All the night-tide

Overview

Each season the Civil Service prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with the foreign nations, based on communications received from their ambassador, along with any useful intelligence gathered from other sources. While the Senate and the other houses of Imperial power may respond to these offers, it is important to note that it is the appropriate ambassador that the foreign power will expect to hear from. Their communication with the foreign power is the primary element that will determine the tenor of any response.

The merchant-princes of the Sarcophan Delves - the bedelaar huisbaas - strive for neutrality. They are enthusiastic about trade with the Empire, but their neutrality is precious to them. They hold it a mark of pride that they will deal with anyone who has goods, services, or money. While they have given up the practice of slavery without regret, they refuse to pick a side between the Liberty Pact and the Freedom Accord. Their primary goal is to ensure the ports of the world remain open to their ships, ideally with free trade agreements that allow their merchants to operate without onerous tariffs. They have recently declared the Pax Sarcophan - a commitment to combat piracy and ensure that independent traders are free to sail the seven seas regardless of the politics of the great powers.

The Sarcophan ambassador to the Empire is Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike, of the Tower of Crows. She reports to the beggar-landlords of Sarcophan, and is known to be a wily and subtle diplomat. No stranger to the murkier waters of espionage and intelligence-gathering, she constantly seeks opportunities to expand the influence of the Sarcophan mercantile Empire across the Known World. She has no particular loyalty to any one faction; her main concern appears to be the prosperity of the nation as a whole.

The Pax Sarcophan

The Pax Sarcophan appears to be holding - the Sarophan will not tolerate attempts to blockade or attack their ships The Sarcophan have informed the Grendel that they require them to cease attacks on vessels trading with the Empire

Last season the Sarcophan Delves announced the institution of the Pax Sarcophan, a commitment to keeping the sea lanes open to traders in the face of open warfare between multiple great powers. The Pax is straightforward; while nations have every right to sink each other's ships if they are at war, piracy will not be tolerated. Attempts to force uninvolved nations to stop trading with an enemy will be met with swift retribution from Sarcophan. They will cut off trade ties, encourage their allies to do the same, and send their own battle ships and privateers to harass the offending nation.

Ambassador Dino has acknowledged the Pax, and reassured the Bedelaar Huisbaas that the Senate will bear it in mind before engaging in future blockades or creating new laws about maritime matters. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has thanked the ambassador for their reply, and offered reassurances that it will have nothing to fear as long as it continues to respect the right of third-party nations to trade with whomever they wish.

One of the first targets of the Pas Sarcophan will be the Grendel; the Salt Lord's Council's open support for indiscriminate piracy in the Bay of Catazar is unacceptable. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has instructed the ambassadorial staff in Dubhtraig to make it clear to the Salt Lords that if they continue to endanger independent vessels in the Bay, the Sarcophan will take action. She is still waiting for a reply, but cautiously expects the Salt Lords to see sense. This won't help Imperial ships of course - the Grendel and the Empire are at war and Sarcophan has no interest in getting caught between the two - but it will be good news for anyone else whose ships visit Imperial ports.

Beoraidh

Sarcophan are negotiating a treaty with Beoraidh The treaty would see the Delves gain a port on the Bay in return for support for Beoraidh's neutrality The Empire could try to influence or oppose the treaty

On a somewhat related matter, Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike wishes to inform the Empire that the Sarcophan Delves are engaging in negotiations with the sovereign city-state of Beoraidh with regards to supporting its neutrality and ambitions to become a trading hub on the Bay of Catazar. The finer details of the treaty are still being worked out, but the Delves are looking to secure a trading enclave similar to the enclave in Sarvos, with an eye towards easy access to Grendel and Imperial goods and services. While the Bedelaar Huisbaas is aware of Grendel aggression in Mareave, should the Unshackled prove victorious then the improved prosperity in Beoraidh, and a more open and accessible set of docks there, may well prove to be a significant boost to the fortunes of the territory.

The Civil Service caution that this interest in Beoraidh may prove to be a two-edged sword. If the Sarcophan treaty with former-Salt Lord Ehsan comes to fruition it will be harder for the Empire to move against the nascent city-state without diplomatic repercussions. While it will likely go some way to protecting Beoraidh and Sinfoyard from the Grendel, it will mean that for either side control of the territory will require control of four of the remaining regions - meaning conflict in the territory will quickly leave neither side in control. Also, while there may be economic benefits for Mareave, regardless of who has overall control, the benefits to Beoraidh and Ehsan will be significantly greater - and reduce opportunities for Imperial investment in the city. It would also make it harder for the Empire to exert diplomatic pressure on Ehsan and his faction.

