Golden light

"And on the left, you can see Barticalla's The Agony of Indecision. Originally thought to be painted in 209YE, modern scholars suggest it actually dates from 212. It's unlikely to be an accurate illustration of the moment, but we have reasons to believe that the painter based the composition on eye-witness reports. We know that Barticalla was a contemporary of Isaella so it's likely that the great artist would have met the Thorn during their sojourns together at Anvil. Note how Barticalla's delicate brush strokes capture the light shining through this window, giving the central figure a sense of solidity and isolation that is intentionally at odds with the softer, more shadowed presentation of the huddled background figures. See how Barticalla's mastery of shade and pigment makes this century-and-a-half old picture glow with the vibrancy of a work whose artist has, perhaps, just stepped away for a moment leaving the paint still wet on the canvas. There really is nobody quite like Barticalla to capture the humanity of his subjects, this young woman torn between Loyalty and Courage. Indeed, if we examine the background figures closely we can see this group here, these artisans conferring, heads so close together that they seem to touch, which many scholars claim is Barticalla suggesting the paragons known as the Marked, while on the other side, just visible through the arched door, a brawny man in nought but a bearskin cloak that is surely the paragon Korl. Barticalla contrasts the purely mortal Isaella, painted so richly and so poignantly, with the blurred, barely distinct figures of paragons to, perhaps, underline the act of faith that we all engage in whenever we consider the virtuous life, and what it means to make these kinds of choices. It is, of course, absolutely priceless."The guide paused for exactly two minutes to let her party examine the picture. Then she cleared her throat to attract their attention again."Although she never painted the Emperor himself, Barticalla produced a series of notable portraits of key supporters, including the Archmage of Winter, the General of the Citadel Guard, and the Preceptor of the Silent Bell. Sadly, those works are no longer on display in the Cathedral, although there are a number of other works that I am certain you will find equally engaging. Moving on..."The guide's dry voice faded off in the distance as she led the group towards that awful bust of Empress Teleri. The tourists, mostly Jarmish today, followed closely behind but Isaella let them go ahead. She'd done this tour when the striding reached Sarvos every year since she was nine years old. Everything had changed when the Grendel looted the place of course, but she didn't care. She only really came here to see this one picture.She stared at her namesake, and tried as she always did to imagine what she must have been thinking at the moment. Did she know how important it was? She must have done. Did she know it would change the world? Did she know she would become the most famous Navarr since the first oaths?The Agony of Indecision, the guide called it. But that wasn't right at all. That wasn't what Barticalla had called her work. She'd discovered growing up that officials at the Cathedral had altered the little plaque bearing the painting's name in 346. If you looked closely you could just see where it had been removed and a new one added in its place. It had taken her years to find someone who remembered the original name.No Price is Too High. That was what Barticalla called her painting of Isaella. Little wonder they changed it.

Overview

The Assembly of Ambition has called for a true consecration of Capodomus Cathedral. Rather than a memorial to an exemplar or paragon, they wish to create a sacred site, a location that resonates with virtue.

A place can only become a sacred site if it has profound spiritual importance in some way. Fortunately, the Cathedral, the site of some of the greatest and most important decisions made in the religious history of the League, more than meets this challenge. It is already watched over by the Archbishop and draws pilgrims from across the League and the southern coast. Many flock from far and wide to visit and view the beautiful art for themselves.

It is hard for Sarvosans and Ambition dedicants to imagine that the General Assembly might reject the proposal. Fortunately, there is one part of the cathedral that is the natural choice for a true consecration - the Atrium of Golden Light through which all visitors must pass. This great hall towers more than a hundred feet over the heads of the devoted as they walk through it to enter the Cathedral, and even without a liao ceremony, its grandeur can make it an affecting experience.

Consecrating the Atrium to Ambition will create a powerful aura whose influence will settle over the thousands of tourists who visit the cathedral every year, inspiring devotees across the Empire.

