Patterns of fairytales

Overview

Magic is everywhere, but not everything is magic. Here we talk of many different things - rituals cast, the doings of the Imperial Conclave, the often contradictory demands of the eternals. A grab bag of stories - some of them nearing their ends, some of them floundering in the middle, some of them barely begun.

There are a number of other winds that talk about magical events in the Empire; of particular interest might be Secret meeting, which covers the responses to the Archmage plenipotentiaries, Hammers and boxes which in particular discusses special uses of the ritual Ephisis' Scale, and Gifts of a Green Mother that talks about boons provided by Yaw'nagrah to those brave - or foolish - enough to seek them.

Mortal Magic

Not every strange event is magic, not every magical thing is strange. Magic can be familiar or alien, and may be different things to different people. It isn't always the purview of magicians either - there is magic in all kinds of places from the herbs favoured by physick and apothecary to the materials drawn from mines and forests. One thing is sure though, from the most mundane hearth magic to the strange influence of the stars, to the vagaries of fate and chance, it changes what it touches..

Gentle rains fall on Feroz and Upwold. In the former territory it helps to wash away some of the scars of years of occupation by the rapacious Governor Rahab. Magical citadels are conjured across the Empire, providing protection against the threat of barbarian nations. Cold prosperity comes to certain herb gardens in Hahnmark, invoked by the magicians of Wintermark, as the servants of Sorin visit to ruthlessly cull weak or less-than-useful plants. Who knows what boon the eternal may ask for this blessing?

Here then are examples of magic mortals have inspired, great and small.

Chalice and Water

Following the terrible events in the Brass Coast caused by the flooding of the Scorerro river, Grandmaster Fausta Ankarien guided the Silver Chalice to "offer succour to those in need who have suffered as a result of the river Scorrero flooding." The Imperial Conclave agreed and provided some support, while the Grandmaster also collected a large number of healing herbs to help ease the suffering of those in Segura and Kahraman.

When the river rose, many settlements along the Scorrero in Segura aand Kahraman were taken by surprise. Their homes and fields have been washed away, and many were forced to flee the surging river waters with little more than their lives and the clothes on their backs. The egregores believe that more than two hundred people of all ages perished in the floods, and easily twice that number sustained significant injuries. Many, many more lost their homes or livelihoods. Sickness threatens to spread as the waters recede, and drinkable water becomes scarce thanks to filthy waters tainting wells and streams. Starvation becomes a very real threat, with food stores ruined and Winter approaching.

Into this chaos come the members of the Silver Chalice. Those magicians versed in the arts of the physick and the apothecary set to work using the collected herbs to quell sickness, mend shattered bodies, and soothe wounded spirits. Magical healers are able to mend limbs, and treat the symptoms of disease before they can spread. Ritual magicians skilled in Winter and Day lore help to restore or preserve food and drink, while Spring adepts are in demand everywhere for their healing powers.

Everything that can be done by the order is being done. The loss of life does grow, slowly, to the grief of many offering their support to the people of the Brass Coast, but the extra lives lost are a fraction of what they could have been. The intervenion of the order has saved the lives of hundreds of people if not more. Yet the work is not done. The Scorrero remains fattened, and may never return to its old course. Houses, farms, businesses - all have been ruined. People have nowhere to live, and great tent towns have grown up on the dry land near the swollen river.

While there has been some damage in Kahraman, it is Segura that has borne the brunt of the furious river. The two main bridges connecting Segura and the Sunset Roads to the rest of the Empire are broken into kindling; only the Sobral Bridge remains. This hampers access to Segura from the north - it is impossible to reach the territory from Madruga at all and the only secure way to enter the Sobral remains via Gambit in Kahraman. The town of Cerevado has been particularly unlucky; buildings along the waterfront are flattened or in some cases carried away by the flood.

The Cerevado Nets remain damaged, and after a glut of ilium following the floods Lexis i Leharo i Guerra will receive no more star metal until they are repaired. The Sunset Roads remain closed.

