Historical research
Overview
The department for historical research was established by Emperor James in an attempt to repair the damage done to Imperial scholarship by Emperor Nicovar. Fifty years passed between the devastation of the libraries and the establishment of a formal order dedicated to regaining what had been lost - five decades for the situation to deteriorate further. Staffed by dedicated civil servants, and taking direction from the Imperial Senate, the new department worked tirelessly to recover damaged documents, and reconstruct those that had been lost forever to the fires of the mad Throne.
The Empire has been in existence for nearly four hundred years, but human civilization stretches back much further than that. The relatively recent arrival of Dawn and the Highborn were proceeded by centuries of orc barbarian chaos. And before that the Bay of Catazar area was home to the sprawling kingdoms that were the ancestors of Navarr, Wintermark, Urizen and Varushka. Any given scholar today knows only a part of the epic history of humankind.
The best records the Empire kept were destroyed by Emperor Nicovar, and much of the early history of the Empire, and the history of the nations that preceded it, was lost. What documents and histories endure are kept in the personal histories and records of communities scattered across the Empire. The civil service works under the direction of the Senate, to recover knowledge that has been lost and to push back the boundaries of Imperial understanding of the past and the present. Finding specific information in the decentralised Imperial memory is a daunting task. Teams of people must spread out across the Empire to seek out lore buried in any of the countless personal libraries.
Following the restructuring of the Department after the Winter Solstice 384YE, the civil service has the resources to research one subject each season. Prior to the murderous events of 379YE, the civil service was able to perform more research each season; the loss of so many experienced researchers significantly curtailed their ability to perform scholastic study.
Since the death of Empress Britta, the Senate devolved much of the responsibility for guiding historical research, creating individual titles - the Minister of Historical Research, the Dredgemaster of Feverwater, Advisor on the Vallorn, and the Imperial Advisor for the Feni. The Dredgemaster had this power removed during the Winter Solstice 381YE, while the Advisors also lost this power during the changes mandated by restructuring.
Commissioning Historical Research
The power to direct the civil servants in the department of historical research lies with the Imperial Senate. Until recently, this power was employed by use of a senate motion. In recent years, senators have created three new Imperial titles, who may all commission a piece of historical research using a senate announcement. Both the Advisor on the Vallorn and the Imperial Advisor for the Feni lost this power of during the Spring Equinox 385YE. The Minister of Historical Research may in theory make any number of announcements but since the decision to retrain members of the Department as prognosticators, the matter is moot. Whichever subject is announced first will be undertaken.
Regardless of how the power is employed, the thrust of the research should be clear. It is possible to commission broad research into a significant topic such as "the history of the Brass Coast" or "Exemplars of Pride", giving the civil service a free reign as to how to proceed. It is more common, however, to select a tight focus such as "the life of Myfanwy" or "the Crown of Three Tears".
Each season, the researchers will provide a report summarising their findings in the previous three months. This often takes the form of a written document detailing what they have uncovered, sometimes presented by one of the civil servants responsible for collating the information. It may sometimes take the form of a discussion with an expert on the issue, or a lead that will secure specific information that requires direct action by an Imperial hero.
The report will often include suggestions for where to take the research next, if there are any avenues of research left that the researchers believe might be beneficial, explaining the problems with uncovering more information, or presenting an opportunity for some action that might help move the research forward. If the researchers do not believe that any further work on a subject will provide additional useful information then they will report that.
For the Benefit of the Empire
During the season following the presentation of a historical research report, the civil service will make the contents available to any scholar who asks as well as dispatching copies of the report to libraries, universities, and colleges across the Empire. This is done to help ensure that the information discovered can never be lost again, and to expand the collective knowledge of the Empire.
Dangers of Historical Research
Uncovering information about the past is not a safe occupation. The eternals known as the Whisper Gallery have shown that they are prepared to take extreme steps to interfere with historical research, for example, including murdering civil servants. The Imperial Conclave has placed them under enmity, but this does nothing to prevent their mortal associates causing trouble for the department of historical research. The Senate treasury once paid a significant amount of money into a fund to protect civil servants associated with the department, but Ris Steelfist, one of the bodyguards funded by the Senate, presented a proposal that saw private citizens fund the defence of the department. Sometimes a project is too dangerous for them to explore directly. In this case, they may call on the citizen with the appropriate Imperial title to undertake dangerous actions, or request additional materials that they cannot acquire themselves.
