Is there anybody out there?

Eternal Magic

There are creatures beyond the mortal world, the inhabitants of the six realms of magic. These realms are closer than they seem, and further away than can be imagined. Their inhabitants are fundamentally different to humans and orcs, to the people of the mortal world. They are larger than life, simple and complex in equal measure. They have goals inscrutable and obvious, and they seek to change the world to match their perception of what it should be. Dabbling and dealing, bargaining and negotiating, offering boons and threatening curses, giving and taking. It can be difficult to predict exactly where their gifts will lead.

The Empire can reach out to the eternals through the powers of the Archmages and the Imperial Conclave, but the inhabitants of the realms can also touch the mortal world when they wish. The power of alignment allows the Conclave to make it easier or harder for them to touch the world, relationships shaped by the tension between true friends and dire enemies. Some desire that state of amity, some revel in the enmity they have earned, but none can deny the power of the Conclave to guard the borders of the Empire.

It is a rare season that passes without an eternal, or a handful, seeking to influence the Empire. There are other winds of fortune that speak of different situations. A box for a sword speaks of the City of Gold and Lead and its allies. Golden magicians fayre recounts a powerful enchantment that grants the heralds of the Summer realm to engage with their friends in Dawn. The challenges offered by Barien this season are detailed in the Doing it wind of fortune, while the machinations of the CIty of Locks are discussed in Fair play is turnabout. The reaction given to the eternal in crisis, meraud, is discussed in the Eat like kings wind. The responses to the plenipotentiary missives of the Archmages is covered in the Speak to me wind of fortune. And here, a roundup of magical matters related to the eternal realms.

Magical events originating closer to home are detailed in the companion wind of fortune, Stars and sigils.

Summer

Enthusiastic Koboldi (Adamant)

During the Winter Solstice, an arcane projection called the Pillars of Adamant was cast by the Ashen Flame coven on Redoubt. The enchantment has fascinated the koboldi of Adamant who had set up a nest for themselves at the Crucible of Fate. Several have made the trip south to the storm-tossed territory to observe its effects and, as the Spring Equinox draws near, have presented an offer of assistance to their friends in Urizen should they wish to codify the ritual.

It is by no means a straightforward proposition - the ritual has a magnitude equivalent to Hammers of the Brilliant Shore, and the arcane projection that provided the enchantment has been used up in the process. Yet the koboldi are confident that with their assistance, the work can be completed quickly and effectively. The original work was done by Ioseph of the Banner of the Phoenix, and the koboldi are excited to work with him if possible.

Normally this arcane projection would take three seasons to codify by the Doyen of the Spires - and the koboldi regretfully say that they are only prepared to work with the Doyen on this project - the Icy Crag is too far away; the Loom of Spells is too small; and they cannot get into the Lyceum nor would they want to try shimmying down whatever the Well of Shadows is. Also, they like the idea of working with the people of Urizen on this splendid enchantment with Ioseph overseeing it.

With the aid of the koboldi, the task would take only two seasons (their assistance would effectively increase the speed of codification by 10 magnitude each season). It would also be possible to perform the codification without needing to wait for the creation of a new arcane projection - the koboldi have studied the enchantment closely enough that they are confident that with their help, the people of Urizen can formulate it without needing the original projection. The heralds of the King Below the Mountain are unfortunately not especially enthusiastic about cooperating with the "weird spiders" that dwell in the Heliopticon towers, so it would not be possible to further speed up the codification with the aid of the Golden Prince. Once the ritual was completed, it would be up to Ioseph what to do with it - keep it, put it into Imperial lore, contribute it to Urizen lore - the koboldi are keen on the ritual but don't actually care what happens to it.

The main drawback is that the current Doyen - Able the Taller is in the middle of overseeing the formulation of a truly potent Autumn enchantment named Crown in the Tankard that helps repair navies. At the current speed, it will take at least another couple of seasons to finish that work. The koboldi are eager to start work on Pillars of Adamant now, and they are not especially patient creatures, but they are prepared to wait until Able is finished, provided that "their" ritual is definitely next.