Thanks to the Silver Chalice, the people displaced by the floods will slowly rebuild their lives. Even if there is no further intervention, by the start of the Summer Solstice 387YE the worst of the damage will be cleared - although the matters of the Cerevado Nets and the bridges across the Scorrero will need more than the presence of the Silver Chalice to reolve.

Injuries of the Soul

There are a few heralds of Ossegrahn in Segura and Kahraman offering their particular aid to the people there. They are disappointed that the magicians who caused the Scorrero to break its banks chose not to use the boon the Tarnfather had provided that would have reduced loss of life by focusing the wrath of the risen river against things rather than people. They don't go out of their way to spread this news, but those Freeborn who ask about it waste no time telling their neighbours. The Conclave endorsed the casting of the ritual, agreeing that it was necessary to deal with the greater threat of the Blight in Madruga. That is the right of the Conclave, and even those who have lost their homes can see the importance of not letting that blight spread to consume the Brass Coast.

Yet talk of that boon of Ossegrahn rankles. The Silver Chalice exists to "ensure that Conclave is reminded of the value of life, and that it makes decisions with that value in mind." Why, ask the refugees from the swollen river, did Conclave choose to save things rather than people? What was their thinking?

At the moment, people are too busy trying to survive or somehow repair their broken livelihoods. They are sad, more than angry, at what they are hearing. Still they look to the Chalice to challenge the Conclave in the hope of getting some answers, a sentiment that is echoed by Bogfearthan's heralds.

A Grand Lodge

While working to resolve the Parched Blight, the Silver Chalice first put forward the idea of building a Grand Lodge to serve as a central meeting place for members of the order. Since then developments in Mareave have temporarily put a halt to any such plans. However, in recent years, the Silver Chalice has come to the aid of the Brass Coast more than once, helping them deal with potentially existential threats, and that aid has not gone unnoticed.

A small group of wealthy Freeborn from Kahraman, Madruga, and Segura have approached the Silver Chalice members helping deal with the aftermath of the flood with a proposal. They would very much like to see a grand lodge of the Silver Chalice built on the Coast and have formed a parador, the Silver Tears, to try to help. Having seen what the Golden Pryamid are proposing they can how such a thing could provide valuable benefits to the Order and to whichever territory it is built in. The Silver Chalice are popular and well liked on the Coast - what better place for it?

Ideally they would like to create something on the scale of the one put forward for Mareave, or perhaps even a little more ambitious. After-all the Silver Chalice are the most important order in the Conclave, they really ought to have a grand lodge that reflects that. And besides, the Chalice came up with the idea first, so why let the Pyramid take all the glory? But they understand that money is limited and the Chalice may prefer something more modest so that they can devote their resources to helping others.

They intend to do the work to create plans for such a structure, but being Freeborn they expect fair payment for their work. Should the Imperial Conclave pass a Declaration of Endowment providing the Silver Tears with 25 crystal mana from the font, then by the Spring Equinox they will prepare a plan to build a grand lodge for the Silver Chalice in the coast. The declaration would need to determine where in the Brass Coast it was to be built. Kahraman feels like a poor choice, but Segura, Feroz, or Madruga would all provide a suitable location for such a lodge.

If the wording of the declaration encourages them to produce something ambitious, they will aim for something even more impressive than the structure proposed for Maraeve. If the wording encourages them to produce something practical, they will make plans for something more modest. If it isn't clear, they'll produce something on the same scale as Maraeve.

This opportunity is only available at the Winter Solstice. The civil service indicate that an order can only have one grand lodge, so if the Silver Chalice do ultimately build a grand lodge here, they could not build one elsewhere in the Empire.

Participation

Any member of the Silver Chalice may have joined the efforts to help people in Segura and Kahraman, which are still ongoing. They will have spent their time healing the injured, fighting sickness, and helping ensure displaced people had sufficient food, drink, and other supplies.

