Shadow in the grass
"You don't think they deserved it? After what happened? After the lives lost? Determination of Ice is a damn hero for giving those orders." Líf was furious, not with their companion, but at the state of everything.
"I am not saying that. Just that... it's a shame when people die like this... for something like this." The young merrow let out a breath that he hadn't realised he'd been holding in. "People are scared all the time. People are confused and worried. And then some smart-mouth comes along and explains what the reason for all that is and they believe it!"
"It's a shame. It's awful. Nobody wants innocents to die. But they took up arms against innocents. It's all well and good to try to explain away their actions. But they still took them." Líf was tired, so tired. They hadn't slept properly in months with all this weird shit going on.
Lyfrassir took another breath. Then another. Finally, once they were calmer, they spoke again. "I'm going to bed, do you want a cuddle? We can talk about it in the morning, once we've had a good night's sleep."
Overview
Sermersuaq has been through a lot in the last few years. There are no Jotun armies, but the short-lived Cult of the Falconer tore through the territory like a hot knife through butter, and the monsters of Blood-on-the-snow have plagued the land even longer than that. The swift action of the Empire has contained the worst of it; the situation would be significantly worse if Determination of Ice Kaisa, hadn't led the Narwhal's Spear to the territory, or if the Sun Chamber hadn't voted to send its members to investigate.
Hawking The Falcon
The Claw hangs in snowy skies; Ascended, dominant, yearning for blood; Falconer obelisks sing in our snow, Boundless hunger, thirsting to feed. Look not to blood for an easy path, Trust not to the Falcon, in times of need; Seek out the crows, we will help. Our armies move, and the cultists scatter, Watch for those who spill their blood; They may lurk hidden in our midst; Be vigilant, and tell us what you see.
Otso Usvaling, Wintermark Assembly, Autumn 387YE, Vote: 206-0- The four pillars of the Falconer were destroyed
- Three of the four Voices of the Falconer were slain
- A remnant of the Claw's influence remains
At the Autumn Equinox, three groups of heroes went through the Sentinel Gate to take the fight to the Cult of the Falconer. The three pillars were destroyed, and two of the Voices killed. Elsewhere, the Thule were able to both kill the Voice of the Peaks and deal with the pillar in the north-east mountains.
Of the powerful members of the cult, only the Voice of the Fount survived, and they have fled deep into the Sermersuaq wastes. They're left with nothing; however, their dreams of power shattered by the prompt action of Imperial heroes. They will more than likely die alone in the wastes, but even if they did somehow survive, their schemes are ruined. The Empire need have no fear of them for now.
Some cultists do remain in the wild places of Sermersuaq, but they are the lowest of the low. They will continue being something of a problem to the more remote halls, but the garrisons of Olgafsdottirshal and the Fortress of Kalant, with the support of military units venturing to hunt the Suaq Wastes, will be able to keep them contained.
The heroes of Wintermark and their allies have emphatically defeated the Cult of the Falconer.
OOC Note: Remnants of the Cult of the Falconer remain in Sermersuaq, but they have been reduced in both influence and strength. They could be suitable for a plot event set in Sermersuaq, as part of a background, or as an enemy defeated during downtime - especially if your character has taken the Hunt the Suaq Wastes action. We might do plot with them in the future, but for now, they remain below the abstraction layer.
Agramant and Big Icebarn
- Big Icebarn has been damaged, and has returned north to Sydanjaa
- The combined efforts have drawn out two powerful monsters that serve Agramant in the Suaq Wastes
- These skirmishes are combat highly likely encounters
- The Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq is responsible for slaying the Ceaseless Hunter
- Maryc of House Orzel is responsible for slaying the Feasting Lord
- There are no innocents present on this conjunction; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified
For almost three years, heroic Winterfolk and glorious Dawnish have travelled to the Suaq Wastes to hunt the monsters that reside there. These abominations, remnants of those sent by Agramant and the beasts of the once King-in-Exile, have been menacing the territory since it was lost to the Jotun in 382YE. The efforts have been crystallised by the power of Big Icebarn, with thousands travelling to the north-east to support the artok in its route.
Unfortunately, though it was supported by more than twenty-four thousand strength this season, less than seven thousand of that came from Wintermark. As a result, it has been driven north, back into the eternal storm Sydanjaa, by attacks from the heralds and monsters of Siren-of-the-Wasteland.
Though Big Icebarn was unable to draw out the guardian of Blood-on-the-snow in the Suaq Wastes, it was able to draw attention to two powerful heralds who have been active in the region for the last five years. There are two conjunctions, one for each monster, that will allow the Empire a chance to defeat two of the enemies' most powerful guardians.
