Come together
"Didn't you try this once already?" Aedan asked the dreamspeaker.
The old woman ignored the obvious hint of pity in her apprentice's question. "Yes, you're quite right dear, this is an utter waste of time. What is it they teach young people in schools these days. If at first you don't succeed, give up immediately because it clearly wasn't meant to happen. Have I got it right?"
"Haha." he replied to the obvious sarcasm. "You know what I mean," he tried again, "people debated it. For years. Then they decided to do the Temple instead."
Cordelia nodded her head, her long grey braid bobbing in time. "No need to remind me, my memory isn't that bad you know. But the Temple is finished now is it not?"
"Yeah but it's taken us years. We'll never get people to agree to another project on this scale. It's just not possible." Even as he said it, Aedan knew what his teacher was going to say. The same thing she always said when someone told her something was impossible.
"Everything is impossible until someone does it Aedan. And nothing is impossible afterwards. It's the bit in-between the two that is tricky. Did I ever tell you about the old Wintermark..."
"Topi?" said Aedan butting in. "Yes, yes you did. Moved all his books to Gildenheim with the help of beavers. You've told me that story many, many times Cords." said Aedan. He smiled at her kindly to take the sting out of his words even as he stubbornly refused to let her regale him for the umpteenth time with the story of Topi's books. "This is different, it's not about chasing your dreams, it's a question of priorities."
The aging dreamspeaker laughed, apparently more amused than offended. "No, no Aedan, you're quite wrong. Priorities are literally what chasing dreams is all about..."
Overview
The completion of the City of Dreams - the transformation of Seren and the construction of the Temple of the Waking Dream - has inspired some of the dreamspeakers to present visions of the future to be considered by the Navarr nation as a whole. At the same time however, it has reminded the Navarri of the importance of dreaming big, pursuing ambition, and preparing for the future they want to see.
One of the terrible losses when Therunin fell to the Druj was Thornsong House. Despite the valiant efforts of the Navarr and the aid of Lord Rain, the college of herbmastery could not ultimately be protected from the orcs of the Mallum. Thornsong House burned, but many of those who studied there were able to escape to the safety of Reikos. Some stayed behind on Chalcis Mount, but others chose to put as much distance between themselves and the horrors of the Druj as possible. Drawn to the Temple of the Waking Dream, some of these apothecaries and physicks have taken the path of the dreamspeaker themselves, and inspired by the City of Dreams, they have put their ambition to rebuild what was lost into words.
Live And Learn
| The Gardens of the Heart |
| Commission Type: Great Work |
| Location: Serenael, Miaren |
| Cost: 90 weirwood, 40 white granite, 20 mithril and 450 crowns in labour |
| Time: 4 seasons |
Effect:
|
| Availability: One year, opportunity is lost after the end of Spring Equinox 389YE |
| Upkeep: 10 thrones |
- Dreamspeakers propose an ambitious new project - the Gardens of the Heart
- It would require 90 weirwood, 40 white granite, 20 mithril, and 450 crowns and a year to build
- The Gardens would raise the level of investment in herb gardens in Miaren
- They would allow the Imperial Apothecaries Guild to direct research on new potions
- The costs could be slashed with the support of other nations
The Navarr are widely acknowledged to be masters of the herbal arts in the Empire. Until recently that expertise was focused at Thornsong House in Therunin, but the unique apothecarions college was destroyed by the Druj invasion in 378YE. Though the building could not be saved, the Navarr were able to rescue many of the inhabitants of Peakedge Stead, some of whom have now settled in Miaren.
Years ago, when the Temple of the Waking Dream was first proposed, it was not the only option available. Bronwen of the Silver Falls argued for a great work that would boost the production of herb gardens across the territory. Her proposals are defunct now, but the completion of the Temple has inspired Bronwen and her allies to consider something similar, something that would help the Prosperity of Miaren and restore the Empire's ability to create new potions. It is an ambitious proposal, but Seren is now the City of Dreams - people are eager to imagine what could be!
The plan would require 90 wains of weirwood, 40 wains of white granite, 20 wains of mithril, and cost 450 crowns. The Gardens could only be commissioned using a Senate motion, and would take a year to build. Once complete they would raise the level of investment in herb gardens in the territory, providing each herb garden with two additional true vervain and one additional Imperial roseweald each season.
