Revision as of 12:25, 9 October 2026 by Twiggy (talk | contribs)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Rules Reminder
If a call is not clearly taken by the target, other than VENOM and WEAKNESS, then it has not been used. See the Calls page for more information.
Previous rules reminders

388YE Autumn Axos ambassador briefing

'Shacklebreaker' Thanmir Hrafnar.jpg
"Shacklebreaker" Thanmir Hrafnar', Ambassador to Axos

Overview

This briefing was prepared for "Shacklebreaker" Thanmir Hrafnar, Ambassador to the Axos, and presented at the Autumn Equinox 388YE. It will be made available to any citizen who requests it following the summit. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the Those memories of you wind of fortune. As an ambassadorial briefing, it takes for granted a degree of understanding of political matters that might prove opaque to casual readers.

During the Autumn Equinox, Ambassador Thanmir was succeeded by Asthore Autumngale as Imperial ambassador to Axos.

Thornfen and Sarangrave

  • The Axou will continue to protect Sarangrave but they are clearly not happy with doing so alone

The Shield of Ipotavo moved to northern Sarangrave to engage the Winter spirits unleashed by the collapsing Druj armies. Slowing the spread of the spirits saved a large number of lives, primarily among the former Druj slaves. Regardless of their victory neither the general nor the Grand Ilarchs Council are happy with the situation. It appears that they had convinced themselves that the defence of the territory would be a joint operation, rather than something they would be expected to do alone. They will continue to stick to the letter of the agreement, but the longer it goes on the more likely they will want to renegotiate. Any army protecting the Sarangrave is likely to take only orders that reduce the number of soldiers it loses - they will give ground in the face of aggression.

It does not help that they feel they are being called on to protect a "rabble" of former Druj slaves. They have less problem with defending the Urizen - although it is clear they would prefer that they were all in one place rather than spread out across a handful of newly established spires. They resent being asked to sacrifice Axou soldiers for people they feel absolutely no sympathy for. It seems their attitude to the inhabitants of Sephals - move them out and make them someone else's problem - extends to almost everyone in Sarangrave.

If the Ambassador wants to mollify the Axou the most straight-forward way to do it, is to ensure there are Imperial armies fighting alongside the Shield of Ipotavo when they are called on to protect the territory.

Another problem is that the constant fighting in the territory further contributes to the slow establishment of a garrison at the Tower of the Skink. Opposing forces mean that the garrison will not resupply naturally, and at the moment if seems the only growth is being encouraged by the enchantment laid on the towers. Ilarch Skopos thanks the Concordium of Pallas for their magical support but makes no mention of recompensing them for their ritual magic.

Tower of the Skink

  • The Grand Ilarch of Ipotavo is prepared to purchase 20 wains of weirwood for 65 Thrones
  • The Axou are sacrificing the military benefits of the Tower of the Skink in favour of converting it into a settlement

Ilarch Skopos thanks the ambassador for their offer of weirwood and indicates that the Grand Ilarch of Ipotavo is prepared to purchase the 20 wains with an offer of 65 Thrones. This offer is open only during the Autumn Equinox, and will represent a one-off payment. (OOC Note: If the ambassador wants to take advantage of the offer they need the wains in their inventory, and email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk to secure the exchange)

The Axou are bringing in large amounts of labour and white granite, and salvaging everything they can claim from the ruins of Sephals. They are engaged in extensive "remodelling" of the Tower of the Skink and its clear they are transforming it into an echo of the citadels of Axos proper. Speed is being prioritised over aesthetics, and perhaps more importantly, over defence. Turning the fortress into a settlement is going to make the place much more hospitable for Axou citizens but will seriously degrade its defensive capabilities.

The civil service estimate that by the start of the Spring Equinox, the Tower of the Skink will have dropped from exceeding every Imperial fortification save the Walls of Holberg to being the equal of the Castle of Thorns. A sizeable bastion to be sure, but incontrovertibly less effective at defending the territory than it would have been.

It's not common knowledge at this time, but rumour suggests the Grand Ilarchs will be renaming the Tower once the remodelling work is complete - apparently they intend to christen it New Solokah which... well at least one civil servant voices the opinion that this move might be tempting fate a little given what happened to the original.