Shrouds and Stars

After the Autumn Equinox, the Penumbral Veil settled across the entire Empire - or at least those parts of it that are Imperial territories. While the night skies above the rest of the Empire twist and change, those above Madruga, Mournwold, and Therunin are untouched. For the last three months, then, anyone travelling at night in an Imperial territory finds the night sky appears strange and unfamiliar - some stars are not where they are expected to be; the moon often seems closer, or further away, or in unexpected phase; there are new lights in the sky, sometimes of marvellous colour, where no stars have been seen before. These effects are subtle - nothing like the wholesale warping of the entire nocturnal heavens that are sometimes observed when this ritual is cast. But they are noticeable if one knows what to look for. The effects of Drawing the Penumbral Veil are quite durable - so it is likely to be at least a year or more before things return to normal.

At the same time the sky is being altered, three constellations are made particularly pronounced. The Mountain and The Great Wyrm have clearly come into a powerful conjunction of some kind, with wide-reaching effects on Imperial magic. At the same time, the constellation of the Claw seems especially pronounced. Those who know where it is, and what it looks like, find their eyes are drawn to it whenever they see the night sky. The sensation of gazing on the Claw may make sensisive people (especially naga or merrow) a little uneasy.

If it is invoked it in an astronomantic ritual, any contributor to that ritual will feel its power particularly strong and immediate. Anyone who wishes may experience the roleplaying effect: you feel an urge to assert your dominance over anyone who challenges you, or seek a physical confrontation with anyone you feel has wronged you. Violence seems easy and satisfying. This effect lasts for at least half an hour if a player chooses to embrace it.

OOC Note: Obviously Profound Decisions cannot (yet) change the night sky over Anvil, but you should feel free to have in-character arguments about whether such and such a star or constellation is in the right place, or whether the moon looks peculiar or not, or how bright the Mountain, Great Wyrm, and Claw are tonight.

Wyrm and Mountain

Imperial astronomancers have marked a rare Grand Conjunction of the Great Wyrm and the Mountain in the skies above the Empire. The stars known as Uril, Who Twists and Omadan, Who Breaks All Names seem particularly bright, and there is a great deal of discussion as to what it might mean (if anything) that these two stars are generally seen as being the end of the tail and the point of the snout of the notional celestial Wyrm.

The impact of this conjunction has already been felt by magicians, with siesmic changes to the way certain types of magic, specifically those associated with warfare, function. The changes in these magics have been carefully checked and rechecked by the magicians of the Unfettered Mind as part of their ongoing research on rituals in Imperial lore that might have an eternal assurance underpinning them. They are not temporary in nature; this is a permanent alteration to the way armies, warbands, and ships are enchanted, and to how certain divinations work.

By exploring these changes, the Unfettered Mind have uncovered some interesting insight into the design of arcane projections functioning in these areas - and are reasonably confident that the impact of this conjunction is not yet finished.

Unravelling

The Unfettered Mind are also the first people to spot a peculiar phenomenon that seems to have started at the same time as the Grand Conjunction. The Great Wyrm is the emblem of transformation and transfiguration, not only that change will happen but that it is inevitable. It is especially common to invoke it in magical rites and processes that deal with magic itself, and it seems that this Grand Conjunction is having a direct impact on certain forms of magic - and certain forms of magical creation. Specifically arcane projections that deal with war and warfare.

Any arcane projection issued before E1-2025 that attempts to enchant an army can no longer be cast. Likewise, arcane projections that involve enchanting a military unit or fleet will no longer function. The Grand Conjunction appears to have scrambled the magic bound into the projections themselves.

During the coming solstice, any arcane projection that no longer functions (those creating enchantments that target a military unit, fleet, Imperial army or Imperial navy), created before Winter Solstice 386YE, may be brought to GOD and exchanged for 10 crystal mana. This either represents someone intentionally speeding the unravelling process along to reclaim the mana invested in the projection, or might mean that in-character a valued projection (that the player no longer wants OOC) has fallen apart despite their best efforts. The ability to exchange defunct arcane projections for mana in this way will persist until the end of the Autumn Equinox 386YE.

OOC Note: You'll need to hand the arcane projection phys-rep over so we can mark it as inactive on our systems. We don't plan to reprint lost arcane projections for the event; if you have lost an arcane projection in downtime you can e-mail plot@profounddecisions.co.uk after the event with the details of the missing projection and we'll do our best to replace it in time for the Spring Equinox.