Even in their enthusiasm, the koboldi are not foolish. They know that Urizen likely has different priorities, and Ioseph probably has other claims on their time. As such, if nobody wants to take them up on their offer at the first opportunity, then they'll move their attention to other matters. If the Empire wanted to come back to the idea in the future a plenipotentiary to Adamant from the Archmage of Summer requesting this ritual would be needed.

OOC Note: This means that when the Doyen of the Spires is next due for appointment, anyone can put forward Pillars of Adamant to be codified. The koboldi will provide the arcane projection - there is no need to produce another one - and offer their aid as mentioned here. If the magicians of Urizen pick a different arcane projection, the koboldi will not be offended by will turn to other matters and any future codification of Pillars of Adamant will be done without their aid.

While They're On The Subject...

The enchantment also brings attention to the heliopticon towers. The koboldi are aware of them but haven't particularly looked at them before now. Pillars of Adamant gives them a reason to consider the towers and the structural issues posed by tall towers with lights on the top of them. The koboldi organisers are concerned that these vital communication devices are really easy for enemies to knock over - prone to earthquake and tempest damage. They think they can help with that. If the Urizen want, they will set to work fortifying the heliopticon towers so that they are significantly harder to damage without a great deal of malicious intent.

This project would be an edifice, costing 60 wains of white granite and 180 crowns. It would take six months to complete unless the work were commissioned by the Master of the Koboldi in which case it would take only three months (provided the white granite was available) and all the labour costs would be covered. The result would be that the heliopticon towers of Redoubt, Morrow, Zenith, and Spiral would be significantly harder to damage. Even if the territory were attacked by enemies, the towers would not be at risk of destruction - they might be captured, but would remain intact. If an enemy were to attack a heliopticon tower it would require sufficient effort that it would likely attract the attention of the Sentinel Gate; a skirmish or battle. Coincidental damage that was not aimed directly at the towers - rituals effects such as Thunderous Tread of the Trees, Mountain Remembers Its Youth, natural earthquakes or flooding - would also not harm the heliopticon network.

The edifice would also grant the towers a measure of grandeur - their role as a recognisable symbol of Urizen excellence would be reinforced, even in the League territory of Spiral. They'd continue to be operated even if the current détente between the two nations crumbled.

The koboldi are enthusiastic about this project, and the opportunity remains available until the end of the Winter Solstice 387YE. If Urizen declined, but changed its mind later, then it would likely be possible to ask the koboldi to provide their assistance at a later date using a plenipotentiary.

Beacon in Ossium

One of the koboldi turns up at College of Engineering in Temeschwar with a comprehensive set of blueprints for the attention of Dima Vasilyevna Novosad. The little herald is endearingly exited about the structure they refer to variously as Dima's Light of Ossium and the Drakonas Beacon. It takes the form of an ostentatious stone lighthouse, standing proud and unmoving along the Semmerlak in Bittershore. Curled around and atop the lighthouse sits a fire-breathing store dragon, maw open wide and facing the open water. The dragons eyes are glinting gemstones, imbued with the essence of Summer. It is a grand undertaking, and it seems that there are not one but two plans for the structure.

The first is an imposing edifice, a massive work of art, that glowers threateningly out across the lake. This would require 20 wains of white granite, 5 wains of mithril, cost 75 crowns in labour and treasure, and take three months to complete. It would also explicitly be buildable by the Master of the Koboldi despite its modest scale.

Alternatively, there is a much grander set of blueprints that are significantly more expensive. A full-sized structure built within sight of Kostjyas Respite and towering over the town and its walls. The plans require 40 wains of white granite, 10 wains of mithril, and the addition of 5 rings of ilium. Treasure (and labour) costs amount to 150 crowns, and the structure would take six month to complete. Once it was built, the effects of the tower would be twofold.

