem as a gift from the vintners
Hahnmark herb garden owners can choose to cultivate draaikolkbloem

While Hahnmark has ended their association with the Kraft brothers, the Zuredruiven vintners remain interested in working with Hahnmark's herbalists to cultivate draaikolkbloem, a fragile herb that also requires a cool alpine climate. As mentioned recently, they have "cracked the puzzle of cultivating draaikolkbloem on a large scale". The opportunity to build the Zuredruiven Benefice is still available (and will be until the end of the Winter Solstice 388YE, or until a different great work supporting herb gardens is built in Hahnmark).

With the Kraft brothers out of the picture, the vintners have cheerfully shared their techniques for cultivating the sensitive plant with anyone in Hahnmark who is interested in learning how to do so. They're also making seeds available, although the crops they yield seem to be sterile meaning that continued cultivation of draaikolkbloem is dependent on continued good relations with the vintners.

The vintners themselves are keen to continue their good relations with the people of Hahnmark. With that in mind, they have made a point of gifting a dose of prepared draaikolkbloem to everyone they can find with a herb garden in the alpine territory. (OOC Note: Every herb garden owner in Hahnmark who has booked for the Autumn Equinox will receive a dose of draaikolkbloem. If your character would not have accepted the gift of the Sarcophan herbalists, you can hand it back in to GOD when you pick up your pack.)

Following the Autumn Equinox, every Hahnmark herb garden owner has the ability to choose in downtime to Cultivate Draaikolkbloem. This means their herb garden will produce two drams of draaikolkbloem that season, but lose production of three drams of true vervain, and one dram of each of the other four herbs. This option is chosen in downtime in the same way that a military unit might choose a venture, or a congregation choose to preach or lecture.

As part of the arrangement, the Zuredruiven vintners claim a portion of every crop of draaikolkbloem for themselves. As well as using it to create herbal preparations, they use it extensively in the brewing of a particularly sought after wine back in the Delves. As far as they are concerned, this arrangement with the Winterfolk has the potential to make everyone rich.

Using Draaikolkbloem

Draaikolkbloem can be used to brew variations of potions that are part of the Infusions of Feathers recipe sets

The Zuredruiven have also provided notes as to how draaikolkbloem can be refined and used in the creation of preparations. So far they have only shared this information with the apothecaries of Wintermark.

Any Wintermark apothecary who knows how to brew the Infusions of Feathers can now create two additional preparations.

Blacksmoke Recall is similar in effect to Magpie Infusion, but creates lingering hallucinations that some find enjoyable. It requires one draaikolkbloem and one cerulean mazzarine.
Whispered Quill provides visions in the same manner as Goosewhisper Infusion, but the visions it provides seem particularly portentous and serve as a source of insight or entertainment depending on how one engages with the effects. It requires a dose of draaikolkbloem, one bladeroot, and one marrowort.

Interestingly, it is not possible to recover draaikolkbloem from a preparation using Distillation of Diverse Parts, just as that ritual will not recover liao or mana crystals from a potion. There is also no interest in these preparations from the City of Gold and Lead - they are treated as common trade goods when submitted to Ephisis' Scale.

The skill to make these new preparations have been added to Wintermark characters with knowledge of the Infusions of Feathers potion set who has booked for the Autumn Equinox. Following the event, any Wintermark character with the appropriate skill can email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk and ask to learn the recipes, as long as the Zuredruiven remain well disposed to the people of that nation. It isn't possible for anyone from another nation to learn these recipes without access to a herbal - the vintners simply won't share the information. Unlike Runesmith's Law or Urizen Lore, knowledge of the recipes won't magically disappear if someone leaves Wintermark, but retraining the Infusions of Feathers recipe set will remove the recipes and they will not be automatically restored to a character who later learns how to make them.

Questions of Virtue

Some people are concerned about whether draaikolkbloem is a good idea or not
They've asked the Apothecary's Guild to take a look at the substance and the potions it creates

Not everyone is entirely happy with the cultivation of this foreign herb in Hahnmark. There is some concern as to the exact effects of these new preparations. Are they as innocent as they appear? For that matter, it strikes some students of herb lore as a little fishy that this herb that helps create potions that enhance perception doesn't seem to produce anything similar to Ravenwing Infusion - or if it does that the Zuredruiven vintners have chosen to conceal that fact from their "friends" in Wintermark.

Insipred by a recent Varushkan example, those with a concern about draaikolkbloem look to the Imperial Apothecaries Guild. Just as the Guild assessed Elder's Gift and uncovered both its grim provenance and vile ingredients, so they could make an assessment of the Sarcophan herb and the preparations it makes. As before, the Speaker can use their ability to make an announcement before the Senate to declare the findings of the Guild instead of disseminating a herbal. If the herb and the preparations are innocuous, then it will set these concerns to rest. If they aren't, then forewarned is forearmed and presumably the Senate can then take steps to make the material illegal.