It's not entirely clear what the Empire can do at this time, but the fact that Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has let the Empire know before the treaty is finalised shows they don't want to risk presenting this as a fait accompli. It might be possible for the Ambassador and the Imperial Consul to influence the outcome. A strongly worded disapproval of Sarcophan involvement in Beoraidh might at least see some concessions from the Delves, while threats or firm offers from the Consul might in theory persuade Ehsan to accept limits on Sarcophan investment in the city-state (although obviously the more closely Beoraidh aligns with the Empire the greater the risk that the Grendel will move against it). At the worst the Empire could demand the Sarcophan drop the treaty entirely, though that would come at significant cost to their relationship with the Delves.

Investment in the Brass Coast

The Sarcophan Delves have offered to provide cheap white granite to support the construction of the Celesti Lighthouse in return for a Sarcophan enclave in Oran Alternatively, the Sarcophan can sell white granite directly to the Freeborn to help fund the construction The Sarcophan will help to defend the site against attack by the Children of Wrecks or the Grendel

The Sarcophan have been asked if they would be interested in investing in the project to restore the Celesti Lighthouse in Feroz. Candidly, Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike is concerned that building a lighthouse on the shores of the Brass Coast while the Children of Wrecks are still a threat to the Empire is a bold move. Yet those fears are somewhat allayed when it becomes apparent the plan would include fortifying Oran. Given it's position, Annike enquires as to whether Oran will be the successor to Siroc - a major trade hub in the western Bay?

There is certainly interest in getting in on the "ground floor" as it were but there are also concerns. With hostile and supernaturally strengthened forces in control of both the Cazar Straits and Free Landing access by sea to Oran would be challenging indeed, even for the expert mariners of the Delves. Which is not to say that there is not a route to collaboration on this matter. With the DeBruin family active in the Bay Sarcophan captains are much more inclined to take risks knowing that there is a ready supply of mercenaries available to protect their ships from the murderous acolytes of Hullbreaker.

Details of the lighthouse-citadel in Oran are intriguing. They have been extensively discussed at the Beggar's Feast, and Annike has been empowered to make an offer. Provided the Imperial Senate commissions the fortified citadel as presented by the Ambassador, the Sarcophan Delves are interested in an investment opportunity.

They propose a treaty. They will supply white granite at discount rates, if the Senate is prepared to cede a parcel of land within the citadel, along the docks, in a similar manner to the Alvetti Estates. The land will be considered Sarcophan soil, allowing their traders may live and work without fear of harassment by the magistrates. In return they will provide a total of sixty wains of white granite over the year following the commission beginning at a little under two and a half thrones a wain. It accepted, this would amend the total costs for the fortified light house reducing the white granite required to 60 wains but increasing the labour and material costs to 200 thrones.

Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike is aware that the Imperial Senate may be too busy to consider such arrangements. If the Brass Coast would rather handle the matter directly themselves, then the Sarcophan could arrange that. Of course the Freeborn families can't cede the land for the Enclave, so such a deal wouldn't be anywhere near as attractive, but it would mean the construction could be expedited without wasting the Senate's time (the Sarcophan appear to be unaware that the new Lighthouse has not been commissioned).

In that case then the Sarcophan would make up to 15 wains of white granite available for purchase by the Brass Coast. The obvious title for the Sarcophan to liaise with would be the Celesti Lighthouse Keeper, but that title has lapsed following the looting of the lighthouse by Rahab. Since the title won't be reappointed until the new commission is complete, the Ambassador suggests that the Sarcophan deal with Bakar i Riqueza i Erigo, the previous holder of the position. The white granite would cost three thrones a wain, but Bakar could buy up to 15 wains a season at three thrones a wain for one year after the Senate commissioned the construction of the new fortification.

In either case, as part of the arrangement the DeBruin are prepared to help defend the site against attack. They propose to dispatch several of their warships to help the Freeborn protect the construction site from attacks by the Children of Wrecks - and even the Grendel should they attempt to threaten Sarcophan investment in Feroz. They caution however, that these vessels will not be sufficient by themselves to protect Oranseri if it is attacked by the Children of Wrecks. Their navy will easily overcome the Sarcophan defenders if they are fighting alone.

However the DeBruin could coordinate their efforts with local corsair families to create a new defensive venture and voyage, Protect the Celesti Lighthouse which would allow Freeborn military units and fleets to come together against any attackers. Provided there were enough of them, they could give the Children of Wrecks a bloody nose. Someone might have to arrange payment for the Freeborn defenders, but presumably the dhomiro could arrange that?

Regarding new Imperial Laws

The Imperial Senate has criminalized the consumption and trade in sapient flesh This has implications both for Sarcophan funerals and the drug visivlees

Last season the Imperial Senate enacted a change to the law to explicitly “outlaw the disbursement, trade, sale, and consumption of the flesh of the sapient denizens of the mortal realm”. As part of their duties, Ambassador Dino has informed the Sarcophan Delves, rightly identifying that they would be impacted by the decision. Funerary rites in the Delves include a ritualised cannibalistic feast during which the family and friends of the deceased take part in a ceremonial meal that involves consuming the cadaver - cooked and prepared by specialised chefs. There is also a popular drug found only in Sarcophan called visivlees that is apparently made from specially treated flesh taken from corpses. Neither practice entirely matches the traditional view of cannibalism as a practice rooted in desperation or absolute wickedness, but it is nonetheless clear that the new law criminalizes both the traditional Sarcophan funeral and the consumption or trade of visivlees.

Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike is, however, broadly unconcerned. Few Sarcophan would host a funerary feast in the Empire anyway - and if they did they would almost certainly do so in the confines of the Alvetti Estates where Imperial law is not a consideration. There might be considerations relating to the harassment of any Imperial citizen invited by a Sarcophan friend or business partner to take part in their funerary rites, but the Ambassador of the Delves suggests that such incidents become a source of concern only when they arise. Hopefully even the "over zealous" Imperial magistrates will not feel the need to punish grieving folk returning from a funeral.

The trade in visivlees might be impacted, but frankly it is rarely sold to Imperial citizens. There is a general squeamishness about consuming something made from the meat of sapient creatures and the drug is a premium product even in Sarcophan. Even there, muses Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike, it is not uncommon for folk to eschew the drug due to its source. If any visivlees is being sold in the Empire it will be with the recommendation that the purchaser consume it before leaving the Sarcophan enclave, and if Imperial citizens choose to do otherwise it is not a concern for the merchants of the Delves.

At the end of the day, any perception of the Delves as a lawless haven of enthusiastic cannibals is little more than a smear campaign by those they have bested in trade. The idea that a citizen of the Delves might casually eat a stranger is very far from the truth indeed; it is no more likely that a Sarcophan will eat someone they do not know than it is that the average citizen of the League would do so. If she has a criticism of all this it is a personal one; in her opinion this kind of law is arguably more evidence that the Senate does not trust its citizens. Murder is already illegal, after all, regardless of whether the intent is to eat your victim. Presumably it is still illegal to steal from the dead - digging them up to consume them. Specifically calling out consumption of dead flesh feels like overstretch to the notoriously liberal Sarcophan. Indeed recent efforts to control what Imperial citizens can do, especially with regards to how they can entertain themselves, are a little disappointing to the Seat of the Crow.

Money for Art's Sake

Artists and businessfolk continue to prosper from a fashion for Highborn sculpture and stone The sale has caused concern among Sarcophan followers ofthe Way in the Delves

And on the subject of funerary traditions... During the Spring Equinox Senna van Ijzer, an art dealer associated with a small sect of the Sarcophan religion called De Verzamelaars van Beeltenissen (but usually referred to as "the Collectors") spoke with the Council of Benefactors of Highguard. The Collectors hold beliefs that are considered a little peculiar even by Sarcophan standards. Among them is a teaching that valuable objects depicting a deceased person's face hold immense value for buying a place in the Houses of Silence. It seems that Imperial iconography and funerary monuments are now extremely fashionable among Collectors, and even gaining some popularity with Sarcophan folk of more traditional beliefs.

Senna signed a year-long exclusive deal for Highguard white granite and stonemasonry with the benefactors. This has seen all Highborn businesses and mines receive an extra 18 rings production per season. He apparently hopes that this trade might build the reputation of Highguard stonemasons internationally, with an eye toward a better deal to be brokered in 388YE.

This arrangement has proved controversial. A priest of the Way from the Delves named Mischa van de Libel, a dedicant of Prosperity, has condemned the Collectors' fascination with Highborn art and the iconography of the Way. The sect has never shown interest in the Way itself, only the beauty of its imagery and its fashionable nature. Mischa warns that Senna's deal devalues the Way, and makes it easy for critics to denigrate its followers as valuing wealth over virtue. Mischa's pronouncements have been supported by concerned pilgrims of the Way in Sarcophan, and even from some worried Highborn citizens. The Sumaah präster have also pointed out that this trade represents, in their opinion, a failure of Pride - trading the beauty and splendor of the Way for coin.

The Highborn assembly discussed the matter during the Summer Solstice. While Dagon of the Shattered Tower raised a mandate condemning the practice, the Highborn Assembly chose not to enact it. Instead, they supported the words of Keziah, the Bishop of the Navigators themselves. They called on artists of Highguard to embrace the moment of cultural exchange, urging that the art of the Way might inspire true virtue in Sarcophan. Unfortunately, it appears that those critical of the move in the Delves and Highguard are correct; the sale of Highborn art is not inspiring anyone in Sarcophan to embrace the Way or the true virtues. Quite the contrary.

The prestige of both the Bishop of the Navigators and the cathedral itself have experienced some of the backlash arising from this decision. The merchant ministry and the Low Ministry have permanently lost their top level of production as followers of the Way in Sarcophan react poorly to the decision of the Highborn. Many of those who might otherwise have been drawn to the Cathedral of the Navigators instead look to the Sumaah cathedral in the Sarcophan Delves for inspiration, the präster have not been slow to embrace them and continue to preach openly that the Highborn are devaluing their shared faith by treating virtue as a commodity to be bought and sold. However unfair these words may appear, the loss of prestige for the Cathedral and the Bishop will continue, causing the Low Ministry to disappear entirely after the Winter Solstice, and the Merchant Ministry be reduced to a single level.