First, if any threat came against Kostjya's Respite - be that pirate raiders, Druj, or the monstrous children of Dho'uala, the dragon would roar and breathe gouts of fire to warn the folk of the town of the incoming threat. It wouldn't actually do much to protect the town, but the advance warning would likely be enough to ensure the defenders would not be taken by surprise by such an assault.

Secondly, it would become a powerful beacon in the minds and memories of those who set sail from the shores of Ossium out into the wider world. No matter where they went in the world, Varushkan sailors departing from Kostjya's Respite would know where they were in relation to the tower. Even in the most dire circumstances, they would be able to look toward the tower and see a vision of a road stretching from their boat back toward Ossium. They would even dream of the beacon from time to time, and of their homes, especially if they were feeling homesick or despairing. When they returned to the docks, the sight of the tower and its draconic mascot would invigorate them physically and spiritually.

This would increase the level of investment in fleets in Ossium by one. This would mean that any fleet based in Ossium that undertakes a trading action would do so with a bonus rank.

The Grand Challenge Continues (Barien)

Two summits ago, Barien, the Iron Duke, summoned those from the nations of Dawn and Wintermark who had taken up his Challenge and been victorious. There he issued a challenge to both nations; to commit deeds over the next year to prove the primacy of Heroism or Glory over the other.

It is the midway point of the challenge, and the Iron Duke and his heralds seek to find out what grand actions the citizens of Dawn and the Mark have already done, and what they seek to do. Bellows, the grey robed herald of Barien seen with increasing frequency in the past months, advises the Civil Service a visit will be made late Sunday morning, hopefully catching some folk after they return from battle. A number of other heralds from the Summer realm will also be in attendance, to check in both nations given their good relations. Bellows is keen to stress that the Iron Duke doesn't have the power to ask this of the other Summer eternals. But the eternals of summer never miss a chance to one up one another, and so are keen to send heralds to make sure any glorious and heroic deeds have the right "ambience" to them.

The Wit(ch?) from the West (Jaheris)

Last season, the garrison of Rest in Sermersuaq had a strange visitor - a herald dressed in Steinr garb, with something of the imperious mien of the changeling about her, calling herself the Wit of the Silver Woods (though it is possible she said "Witch" - reports differ). She did not clearly identify who she worked for, but she had a message for the icewalkers of the Mark regarding some kind of diplomatic opportunity. It was all broadly mysterious.

It is perhaps not entirely surprising when she shows up again in the weeks preceding the Spring Equinox. She says she has a message for friends of those with good character and fine ambition, whatever that means: presumably the people she met last time. She clarifies that she works for Jaheris says that the Prince of Arden is pleased with the friendship the icewalkers of Wintermark have demonstrated. She would like to continue the conversations begun last time and discuss next steps. She's obviously particularly keen to talk to the people she spoke to before, but she's happy for them to bring other icewalkers: indeed, she would encourage it. She will be at the Wintermark hearth fire at 22:15 on the Friday of the summit: she trusts her friends can find somewhere for them to have a private conversation.

Finally, she comments that as the Dawnish do not seem inclined to build a suitable fane for Jaheris in Dawnguard, the Moonsilver Prince would like to extend the original offer to Wintermark instead. The original offer was a powerful boon, and he now extends the same offer to the Winterfolk: if Wintermark builds a fane in the Suaq Wastes for the Moonsilver Prince then he will send all manner of creatures to protect it should the region be attacked. Obviously, if the Dawnish suddenly rediscover an interest in this project, then Jaheris would only claim the first one to be completed: the Unicorn Prince wouldn't want to try and divide his friendship and patronage between two nations, after all.

Tourney Fit For a Prince (Jaheris (again))

Three years ago, and three years before that, great tourneys have been fought over the magical college overseen by the Master of Ice and Darkness. These melees have not been to determine which Imperial citizen holds the title; that would be the job of the Imperial Conclave. Instead, the fights have been to decide which eternal will have patronage for the foreseeable future, with all the boons and favours that implies.