Diplomatic Avenues

  • The Axou decline to create a line of communication specifically for discussing Sarangrave

Ilarch Skopos must politely decline the creation of a new office of communication dedicated specifically to coordinating business specific to the Sarangrave. Thornfen is part of Axos, albeit outside their traditional borders. As such any matters related to it, and especially to the deployment of Axou military forces, should go through his office. The good news is that once the work on the new citadel is completed, Skopos will be moving his office to the upper levels of the towers, which might perhaps fulfil Ambassador Thanmir's request.

Sanath

  • The Axou may be persuaded to offer military assistance in Sanath, if they are promised the region of Leen Rarckan

The Ambassador has informed Ilarch Skopos that the Empire is planning to move into the Salt Flats of Sanath, and asked if there is any Axos interest in joining such an expedition. The Grand Ilarchs have sent words of encouragement to the Empire, lauding their commitment to exterminating the Druj and ending their threat forever. They have however made it clear that the Victorious Axis will not be committing any armies to the conquest at this time.

The civil service advise that the problem for the Grand Ilarchs is that they would only be interested in helping conquer the Salt Flats if there was an offer of land - a region of similar value to the Thornfen. This would likely mean part or all of the city of Leen, likely Leen Rarckan along the southern coast. Obviously they'd treat this the same way they did Thornfen - exile everyone currently living there and begin remodelling it to fit their ideas of what a city should be.

Securing the support of Axou mercenaries might also be possible but is likely to be costly. Any warband is likely to demand an absolute minimum of 13 crowns or 10 crystal mana a season - more than they would make if they took safer, easier contracts. The civil service also caution that trying to secure foreign mercenaries while not every Imperial army in an engagement receives shares of the Imperial guerdon might well store up discord for the Military Council. If the Ambassador does wish to do so, Ilarch Skopos can provide up to 10 mercenary warbands for the period following the Autumn Equinox in return for 100 crystal mana or 130 crowns, but only to fight in Sanath. (OOC Note: Should the Ambassador wish to accept this offer they should ensure the payment is in their pack and email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk including the name of the army the mercenaries are to support).

Fortifications

  • The architects and engineers of Ipotavo could be commissioned to help work on an Imperial fortification

Ambassador Thanmir has requested Axou support in the construction of a new fortification, or improvements to the Walls of Cargo. Ilarch Skopos suggests that now is not the best time for such a discussion given the focus of most of Axos' engineers is on the Tower of the Skink, but they do not close off the opportunity. The finest designers of castles and walls in the Known World can be found at the Gates of Ipotavo, says Skopos, and there are certain to be some enthused by the chance to take an Imperial commission.

If the Empire has a location in mind for an entirely new fortification, or if they want to work together on plans for expanding of the Walls of Cargo, that could be arranged. Skopos suggests that the Imperial Senate arrange an appraisal, mentioning the intent to work with the engineers and architects of the Gates of Ipotavo. They would need to pick one or the other - a territory or region where they want a new fortification designed with Axou know-how or the Walls of Cargo specifically.

The civil service remind the Ambassador that the outcome of such an appraisal will depend on which member of the Prognosticator's office is chosen to work with the Axou. The opportunity to present such an appraisal remains available for one year (until the end of the Summer Solstice 388YE).

Vallorn Matters

  • The Axou remain concerned about the threat of the vallorn

Leaving aside Axou suspicion of the Navarr - which will likely have subsided to the normal baseline level of suspicion some Axou have for all Imperial citizens - the Grand Ilarchs remain concerned about the threat of the vallorn. A two-fold threat now that their new holdings are in Sarangrave, with Bendol being literally visible from the highest towers of their new citadel.

Mistress Isephenia - the well respected professor in the faculty of natural philosophy - has been engaged in study of the vallorn at the Great Library of Hacynian and has apparently sent several papers on the matter home to Maykop. These have ignited a new round of anxiety in the upper echelons of Axou society. News that the Celestial Arch has lead the Conclave in placing an interdiction on connecting the last vallornheart to the trods, completing the network splits the Grand Council. Some see this as reassuring, others point out that it refers only to the last vallornheart and that the trods themselves may well rouse the attention of the vallorn.

As such Ilarch Skopos informs Ambassador Thanmir that the masters of the necromantia in Maykop will be codifying a ritual intended to allow the sorcerers of Axos to sever any trod network they discover inside their borders, or in Sarangrave. They accept that this would likely result in diplomatic backlash from the Empire if done in Sarangrave, and with that in mind they request that the Ambassador consider speaking to the Senate and the Conclave about either interdicting the Dance of Navarr and Thorn entirely, or simply making the creation of any trods in Sarangrave a crime. This way, the Axou can avoid having to destroy them and raising the anger of the Empire.