Citizens who hold one of the titles associated with historical research should be aware that they are potential targets not only for the Whisper Gallery but for other secretive organisations that have a vested interest in preventing discovery of historical information in general, or specific to whatever is being researched.
The Department of Historical Research
The department of historical research is ultimately overseen by the Imperial Archivist, Leontes the Scribe, who is a member of the Constitutional Court. He is said to be a notoriously curmudgeonly individual whose deep knowledge of the history of humanity has left him with a perpetually dismal view of it. The day to day running of the department defaults to the most senior scholars, each of which in turn directs the remaining handful of researchers, scribes, and investigators. As of the Autumn Equinox 381YE, there are two senior researchers in the department. Each is a veteran civil servant and respected scholar of Imperial history.
Snowstorm Henk
The first Imperial Orc member of the Department, Snowstorm Henk, is a young academic who has an extensive interest in lost Imperial artifacts. He takes a "hands on" approach to research, often dragging himself and his team into dangerous situations such as when he undertook an expedition into the Lorenzo's Deep Pockets, or was (briefly) captured by Thule while exploring Sungold Pass. He often undertakes research where a "fresh approach" is appropriate; the Imperial Orcs are the youngest nation and Snowstorm Henk likes to think about preconceptions and "accepted wisdom" when exploring a topic.
Octavia of Stream's Source Spire
An Urizeni who takes a methodical approach to any project she is involved with. She is at home in libraries, and often delves deep into the root causes of the events she is asked to research. Her reports will often quote other sources; she is in her element when a project requires examining large amounts of existing information and trying to distill it down into a usable format.
Marko Siwarsbairn
An adventurous Wintermark scholar, Marko enjoys field work, especially poking around old ruins and haunted libraries. They are known to take a particular joy in delving into the lives of historical figures, rather than historical events, especially if compiling such a biography will give them an excuse to visit somewhere they have never been before.
Other Researchers
There are a handful of other respected scholars associated with the department of historical research. They are often assigned specific roles by one of the Imperial Archivist. There are also several retired members, or members who have moved on to other departments.
- Rosalind Friedlin von Holberg (Retired): A graduate and former professor at the University of Holberg, Rosalind is also a veteran of the Druj occupation, and an expert in pre-Nicovar Imperial history. She has extensive contacts among - and some influence over - the various Imperial centres of learning. Rosalind encourages researchers to adopt a detached, academic style with their studies and prefers them to include plenty of references to existing Imperial scholarship.
- Peter of Hintown (Retired): Something of a maverick, this adventurous Marcher scholar discovered both the Gildenheim runeforge and the mithril deposits that eventually lead to the creation of Pride of Ikka's Tears. In contrast to Rosalind, he has an extensive network of contacts and correspondents outside of established academia, preferring to associate with independent scholars. His main area of academic interest lies with pre-Imperial artifacts, and what little is known about the history of the orc barbarians - especially the Empire's battles with them.
- Elian Sweetwater (Promoted): A Navarr, of Storm's Run Striding, Elian was best known for his extensive report on Axos and the history of the Terunael there, prepared for the Advisor on the Vallorn. In Winter 384YE, he was reassigned to the Prognosticator's Office.
No Imperial Archives
While there is an Imperial Archivist, there are no Imperial Archives any more - no secret libraries maintained by the civil service. Instead, there are numerous small libraries, archives, records, and similar spread across the Empire. Navarr stridings carry books and scrolls with them in their wagons. Every Wintermark hall keeps a tally of judgement stretching back generations. Every Dawnish house keeps records of its most glorious members. Each Highborn chapter records the deeds of its worthy scions, every Urizen spire maintains libraries both arcane and more mundane in nature. The Marchers have memories written and oral that stretch back to the times before there were any Marchers, while the Varushkan Wise Ones and Cabalists maintain written records and keep the rich tradition of stories and cautionary tales alive from generation to generation. The tribes of the Brass Coast maintain family archives the first scrolls of which were carried with the exiled Founders when they left Highguard. The League cities build white granite libraries dedicated to the history of the city-folk and jealously guard the personal histories of guilds and grudges and debts owed. While the Imperial Orcs are new to the Empire, their cultural drive to education and their reverence of the written word have already begun amassing records, books and scrolls.