Jaheris, the Unicorn King, has been the patron of the college since his favoured team's victory. Last summit, he called for a new tourney, and now invites those who wish to partake to put themselves forward. Antlered heralds in blue and silver have visited the Castle of Thorns to make arrangements, complete with polite yet vaguely sinister small talk.

Entry to the tourney is now open, and will be throughout the entire Spring Equinox. To enter, a magician must go to the Imperial Regio, cast the spell Operate Portal and submit a piece of paper with their name and two ingots of weltsilver. This will grant them the right to lead a trio in the tourney. It does not bind them to it, they can change their mind later, but the weltsilver will be lost. At the Summer Solstice, only those who have put themselves forwards to lead a trio, and those they choose to bring with them, will be permitted entry. As per the rules below, all entrants must be magicians and each team must consist of three people, but there are no other restrictions on trios, such as nationality.

Three years ago, the matter of who each team fought for was public knowledge, proclaimed in full in front of the crowd. This time, the Lord of the Forest of Arden thinks it amusing if the knowledge of who each trio fights for is kept secret until their final moment of victory. All the more possibility for intrigue and betrayal in the ring, in the eyes of the eternal. Only when one magician stands victorious in the square should it be known who they desire the patron to be. Those who do not care to risk the displeasure of the Moonsilver Prince will keep details of who they are fighting for a secret until the winner claims the prize.

Rules of the Game

While the tourney itself will not take place until the Summer Solstice, Revel, herald of the Iron Duke, has been charged to oversee the proceedings. They are endeavouring to let everyone know the terms of the tourney.

Given that the tourney seemed to be a great spectacle three years ago, Revel (who will officiate again in Summer) has told the Civil Service he sees no reason to change the format. If the Archmage of Summer or the Master of Ice and Darkness do have suggestions for changes, Barien's heralds will be working to orchestrate the challenges for the summit as laid down here. Interested parties can speak to whichever heralds are in attendance here.. The full details for challengers will be revealed prior to the Summer Equinox.

On that score, Revel is clear that the eternals of Summer expect a grand spectacle, worthy of winning their patronage. The Moonsilver Prince might be amused be all manner of dealmaking and skullduggery between trios, but the regents of the Summer realm still demand a proper tourney that thrills the crowd. As the current patron, it is the Moonsilver Prince's right to permit all manner of devious chicanery, but the Prince's peers will be distinctly unimpressed if they see obvious fixing or opponents yielding without putting up a fight. No matter who is left fighting or who they support, the Monarchs of Summer expect those involved to test their mettle against each other until there are none left to contest the field. This is still a tourney after all, those involved are expected to provide dramatic entertainment for everyone who watches.

Offers Of Power

The Unicorn Prince has forbidden any eternal from granting boons to their favoured magicians in advance of the contest, insisting that the mortal magicians must stand wielding only their own magics. Instead, he has challenged his peers to offer a grand boon, whichever trio wins the contest will win the favour of their patron and be grandly rewarded for their efforts.

The eternals of Summer have been given a season to plan what boons they might offer, but they must inform Revel of their decision. The herald plans to liaise with the civil service to announce what prizes are on offer in the run-up to the Summer Solstice.

Autumn

Fire and Flame (Estavus)

The Imperial Conclave accepted an offer made by the House of Fire and Flame to clear Pakaanan's Pass. Connecting Skarsind and Sermersuaq, the Pass was blocked by the Jotun in Winter 383YE with the aid of Adamant. Ashborn Trosk raised the declaration, and also provided the agents of the House with the large amount of beggar's lye they required in payment.