With the planned restoration of the Capodomus Cathedral in Sarvos, it is the Ambition of Prince-Bishop Estella Lucati di Sarvos - with the blessing of the Ambition Assembly - to consecrate the Cathedral with True Liao already granted to her by the Gatekeepers for the support given to newcomers to Anvil. May it become symbol of rebirth and new beginnings to Sarvos, the Empire and beyond.Estella Lucati, Ambition Assembly, Summer Solstice 386YE, Vote: Greater Majority 364-0

A Historic Cathedral

Capodomus was built before the formation of the Empire, as a centre of study for the Way Its great store of objets d'art were cruelly looted during the Grendel occupation of Sarvos Fortunately many of the more notable works were recovered and since the repairs the Cathedral has been restored to its former glory

Capodomus Cathedral is widely regarded as the first major site dedicated to the study of the Way within any of the five League cities. Historians quibble over the details, there were certainly other grand structures that predated the Cathedral, but the massive Cathedral with its huge vaulted glass ceiling was undeniably the greatest structure of its kind when it was built, larger even the Basilica of Seven Doors in Highguard it is a towering edifice of white granite and stained glass.

For centuries it was more than just a monument to the seven virtues. The halls were decorated with precious materials and the wings contained beautiful pieces of art, both paintings and sculptures that had been donated by wealthy merchant princes. It quickly became famous throughout the Empire, and for centuries it was a popular place of pilgrimage for priests from across the League.

Sadly, the Cathedral suffered a hammer blow to its Pride when the city was sacked by the Grendel. Fortunately, the Grendel did not damage the famous vaulted atrium ceiling, but they looted all the art they could carry (leaving only a half-dozen paintings in drab frames and a distinctly unimpressive and rather heavy bust of Empress Teleri). They also badly damaged the building as they tore the gold filigree and other decorations from the walls.

After the Grendel were driven off, Sarvos began the painful work of repairing the damage to the City. Some of the looted artworks were recovered, and new ones donated. Then in Summer 383YE, a proposal was put forward to repair the damage done to the Cathedral and also create a prestigious new title that could provide leadership to the League National Assembly. It took three years for the League to raise the funds needed to restore the Cathedral to its former glory, but the work was quickly completed, and the Cathedral is now as good as new.

The Atrium of Golden Light

Consecrating the Atrium of Golden Light with a true aura of Ambition will cement the Cathedral as the prestigious place to study the Way There will be several other effects in addition

The Atrium of Golden Light is far and away the ideal choice for a true consecration of Capodomus Cathedral. Every visitor must pass through the Atrium to enter the Cathedral - and many people dawdle here, especially newcomers who are entranced by the gold light that drifts down from the vaulted roof. A true consecration here will boost the prestige of the Cathedral and impact everyone who visits.

When the cathedral was built, the plan for the atrium called for so much glass that the glass makers of the Brass Coast were short of materials. There was sand and soda ash in abundance, but supplies of dolomitic limestone had run short. Freeborn merchants informed the architects of the shortage and suggested that they produce a less ambitious design. Rather than accede to this failure of vision, legend has it that the Bishop of Capodomus tore down his house and had the limestone ground up and distributed to all the guilds to make up for the shortfall.

The great atrium was a triumph, letting light pour in to add to the feeling of scale and grandeur. As the years wore on, however, imperfections from the Bishop's limestone caused the once clear glass to turn a rich golden amber in colour. At first, there were calls to replace the ceiling, but slowly people warmed to it. Today, the Atrium is one of the cathedrals most famous features, bathing everyone who visits Capodomus in rich golden light as they pass through.

If the General Assembly pass the mandate to authorise the consecration, they will still need to decide who will perform the consecration. If multiple judgements are raised, then the one with the greatest margin will be enacted.