Seren already has a number of fine schools where students study the apothecary arts, but the presence of the gardens would draw dedicated masters of the natural sciences from across the nation and beyond, eager to take advantage of what Seren could offer. Now that the Imperial Senate has created the Imperial Apothecaries Guild to "Coordinate and support the research, development, and dissemination of ingredients, potions, poisons, antidotes, and drugs", that Imperial sodality could take charge of the efforts to create new potions in Seren, coming together to direct the research, exactly like the Thornsinger used to do in Therunin.
If the great work were completed then the Empire would be presented with three potential avenues of investigation that could be pursued. A simple vote of the Apothecaries Guild would determine which promising option to focus. The herbalists in Seren would pursue that research, using herbs provided by the Gardens of the Heart. They would need to be paid of course - research is not cheap - so the Gardens would have an upkeep of 10 thrones a season. Once the research was complete, the resulting herbal would be presented to the Guild Leader.
Obvious Problems
- The Gardens are very expensive
- The Apothecaries Guild is charged with overseeing potion research in the Empire
From the perspective of the Navarr, there are two clear problems. The first are the enormous costs. The Navarr are not a wealthy nation - it took years to fund the creation of the Temple of Waking Dreams - and the latest proposal is a commission nearly twice that size. The second is that control of the research would lie with the Apothecaries Guild rather than with the nation.
However, Bronwen argues that the requirement to involve the Apothecaries Guild is actually a benefit. The Gardens of the Heart would provide a huge benefit to the occupants of Miaren, but they would also provide a big boost to the prestige and power of the new sodality. If the nation embraced membership of the sodality, they might be able to work with members of the guild from other nations to raise the funds needed to build the Gardens. It may be impossible for either the Navarr or the sodality to arrange the construction alone, but maybe not if they worked together?
The Navarr chose to embrace the Vallornguard, accepting them as allies who could help fight the ancient enemy. They could take a similar approach to the Apothecaries Guild. Working with the sodality would create opportunities to collaborate with herb masters of every supportive nation. It needn't be a competition, argues Bronwen, and cooperation could allow the Navarr and the Guild to benefit together.
Where It Comes
- The wayhouses in Ossium, Holberg, Reikos, and Skarsind could be used to take advantage of the great works there
- If the great works in the territories were reassigned to support the Gardens it would significantly reduce the costs
- In the event that the proposal got the support of all four nations the college would have more options to choose from
The existence of Navarr wayhouses in Ossium, Holberg, and Reikos presents a unique opportunity for the Navarr to cooperate with those nations on the work for the Gardens. In each territory, there is a great work that provides benefits to everyone across the territory. If one or more of these great works were redirected to support the construction of the Gardens for the next year, then that would make it significantly cheaper to build the Gardens. In fact if all three were put to the task, then no wains would be needed at all!
There are four possible great works that could be reassigned to help construct the Gardens, they are:
- The Gardens of High Chalcis could be reassigned for one year to reduce the amount of weirwood required by 50 wains
- Holmauer Park could be reassigned for a year to reduce the amount of white granite required by 40 wains
- Krustrozi's Lumbermill could also be reassigned for a single year to reduce the amount of weirwood required by 40 wains
- Red Blade Memorial in Skarsind could be reassigned for a single year to reduce the amount of mithril required by 20 wains.
In each case, the great work would provide no benefits for the year, but doing so would reduce the number of wains needed. Herbs from High Chalcis would enable the Gardens to be established quicker and easier; the materials from Krustrozi's Lumbermill would provide the tools needed and could be used to replace some of the materials needed; the money from Holmauer Park would be used to buy other outstanding resources; and contributions from the Yerende and Imperial Orcs bonesetters would remove the requirement for mithril in the construction.
Reassigning all these great works would be a diplomatic challenge to put it mildly. It's not even fully clear who could authorise such work. The Benefactor of High Chalcis has the authority to reassign the benefits of the Gardens of High Chalcis - all that would be required would be for the current Benefactor, Enoch of Atun's Sanctuary, to make an appropriate announcement in the Senate. Persuading them, and presumably the other benefactors to make that sacrifice, might be more difficult.
Still, in the unlikely event that the plan benefitted from the support of all four nations throughout, then the college would ultimately benefit from having such a wide base of support. The assistance of the skilled apothecaries in Reikos and the Yerende, coupled with the knowledgeable doctors and learned wise ones of the League and Varushka respectively, would widen the base of study for the college. That would mean it would have four potions to pick from each time a choice was needed, rather than three.