After the Winter Solstice, the heralds of the City of Fire and Stone deployed a number of their destructive rondures and began clearing enough of a pass for an army to pass through relatively comfortably. The thunderous explosions echoed across western Skarsind for several weeks, and then across eastern Sermersuaq. As the Spring Equinox dawns, however, their work is complete. The heralds have claimed a significant amount of valuable ore and minerals from the clearance, and while the route is accessible the foothills to either side remain treacherous. There is no road as such, which might be a matter to consider in future, but for now at least the passage between the two territories is now once again open to the passage of Imperial armies.

The Forlorn Vaults (Ephisis)

Not even a year ago, a few strong Autumn regio in the Empire became festooned with golden-inked flyers - and barely have the last of them been mulched down to be re-made into something more useful, than a steady stream of new papers begins to flow. The new missives announce in over-decorative cursive that Keel, weigher of worth, respected herald of the Hidden Prince is most excited to announce a new boon from the City of Gold and Lead - an exclusive auction of visitation to the Vaults found deep beneath the city.

Many of these vaults are rented out to mortals, and there is always the puzzle of what should be done with those that have defaulted on their rent and are no longer responding to attempts to make contact. Keel, who maintains the vaults' ledger, intends to auction a few of these off to Imperial citizens.

For the next four Anvil summits, Keel and their associates will leave posters in the Hall of Worlds and the Hub announcing the name of the owner of a vault. Later on Friday evening, they will then hold an auction of crystal mana for 2-minute-long slots within the vault. Each slot allows four people entry into the vault. Whilst in the vault, visitors may conduct business as they wish, and will be provided with a receptacle which may be filled with items found within that the visitors wish to take home with them. Any objects which do not fit in the receptacle will be returned to the vault.

Keel warns, of course, that those purchasing a later slot in the vault should be aware of the risk that there is nothing of value within left for them to take. She hopes that such visitors would still enjoy the ambience and unique musty scent of the vault. Bidders should also be aware that access to the vault requires access to the Hall of Worlds, and any appropriate arrangements to access the space are the responsibility of the ticket-holder, and not the Lady of the Counting House or any of her intermediaries.

Keel intends to hold the first of these auctions on the Friday of the Spring Equinox from 20:15 in the Hall of Worlds. If the Hall of Worlds is busy, they intend to move to an obvious spot close by the Imperial regio. They remind bidders that the only accepted currency for the auction will be crystal mana. Keel also advises those interested in coming along that slots to visit the vault will only be available between 13:30 and 14:15 on the Saturday of the Spring Equinox - so bidders should be sure of their availability before committing.

The Iron Ledger (Callidus)

Argint, herald of the the Prince of the Argent Tontine, has recently taken an interest in the Northern trade network. Shortly before the Spring Equinox, the brazen herald ignored protests from the civil service that he could communicate his intentions directly to Northern Trade Network members. Instead, the herald insisted on having a notice of his intentions published. He was adamant that the Sovereign Lord of the City of Chains thought things would be more interesting if others knew of his intentions. He also notes that although he is operating under a contract that offers certain terms to the Network members, the contract has no exclusivity clauses, and he might be prepared to buy from other sellers.

This season he is dealing in white granite and interested in permanent items of religious significance only (their powers may be spiritual or magical) - which he will value for a combination of the ilium that it must have cost to make them, and how interesting or significant a place they might take in the collection housed in the City of Chains. He may or may not be able to make a decision without reporting back to the city, depending on the items offered.

Argint is also incredibly intrigued by the potential in cattle bonds, and intends to hold a sort of auction. He will ask bidders to name the number of warm ashes they want to buy, and the amount of bonds that they will pledge for them. Matched pairs of bonds from different markets will catch his attention, over and above the pure material value offered.

Winter

Cursed King (Tharim)

As mentioned several times previously, the Bound King has sent a cohort of his terrible knights to fight alongside Imperial armies. The deals that supported these actions have come to an end and a year ago the new deal he proposed was politely declined by Ematius of Urizen as Archmage of Winter. Since then, the knights - a thousand strong warband of ruthless heralds - have been camped in Lightsea. To the chagrin of many Freeborn, those black-armoured knights are now on the move. Shortly after the Winter Solstice the army broke camp and came north through Calvos Sound. They marched through the centre of Calvos shortly after sunset and their passage filled the sleep of those in the town with terrible dreams of being buried alive, chained and bound, entombed in stone unable to breathe, and the like.

