The tune without the words
This wind is a roundup of magical events and effects. Normally, this would be one of the last winds to be published because it is heavily dependant on plots that are running at the event. This can be unsatisfying, because it often results in us presenting things that don't leave players enough time to consider them before heading to the event. To try and combat this, we're planning to publish it in an "unfinished" state - and add elements to it as they are developed. Once everything is on here that needs to be on here, we'll remove this box and the tag at the top of the page and let people know that it isn't going to change again.
Overview
Magic fills the Known World. It rides the winds, it rises with the sun and the stars, it flows in great currents through the forests and the seas and the sky. It is part of the rivers and the forests, the seas and the skies. It is studied, mastered, examined, and debated. It is mysterious, enigmatic, unpredictable, and yet follows its own strange laws. All mortals practice magic, and yet they are not the only sources of magic in the world. It comes from rattling runes, from the heavens, from the wellspring of blood, from the shapes and symbols of creation, and while it can be bidden it cannot always be restrained. Wonder is all around, an endless wordless tune that winds and weaves around all things.
This wind of fortune rounds up a roundup of assorted strange events, some arising from mortal actions some with less explicable causes. There is a companion piece to this wind, The thing with feathers, that deals with things relating specifically to the eternals of the six realms.
Out With Lanterns
- Since the Autumn equinox, five new rituals have become part of Urizen Lore
- Two of the rituals were contributed by Imperial covens who are open about their decision to do so
- Three others draw on the power of the destructive eternal Siakha and are illegal to perform
Urizen lore was created with the aid of the eternal Phaleron as a repository of magic that can only be performed by the magicians of Urizen. As part of the arrangement a ritual - Gift of Knowledge - was created by the Celestial Library to allow new rituals to become part of that body of magical lore. While no rituals were contributed to Urizen lore during the Autumn equinox, in the months since a surprising total of five new rituals have become available. Given the Gift of Knowledge can be cast by any Imperial or Commonwealth coven with even a rudimentary understanding of Day lore, it is perhaps surprising it doesn't happen more often. Perhaps the innate value of a ritual text, jealously guarded by those who have access to them, makes it more surprising that any rituals are presented. Either way, each of these rituals is now part of Urizen lore. They can be mastered following the usual rules, but can also be cast by Urizeni magicians who have not mastered them.
Bells and Dragons
- Two new rituals have been added to Urizen lore since the Autumn Equinox
- Bells of Silver and Brass restores the strength of a depleted garrison
- Might of Vstaive strengthens the garrison of a fortification
- Golden Ramparts has been updated in line with the new fortification rules
A week or so before the Winter Solstice, the librarians of the Grand Library of Canterspire discreetly let it be known that two new rituals have been added to Urizen lore - Bells of Silver and Brass and Might of Vstaive. It seems that these rituals were originally codified at the Halls of Knowledge, long before it was destroyed by the Druj. While the rituals came from different sources, both covens involved have indicated that they were persuaded to contribute their rituals by representatives of the Moonsilver King. Both groups admit they received boons from the Unicorn Prince in return for their ritual texts, but neither discloses exactly what their boons were. In both cases, likewise, they claim that the heralds indicated their master, the Lord of the Forest of Arden, was motivated by a simple desire to help Urizen protect itself from its many, many enemies and expected nothing in return.
The first ritual, was submitted to Canterspire Library by members of the Shield of Thought coven from Willstone Citadel in Redoubt. The Bells of Silver and Brass is a work of Autumn magic, codified during the reign of Emperor James. It seems that originally it was used to inspire soldiers to come to the defence of their neighbours through the use of invisible bells, but the ritual seems to have other, somewhat more practical applications. When this magnitude 60 Autumn ritual is cast on a fortification it subtly draws volunteers to take up weapons, and improves the process of turning a raw recruit into a seasoned soldier. This means that over the coming season, the garrison of the target fortification is restored, regaining 250 points of strength, in addition to any other resupply the garrison receives, even if the garrison is involved in fighting.
The other ritual is a much older, dating from the early reign of Empress Varkula, and contributed by a Dawnish coven. The Roses of Racqueen are a Weaver cabal from Semmerholm and how they came into possession of the ritual text for Might of Vstaive is not clear. The ritual itself employs Summer magic to enchant a fortification, reinforcing both the bastion and the garrison. Examination of the ritual by Urizen magicians of the Unfettered Mind and Rod and Shield indicates that it is almost identical to Golden Ramparts but with some very distinct differences. Golden Ramparts calls forth several dozen golden lions from the realm of Meraud to fight alongside the garrison, and relies on an assurance to give it power. Might of Vstaive however instead fills the mortal defenders of a castle with courage, preternatural prowess, and a thirst for victory. Yet the outcome from a purely practical point of view is the same - save that one uses the power of a Summer eternal and the other does not.
The contribution of Might of Vstaive suggests that Jaheris' real motivation in encouraging these rituals to be given to Urizen might be to undermine Meraud. Regardless of provenance, both rituals are available to any Urizen magician who wishes to learn them by the usual means. Indeed given that neither relies on an eternal for their power, they could be used as a template for an arcane projection and even codified at a college of magic and made part of wider Imperial lore, if anyone wished to do so.