Recent Historical Research
This table represents official requests to the department of historical research, whether from the Senate or from one of the titles empowered to commission research. For clarity's sake it also includes the research commissioned by the Lepidean Librarian, although that title does not use researches from the Department.
| Topic | Date | Commissioned By | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isenbrad | Summer 385YE | Lepidean Librarian Jared of the Suns of Couros | In Progress |
| Urizen in Mareave | Summer 385YE | Minister for Historical Research Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti | In Progress |
| The virtue of Jaggah | Spring 385YE | Lepidean Librarian Jared of the Suns of Couros | Published |
| Tower of Solokha | Spring 385YE | Minister for Historical Research Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti | Published |
| Saul of the Cora | Winter 384YE | Lepidean Librarian Jared of the Suns of Couros | Published |
| The tomb guards of Ahraz | Winter 384YE | Minister for Historical Research Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti | Published |
| Findings of Magisters | Winter 384YE | Former Minister for Historical Research Caleb of the Cenotaph | Published |
| Expedition to investigate Andretti | Autumn 384YE | Minister for Historical Research Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti | Published |
| The "Speaker for the Dead" of the Free Folk | Autumn 384YE | Lepidean Librarian Jared of the Suns of Couros | Published |
| Sinking of Bregasland | Autumn 384YE | Advisor on the Feni Watt Lambrook | Published |
| Reclamation of Seren | Summer 384YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Nathair Autumngale | Published |
| Palace at Orieb | Summer 384YE | Minister of Historical Research Vaclav Mladenovich Kosti | Published |
| "Old Morgan" Steward of Brock's Heath | Summer 384YE | Lepidean Librarian Jared of the Suns of Couros | Published |
| The Feverwater and the dock of Terunael origin | Spring 384YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Nathair Autumngale | Published |
| General Cretatus, the Claw of the Dragon, and the history of the Sword Scholars | Spring 384YE | Minister of Historical Research Severin Teyhard von Holberg | Published |
| The life and example of Sister Ruth of the Seven Stars | Spring 384YE | Lepidean librarian Jared of the Suns of Couros | Published |
| The Doctrine of Human Destiny | Winter 383YE | Minister of Historical Research Severin Teyhard von Holberg | Published |
| Origins of the Feni | Winter 383YE | Advisor on the Feni, Watt of Lambrook | Published |
| Research black lotus | Autumn 383YE | Minister of Historical Research Severin Teyhard von Holberg | Published |
| The Heirs of Terunael | Autumn 383YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Complete1 |
| Expedition to Sacrophan to investigate the origins of the Highborn | Summer 383YE | Minister of Historical Research Caleb of the Cenotaph | Published |
| Ghita's Veils | Spring 383YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Published |
| The Origin of Eater of Hope | Spring 383YE | Minister of Historical Research Caleb of the Cenotaph | Published |
| The Life of Drustan | Winter 382YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Published |
| Sungold Pass | Winter 382YE | Minister of Historical Research Caleb of the Cenotaph | Published |
| Abraxus Stones | Autumn 382YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Published |
| Maude Daughter of Esther | Autumn 382YE | Minister of Historical Research Caleb of the Cenotaph | Published |
| The life and final fate of the noble Terunael general Bryony and her crystal crown | Summer 382YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Published |
| Anomalous conjunctions with reference to Empress Britta's death | Spring 382YE | Minister of Historical Research Ioseph of Phoenix Reach | Published |
| The past life of Adelina Barossa | Spring 382YE | Minister of Historical Research Ioseph of Phoenix Reach | Published |
| Fire from the Heavens | Winter 381YE | Minister of Historical Research Ioseph of Phoenix Reach | Published |
| The descendants of Terunael in Axos | Winter 381YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Published |
| Exploration of Lorenzo's Deep Pockets (opportunity) | Winter 381YE | Tormund of Wintermark | Published |