Continuing north, they reached the Spider's Dream and marched across into Sarvos. There were some attempts by the defenders of the toll bridge to give them pause but they insisted that they had the protection of the Conclave and refused to turn back. Rather than risk violence, they were allowed to pass over the river and into Bocche. Trivento, like Calvos before it, was struck with a night of terrible dreams of helplessness. From there the soldiers continued implacably north along the road into Enterio. As the Spring Equinox approaches, the army has set up a new camp on the southern borders of Tassato. There they encountered the Burning Falcon and the Red Wind Corsairs. The knights greeted the Freeborn soldiers politely, expressing surprise that they had marched from Madruga to find them in the League. They were not hostile, but made it clear that they had no intention of being turned from their path.

It seems that their master, the He-of-the-Chains is extremely unhappy about the destruction of one of his favoured lieutenants by Imperial citizens in early winter. Obligatus had been set to keep a watch over the Copse of the Bone Birch in Upwold but was apparently ambushed and slaughtered. The commander of Tharim's knights presumes that the Marchers will welcome them - several of their own were also killed including the well-respected Gerraint Black, who apparently lost their life battling the cowardly attackers as they sought to flee the scene of the crime. The knights have been charged to do whatever it takes to visit the vengeance of the Thrice-cursed King on whomever is responsible.

Tharim himself continues to serve as a patron of the Conclave, preventing heralds from moving through that magical space without invitation unless the eternal they represent has amity. The eternal himself does indeed have the amity of the Conclave and so it is a crime to harm his heralds unless they initiate violence. Yet it must be a matter of some concern that a thousand dangerous warriors are roaming the Empire on the orders of the unpredictable master. Indeed, there is some concern that there might actually be more than a thousand of them - it's hard to get an exact count of them and their comings and goings have been difficult to mark. There's nothing to stop Tharim sending additional heralds into the Empire through Winter regio for a start.

There's also a fair amount of circumstantial evidence that Tharim is not happy about his partner in the the Thrice-cursed Court, the Hag Queen not only having been redeemed from enmity but the subject of a plenipotentiary without him. Regardless, it's unlikely even a thousand warriors will make much of a dent if they (for example) attempt to attack the city given the presence of La Redotta Rezia and they've no reason to do so (although if they do enter the city they will be exposing a significant number of League citizens to the nightmares they are bringing with them). The idea of these heralds running riot on Upwold, however, seeking those responsible for the death of Obligatus, is enough to give people pause. Especially given that at their current rate they will pass through Miaren and enter Upwold following the Spring Equinox.

Home to Roost (Sorin)

Last season, Sorin offered an opportunity for the Conclave to request one of his houndmasters to assess a single Imperial army. Sakari Nightscale, on behalf of the Rod and Shield, raised the declaration and asked for the gaze of Sorin to be fixed on the Northern Eagle. The army has spent the last season resting and resupplying in Astolat,

The Houndsmaster of the Midnight Hounds has spent the last few months with the Northern Eagle, studying the soldiers and how they interact with each other. Aside from a few awkward incidents with heralds of Cathan Canae, this has gone well and Esgyrn has presented what they consider to be most in keeping with the traditions of the Northern Eagle.

Esgyrn believes that the Northern Eagle would be best suited to turning their history of going to ground in defence of a territory, to instead strike at the heart of the enemy. By learning from experience, the army could infiltrate a territory and establish a base for itself in order to sabotage enemy infrastructure. They wouldn't take part in campaigns in the territory, but could influence them in other ways by striking at key locations, interrupting resupply, or other opportunities.