Nothing great is without cost. We send {named priest} with a dose of true liao to consecrate the Atrium of Golden Light in the Capodomus Cathedral to Ambition. No price is too high to realise our dreams.Synod Mandate, General Assembly

If the mandate is enacted, it will cement Capodomus Cathedral as the centre of study for the Way, eclipsing any other seminaries. The only place that could compete with Capodomus would be a structure of similar grandeur that itself bore a true consecration. Indeed, until the Grand Inspiration of the Way is completed, it is likely that the only place in the world that could match Capodomus in prestige would be found in Timoj. Given the Cathedral's location in Sarvos, it would attract not only ambitious Imperial scholars of the Way, but pilgrims from across the known world would want to visit to learn about virtue. Competition for the opportunity to study here would be fierce.

In addition, the civil service prognosticators are confident there will be several other effects.

Golden Archbishop

Donations to the Archbishop of Capodomus would increase by 10 crowns

Capodomus Cathedral has always been a place synonymous with the Way in the hearts of many League citizens. Even without a true consecration, it is a site of pilgrimage not only for those dedicated to the Way but also to foreign visitors who come to marvel at the splendour of the place and the beautiful artworks contained within.

Once the consecration is in place, the monetary donations made to the office of the Archbishop will certainly increase. An additional ten crowns each season will be available, representing gifts from wealthy citizens eager to become patrons, fees from ambitious people who want to study at the Cathedral, and donations from those who want to support Ambition across the League and the Empire.

Words to Move the Mountain

The first sermon performed by the Archbishop in the consecrated Cathedral would attract significant interest

Capodomus Cathedral is not just a place to study the Way, nor simply a storehouse of beautiful artworks. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Capodomus. Appointed in Summer 386YE, the first (and current) Archbishop is Estella Lucati, who also raised the judgement requesting a writ of consecration. Many in Sarvos see their Ambition as directly responsible for the restored splendour of the Cathedral. After the consecration is complete, the expectation is that the Archbishop will give a sermon, speaking about their vision for the cathedral, and what it means to embrace the virtue of Ambition. The place is likely to be packed, with citizens of Sarvos and pilgrims from across the Empire crowding in to hear the inaugural address. Those in the Atrium are likely to be particularly moved, being directly embraced by the profound power of the potent aura.

The words will inevitably be transcribed and distributed - the League is a city of correspondents and printers after all. Yet the real emissaries of the Archbishop's word will be the pilgrims who have come here to hear her speak. They will take whatever inspiration the place offers, shaped by the words of that initial speech, and spread them across the Empire. Every Imperial citizen will be aware of the words of the sermon, and its full impact is impossible for the prognosticators to predict. Some point to the famous Severin encyclical during the reign of Empress Lisabetta, which helped influence and challenge religious thinking for a year or more. The right words, in the right place, might have similar far-reaching potential.

The Archbishop will need to consider the topic of this first sermon carefully. A sermon that encourages everyone to be ambitious in a general way will be well received, but unlikely to have much profound effect beyond those who hear it. A speech that focuses on a specific expression of Ambition, such as discussing a way that people can embrace their virtue, or talking about a group of people who should be encouraged or supported, is much more likely to fire up the imagination of those who hear it.

Whatever the words, the sermon will only be effective if it is delivered by the Archbishop; unlike an Imperial address, for example, it won't have any impact if the Archbishop chooses someone else to deliver it.

(OOC Note: If the mandate is enacted, then after the Winter Solstice, the Archbishop will be able to email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk before the end of the downtime following the Winter Solstice with their initial sermon. The words of the sermon will form part of the Winds of Fortune update before the next event, made available to every Imperial citizen. The impact will depend on the flavour of the speech, interpreted through the tenets of Ambition.)

Lucati Gallery

The Archbishop could pay 50 crowns to have a new gallery built to house paintings and sculptures of inspirational figures They could invite leading Imperial artists from across the Empire to contribute three new pieces to be displayed in the Cathedral

Through the Cathedral's long history, Capodomus has been a place of beauty and art. With Sarvos recently reborn as a City of Masks, a city of culture, the galleries and gardens are burgeoning with new works of art. It has always been traditional for especially wealthy or devout merchant-princes or bishops to donate funds, materials, influence, or works of art. Occasionally, this would result in a new building or a garden being created on the grounds, but such larger-scale construction generally requires the intervention of the Senate.

