Volhov of the Wyrding Tower
Overview
The Volhov of the Wyrding Tower is an Imperial title awarded to a citizen of Varushka. Construction of the Wyrding Tower was announced by Borys Vardovich Straskovich, as the Boyar of the Iron Roads, during the Summer Solstice 388YE, and construction was completed shortly before the Autumn Equinox 388YE.
The tower serves to end the threat of the ashen wind, and initial plans were drawn up in response to an appraisal proposed by Ostrik Vulpe, as Senator for Volodmartz, to restore the Prosperity of Volodmartz.
Responsibilities
The Volhov of the Wyrding Tower has the responsibility to keep watch over the Wyrding Pond, and to deal with any threat to it. In addition, in the event that the tower, or those trading or working there, were threatened, the Volhov would be expected to deal with those threats.
Powers
Volhov's Expertise
If the titleholder is a volhov, then they can exchange beggar's lye and tempest jade for splinterstars and pouches of sunbleach, respectively. As a ministry, the Volhov of the Wyrding Pond can exchange measures for these at a set price. The Volhov of the Wyrding Pond spends their materials and makes their choices during downtime from their character page. Resources are removed from, and commodities are placed into, the character's inventory when the downtime is processed.
Sunbleach
| Sunbleach | |
| 20 measures of beggar's lye | 2 pouches of sunbleach |
| 44 measures of beggar's lye | 4 pouches of sunbleach |
| 72 measures of beggar's lye | 6 pouches of sunbleach |
Sunbleach is a lumpy, powdery residue created from beggar's lye exposed to the wan radiance of the region in the Wyrding Pond. It can cause mild burns if it touches naked skin, and is normally sealed in leather pouches and handled with gloves. It contains captured Day magic, however, allowing it to be used during the performance of any ritual of that realm. The magician dusts their cheeks and hands with the caustic residue (which counts as the use of a tonic), and they gain a +2 bonus to their Day lore for the next ritual they perform within ten minutes, subject to the normal rules for additional ranks. Unfortunately, after thirty minutes, they suffer an unpleasant malady, similar to a traumatic wound, which must be treated by a physick using marrowort before they can perform any magic again.
Splinterstars
| Splinterstars | |
| 9 ingots of tempest jade | 3 splinterstars |
| 20 ingots of tempest jade | 6 splinterstars |
| 33 ingots of tempest jade | 9 splinterstars |
Splinterstars are the result of tempest jade being exposed to the odd radiance of the regio, making it opaque and prone to splintering. When enough are gathered together, they can be used as a kind of mana crystal, albeit with different capabilities. Given the somewhat optimistic, euphemistic moniker of Splinterstars, a small pouch of the residue can be used as if it were crystal mana, but only for casting offensive spells or rituals using Day magic. These splinterstars appear to be attuned to the Day resonance of force and if used to perform either repel or shatter, it allows the caster to use it on two targets instead of one in a similar manner to the Kimus' Glaring Eye enchantment. They have only 10 seconds to deliver the second call of REPEL or SHATTER.
Appointment
This title is appointed during the Autumn Equinox each year. The Volhov of the Wyrding Tower is appointed by citizens of Varushka who control mines and forests personal resources through the Tally of the Votes. The more improved a mine or forest an individual controls, the more votes they can allocate in support of a candidate. The voting is handled by the civil servants in the Bourse.
Only a Varushkan citizen may hold the title. They do not receive a seat on the Bourse. As a title appointed through the Bourse they cannot be revoked by the Synod.
Recent Elections
The table to the right shows the citizens who have been elected to hold this title in the years since Empress Britta died.
Funding
Click Expand to see the list of contributions made to construct the Wyrding Tower.
- 6 wains of mithril and 3 thrones 5 crowns provided by Emil Artemov Lenka after Summer Solstice 388YE
- 6 wains of mithril provided by Yaroslav Goraschenko Vernost after Summer Solstice 388YE
- 4 crowns provided by Fretek Sargava Slavomiryn after Summer Solstice 388YE
- 1 crown provided by Farren Silver Streams after Summer Solstice 388YE
- 1 crown provided by Rhys Nighthaven after Summer Solstice 388YE
- 1 crown provided by Konstantin Rabovich Bolotnikov after Summer Solstice 388YE
The Title in Play
The role does not provide additional information about events in the Empire, nor allow the player holding it to request special reports or downtime actions. These details are assumed to be below the abstraction layer. The title holder is encouraged to create their own stories about their activities within reasonable limits and to get involved in events appropriate to their title during the game, but they do not have any powers beyond those explicitly listed in the section on powers.
These details exist partly to provide context and character to the role - and partly to allow our writers to use the title as a plot hook. Plot that involves the position will be rare - but all the campaign positions in Empire have these details to create the potential for it to happen.