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"But I don't care about the Jotun! Why do I have to learn about the Storied Histories of the Jarls of Narkyst and Their Issue? I am never going to need to know this!" It was difficult to take Fredair seriously when he pouted, but Saranse managed to hide her smile before he noticed."Well Fredair, at some point you're going to have to negotiate with these people, and at that point you are best served being equipped with their history. Imagine if a jarl mistepped in their introductions to you, or if one of the southern barons declined to make an offering?" She tried to be gentle, but this always happened when the weather was nice. Fredair just wanted to be outside running around and hitting trees with a stick. Not suitable at all for a duke's child."Fine! But they had better have a lot of stories about losing to Suran. And there had better be less kissing in this one, I'm sick of kissing stories!"

Overview

Each season the Civil Service prepares a summary of the Empire's relationship with 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.

Iron Confederacy

The Iron Confederacy sees itself as a potential rival to the Empire, a powerful nation that matches its northern neighbours in size and strength. It's hard to prove or disprove their claims, unlikely as they seem, and despite centuries of grudging trade and even the occasional war, Imperial scholars know little about the south-western nation. The Dukes of the Iron Confederacy are prickly, responding explosively to perceived slights. Their strange beliefs, especially in the patronage of so-called powerful gods make it all too easy for them to take offence. They despise both the Conclave and the Synod, contending that Imperial magicians and priests are pawns of Dumon the Liar. On the other hand, they appear to respect the Military Council and the Throne but very much as worthy rivals rather than allies.

The Suranni ambassador to the Empire is Baroness Katerine Lavasse of Meore, who operates from the Tour Lavasse in Chaubrette, a territory unknown to Imperial citizens that apparently lies to the west of Veroigne. A noble naga, she replaced the significantly more dogmatic Jeanne de Hibernat, a High Priestess of the Suranni god Evra the Smith, Maiden of the Forge. She has already indicated that she is very much more pragmatic than her predecessor and more interested in compromise. She still reports to the Dukes of the Iron Confederacy, however, and so her apparent goodwill toward the Empire cannot be relied upon.

A History of Strength

On the topic of Suranni military victories, Baroness Katerine is delighted to share that one of her personal priests has organised a delegation of their peers to visit Anvil to speak with Silk Farkas, Minister of Historical Research on the matter. She emphasises that the priests are visiting the Empire to discuss military matters, and will have no patience for anyone wishing to grill them about their faith or proselytise the Imperial Way.

Josse Argent, a tertiary priest to the Lavasse household, and their companions estimate that they will arrive at Anvil at approximately 12:30 on the Sunday of the Spring Equinox. They ask the Minister to meet them at the Anvil Library, along with any of their peers who may wish to learn something of the military history of the Iron Confederacy. The delegation is planning to bring a small collection of artefacts from past victories of the Dukes, as well as tales of the Suranni's might in battle.

In return, they are keen to receive a tour of Anvil. They wish to hear of the Empire's own military victories - especially ones in recent years - and the intricacies of Imperial strategy and battle resources. During the tour, they wish to meet Imperial military figures such as generals or decorated war heroes - as well as taking an opportunity to witness Anvil itself, and the hospitality it has to offer.

Josse stresses again that the priests are not visiting the Empire to discuss matters of theology. They have no interest in engaging with Imperial heretics about the matters of Suranni faith during this visit, and of course their expectation is that no foul magics or narcotics will be offered or forced upon them or their fellow travellers.

Jotun

The Jotun are a powerful nation to the west, a militarily focused nation split into two kingdoms, with a host of armies. The Jotun have a deeply entrenched belief in honour, of the duty to protect those beneath you from harm. For the past eight years, the Jotun and the Empire have been at war; the campaign ranging across the western Empire and, at times, into both Narkyst and Kalsea.

The Jotun have no specific ambassador to the Empire. At various times, different jarls have spoken on behalf of the two kingdoms. Half a year ago, the Senate requested an appraisal on how peace with the Jotun might be achieved, and the results can be found in the A stone for a stone wind of fortune.

A Meeting Place

Gull Isle is a small tidal island of no particular account that sits just off the coast near the intersection of Kallavesa, Sermersuaq and Skallahn. It is too small and inaccessible to be of any military significance, and while numerous birds make their nests there, it is generally avoided by hunters from both the Winterfolk and the Jotun due to the ever-present risk of encountering one another. There are signs of some prior habitation, broken walls here and there, but nobody is entirely sure who they belong to. Even people who live nearby have been born, grown old and died without ever giving the small promontory a second thought.

This changes when some local hunters see orcs bearing a tattered red banner making the trek over the Skallahn causeway at low tide. There is some panic - is this a raiding party? But while sharp-eyed scouts see the party carrying weapons, they do not seem interested in pressing forward into Wintermark. They set up camp and begin to explore the island, a process that takes less than a day. Two days later, an unarmed messenger carrying a small flag of parley makes their way over the Kallavesa causeway and leaves a note just above the high tide line, weighed down with stones. The note, transcribed and passed to the civil service, reads as follows:

People of the Empire, hear us. The Iron Jarl and Consul Silktongue write to us of a new Meeting Place, a grand feasting hall where our peoples may meet in the spirit of respect and fellowship and Honour one another as warriors worthy of respect. They speak of Gull Isle as a place where such a place might be built, yet our stories make no mention of this place. How was it chosen? Do you know something that we do not? We will make camp at this place until the Spring turns to Summer. Bring us your tales, and we will see what we make of them. Speak not to us of diplomacy between our people, for we do not come to negotiate terms. Let this be a place where knowledge is exchanged first.Agnar Tawny Owl

Given this involves discussing matters with a nation the Empire does not have an ambassador to, it is the responsibility of the Imperial Consul to decide who will answer this invitation. They may wish to assemble those with an interest in rebuilding the Meeting Place and those who have the knowledge that the Jotun are seeking.

Grendel

The Grendel are a wealthy nation to the south; a nation of individual territories, each ruled by a Salt Lord. The Grendel are incredibly, ostentatiously wealthy, and they have a deeply held belief that power is the single most important thing in life. The Empire and the Grendel have been at war since the end of the treaty following the Autumn Equinox 385YE, and the Empire has both reclaimed Feroz and claimed Mareave from the orcs of the Broken Shore.

The Grendel ambassador to the Empire is Speaker Morna, who operates from the House of the Seventh Forge in Dubhtraig. A wealthy and experienced diplomat, he has served the Salt Lord Council for a little over a decade. Last season, the Senate requested an appraisal on how the Empire might disrupt relations between each Grendel Salt Lord, and the results can be found in the Fake empire wind of fortune.

Children of Wrecks

Speaker Morna wishes to make it clear that the Grendel and the Children of Wrecks are not in any kind of military alliance. The implication from the Imperial ambassador's most recent missive is that the recent attack on Redoubt was a joint effort to claim the territory. The Grendel absolutely intended to claim the territory, they have made no secret of how much they admire the wealth of Cargo, but they were shocked to see the Children of Wrecks arrive.

Disinformation and misdirection are interesting aspects of war, but on this point, the Grendel are clearly not in the mood for suggestions of subterfuge. The Children of Wrecks are traitors and Spring-crazed shark-worshippers. Their god is a large, angry fish with teeth. That makes them suckers in the eyes of the Grendel which is possibly the worst crime of all.

Ever since that debacle with the Asaveans, they've been no use to anyone.

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