After hearing about the proposed consecration, a small group of interested citizens and artists have created a proposal for the Archbishop to consider. One of the most common ways to inspire pilgrims is through art, and the example of the paragons and exemplars is often pivotal in helping those struggling with their ambitions to find a new path. They propose that the Archbishop set aside an area of the cathedral specifically dedicated to artistic representations of the paragons and exemplars of the Way. There are, of course, a whole raft of questions surrounding the role of such figures but for now, people still look to them for inspiration.

If the Archbishop is amenable, the rich citizens of Sarvos will find and patronize artists to create new, unique pieces of art celebrating the renowned paragons and exemplars, but also lesser known figures recognised by the Imperial Synod. They propose that the Archbishop set aside an area to display these artworks - which they somewhat flatteringly suggest be called the Lucati Gallery. There's no need for new construction, but parts of the Cathedral would need to be slightly remodelled and refitted, a project costing 50 crowns to complete.

The wealthy patrons further propose that the Archbishop find the best, most ambitious artists from across the entire Empire to render the most important paragons and exemplars - those specifically recognised for their Ambition. They include not only Tian, Aldones di Sarvos, Atuman, and Adelmar the Lion, but also figures such as the ancient Navarr guardian Thorn, the founder of the Imperial Orc nation Thrace, Ratibor of Temeschwar, and even Margaret of Meade. They would take pride of place in the gallery, which would become a site of pilgrimage within the Cathedral for anyone wishing to meditate on the stories of the paragons and exemplars.

(OOC Note: If the Archbishop wishes to take advantage of this opportunity, they should ensure the requisite funds are in their inventory and email plot along with a short description of the gallery (a handful of sentences is appropriate) and a list of the names of up to three artists they have selected to depict one of the inspirations of Ambition. If these artists have a piece of art they want to contribute to the wiki, depicting one of the inspirational figures of Ambition, then the image will be added to the page for the Cathedral alongside the description of the Lucati Gallery.)

Every Forest Falls

In the season following, any citizen could freely acquire a new resource in the same territory of the kind used in their nation's Tally of the Votes

Ambition takes many forms in the Empire. One of the most durable, one available to everyone who attends Anvil, is the ability to participate in Imperial politics. The appointment of senators, and the determination of who will hold a vital resource through the Tally of the Votes, places a significant amount of power in the hands of those prepared to wield it in pursuit of their goals. Even if they do not use that power to claim their own position of responsibility, the ability to determine who does hold such a position should not be underestimated.

Each nation has certain ways of investing in the future of their nation - in the League it is the ownership of a business, in the Marches political power lies in the hands of the stewards and the yeomen and arises from their farms. Every nation has a certain resource that grants the ability to take part in the Tally of the Votes.

In the season following the consecration, any Imperial citizen who wishes to take a larger part in the politics of their nation (and by extension, of the Empire as a whole) will find it easier to secure a new personal resource. Anyone wishing to change their resource to that which grants power in their nation (as listed in the Tally of the Votes page) could do so for free without having to spend the usual two crowns fee, provided they remain in the same territory. For example, a Dawnish character in the Barrens could change their personal resource to a military unit in the Barrens without needing to pay two crowns.

Better to Try

Priests across the Empire could encourage ambitious congregants to visit Capodomus Cathedral for the next year Priests who do so will see their congregations swell in attendance at the cost of contributing liao to provide auras The option remains until the start of the Spring Equinox 388YE if the Cathedral is consecrated following Winter Solstice

A true consecration can have a profound effect on those who experience it, providing deep and enduring inspiration to strive for Virtue. Because of this, pilgrims are encouraged to make an effort to travel to sites of true consecrations, in the hope that it will help them reflect on the virtues and find new motivation. Such pilgrimages are expensive and arduous; travelling the Empire can be dangerous for the common citizen, so people often need inspiration just to find the commitment to attempt the pilgrimage.