As soon as they get wind of this concern the Zuredruiven vintners, never ones to miss a trick, have responded by endorsing the request for examination. They even make an offer to the Imperial Apothecaries Guild. They know for a fact that draaikolkbloem is safe to use, and that the preparations they have shared with the Empire are fundamentally harmless.

If the Imperial Apothecaries Guild confirms this, and endorses the Zuredruiven vintners, the Sarcophan will show their appreciation by providing them with a herbal detailing the potion recipes, and discuss the opportunity for the Imperial Sodality to acquire draaikolkbloem for its members.

If the Guild declares draaikolkbloem and the potions brewed from it to be safe, but doesn't endorse the vintners, it will have no impact either way. They will not receive the herbal, but the Zuredruiven will still be satisfied and remain enthusiastic about dealing with the Empire. Hahnmark herb gardens will continue to have the option to produce draaikolkbloem.

If the Apothecaries Guild gives a neutral response, then there will be no herbal but Winterfolk apothecaries and herb garden owners will treat the drug cautiously. It will not impact the ability for Hahnmark herb gardens to produce draaikolkbloem, and while the vintners will likely lose interest in dealing with the Guild they will continue to work with the people of Wintermark.

If the Apothecaries Guild declares draaikolkbloem unsafe, then the Zuredruiven will be annoyed. They'll withdraw from the Empire, and look elsewhere for opportunities to cultivate the drug. The option to plant draaikolkbloem will be lost.

Obviously with multiple substances under discussion its impossible to offer advice on every permutation of what the Apothecaries Guild might say, but these responses should be enough to provide some guidance at least. Presumably any Wintermark apothecary with an opinion on draaikolkbloem and its preparations will work with the Imperial sodality to provide samples of the herb and the potions.

Vallorn Exports

A Sarcophan scholar is interested in acquiring consumables and magic items related to the vallorn
She has made an arrangement with the City of Gold and Lead to trade these goods safely

Catharina Gjullit, a scholar from the influential Gjullit family, has developed an interest in the vallorn and its creatures, especially the ettercaps. They have corresponded with some of the scholars who attended the Great Library of Hacynian, and developed a burning interest in the "fruits of the vallorn" but their poor health makes it impossible for them to visit the Empire. Having made an agreement with the City of Gold and Lead, they present an opportunity for those with access to such "fruits" to sell them for a reasonable price.

During the Autumn Equinox, anyone casting Ephisis' Scale can include a note indicating that the contents are intended for Catharina Gjullit. If they do so, the entire box will be evaluated only on its connection to the vallorn and its spawn. Offers will be made with that in mind. Catharina has laid out a basic list of the prices she is prepared to offer, but wishes to ensure that people know she is also prepared to make an offer on anything more esoteric. The known prices are:

For a corpseblossom, a plant associated with ettercaps, she offers 4 crowns or two doses of Feverfail Elixir
For each unique chaos fruit included in a box she offers 2 crowns, a single golden apple, or a vial of primsatic ink. She is cautious about receiving too many chaos fruit of the same type and believes this is one way to ensure she gets a representative sample.
She is also interested in any unique items with a clear connection to the vallorn, but given she doesn't know what they are it is hard for her to offer a price up-front

The offer is only available during the Autumn Equinox, after which Catharina will have secured everything she wants.

Axos

The Victorious Axis continue to go from strength to strength.

Axos remains allied to the Empire through treaty and through the Liberty Pact
They have taken ownership of the region of Thornfen in Sarangrave
The Imperial ambassador to Axos is Thanmir Hrafnar of Wintermark

Axos is enjoying a period of prosperity and even growth following the upheaval prompted by the ambitious Grand Ilarch Kyther. A formal Grand Council guides the nation, and the Unified Convocation works to bring Axos' disparate religious sects together under one roof. Imperial relations with the Citadels of Axos remain steady. Synod efforts during the reclamation of Solokha, and the loose alliance with the Empire in Sarangrave, continue to bear dividends.

It would be dangerous to take these kinds of thing for granted however. Axos remains sensitive to anything it sees as a threat to its sovereignty, and relations could sour again very easily. There are a number of potential cracks in the relationship with the Axou. The Liberty Pact (which Axos relies on to cement its status on the world stage) continues to fracture. The exaltation of the disgraced former Ambassador Fintan, traitor and heretic, offends those who found his crimes unforgivable. The Unified Convocation continues to bring together priests whose entire religion paints the Empire as footsoldiers of the hated Creator. There is still fear that the Empire plans to doom the entire nation by rousing the vallorn of Visokuma. But for now at least, things appear to be going well between the two nations. Mostly.