Making the Change

The Northern Eagle's quality will be permanently changed to Elusive To make the change, the general of the Northern Eagle would need to submit a defending order in an Imperial territory and include in their army orders a line indicating they are implementing the changes proposed by Esgyrn. Their quality will change, and the new order will be available by the start of the next event. Esgyrn's help isn't needed to implement the ideas, but enthusiasm within the army will fade if the change hasn't been made by the start of the Winter Solstice 387YE.

Elusive

An elusive army relies on its long experience of fighting in the mountains and forests of the northern Empire. Its many specialists in rough terrain mean that once it has established itself in a territory it is extremely hard to dislodge. After implementing changes proposed by Sorin's Houndmaster of Midnight Hounds, the Northern Eagle of Varushka would be the only army to possess this quality.

Day

The General of Day Presumes (Zakalwe)

The civil service has been notified that two of the Hunter of Tides' polemarchs will be making their way to Anvil on the Friday evening of the upcoming summit. The message makes clear that the strategic advisors are willing to take back Jarl Haakon's armour with them. They also have other goals.

Although no other eternals have contacted the civil service expressly with details designed to organise collecting the Jarl's Armour, it is worth noting that Ephisis, Jaheris, Callidus, and Basileia Brazen all showed an interest - as did a consortium from Sarvos and the miners of the Mourn. These are detailed in the Over western hills wind of war.

Heralds of Ephisis can always be found at the Autumn Market on the Sunday of any summit, and a herald from the City of Chains is travelling to Anvil as described in the Callidus section.

Minions Of The Ministry (Sinokenon)

The Wheel Of Light is often quiet, but this season some of its functionaries have made an approach to the Empire. The internal mechanisms of Sinokenon's extensive bureaucracy are opaque to even the most determined of mortals, but it seems that training forms some part of them. A group of junior secretaries are, so an exquisitely-penned message reads, seeking to learn about the nature of interpersonal devotion. Not the devotion of equals to one another, but the devotion of a servant to the object of their service. They would like it if certain Imperial citizens would deign to speak with them, specifically citizens who have chosen to devote themselves to the service of another person.

The letter clarifies that this must be an actual person. Not a cause, not a concept, not an organisation, but an actual person, preferably a living one. The heralds seek to learn the stories of these people, what drew them to their life of service, what it has led them to achieve, and what fulfilment it brings them. There is no mention of reward or recompense, but the letter commends the helpfulness of the citizens of the Casinean Empire and their willingness to bestow the details of their lives on those who might find them useful.

The heralds and their Supervisors intend to arrive in the Hall of Worlds at 16:00 on Saturday of the forthcoming summit. They would appreciate it if someone could meet them and guide them to a place in Anvil where they might sit, listen, and learn.

To Sing a Song of Skill (Ylenwe)

During the Autumn Equinox, several heralds of Ylenwe visited Anvil to seek out skilled performers and bards. They are now planning to return at the Spring Equinox, in order to listen to performances of "art". The heralds are vague on what they consider to be "art", but they are looking for original pieces of craft and skill, rather than covers or reinterpretations of existing songs. Those whose performances please the heralds will be rewarded, but warn those who might wish to perform the more folksy music that they might be asked to move along.

Night

Celestial Arcs (Sung)

In the months leading up to the Spring Equinox, heralds of various Night eternals going about their business in the Empire are observed to paint the night sky, sing songs of it and pen poetry of its beauty. So perhaps it is of little surprise when a scroll written in glistening ink unfurls itself in the Imperial regio.

The eternals of the Night realm have heard much about constellations from their dealings with the Empire. They have considered what a constellation may be and why it could be of such interest to Imperials - and they have decided that they would like some of their own. Or, more specifically, Sung, Lord of Illusions, announces her intention to gift the inhabitants of the realm their own set of constellations so that they may share in this passion of the Empire’s.