Drowned Man

While the drowned man is not part of the Grand Conjunction, astronomancers have indicated that there is a connection forming between its stars and those of the Great Wyrm. As a consequence, it is not possible to create an arcane projection that creates a personal curse - a curse that targets an individual. Such arcane projections that already exist can still be cast, but magicians of the Unfettered Mind theorize that it is only a matter of time before the same conjunctional effect that has diminished the power of warlike arcane projections effects arcane projections based around curses.

The Littlest College

The salons of Tassato are desolate. Comedic playwrights and witty gossips wail and rend their garments. The worst boss in the Empire, the greatest buffoon of all the Autumn Realm, the orphan-kicker himself, Sanvar Isk, has lost access to the Loom of Spells. No more can his antics provide guaranteed laughs to anyone looking for a cheap and easy punchline. Some seek consolation in the fact that he was apparently violently assaulted and dragged off by a debt collector going by the wonderful name 'Charlie Kneecaps', but it provides only cold comfort. Then an unpopular street performer does something annoying again and everyone moves on to the next essential item of gossip.

In the mean time, it seems that Sanvar Isk's greatest enemies have picked up where he left off. The Church of The Little Mother has somehow managed to leverage their wealth and contacts to take over the contract for the Loom of Spells. Tassato's mountebanks, used to picking up odd shifts at the Loom and slacking off whenever the boss turned away, have learned to fear the children tasked with keeping them working. Still, at least they pay actual money these days. It could be a lot worse.

As the equinox draws nearer, a message is sent to the civil service. The Church of The Little Mother intend to auction off the Loom once again, and apparently have decided not to break with Sanvar Isk's standard approach. A bishop of the Church will attend the Imperial Regio at 14:00 on Sunday of the forthcoming summit, where the auction will take place. Bids are to be given in mine or forest measures. It does not matter what measures are given, and bids may include a mixture of different materials. The only thing that matters is the raw quantity. They remind potential bidders that the Loom can only codify rituals of up to the tenth magnitude, but have established that the ritual Quick Study, which is part of Urizen lore, will work. The bishop taking the bids has been assigned as head of the work crews on the Loom this season, and may be targetted by this ritual if needed, though they will expect any bidders who require such a thing to have arranged their own casting and to be ready to cast it as soon as their bid is declared successful.

Visions In The Swamp

It has not been long since the Mystics of Ishal scattered from their Aviary to pursue whatever trails the omens might lead them on. Two brief seasons of walking the world have gone by. During that time they have quickly begun to reap the rewards, finding opportunities last season to defend their ancestral homes in the Swamps of Kallavesa. This season the Raven Seer set them another task: find a storied site to rebuild the Meeting Place. The Mystics have duly followed the signs that the world has given them, and have apparently found three potential places: the shores of Lake Nutjuitoq, where Tromsa meets the Suaq Wastes; Gull’s Isle, a tidal island in the Gullet that sits directly on the border between Kallavesa, Sermersuaq and Skallahn; and Coracle Rock, an ancient dolmen on the border between North Fens in Bregasland and Blutgahn in Hordalant. Any of these places, they are sure, could be a site for a new Meeting Place. There's only one problem: they have no idea why any of these places are important.

It is uncertain exactly how the visionary magic of the Goosewhisper Infusion works, and few mystics are inclined to question it. They are certain, however, that when numerous mystics have come together to meditate on matters of great importance, the visions can be powerful revelatory forces. Handfuls of soil and snow have been covertly gathered from these sites and scattered at a certain grove near the Aviary. If visions can be steered, then this would certainly steer them. Now they just need to wait for people to arrive.

There was a time when the Sentinel Gate opened every season to allow the mystics of Wintermark to return to the swamps and partake of Goosewhisper Infusion. As with so many patterns of the Empire's most mysterious artefact, it was not to last. Yet this season, prognosticators have identified that a conjunction of the gate will open at 22:05 on Friday of the forthcoming summit. It will lead to the Aviary of Ishal. The remaining Mystics of the Aviary, not at all surprised by this turn of events, intend to host a traditional Goosewhisper ceremony, as they have done many times before. Any mystic who wishes to attend is welcome to do so, though they will have to bring their own Goosewhisper - the Aviary is important, but not wealthy. The visions will, it seems, have something to say about these places and what their significance has been in the past.