| Myfanwy of Hercynia and her travels and relationships with the First Empress | Autumn 381YE | Dredgemaster of Feverwater Eleri Bronwen's Rest | Published |
| Expedition to Terunael ruins in Axos | Autumn 381YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Published |
| Aneira Dancewalker, thought to be General of the Quiet Step during the fall of Liathaven, and her brother Eurion Dancewalker who forged Aneira's Talon | Summer 381YE | Dredgemaster of Feverwater Eleri Bronwen's Rest | Complete |
| Mage known as Star, compatriot to Navarr and Thorn | Summer 381YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | Published |
| Rhonwen's Fall | Spring 381YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Merel Eternal | Published |
| Apaayuqiu King, and the pre-Wintermark history in Sermersuaq area | Winter 380YE | Minister of Historical Research Ioseph of Phoenix Reach | Published |
| Luca Ritter von Holberg, Cardinal of Courage around 125YE | Winter 380YE | Minister of Historical Research Ioseph of Phoenix Reach | Complete |
| Founders of the Brass Coast | Autumn 380YE | Minister of Historical Research Ioseph of Pheonix Reach | Superseded by recent discoveries about history and the lives of Erigo, Guerra, and Riqueza |
| The noble house of Mazzarin of Dawn | Summer 380YE | Dredgemaster of Feverwater | Complete |
| The Charter Stone of the Terunael city of Seren | Spring 380YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Siân Eternal | No reference to "charter stones" could be found; some information about singing stones was uncovered as part of the research. |
| The Heart of Peytaht, its contents and the nature of the entities within it | Winter 379YE | Dredgemaster of Feverwater? | Published |
| Cadaver, a sovereign, of the Dark Hearts vale in Varushka | Winter 379YE | Advisor on the Vallorn Neb | Complete1 |
| The Gwerin Marfae, the marshfolk around at the time of Terunael | Autumn 379YE | Dredgemaster of Feverwater Corey Brackensong | Published |
| Further research into the runeforge in Skarsind | Autumn 379YE | Palladius of Urizen | Published |
| More origins of the Vallorn | Summer 379YE | Advisor on the Vallorn | Published |
| Origins of the Vallorn | Spring 379YE | Advisor on the Vallorn | Published |
| The relationship between auras and the paragons/exemplars they are named for with particular reference to Isaella's Resolve | Spring 379YE | Yael of Felix's Watch | Published |
| The naval campaign of Emperor Barabbas | Winter 378YE | Minister of Historical Research | Published |
| Briar graves and land fertility in the Marches | Autumn 378YE | unknown | Complete2 |
| Empress Varkula's burial rites (and their efficacy) | Autumn 378YE | unknown | Published |
| Artok Ice Golems | Autumn 378YE | unknown | Complete |
| The Incarnadine Satchel | Autumn 378YE | unknown | Published |
| The Mask of the Visionary | Summer 378YE | Minister of Historical Research | Complete |
| Mazen and the missing Golem | Summer 378YE | Minister of Historical Research | Complete |
| The Crown of Three Tears | Summer 378YE | Thane Aedred in Wintermark | Published |
| The Equine Rod | Summer 378YE | Minister of Historical Research | Complete1 |
| The Imperial Favour of Empress Britta | Summer 378YE | Ioseph of Phoenix Reach | Published |
| The life of Megan Black Blood | Summer 378YE | Advisor on the Vallorn | Published |
| The Campaigns of Emperor Guntherm against the Jotun | Spring 378YE | Minister of Historical Research | Published |
| The Banner of the Gryphon's Pride | Spring 378YE | Minister of Historical Research | Published |
| The origins of the Volodny Bas Celik | Simargl of the Circle of Zulgan-Tash | Complete3 | |
| Coven of the Burning Star | Ioseph of Phoenix Reach | Complete |
1: In these cases rather than a written document a meeting with an expert was arranged. As a consequence there are no published details.
2: In these cases the research was used to update existing information.
3: The recipient of the document has declined to have it more widely published
Further Reading
Core Brief
Additional Information
- Commission
- Senate address
- Senate announcement
- New Imperial titles
- Appointment by the Senate
- Appointments to the Senate
- Imperial treasury
- OOC design
- Minister of Historical Research
- A long December - 385YE Spring Wind of Fortune detailing the consequences of the Department being restructured