Ambassador Dino has ensured that there will be no diplomatic fallout whatever happens, reassuring their opposite number that any problems that arise will be between the Empire and the Collectors' sect specifically. For her part, Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike appears broadly untroubled. As long as there is no disruption in the Buitenlandsewijk involving the followers of the Way - either with each other or with the Collectors - the Bedelaar Huisbaas have no concerns. The Sarcophan are not an especially religious people, after all, and as such have minimal interests in the doings of priests except as they impact profitable trade ventures. However she absolutely appreciates the Ambassador's reminder to the Synod that the Collectors are not representative of the Sarcophan people as a whole regardless of faith, and that any responses to them should remaing cognisant of that reality.

For their part, report the staff at the Sarcophan Embassy, the Collectors are doing very well out of this deal. While it is not proving especially useful at spreading their particular take on the Sarcophan faith, they are doing business hand over fist and sales of Highborn art are doing very well. Not just in a funerary context either; a nicely sculpted statue of an exemplar or fresco depicting the seven virtues has become something of a status symbol among the more artistically inclined Sarcophan families. Yet there is little doubt they are appreciated overwhelmingly as works of art, rather than as anything with a strong spiritual dimension.

A Silent Manse

Work on the Silent Manse being built in the Alivetti Estates enclave is complete There are concerns that the Community of Silence might spread their heretical faith in the Empire The League may enact a mandate to restrict access to the Silent Manse by Imperial citizens Poortwachter Lenart Farber is keen to work with the artist who offered their services in the coming season

De Verzamelaars van Beeltenissen are not the only sect of Sarcophan priesthood with an interest in the Empire. A year ago, representatives of the Community of Silence (the Gemeenschap van Stilte) announced their interest in establishing a house of silence in the Alvetti estates enclave in Sarvos. Unlike the Collectors - who they apparently hold in very low esteem - the Community of Silence is a moderately influential sect that specialises in supporting the spiritual (and in many cases medical) needs of Sarcophan enclaves in other nations.

Poortwachter Lenart Farber is the spokesperson for the gathering at the estates, and secured a portion of land upon which his sect intended to establish a Silent Manse - a religious site dedicated to the Sarcophan faith. The work ran into some problems sourcing the white granite they needed to complete the construction, but it appears that despite these setbacks the Manse is now complete.

Momento Mori

Poortwachter Farber is keen to hear from the Dawnish artist who previously offered their services

One area they have been successful is in securing an artist to help give the Manse an appropriate atmosphere - traditionally the Community of Silence makes a point of employing local sculptors, painters, and glasssmiths when building their temples and shrines. Last Winter Poortachter Farber declared that they had been offered the services of a renowned Dawnish artist from Astolat, whose services they intend to retain until the construction of the Manse was complete. That work, despite delays caused by the need to import most of the material needed to build the structure, is now complete and Lenart looks forward to seeing what the artist will create.

Knowing that artists of such renown obviously have many calls on their time, the Poortwachter has dispatched a missive confirming the agreement and offering them an opportunity to remain anonymous if they wish - at least until the obvious genius of their art gives away their identity, of course.

Blasphemy and Heresy

The League Assembly can urge citizens to avoid the Silent Manse and its unwholesome teachings

Obviously the presence of an actual temple of a foreign religion in Sarvos has been a matter for some concern (for all that the land where it is built is equally technically part of the Sarcophan Delves). The Manse allows an unparalleled opportunity for the Poortwachter and their Community to proselytise the Sarcophan religion to those visiting the Alivetti Enclave.

The League Assembly has provided some guidance to citizens of the City of Masks, wholeheartedly supporting a statement of principle raised by Paulus Adelaar van Holberg. It urges the people of the League to "leave them to their ways" and thus avoid "falling under their sway". It exhorts citizens to "polite and civil disinterest". Given the General Assembly stance on false virtues, heresy, and blasphemy, this statement makes a great deal of sense to many of the bishops of the League. Weighed against that, the people of Sarvos would not be themselves if there wasn't at least a little interest in seeing what all the fuss is about - secure in the knowledge that their faith in the Way will shield them from any devilish influence that Poortwachter Lenart may bring to bear.

If the League wants to ensure that their people take this matter seriously, a mandate has been proposed to directly dissuade folk from having anything to do with the Silent Manse and its priesthood.

If this mandate is enacted it will ensure that interest in the Silent Manse and the teachings of the Community of Silence remains limited in the League. It will also mean that citizens of other nations who might consider visiting the Silent Manse will be dissuaded from doing so by the bishops of Sarvos. This won't affect the Community of Silence particularly - their focus is very much on serving the needs of the Sarcophan citizens and visitors to the enclave rather than proselytising explicitly. It will ensure that their beliefs do not spread outside the enclave, and that whatever blasphemy or heresy beliefs they might hold do not corrupt Imperial citizens.