Eternal Magic

There are creatures beyond the mortal world, the inhabitants of the six realms of magic, closer than they seem, further away than can be imagined. They dabble and deal, bargain and bond, offer and take, and it's hard to predict exactly where their gifts will lead. The Empire can reach out to them through the powers of the Archmage and the Imperial Conclave, but they also reach back - the one could not exist without the other - and sometimes their touch is gentle and sometimes it is harsh.

Mists, Marshes, and Marchers (Sadogua)

The Father of Bats has been in a terrible mood for the last year or more following the Towers of Zulgan Tash Incident. As with previous seasons, his favoured servant the Almighty Panjandrum have has indicated that while he continues to honour the agreement that underscores underpins Dripping Echoes of the Fen, he will not bring any additional power to bear in supporting it. As in previous seasons, the ritual will still work - it simply won't perfect protect anything beyond the region where it is cast. (OOC Note: The ritual can be cast normally, but it provides protection only the targetted region. If the region is attacked however, its effective strength is increased and it causes casualties as normal)

Furthermore, for the foreseable future, the Almighty Panjandrum won't will continue to eat answer any Missive for Sadogua sent by a Varushkan magician. They reassure such wizards that they are "absoluticately commiticuled to the precisionist presentationism of the questions sent, and the exactimundic transcribbling of the Great One's repliction."

The Hidden Lyceum

The Lyceum, the island where the Empire's first college of magic lies, is currently hidden away behind warding mists that protect it from all outside. Unfortunately it also prevents anyone from getting to or from the island. The heralds of the Black Sloth are able to reach the island thanks in part to the Quiet Annexe but mostly thanks to the Conclave having (possibly accidentally?) granted the Toad King Dominion over it.

As such, the Dean of the Lyceum can still guide the magicians there in codifying rituals and the eternal is more than happy to transport arcane projections, messages, and ritual texts back and forth. Indeed, the heralds of Wyrmwynd are ensuring that money spent by the Senate to pay for the vital supplies needed to upkeep of the college are getting through to the magicians who need them.

During the Autumn Equinox, the Imperial Conclave accepted an offer from Fogforger to find a way to permanently protect the island from outside attack. The good news from Sadogua's heralds are that he has successfully achieved this task, and with surprising swiftness. Unfortunately, in an unrelated matter, the mechanisms that powered the wards of mist and storm form the island have been rather irreparably broken and it is unlikely anyone will ever find out how that happened. The good news is that the wards will not persist indefinitely, preventing anyone from reaching the island. For good measure, the Father of Bats has encouagred two guardians of the Night realm to take up residence in the mists - the subtle and hypnotic Wyrm of Sleggoth now guards the waters and the bat-like Nightwing guards the skies above. Even if someone should find a way to penetrate the mists, these guardians would likely make short work of them.

The bad news is that he still hasn't quite worked out a way to let people through the mists so that Imperial (and Commonwealth) magicians can get in and out. He is still working on that, but the important thing is that the Lyceum is now very safe indeed. He's confident that he will be able to find a workable solution by the end of the year probably, but also notes that in the event the Grandmaster of either the Unfettered Mind or the Shuttered Lantern were to consider guiding their order to assist him and his heralds they could find an answer much earlier - although it is likely to be a bit thrown together and expensive. Or the Conclave could simply wait it out - the Lyceum probably isn't going anywhere, and everyone on it is reasonably safe.

Meeting of Minds

Last season, a delegation of Winterfolk attended a meeting with the Black Sloth arranged by the mystic Brennir Calversbairn. What passed between them during the meeting is not clear, but apparently some kind of accord was reached - at least in Kallavesa and the Dripping Echoes of the Fen. Going forward, Sadogua pledges to support that ritual when it is cast on Rundahl Marsh with the same amount of enthusiasm he used to support castings of the ritual across the Empire. That is, when Dripping echoes of the Fen is cast on Rundahl Marsh, the resulting Night magic and heralds will protect the entire territory rather than just that region. For the rest of the Empire, the ritual will continue to only affect the region it is cast on.