Take You Away
- The Senate could create sinecured titles to oversee the great works in Holberg, Ossium and Skarsind
There is no equivalent figure who could do the same in Holberg, Ossium, or Skarsind but that is not an insurmountable obstacle. The Senate could create a sinecured Imperial title and give them authority over the great work in question, with similar powers to distribute its bounty when needed.
In addition to specific benefits, each of these titles would be given the ability to redirect the bounty of the great work when an appropriate opportunity was identified by the Civil Service. To use this power, the title would provide an announcement to the Civil Service, who would present the decision to the Senate. There would be no voting, but the Synod may, however, choose to exercise their veto as normal. If the bounty of the great work is redirected, then they will provide no benefit to the territory, nor would the title holder receive the benefits of their sinecure for as long as the redirection is in place.
In the view of many dreamspeakers, these titles would provide a clear benefit to the nation (and the Empire) even if the nations that build them don't want to support the Gardens of the Heart. The dreamspeakers proposal demonstrates what a great work is capable of - how it can be used to support a grand ambition. The League, Varushka, and the Imperial Orcs might not want to support this dream, but they may feel differently about some other opportunity in the future. The proposed sinecures would empower the nations in question to better pursue their dreams - and that makes them a net good in the view of most dreamspeakers even if they can't be persuaded to back the Gardens.
Holmauer Watchhouse
| Holmauer Watchhouse |
| Commission Type: Sinecure |
| Location: Holmauer, Holberg |
| Cost: 10 white granite, and 30 crowns in labour |
| Time: 3 months |
| Effect: Creates the title of Holmauer Watchcaptain |
| Availability: One year, until the end of the Summer Solstice 389YE |
| Holmauer Watchcaptain |
| Type: National |
| Appointment: Tally of the Votes |
| Powers: Receives 9 crystal mana each season; can redirect funds from the Gates of Holmauer great work |
| Responsibilities: To keep an eye on Holmauer Park, and ensure that any problems caused by the cursed park are dealt with. |
| Restrictions: The sinecure only provides crystal mana as long as the Gates of Holmauer great work does |
- A watchhouse could be incorporated into the Gates of Holmauer Park
- The title of Holmauer Watchcaptain charged with overseeing the safety of visitors and the funds raised by the gates
The Gates of Holmauer Park allow the League to charge admission to the wonders of that Winter-cursed locale. Yet even the people of Holberg must admit that everyone would feel a little safer with some active presence of people ready to leap in in the unlikely event flesh-hungry ghouls burst out of hiding and start eating visitors. An office to oversee a small contingent of dedicated watch, given the power to reallocate the funds raised by visitors, would provide several benefits. The Holmauer Watchcaptain would look after the Gates of Holmauer Park, and be responsible for ensuring that any threats arising within, or as a consequence of the Winter magic the infuses the park, are dealt with efficiently. It would make sense to ensure they had access to the crystal mana that might be needed to put down an incursion of ravenous boggarts, or confront a coven of Agramant cultists bent on turning everyone in Holberg into cannibals. For example.
Darkwoods Wagonhouse
| Darkwoods Wagonhouse |
| Commission Type: Sinecure |
| Location: Drownbark Forest, Ossium |
| Cost: 10 weirwood, and 90 crowns in labour |
| Time: 3 months |
| Effect: Creates the title of Kurstrozi Lumberjack |
| Availability: One year, until the end of the Summer Solstice 389YE |
| Kurstrozi Lumberjack |
| Type: National |
| Appointment: Tally of the Votes |
| Powers: Receives 11 crowns each season, can redirect the bounty of Kurstrozi's Lumbermill |
| Responsibilities: To look after Kurstrozi's Lumbermill and support the prosperity of the forest owners of Osium |
| Restrictions: The title only receives money while Kurstrozi's Lumbermill great work is operating |
- A wagonhouse at Kurstrozi's Lumbermill could be dedicated to transporting raw lumber and dressed wood across Ossium and beyond
- The title of Kurstrozi Lumberjack would support forest owners in Ossium and oversee the bounty provided by the lumbermill
Likewise, Kurstrozi's Lumbermill is a hive of industry and activity in Ossium. Sawblades manufactured there are spread across the territory, and it is the most likely destination for lumber in the territory. The addition of warehouses and ox-pens dedicated to transporting the bounty of Ossium's rich forests across the Empire would be obvious. The Kurstrozi Lumberjack would maintain Kurstrozi's Lumbermill, distribute its bounty on the occasions where opportunities were presented, and just as importantly support and protect the forest owners of Ossium when they needed it. There is no doubt that those who owe their livelihood to the Lumbermill would be prepared to show their appreciation for the Lumberjack.