It will, however, mean that there is no opportunity for cordial relations between followers of the Way and the Community of Silence. This means that opportunities to learn more about their beliefs, or their knowledge of ghosts and the like, will be lost. It is a price, but not an especially steep one given that the alternative risks seeing these unwholesome beliefs about the nature of death and the Labyrinth spread within the Empire.

Obviously an alternative mandate might be offered by the League assembly but it is worth noting that it is not possible to propose a mandate that increases interest in the faith of the Delves without an entirely new statement of principle. An alternative mandate can change the wording, but cannot reverse the entire thrust of the statement that inspired it.

Under the Waves

The Sarcophan Delves are happy to host a delegation from the Department of Historical Research to discuss supernatural powers associated with the sea Commissioning this historical research will incur costs of 10 Thrones to the Imperial Senate and take six months The researcher sent to the Delves will not be available during this time but it counts as only a single commission of historical research

According to the Imperial Ambassador, the new Minister for Historical Research Watt Lambrook intends to take advantage of the offer made last season to explore Sarcophan understanding of eternals and similar powers related to the sea. As mentioned, there will be a cost of 10 Thrones to the Imperial Senate (who maintain the Department of Historical Research), and the work will take six months to complete. The chosen researcher will not be available until they complete the work, but it would count as only a single commission of historical research. There is some interest among the zielweven covens to meet a delegation from the Empire and pool their respective knowledge on the matter of supernatual powers of the sea. Annike wrly suggests that part of this enthusiasm has no doubt been inspired by the suggestion that the researchers will bring with them a supply of Marcher booze provided by the Minister.

Jackals and Buidelrats

The Sarcophan have enthusiastically embraced the trading advice offered by the Ambassador Opportunities to gain access to two different markets have been made available

Last season the Sarcophan Ambassador asked her opposite number to provide an assessment of what goods most interest Imperial traders visiting the Delves. She identified eight discreet areas of trade, and requested that the Ambassador rank them in order of interest. Annike thanks Ambassador Dino for their prompt response, and indicates that the result is very interesting indeed. She's had a report prepared and circulated among interested parties in the city, with an eye to perhaps tailoring the opportunities available to Imperial captains visiting the ports and markets of the Delves more effectively.

Moeraskriden

The House of the Buidelrat is interested in acquiring newly created Imperial rituals dealing with herbs They want the Imperial Conclave to disseminate two rituals to them In return they will secure access to the port of Moeraskriden for Imperial fleet captains

If Imperial traders are interested in purchasing large amounts of herbs, incidentally, then Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike draws attention to the opportunities presented by swampy Moeraskriden. These docks, which lie along the coast west of the Delves themselves, represent the ideal location for merchants to purchase herbs and potions, especially elixirs of a medicinal nature. Access to the port was offered once before, as part of an agreement that secured Sarcophan merchants the right to free trade with the Empire. In the end the Senate preferred the luxuries of Betovering but Moeraskriden has not gone away in the meantime.

A faction lead by the House of the Buidelrat sees a clear opportunity for profit here, and has put forward a proposal that the Empire may consider. A number of Sarcophan herbalists and covens of mercantile magicians are interested in two new rituals - Madyn's Gift and Gardener's Wheel which have apparently been mentioned by something or someone called the Vrolijke Zwartedraak. For all their economic power, the Delves do not have anything that rivals the magical scholarship of the Empire - or even the Commonwealth or the Sumaah Republic. The interests of those magicians who are in a position to codify new magics are generally focused directly on money - which means ships as often as not. These two rituals represent potentially very valuable commodity to the Sarcophan primarily due to the immediacy of their effects - something that makes them much more valuable than traditional enchantments on a herb garden.

If the Imperial Conclave is prepared to uphold Declarations of Dissemination for these two rituals, granting them to the House of the Buidelrat, then in return the House will arrange access to Moeraskriden for Imperial fleet captains. At the moment this would allow a standard fleet to acquire six doses of marrowort, five doses of cerulean mazzarine, and two random potions of a medicinal nature (these will be drawn primarily from the Apothecary potions familiar to Imperial apothecaries, but fleets with significant levels of upgrade may receive something a little spicier).

Jakhalsmarkt

Annabel de Gouden of the House of the Jackal has opened the Jakhalsmarkt to Imperial captains This market near the Betovering docks offers vis, tempest jade, jewellery, and potential magical items It is available only after the Autumn Equinox The goods it provides are largely sourced in the Principalities of Jarm

Somewhat to her surprise there has been a swift response from the House of the Jackal. The Jackal are masters of the jewel-trade in the Delves, and their various families have unparalleled expertise in acquiring, evaluating, and securing markets for precious materials and ornaments. One of their leading lights, Annabel de Gouden, has seized a potentially lucrative opportunity on learning that top of the list of things Imperial traders are interested in are luxury goods and substances of use to ritual magicians, especially mana crystals.