On the subject of Wintermark, the Brother of Wizards also commends the good work done by the mystic Wiglaf. His heralds suggest that they might wish to use Missive for Sadogua and let the Globbersnotch know what trinket or minor magic they would like for themselves in recognition of the amusement they have provided him.

The Marches

We the priests of the Marches extend a formal invitation to Sadogua and his heralds to participate in Wassail. Come and partake in drink, food, and celebration alongside us across the Marches. We also invite Sadogua to relocate the door to the Well of Shadows to the Marches if he so wishes.Rosie of Goatsbriedge, Autumn Equinox 386YE, Vote: Greater Majority 106-12

The Marcher National Assembly upheld a statement of principle invited Sadogua and his heralds to participate in Wassail, and also to relocate the door to the Well of Shadows to the Marches. Following the Autumn Equinox, a surprising number of very odd creatures turned up to join in Wassail celebrations all over the Marches, even the Mournwold. There are even stories of Night realm beings turning up to Marcher family gatherings across the Empire and even in some foreign nations. They are reasonably well behaved, excitable, full of fun and minor magics, and throw themselves into the various celebrations with enthusiasm. The Toad King himself unfortunately is unable to attend, but nonetheless offers a small boon to the folk who have proved so welcoming to his heralds.

During the Winter Solstice, any Marcher farm that is enchanted with Blessing of New Spring but does not draw on the boon of the Green Mother will grow a circle of black mushrooms somewhere within its bounds. Presuming they are collected on the night of the new moon and squeezed dry, they'll produce one of two black elixirs he calls Shinemoon. Pale Shinemoon can be used to provide a ritual magician with a little inspiration when performing a ritual using Day, Summer, or Autumn magic while Dark Shinemoon does the same but for a ritual using Night, Winter, or Spring magic. He's a little disgruntled that Yaw'nagrah has rather stolen his rattle thunder, according to the Almighty Panjandum, but does point out that unlike the Old Bloodbark, he has the shoes amity of the Imperial Conclave and so it's not time illegal to accept his boons.

With regards to the Well of Shadows, it's not entirely clear what this means but at some point following the week after Wassail, a door appears in Tower March a day's lazy hike east of King's Stoke. A meandering path, little more than a hunting trail, that nobody entirely remembers being there now connects the Stoke to the door, which is set into the bole of a massive ancient oak tree. The door is round, green, and resists all efforts to open it up to and including charging it healing with a log. The Brother of Wizards indicates that, in thanks for their continued friendship, one of the Landskeepers of the Marches can use his Well of Shadows twice more - after the Winter Solstice, and the Spring Equinox; they should already know how to let him know who they have chosen to study there. At the Summer Solstice however he will begin making other preparations. Presumably the Landskeepers of the Marches know what this is about.

Participation: Any Marcher character is encouraged to make up stories about the antics of Sadogua's heralds, assuming they visited their Wassail celebrations, using the above as a guideline. They will have been reasonably well behaved, not disruptive, friendly, and with a quite astonishing capacity for food, drink, and discordant singing.

A New Turn of the Wheel (Azoth)

Have you ever seen alchemists working on that strange stage of their experiments where iridiscent gloaming and weltsilver seem to run, to be more liquid than solid? The construct that delivers messages from The Magnum Opus to the Castle of Thorns this season moved like that, with almost no evidence of bones, or structure of any kind to their being. They seemed rather to flow to the doorway, and just as quickly melt away again, leaving behind several handfuls of tiny dodecahedral shapes covered in fine writing on every surface. The messages themselves took no small time to decipher, and the civil servants charged with the task are no clearer now on why the Azoth has chosen to take such an interest in the Empire than they were when they began. It's clear however that the eternal has some proposals for the Winter Solstice, however.

The shapes speak of an opportunity to do something unexpected with The Eight Spoked Wheel on Friday during the coming Solstice, lasting until eleven in the evening. Instead of the usual effects, three ingots or measures used in the ritual will be transformed into a Crystal Fire and a token. This token will provide a dream, and admittance for one person to a Night chamber accessed via the Hall of Worlds.