Quivering and Chill
- Three new rituals that draw on the power of Siakha have become part of Urizen lore
- These rituals are illegal to perform while the eternal remains under enmity
During some of the worst storms of the early Winter, three new works of Spring magic are added to Urizen Lore without additional fanfare. The text they are drawn from is apparently a water-damaged ship's logbook, filled with cryptic poems in praise of the unceasing sea, the power of the storm, and the admirably simple life of the shark. Interspersed between the poems are crude drawings of sea monsters, and what seem to be actual prayers in praise of the Mother of the Maelstrom asking for her to send her children to torment the unknown author's enemies, or begging her to fill them and their crew with the power of the tempest. These sections become increasingly difficult to read, and the last few pages are almost entirely obscured by old bloodpsatter. Scrawled across the cover - carved into the thick leather with a knife - was the message “at the mother’s command, a gift for Ibiss Briarheart”.
It should come as no surprise then that the three rituals contained in the book bear the unmistakable mark of the eternal Siakha. Rhythm of the Tempest, Blood-dimmed Tide, and Shark's Rampage each draw on potent resonances of savagery and ruin, and are shot through with the bloodthirsty power of the Mother of Wrecks.
The attendants at the Library - pale-eyed servants of Phaleron - are clearly uncomfortable with these magics, but can do nothing to prevent them becoming part of Urizen lore. After all, despite the request of the Celestial Library, Gift of Knowledge was made part of Imperial lore. As such any magician of the Empire, including those who have turned traitor in the service of the Mother of Wrecks, can use it to present whatever rituals they choose. The librarians of Phaleron are not empowered to pick and choose - they must accept any ritual text that is offered. They cannot turn down the rituals of Siakha any more than they were able to turn down those that draw on the power of Agramant.
Of course these rituals are illegal to perform while Siakha remains under the enmity of the Conclave. There is some speculation as to what Ibiss Briarheart may have done to merit these “gifts” - and a great deal of debate about whether any true Urizen would touch these spells with the tip of a measuring rod.
The Clouds are Mean
- Madruga, Feroz, and Sarvos have been cursed by the Children of Wrecks
- Torrential rains and gale winds have swept across the three territories
- Farms and businesses have been harmed by the Thunderous Deluge, and there have been additional effects in each territory
Shortly before the Autumn Equinox, the Children of Wrecks in Feroz and Madruga unleashed tumultuous storms on the territories. Then, during the summit, wreckers were able to make use of the Circle of Savagery in Sarvos to unleash the same curse on that territory of the League.
Madruga and Feroz
- The storms that have struck Madruga and Feroz have stirred up some of the magic of Crucible
Unlike Foam and Spittle of the Furious Sea, the Thunderous Deluge covers the entire territory. Rain falls in sheets as far west as Morajasse and as far north as Torres. It fills the Scorrero - a wild river at the best of time - causing it to burst its banks. This is hardly something new, but it adds to the hardship of those trying to relcaim Oranseri and will likely make any attempt to bridge the river - to restore easy movement between the two eastermost Freeborn territories - that much harder.
The storms are especially odd in Madruga, where the power of the storms collides with an Night magic enchantment. Storm clouds roil with colours not normally found in the sky and one one occasion there is a five minute rain of tiny red frogs over Calvos that rapidly turns into a short-lived plague as the things breed and spread. Feroz is hit much more heavily by the storms, especially given that the populace such as it is, is currently busy trying to rebuild. One thing worse than living out of makeshift shacks and old tents is trying to live out of waterlogged shacks and leaky tents.
Sarvos
- Flood defences have protected Sarvos from the thunderous deluge
- The region of Riposi has permanently gained the coastal quality
This is by no means the first time such powerful storms have been called up by the Children of Wrecks, but it is the first time in a very long time that Sarvos has been targetted in this way. The tempest rages for several months after the Autumn Equinox. The waters rise, and there is a great deal of worry in Sarvos that doom has finally arrived to wash away the City of Masks. If only there were suitably robust flood defences... but of course there are suitably robust flood defences! Commissioned by Senator Rosalina Gulia Viola di Sarvos they were built with the aid of the Vandersaar family of the Sarcophan Delves. The Vandersaar were no doubt partly motivated by the desire to protect the low lying Alivetti estates enclave, but their help has proved invaluable. The canals rise a little, as the rain and wind mercilessly shakes the towers of Sarvos, but there is no lasting damage.
The same cannot unfortunately be said for other parts of the territory. There's some flooding in Rodez and Trivento; estates along the broad banks of the Gancio are left sodden and waterlogged; and the only folk who seem happy with the situation are the huge, white cranes that picked their way through the reed-beds of the river. The worst damage, however, is incurred in Riposi. The flat plains are known for their poor, chalky soil. The thunderous deluge pelts the farmlands here with particular virulence, but nobody is expecting it when the low cliffs that run along the southern side of the region give way and collapse into the hungry sea. Waves wash inland nearly a quarter of a mile in places, carrying away what little topsoil there is. When the storms abate, as the Winter solstice approaches, there can be no denying that it is now considerable easier to approach Riposi from sea (the region has permanently gained the coastal quality). There's not a lot that can be done about it, it seems - especially not by "dirt poor Riposi farmers".
Odd Dreams
- More odd dreams in Feroz, Madruga, and Sarvos
People living in or visiting Feroz, Madruga, and Sarvos find their nights filled with dreams of rushing water, rain. More peculiarly, dreams also prominently feature water features - springs, waterfalls, fountains of all kinds - and horses of all colours often racing through the sky as the rain falls. People who awaken from these dreams report feeling either tired or filled with vigour. The dreams fade as the Autumn equinox approaches, and don't seem to leave any particular lingering effects.