The Jakhalsmarkt is a part of Betovering, and the House of the Jackal already benefits from Imperial captains eager to do business there. Following a frankly inspiring flurry of activity, the House has secured significant shipments of valuable magical goods at short notice which they intend to offer to Imperial fleet captains. They're not asking for anything in return - the captains will pay for their goods like any other. Yet, regretfully, they can only offer these amazing deals for a single season.

Following the Autumn Equinox, however, any Imperial fleet captain will be able to select the Jakhalsmarkt as a trading option. A standard fleet that takes advantage of this opportunity will secure two random pawns of vis chosen from golden apples, warm ashes, and prismatic ink ("Triumph Vis" in the parlance of some Urizen traders). They will also receive three ingots of tempest jade and a smattering of valuable jewelled goods equivalent to 30 rings.

More prosperous fleets (fleets that have been significantly upgraded or enchanted) will also receive a random piece of "Star Jewellery". These are hard-to-get-hold-of magic items, talismans that empower a magician versed in spellcasting to perform a specific spell many more times each day provided they already know it.

Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike confides in the Ambassador that while Annabel de Gouden claims the Jakhalsmarkt will only cater to Imperial captains for a single season following the Autumn equinox, it is her opinion that this is simply salespersonship. If the profit is there, the Jackals will follow it until such time as the profit goes away at which point they will drop it like a hot stone. To put it another way, if lots of Imperial captains are keen to buy from the Jakhalsmarkt then it will likely remain open as long as the demand is there.

Obviously, a good deal like this comes with a catch however. Annabel de Gouden is a former Sarcophan emissary to the Principalities of Jarm and her family maintains good relations with the traders of that nation. She has leveraged these times in order to acquire so much vis on such short notice, and the "Star Jewellery" she is offering is exclusively made by Jarmish artisans - the secrets of which they jealously guard. There is currently an Imperial embargo on trade with the Principalities, meaning that Jarmish merchants are not welcome at Imperial ports. While technically merchants visiting the Jakhalsmarkt are dealing with Sarcophan merchants, and not with the Principalities directly, the fact remains that a portion of any profits raised here will go straight into the pockets of the Jarmish. While it is a drop in the ocean compared to the costs of running a war it will benefit that nation in a way that, in theory, might prove a bone of contention with the Commonwealth in particular and perhaps even the Summah Republic as signatories to the Liberty Pact which outlaws trade with Jarm.

There is a reason that in the Delves to call someone "jakhal" in the Delves as a term of endearment is to call them a “cheeky fucker” with a smile on one's face. It remains to be seen whether that smile is contagious or not.

Annabel de Gouden and her faction of the Jackal are not asking for anything - the Jakhalsmarkt is open regardless. However if they wished the Imperial Senate could make it illegal for Imperial captains to visit the port of Betovering while the market is open. This would prevent anyone visiting the market and acquiring explicitly Jarmish goods, but it would also come at the cost of preventing access to the lucrative luxuries of that wealthy port. Simply criminalizing access to the Jakhalsmarkt would not be sufficient - once a captain docks at Betovering there is no way for anyone to know what they are doing, where they are going, or what they are buying.

Another possibility would be for the Imperial Conclave to Interdict Star Jewellery. While these talismans are not common in the Empire their basic properties are somewhat known by magicians of the League and Urizen who have had reason in the past to trade with Jarmish artisans. Unfortunately, it would not be possible to interdict only those talismans that originate in Jarm. If such an interdiction is enacted then any talisman that follows the same pattern will also be interdicted (that is, any talisman that allows a magician to cast a spell they know additional times each day). The Senate could make possession and trade of Jarmish Star Jewels illegal, but then the onus would be on the magistrates to identify whether such an item originated with a Jarmish artisan which creates headaches of its own in achieving a conviction.

Apothecary Allies

Esme i Estrico i Erigo, Speaker for the Imperial Apothecaries Guild Shift existing sinecures and ministries to the Apothecaries Guild

The Sarcophan Delves are masters of the arts of the herbalist, physick, and especially the apothecary. Among some of the most enthusiastic merchants to invest in the Empire in recent times came from the Delves, specifically the wealthy and influential Kruidenkenner. This guild is at the forefront of the trade in herbs, and medicinal products of all kinds, and so it is perhaps no surprise that they have shown excited interest in the newly created Imperial sodality of the Apothecaries Guild. The leaders of the guild requested that the Speaker for the Guild, Esmé i Estrico i Erigo make contact with them to discuss their shared interests.

It seems that the Speaker has made a very positive impression on the sodalities' opposite numbers if the Sarcophan Delves. They are especially keen on the belief that our expertise should be valued and fairly compensated, unsurprisingly. They are confident that they can do business together and thus have two initial proposals.