Axos

Status: Foreigner
Ports: Towers of Kantor and Chambers of Issyk
Ambassador: 'Shacklebreaker' Thanmir Hrafnar of Wintermark
Counterpart: Ilarch Kario Skopos of Solokha

Thornfen

Axos controls the region of Thornfen in Sarangrave but Imperial armies may move through it freely
They have removed the former Druj subjects who lived there
The Axou are preparing to rebuild the Tower of the Skink

The Axou have claimed the region of Thornfen in Sarangrave, and command the Tower of the Skink. This season, their forces there have been deployed to protect the northern regions of the territory against Winter spirits (as discussed in the Skull beneath the skin wind of war). Their efforts here were made possible by the decision of the Senate to grant the Axou free movement across the Sarangrave. Meanwhile, the garrison of their newest citadel continues to grow slowly. Ilarch Skopos remains keen for the Empire to provide mithril to support the establishment of the garrison. There was fighting in the territory this season, so the only new soldiers defending the fortification are down to the effects of the Imperial enchantment.

Thane Thanmir Hrafnar is Ambassador to Axos.

While the army of the Shield of Ipotavo fights in the north, efforts to rebuild and redesign the Tower of the Skink continue. The Axou are moving large amounts of white granite into the region through the pass that links the Mallum with Axos (the Path of the Eye). They are also apparently involved in tearing apart the wrecked city of Sephals, both to loot it and to provide additional building materials.

It is notable that unlike the Urizen - most of whom still find the idea of establishing homes in Sarangrave deeply unappealing, the Axou are showing no such reticence. Along with labourers and caravans of white granite, a steadily growing trickle of citizens from all five citadels travel up the Path of the Eye with the intent of settling in the shadow of the Tower of the Skink. The civil service estimate that the transformation of the Tower of the Skink makes it more appealing for Axou to settle in the marshes of Sarangrave. If it continues in the current vein, there may eventually be more Axou in Sarangrave than there are Urizen.

Armies of the Dead

The Axou continue to struggle to establish a garrison at the Tower of the Skink

Ilarch Skopos indicates that the Grand Council is not entirely happy with the situation in Sarangrave. They agreed to help defend the territory but they are disappointed that in the face of a known threat - the unbound spirits drawn from the Winter realms by the Druj - the Empire chose to desert the territory to continue their war of conquest elsewhere. It seems that some of the Grand Ilarchs had assumed the defence of Sarangrave would be significantly more of a joint effort.

They will keep to their agreement with the Empire, of course, but the Winter spirits have not gone away and it seems clear they will be expected to squander yet more Axou lives in the defence of a tiny number of Imperial citizens. Given their spiritual beliefs it is not surprising that they find the idea of "throwing away" the lives of their people to protect a rabble of orcs and Druj deeply unappealing.

One thing is clear - the Axou seem to have no interest in supporting the Imperial venture into the Salt Flats of Sanath - or at least not with their armies.

Trade Matters

Navarr fleets visiting Axos continue to experience suspicion
Blackened Key is no longer available from Issyk

Worries about the Navarr, and the likelihood that they are planning to unleash the vallorn in Axos, are fading. After the Autumn Equinox Navarr ship captains visiting the ports of Axos will still encounter some suspicion (experience a -1 rank penalty to trade), but unless something dreadful happens in the meantime, things should be back to normal in time for the Winter Solstice.

There is also news of some shifting priorities on the docks at Issyk. Following the Autumn equinox, Blackened Key will no longer be available to Imperial fleet captains visiting that port; instead they will receive additional luxury goods (increasing the amount of money gained by a standard fleet from 24 to 36 rings). There's no indication as to why this change has taken place, but it seems to be an economic consideration rather than anything political.

Sarcophan Further Reading

Sarcophan Delves
Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves
Sarcophan Delves ports
Eternals of the sea - Discussion of Sarcophan attitudes to eternals

Winds of Fortune

Those memories of you - 388YE Autumn wind of fortune discussing Sarcophan relations with the Empire
Chain and anchor - 388YE Spring Winter wind of fortune revising Sarcophan relations with the Empire
A wild night and a new road - 387YE Winter wind of fortune discussing Imperial/Sarcophan relations
All the night-tide - 387YE Autumn wind of fortune discussing growing Sarcophan influence in the Bay of Catazar
Can't give everything away - 387YE Summer wind of fortune introducing the Pax Sarcophan
Waiting for the worms - 387YE Spring Wind of Fortune discussing Sarcophan diplomatic matters
Theory of the crows - 386YE Winter Wind of Fortune discussing Sarcophan diplomatic matters
Hyenas and herbs - 386YE Autumn Wind of Fortune discussing Sarcophan diplomatic matters
Houses of Silence - 386YE Autumn Wind of Fortune relating to the Alivetti estates
Towers and crows - 386YE Summer Wind of Fortune discussing Sarcophan diplomatic matters
The mathematics of tears - 383YE Spring Wind of Fortune recounting the Sarcophan ending the slave trade in their nation

Sarcophan Associated Titles

Sarcophan History

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

Axos Further Reading