The Ceaseless Hunter has gained a name for hunting down Winterfolk and is resting on the Verdant Lea. It is the responsibility of the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq, Ceolmund Dreth, to see a group of heroes travel to the Suaq Wastes and kill the Ceaseless Hunter.
The Feasting Lord, by contrast, has taken great pleasure in slaughtering knights-errant driven by glory. As the leader of the most powerful force in the hunt, it is the responsibility of Maryc of House Orzel, to see a group of glory-seekers travel to the Suaq Wastes and kill the Feasting Lord.
Hunt the Suaq Wastes
- Three years of campaigning has defeated the threats from Agramant and Hayak in the Sermersuaq Wastes
- The production of the venture has changed following the death of so many Summer and Winter heralds
- A starting military unit will receive 110 rings and either a golden apple or a vial of heart's blood
- A military unit with at least 200 strength will receive a dose of Keen Lifeblood
- Keen Lifeblood is currently interdicted by the Conclave
Over the last year, eight armies' worth of military units from Wintermark alone have ventured into the Suaq Wastes to hunt down the monsters and beasts in the region. The dangerous wasteland was overrun by ferocious monsters let loose into the world, for amusement by Blood-on-the-Snow, for revenge by the Gryphon-King.
Now those threats are largely gone. When the heroes destroy Agramant's guardians, the last threat from the Winter realm will be defeated, and the heroes of Wintermark can finally rest, secure in the knowledge that they have brought peace and safety to their land.
Sadly, the rise and fall of the Cult of the Falconer has seen beasts of all kinds become more aggressive and more dangerous. Boars, bears and similar threats might once have preferred to avoid a dangerous encounter with humans, but are now driven to seek them out. There are also still groups of cultists scattered across the region, still desperate, hoping to invoke the Claw over the territory.
As a result, the nature of the venture to Hunt the Suaq Wastes has changed. A starting military unit will receive 110 rings and a single pawn of Wasteland vis (either a golden apple or a vial of heart's blood), with upgraded or enchanted military units receiving comparatively more. A military unit of at least 200 strength - that is, enchanted with Feast of Heroes, upgraded five times, or some combination of enchanted and upgraded - will also receive a single dose of Keen Lifeblood.
Keen Lifeblood is a consumable which was interdicted last season by the Imperial Censor, Gaius Starfall i Riqueza. Oshere Brokenfist, a repentant cultist who was charged and paid the resultant fine gladly, has let it be known that it can be used in a similar manner to vis. If consumed whilst invoking the Claw when performing a suitable ritual, it counts as up to three mana crystals for that ritual.
| Adventure | Material | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt the Suaq Wastes | Keen Lifeblood | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Wasteland Vis | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Money (rings) | 36 | 72 | 38 | 74 | 110 | 146 | 112 | 148 | 184 | 220 | 256 | 222 | 258 | 294 | 330 |
Tsirku
- A spy network can be constructed in the territory of Tsirku
- It would have the normal costs and upkeep of a spy network
- The Empire could appraise the prospects of trying to conquer or exploit Tsirku
- Neither option would reveal anything about Sydanjaa
Of late, there has been much discussion about the territory of Tsirku and whether it might be possible for the Empire to conquer it. To settle the matter once and for all, Eawyn Icerunner, an icewalker and would-be explorer, has returned from the northern-most point of Sermersuaq with a proposal. Following one of the routes proposed by Ӕngel “Pathfinder” Dunn, he was able to cross the inland sea of Nutjuitoq and reach the other side.
What lies beyond is a wasteland of ice and snow, which makes Sermersuaq seem fertile and hospitable. Storms are more common than trees there and can appear and disappear within moments. And that is before you reach Sydanjaa. The terrible storm is completely inaccessible. No living being has ever walked into the storm and survived, and no reasonable person thinks that is about to change. But it is not completely impossible that the Empire could explore the surrounding territory.
After careful investigation, the civil service has confirmed that it would be possible to build a spy network in Tsirku if the Empire were serious about finding out more about the territory. That would allow the Empire to send military units into the wasteland to scout it out and get the lay of the land there. If there is a way to reach the territory overland, a spy network would reveal it.
The alternative would be to seek some kind of appraisal of the territory - that would not produce a map, but would give more information on how the land could be exploited. If there is a way for people to survive for long in Tsirku, an appraisal would reveal it. The two options are ultimately complementary; either could be used alone, or both together.
At present, there is next to nothing known about Tsirku, other than that it is north of Sermersuaq and it is either adjacent to, or contains, some or all of Sydanjaa. Anyone supporting a spy network in Tsirku would not venture near the everlasting storm, and the spy network would not reveal anything about it beyond what is already known.