Magazijn

The Kruidenkenner are keen to do business directly with the Imperial Apothecaries' Guild They propose changing the appointment methods of the Master of the Root and Stem and the Kruidenkenner Trademaster If this is done the two titles will receive additional opportunities to purchase herbs from the Delves

There are two major points of contact for the Kruidenkenner in the Empire at the moment, two Kruidenkenner Magazijn warehouses. The first was built at Crown's Quay in Necropolis and is overseen by the Kruidenkenner Trademaster. The second in Meade in the territory of Mitwold and overseen by the Master of the Root and Stem. The position of Kruidenkenner Trademaster is auctioned at the Spring Equinox each year, and as a Marcher position the Master of Root and Stem is appointed by Tally of the Votes during the Autumn Equinox. The Kruidenkenner propose changing this arrangement and ask the Imperial Senate to agree to the changes. They would like to see both titles appointed by the Apothecaries' Guild. Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike has confirmed that the Delves are broadly in favour of this and that the changes could be presented as a treaty by Ambassador Dino.

This change won't effect any of the positions that benefit from the existence of the ruidenkenner Magazijn - they would continue to receive their benefits. But it would improve confidence from the Kruidenkenner merchants dealing with the Empire even further. The High Herbalist of Sybella and the Master of the Clearing House would continue to receive their full benefits. The Kruidenkenner themselves would foot the bill to expand their operationg in the western Empire to match those in the east, providing the Master of the Root and Stem with an additional ability to purchase random herbs identically to that of the Kruidenkenner Trademaster. For their part the Kruidenkenner Trademaster would gain the ability to buy true vervain and marrowort - herbs vital to the medicinal arts.

The Civil Service note that in amending the titles, the Imperial Senate could choose to further amend the Master of the Root and Stem to make it an Imperial position that could be held by any citizen. There is no requirement to do so however - an Imperial Sodality can appoint a national position. In this case, all potential candidates would need to be Marchers but everyone in the sodality would have a say in who held the title.

Herbal Lore

The Kruidenkenner are keen to learn the secrets of the Unshackled Blade They offer to exchange the recipes with two of their own with the Apothecaries Guild It is not currently legally possible for the Apothecaries Guild to accept this offer

The Kruidenkenner are understandably jealous of their herbal arts - they are the basis of their prosperity and influence after all. For the most part they make use of the same potions their Imperial counterparts do but it cannot be denied that they know how to brew some things the Empire' apothecaries do not. It seems they are well aware of [[Thornsinger#Thornsong_House|Thornsong House] and interested to learn more about its research - but also painfully aware that it is currently out of action due to the invasion of the Druj and the expanding vallorn. There is one set of potions they know the Empire knows that they do not know and that they are very interested in gaining access to: the Unshackled Gift. A few years ago there were some discussions with the then-Ambassador about acquiring these potions, fronted by a consortium of Sarcophan herbalists.

The most recent offer, according to Bedelaar Huisbaas Annike, was that Sarcophan apothecaries would be prepared to pay 175 thrones for the recipe, provided that it was an exclusive deal. That is, one in which both parties sign contracts guaranteeing that the knowledge will not be shared with residents of any other nation. The Delves have magicians who can arrange for such contracts to be lodged with the Brass Magistrates of the Autumn Realm to ensure that both parties face punitive penalties for breaking the contract. The assumption was that having a duopoly on the recipe would allow the merchants of the Delves to recoup the large investment in less than a decade by selling the potions all over the world. Without a convincing contract of exclusivity the potions would be worth only a fraction of their price. Without such an agreement the Empire could sell the recipe to the Sarcophan and then sell it to every other nation as well thus ensuring that the Delves were left with potions that nobody would pay a premium to buy. They were prepared to pay 15 thrones for non-exclusive access to the recipe.

The discussions came to nothing, unfortunately. Or perhaps fortunately - because it allows the Kruidenkenner the opportunity to acquire this lore for their guild rather than sharing it with the rest of the Delves. As such the Kruidenkenner have a proposal of their own for the Apothecaries' Guild. If the sodality will commit to trade the recipes to them, and agree to an exclusive contract, they will provide the sodality with two recipes of their own, as long as that exclusivity were maintained for at least the next five years. After that, they would be prepared to negotiate further to maintain exclusivity. The Brass Magistrates would oversee the agreement, ensuring neither side sold the recipes further afield (obviously both the Empire's apothecaries and the Kruidenkenner would be able to profit from sellng the potions made with the recipes). The money would be paid directly to the Speaker of the Apothecaries' Guild, who could do with it as they wished.