Visions

  • Axos declines to offer any information about "Timon Zebedaios"

Ilarch Skopos is as polite as possible in their response to the Ambassador's mention of a "past life vision". The only information they are able to provide is that the name Timon is not uncommon in Axos. The Zebedaios are a large family, and decline to cooperate with Imperial priests on any matter relating to the torture chamber of the Labyrinth. Skopos points out that any reminder that ones family members are suffering at the hands of the hated Creator can seriously upset many Axou.

Without wishing to be rude, Skopos reminds Ambassador Thanmir that even though Axou on the whole are quite private about their faith, fundamentally the Way is antithetical to their beliefs. Imperial priests may individually be accepted, but the Synod as a whole serve the jealous Creator, and work to trap souls in the Labyrinth so that they may be stripped of everything that makes them unique. It is very unlikely any Axou will ever be enthused about the idea of helping explore the "truth" of a past life vision given it represents something stolen from the soul of a dead person and hoarded in the Labyrinth by a monstrous tyrant.

Fintan8448.png
Fintan Nighthaven, former Ambassador to Axos, was executed for numerous crimes but is lauded by elements of the Axou priesthood.

Fintan Nighthaven

  • The Unified Convocation is seeking true liao to create a consecration in the name of Fintan Nighthaven

Former ambassador to Axos Fintan Nighthaven is, to put it mildly, a controversial character. Executed for their crimes, their remains were transported to Axos at the request of the Unified Convocation, and their leader Theodosia. They are apparently exalted as an "Enemy of the Creator" among some of the Axou sects. According to reports, a tomb-cum-shrine has been erected to house Fintan's remains. All of which would be a minor footnote apart from the fact that the Unified Convocation is apparently looking to secure a dose of true liao with which to create an inspirational location dedicated to the dead Navarr.

The reason for wanting true liao should be obvious - the Axou equivalent invariably kills the priest who uses it and the Axou fear death above almost everything else. While the Unified Convocation aspires to equal the Synod, it has nowhere near the influence or power that the Imperial priesthood enjoys. Ilarch Skopos has notably not raised the matter of true liao with the ambassador, for example. The civil service are not in a position to evaluate what effect an inspirational location dedicated to Fintan Nighthaven might have - a lot would depend on precisely which spiritual force was used to provide the consecration. Rumour suggests however that the Convocation intends to allow Imperial pilgrims to visit the site of the consecration, should it be created, apparently in acknowledgement that there are some in the Empire who share their beliefs. While this might improve diplomatic relations, it is hard to see how such a thing would be an unalloyed good for the Empire given the nature of Axou beliefs.

This has been brought to the ambassadors attention because the only reliable source of true liao available to the Axou would be the Imperial Synod. There is no chance whatsoever that the Sumaah Republic will be giving true liao to the Axou, under any circumstances.

Insults

  • Ilarch Skopos is angry about a missive received from an Imperial citizen

Following the Summer Solstice, Ilarch Skopos apparently received a letter they describe as "highly insulting and accusatory" and "not what he has come to expect from Imperial citizens." Penned by someone calling themselves Octavious of the Celestial Cartographers it attempted to imply that Axou ship captains were trading for white granite with the Druj of the Mallum. Skopos claims they rudely demanded a response to something that appears to have come from their own imagination, connecting pieces of "evidence" that are no such thing.

This in itself is concerning enough, but the writer finished their missive by saying (and here Skopos quotes from the alleged letter) "If the Axos spent less time listening to the ramblings of spirits and ghosts and more on the virtues you would understand why such actions should be avoided."

Skopos has no idea who the "Celestial Cartographers" are, but is both upset and angry about the insult to himself, his office as ambassador, his family, his citadel, and his nation. He wants an apology from Octavius and ideally for Ambassador Thanmir to ensure that there is no repeat of such unacceptable behaviour.

Axos Further Reading

Winds of Fortune

Axos Related Titles

History


Click Expand to see a summary of various pages related to Axos.

Retrieved from "https://www.profounddecisions.co.uk/mediawiki-public/index.php?title=388YE_Autumn_Axos_ambassador_briefing&oldid=146128"