On Saturday morning, starting at half-past-ten, those with tokens can gather in the Hall of Worlds to present them and learn when they will be admitted to the chamber. The experience will take place over the course of two hours, with different individuals entering the chamber at different times.

In the experience Azoth has prepared, there are several different phrases relating to what will actually take place - hard to read half finished phrases on the shapes describe these phases, often interrupted by the numbers one and four. Repeated words include transformation, witnessing, creation, chalk, colour, exploration, expression, glitter, self, mirror, ephemeral, serenade.

Combining this with the instructions about what can be achieved by casting The Eight Spoked Wheel, the civil servants believe that Imperial Citizen's are being offered dreams to inspire them, and to then visit an night chamber where materials will be provided for them to make art. Perhaps for or perhaps with creatures of The Azoth's realm. A rather more prosaic note of an Azoth herald coming to Anvil to hire musicians suggests that inspirational music may also be provided.

Receipt Acknowledged (Lashonar)

The civil service received a visit from the chattering herald Meliflee, who explained that last season the Speaker in Dreams was delighted with the huge number of letters of longing they received. The Eater of Silence wishes to meet some of those letter writers on the Saturday afternoon of the Solstice in a night chamber which will open from the portal in the Hall of Worlds.

Meliflee explains that they have chosen the attendees, this time around, not for the artistry of their words, or the sincerity of their passion, but for some similarities of theme in the letters of longing that have arisen, and caught the attention of the heralds. They are apologetic, but cannot assist their invitees with gaining access to the Hall of Worlds - any invitees who are not magicians will need to seek out a means to do so, if they have enough interest in attending. Meliflee seems faintly embarrassed at this. "Rossignol says you'll understand," she says. "The Loquacious One asked us to make it clear that we have noticed that the Conclave and the Empire no longer favour our interests".

She goes on to explain that letter writers should expect a dream from Lashonar. Some will have invitations contained within their dreaming. For those who are not invited, they may find other things in their dream - they may be challenged to do something, or they may find that the name of another Imperial Citizen is mentioned.

This naming, Meliflee notes, is something the Conscience of Kings has allowed her to do. She has chosen names where letters were sent containing the tiniest common thread. These people do not necessarily share goals, or experiences, but, she thinks from what they wrote, that they might have something to say to each other. She also points out that there is no compulsion or even connection in the dream, it is just a name offered.

Silver Wit (Unknown)

The small garrison of Rest in the westermost region of Stark in Semersuaq is not used to receiving visitors. The guard here was re-established after the territory's reconquest, but since then has seen little action. They are surprised, therefore, when one winter's evening a well-dressed woman in Steinr garb, with something of the imperious mien of the changeling about her, walks out from the western lands of the Jotun. Her form seems to shift as she speaks, though always retaining the same haughty nobility. She is clearly not human but a herald of some kind, though she does not confirm whom she serves.

She says her name is the Witch - or perhaps she says the Wit? - of the Silver Woods. She has a message for icewalkers of the Mark who think themselves clever diplomats and friends to the ambitious, though she wishes to relay the details in person. She says she will come to Anvil at the upcoming summit to discuss the matter: she will arrive to the Wintermark fire pit around midnight on the first night of the summit, though she somewhat expects her hosts will find somewhere private to host her. She suggests that interested parties should keep themselves free both at that time and midnight on the second night, though why, she will not say.

She turns to leave, and then turns back to the guards. Her sister - the Wit - or perhaps she says the Witch? - of the Silver Woods has business with Dawn this summit, too, she says. She, however, will not be prepared to discuss that matter, so she expects that the people of the Mark will keep nosy Dawnish from their meeting.

The Dust of Stars (Barien)

The civil servants who watch over the Anvil regio between summits are used to seeing the heralds of Barien, but it is less usual to meet one who distinctly is not here to discuss Barien's challenges and the ritual thereof. As such, they are surprised when a golden figure, dressed as a Wintermark banner-bearer with a drum across their chest, emerges from the regio and quickly says just that.