House of the Lost
| House of the Lost |
| Commission Type: Sinecure |
| Location: Drownbark Forest, Ossium |
| Cost: 10 weirwood, and 90 crowns in labour |
| Time: 3 months |
| Effect: Creates the title of Rhyv's Blade |
| Availability: One year, until the end of the Summer Solstice 389YE |
| Rhyv's Blade |
| Type: National |
| Appointment: Tally of the Votes |
| Powers: Receives five ingots of weltsilver, five measures of ambergelt, and three measures of beggar's lye each season, can redirect the bounty of Krustrozi's Lumbermill |
| Responsibilities: Look after the Red Blade Memorial, support the warriors of the Unshackled with potions and healing herbs |
| Restrictions: The title only receives materials while Red Blade Memorial great work is operating |
- A school could be built at Red Blade Memorial to
The Red Blade Memorial in Skarsind is a gathering place for the bonesetters of the Imperial Orcs, veterans with plenty of experience of desperate last-minute medicine on the battlefield. Not only do they understand the need for plenty of herbs, they know the value of a well-placed potion. The Yerende sept in particular are excited by the potential of the Gardens of the Heart. They suggest that a hospital be combined with the memorial, one that would focus specifically on ensuring as many young orcs as possible learn the basics of field medicine; orcs have only one life to live after all and so being in a position to save those lives is a high calling. The title of Rhyv's Blade would be charged with looking after the memorial and protecting the bonesetters there, as well as working to ensure that the Unshackled legions have plenty of support in the form of healing herbs and medicinal potions. In return they would enjoy a bounty of magical metals, which could prove invaluable to creating magical tools for Imperial Orcs physicks and apothecaries.
Dream Big
- The Navarr and Apothecaries Guild will likely need to work hard to convince the Senate to support the new college
At first glance it seems unlikely the Senate, or the people of the League and Varushka, will see the value of such costly action. Bronwen argues however that the benefits are obvious - the nation in question receives not only additional prosperity from the new title, but the ability to in the future put their Prosperity to work in supporting their own people or the people of their allied nations. She does, however, point out that if the Navarr and the Apothecaries' Guild want this support, they may have to work for it - speaking to people in those nations to secure their support and bring pressure to bear on their senators. This, she says, is one of the many benefits of having a wayhouse in another nation - the Navarr who live there are in the best position to influence the politics of that nation after all.
Paths Not Taken
- This opportunity supersedes that offered in Winter 387YE
- The opportunity presented by the Yerende is no longer available
- The only constitutional way for the college of apothecary to be appointed is via the Imperial Apothecaries Guild
Bronwen's proposal supersedes the opportunity that was offered in Winter 387YE. The plans are more ambitious, but have caught the enthusiasm of the Navarr and especially those who survived the fall of Thornsong House. Likewise, the opportunity presented by the orcs of the Yerende sept is no longer available.
When the Apothecaries Guild was first established, the Constitutional Court offered guidance that there was no requirement for a college of the apothecary arts to fall under the purview of the Imperial Sodality. They have since offered new guidance, revising their original position. The Court are currently preparing a report on the Artisans Guild and they are strongly minded to rule that the Guild must have authority over the Empire's runeforges if it is to meet the needs of the manifesto proposed by the Throne. The legal parallel with the Apothecary's Guild is overwhelming and demands that the two sodalities be treated the same.
Of course, by that logic, the Imperial Conclave should be the only body able to direct the research of the Empire's colleges of magic. An exception can justified for the Doyen of the Spires on the grounds that that college is completely unique - it is utterly reliant on the distinctive magical skills of the Urizen and could never be reproduced in a similar form elsewhere. Sadly, legal consistency fails with regard to the Barossa University of Dramaturgical Arts which is a national bourse appointment, but that can't used as legal precedent because in the words of Magistrate Abraham "it is a constitutional abomination which should never have been allowed to pass".
As such, as long as the Apothecaries Guild continues to exist to coordinate and support the research, development, and dissemination of ingredients, potions, poisons, antidotes, and drugs to Imperial citizens then a vote of the Guild would be the well worn path for directing the research done by any apothecarion's college.
Further Reading
- Apothecaries Guild - the Imperial Sodality
- Thornsong House - the destroyed apothecary college in Therunin