Starting the event after the consecration is enacted, any priest with a congregation will be able to select the preaching option "Encourage pilgrimage to Capodomus". Priests who take this option are assumed to be making use of the liao they receive to inspire congregants to make the difficult journey to Capodomus Cathedral. After those who are brave enough to make the journey experience the awe-inspiring power of the true aura in the Atrium of Golden Light, they will return to their home inspired to embrace Ambition and pursue it in the certain belief that nothing is beyond their reach.

A congregation that preaches this special action will receive three fewer liao each season (assumed to have been spent on creating auras or used to provide patronage), but four additional votes in the Imperial Synod (representing the swelling of their congregations). The priest leading the congregation would be part of the Ambition Assembly when they do so.

Assuming the consecration took place following the Winter Solstice, this option would be available starting after the Spring Equinox 387YE, and last until just before the Spring Solstice 388YE.

Voices Like Flames

Each National Assembly could use a judgement of rewarding to recognise the towering accomplishments of a single citizen each season for the next year Any citizen with a basic resource who received the most support from their assembly would have their resource upgraded

The beautiful art in the Capodomus Cathedral inspires citizens to be ambitious, showing the rewards that come to those who achieve their goals. The priests who minister at the Cathedral would take advantage of the new aura to remind every citizen of the importance of aiming high - and of supporting and uplifting those who inspire them by their example. This would help to empower the national assemblies of the Empire to encourage ambition among those they minister to.

Each summit for the next year following the consecration, each of the ten national assemblies could use a judgement of rewarding to call out a single citizen for their inspirational ambition or to praise the goals they have achieved. The judgement would need to clearly name the target, what element of the natural psyche they exemplify (as summarised in the "five things" for their nation), and what their ambition is. If the subject of the rewarding possesses a basic starting resource (that is one that has not already been upgraded), then their fellow citizens would be inspired to upgrade it for them, in the season following the summit. If more than one such rewarding is raised by a national assembly, the one with the greatest margin will receive the attention of their fellow citizens.

The Woman's Work

Empress Giselle could be interred in a tomb in the cathedral It would cost 30 crowns for a modest sepulchre somewhere on cathedral grounds

Finally, with the cathedral once again established as one of the most important places in the League it might be fitting as the permanent resting place of an Empress. Even her detractors could hardly deny that Empress Giselle, the sixteenth person to sit on the throne and wear the crown, was an extremely ambitious woman, and her love for the League and Sarvos in particular has never been in question. On her deathbed, she refused her place in the Necropolis and instead demanded she be interred in her beloved Caricomare. Some thirty years later - after a storm, a sinking, and a dredging - her body was looted by the Grendel following the sack of Sarvos and spirited away. The remains were recovered and restored to a place of some esteem in Temeschwar. The modest tomb appears to be less a memorial to the dead Throne, however, and more a testament to the recent successes of the League and the Brotherhood of Torn Banners in particular. Now, recent events in Temeschwar seem to suggest that the Empress' continued "residence" in the city is untenable. If that is the case, it might be past time she "returned home".

The Archbishop could arrange for a suitable tomb for Empress Giselle either within the walls of the great Cathedral or in the grounds. A marble bier, perhaps with a modest shrine for folk to consider her life and history, would cost 30 crowns and could be arranged by the Archbishop at any time. This is not a commission - all that is required is the permission of the Archbishop of the Capodomus Cathedral. Yet while the tomb would attract a few visitors, it would not become a particular site of pilgrimage without significant additional investment and a full commission. Giselle de Sarvos might not have been popular, but nobody can reasonably deny that she was a true child of Sarvos, however.

Virtue's Respite would be barely impacted by this change; it is already visited more often as a memorial to the history of the League, the successes of Temeschwar, and a tribute to to Demitri Archama, than it is the tomb of an Empress.

(OOC Note: Given the Empress' express intention to be interred in Sarvos, there would be no legal impediment to the Archbishop arranging for the body to return to the city and be interred in Capodomus. The Archbishop would need to ensure the required funds were in their inventory, and e-mail plot@profounddecisions.co.uk requesting the body be moved and interred in the cathedral, along with a few lines of description of the location of the tomb.)