She has made a space around a night regio in the Meadow of Dust and Glass in Burnish, Segura where small lights can settle in the grass like flowers - and wishes for volunteers to draw lines between these points of light and name their new constellations. But the Whispering Wind knows from the tales of astronomancers that a constellation is more than just a pretty picture and a name. When the constellations have been formed, she wishes for a new group of volunteers with skills esoteric and verbose to observe the new constellations and craft for them a lore, stories, meaning.

Her heralds will stay with the field of lights and listen to the song of these new stars as it is woven. When they return home, they will set celestial needle to thread and recreate all that they have heard and seen in a grand display throughout the heavens of the night realm. As a seasoned collector of artworks, the Spiral Dancer asks the Curator of the Blood Red River, Astrid Fjellrevening Rezia di Tassato, to organise ten volunteers for the conjunction to create and name constellations and the Azure Sutannir, Mina i Yashum i Riqueza, to organise 10 volunteers for the conjunction to craft lore for the new constellations.

Boggarts! (Conjunctions)

Grim Scavengers

Emerging from Winter Regio across Imperial territory creatures of the Winter realm - boggarts - have descended on the aftermath of battlefields and other sites of violence. Seemingly drawn to death and wrapped in funerary garb, they have been observed waiting patiently near the mortally wounded, quills in hand to scribble the final words of the dying. Even when their mark has succumbed to their wounds, these entities have displayed the ability to rouse them into a momentary state of unlife to draw forth what they seek.

Elsewhere figures matching the same description have appeared at farmstead doors, alongside lonely roads and even from the Imperial Regio in Anvil seeking to divest themselves of their grim freight - offering the last breath of loved ones for a magical burden akin to a curse. Those who have accepted this deal have reported experiencing a strange melancholy that they have struggled to overcome.

Participation: If your character dies between time-in on Friday and the end of the battle on Sunday, you may record your character's final words using a drop-box and form available at GOD.

Drowning Pools (Bregasland)

With the arrival of spring and the slow thaw of the fens came the first reports of disappearances: travellers, fishers braving the mire to check their eel grigs and the sorts that keep their own company out in the deeper fens. Life is harsh where even the dirt underfoot can't be relied upon - so it was only when survivors began showing up at household doors half dead and terrified that the truth bubbled to the surface. Realm vermin - creatures of Spring known as boggarts - were everywhere in the deeper fens. Monsters with putrid green teeth burst from stagnant pools to throttle and hack the unwitting to death, they were increasingly being encountered in packs armed with scavenged weapons. As for what has become of the bodies of their victims - well - it is best to remember that out in the mire - everything sinks.

Things have come to a head with a recent attack at Drowner's Dell - the site of an isolated collection station for the Imperial Breadbasket where several fenlanders had managed to hold up against the Jotun. There was only one survivor. Attempts by local militia and beaters have been thwarted by the tendency of these creatures to flee well-armoured foes or fights where they are outnumbered. If the Keeper of the Breadbasket, Orson BogMyrtle, can deal with the greenteeth, then local households will be encouraged to remain in the territory - in spite of Jotun invasion.

Fishers of Folks (Holberg)

Something is killing people in Misericorde. Down by the stagnant pools where the slate grey waters become trapped something lies beneath the surface - silent and motionless - until they are not. Successful hunts reveal the killers to be boggarts - Spring creatures with rubbery flesh and teeth the colour of mulch - but for every one of them cornered and caught, several more slip through the net - bleeding back into the landscape at the first sign of armed response or coordinated effort. And so still more folk go missing - and it seems that the more defenceless and vulnerable the more drawn these monsters are - no-one is safe in the wilder reaches of the region.

Prognosticators have identified a conjunction that might deliver heroes from Anvil to Sacrifice Point where a clutch of these greenteeth responsible for a recent fatal attack at the Flaxen Pillars that have left several Sand Fisher orcs dead. However, if any of the creatures are able to escape they will most certainly kill again. It is the responsibility of the Red-Eyed Reaper, Claus Friedrich von Holberg, to kill the greenteeth and ensure none escape.

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