In exchange the Kruidenkenner are prepared to share two of their own potions with the Apothecaries' Guild. They would provide the guild with a herbal detailing the two potions, and the Guild could keep the knowledge to their members or put them into Imperial lore. Either would be fine provided they were not shared with non-Imperial magicians while the Kruidenkenner enjoy their own exclusivity. The potions they intend to offer are both built using the principles of the Master Medicinal - a salve that ameliorates ruined limbs and suppresses the pain of major injuries in a similar fashion to which the Maledict's Medicament removes both poisons and curses; and a more potent version of the Elixir Vitae the Empire is familiar with that restores an injured warrior to full strength after a short period of inaction.

There is however a niggle with all this. The Apothecaries' Guild do not have the legal power to do this. While the Senate has confirmed that the power and authority to disseminate knowledge of potions across the Empire lies with the sodality, they do not have the legal ability to disseminate a herbal from Imperial lore. Their manifesto indicates that they are responsible for the "dissemination of ingredients, potions, and antidotes" and that they "represent and support the economic, political, and magical interests of apothecaries and herbalists within the Empire." The Senate has approved the Apothecary Guild manifesto but has not formally given them these abilities.

One way to resolve this contradiction would be to give the Apothecary Guild the power to disseminate herbals from Imperial Lore, in the same way that the Conclave can use a declaration of dissemination to create a ritual text that can then be traded. The other would to be to further amend the manifesto of the Apothecaries Guild to water down their remit. Either would require a Constitutional vote.

Further Communication

The Speaker of the Apothecaries Guild is invited to engage in further communication

Regardless of what happens in the short term, as mentioned the Kruidenkenner are keen to further their relationship with the Imperial Apothecaries Guild. As such, they propose that the Speaker for the Guild should feel free to send a winged messenger directly to one of their council - Engel van Luwte - who is empowered to communicate with the Guild on behalf of the Kruidenkenner. They regretfully point out however that Engel van Luwte is a busy person, and will have little time to reply to random correspondence - as such he will only reply to messages from the Speaker, the Kruidenkenner Trademaster, and the Master of the Root and Stem (the latter two are expected to oversee the trade of herbs between the Sarcophan guild and the Empire after all). Anyone else is cordially invited to do their business via the Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves.

Blooming Farmers

Strange flowers continue to grow among the vlinderbloem Hahnmark farmers are cultivating for Sarcophan merchants Florian Kraft wishes to meet with Hahnmark farmers to discuss the situation at the Winteemark Tree of Names at 11:45 on the Sunday of the Autumn Equinox A Sarcophan vintner who has attempted to brew Viezesmaak using the odd flowers also wishes to meet with farmers. They plan to arrive at TBC

The fields of Hahnmark are a sea of pinks and purples as summer fades to Autumn. Among flowers with petals like butterfly wings, canny pickers continue to spot the distinctive spiral bloom of the mysterious draaikolkbloem.

The Kraft brothers, self-professed Sarcophan specialists in both wheeling and dealing, say the viezesmaak brewed with the harvest is selling well - but they have a particular interest in the strange spiral flowers growing among the yields of vlinderbloem. Florian Kraft has made the long journey from the Delves to investigate the phenomenon more closely, and wishes to speak to Hahnmark farmers about their experiences with the plant and any potentially valuable properties. Florian aims to arrive at the Tree of Names in the Wintermark camp at 11:45 on the Sunday of the Autumn Equinox.

But the Kraft brothers’ enterprise has also attracted other interest. Over the past season, renowned vintner Renaten Zuredruiven has experimented with the potential to use draaikolkbloem rather than vlinderbloem to produce Viezesmaak, and how this might affect the narcotic. His experiments concluded, he wishes to speak to farmers about the results at TBC.

Goldleaf Gardeners

The Goldleaf Gardeners continue to invest in their establishment in the Alvetti estates Aaven Beekhof has returned to the Delve leaving his nephew Luca in charge of the guild presence

The Bladgoud Tuiniers - perhaps better known as the Gold Leaf Gardeners - have been investing in the Sarcophan enclave in Sarvos for a year or so. Early attempts to arrange a deal with the Chamber of Commerce of the city to sell their narcotics proved unappealing. Rather than admit defeat however, the enthusiatic Aaven Beekhof offered the services of the "herbalists" more widely. It's not clear if anyone actually took up the offer, but the fact remains that the Bladgoud Tuiniers have maintained their presence at the Alvetti Estates. Aaven himself has apparently returned to the Delves, but the Gardeners are apparently doing reasonable business with visitors to the estates interested in experiencing the delights they offer. He has left his nephew Luca Beekhof behind to oversee the Gardeners' business in the Empire. The news is that a winged messenger might be dispatched to Luca, but that the Bladgoud Tuiniers will only answer if the missive relates directly to their business - and that they are not currently looking to sell anything outside of the enclave.

OOC Note: Missives can no longer be sent to Aaven Beekhof; missives sent to Luca Beekhof will only receive a response if they specifically relate to business matters, and the guild is not selling drugs to private citizens at this time.

Further Reading

Sarcophan Delves Ambassador to the Sarcophan Delves Sarcophan Delves ports

Click Expand to see a summary of various pages related to the Sarcophan Delves.