They introduce themselves as Timbrel. They are a friend, it seems, of the master forgemistress Ursula Starhammer, who last summit began her search for a new apprentice. Apparently, Ursula met with a number of candidates in her forge, and enjoyed the experience. She set them something of a challenge, it seems: a challenge involving a substance called stardust, which is to be used the "forge a new hero of the Mark".

Challenges, of course, are of great interest to the Iron Duke and his servants, and Timbrel - an old friend of Ursula, it seems - is no exception. They have offered to travel to Anvil to meet Ursula's candidates and ask how their efforts with the stardust are progressing. They would be interested to hear from any of the candidate's own chosen prospects, or from any stormcrows to whom the birds have brought any news of the challenge thus far, or to any scops who have any promising leads on anyone who might have earned a name - though so to do so so quickly would be quite unexpected.

Timbrel will arrive in the Hall of Worlds at around 14:00 on the Saturday of the summit, and then they intend to head directly to Wintermark. They would be most grateful if the Keeper of the Runegrott - a neighbour of Ursula, as it happens - or a chosen representative would meet them at the entrance to the Wintermark camp and point them at a good place to meet the challengers.

Bribery, Conspiracy and Assassination (Basileia)

The City of Locks has been especially active after the recent ascension of Basileia Brazen and the reformation of her advisory council, the Five Pillars. This season is no exception, as word arrives that three different Heralds intend to visit Anvil at various times for various purposes. Truly, treachery never sleeps.

Firstly, President Orlando of the City of Locks Benevolent Association and Facilitator Kaige of the Matchmaker's Forum intend to visit Anvil at 11:00 on Saturday to offer some opportunities of their own. The City of Locks Benevolent Association is apparently primarily concerned with facilitating bribery, and its President looks forward to visiting an Empire where such practices are not only permitted, but often outright encouraged. Orlando apparently intends to drum up a little business by bringing two opportunities to pay significant bribes to foreign politicians. While the exact details of who is being bribed, what they will be bribed to do, and how much it will cost will all have to wait until the summit, the message does drop heavy hints that both of the individuals hoping to benefit from Imperial largesse are resident of nations deeply hostile to Imperial interests. Orlando's message also mentions that they would be quite happy to take offers from any titled citizens who wish to use their constitutionally-granted powers to enrich themselves. The world is full of people who will pay very well to have the levers if state pulled at their direction, and the City of Locks is always happy to act as a go-between.

Facilitator Kaige's reasons for attending Anvil are somewhat more opaque. They also intend to offer some form of opportunity to the Empire, but say even less than President Orlando about what this will entail. While the Matchmaker's Forum do arrange marriages and other romantic entanglements, they also apparently encourage more clandestine liaisons. As part of this, they apparently control access to a mysterious Chamber which they refer to as the Conspirator's Congress. They are apparently minded to grant the Empire the ability to use this Chamber for its intended purpose, although what this will cost and what it will entail are matters for later discussion.

There is an odd and unexplained coda to these announcements: President Orlando and Facilitator Kaige would quite like to speak with Enchanter Edmund Torawyr and Florence i Fuego i Erigo respectively. It remains unclear why Heralds of the City of Locks continue to insist on speaking with apparently random Imperial citizens rather than titled officials, but they seem fundamentally disinclined to explain their motivations. Interested citizens might do well to seek out those named individuals if they wish to learn more.

Separately, Mistress Alabaster of the Guild of Accountants will attend Anvil to discuss the contact her people have been working on in the Mournwold. As has been noted elsewhere, an unknown Imperial citizen has apparently requested the aid of the City of Locks in ending the life of Jarl Haakon, and the Guild of Accountants have apparently obliged. According to the somewhat terse details given to the civil service, payment will be handled by the customer and the Military Council will not need to concern themselves with such matters. Mistress Alabaster will attend Anvil via the Hall of Worlds at 14:00 on Saturday to discuss matters with her client. If the Military Council elect to take the field in the Mournwold, she also intends to seek out the Field Marshal for said battle in order to clarify details of what assistance her people will provide. She will also offer details of what benefits the City of Locks are prepared to offer in exchange for Jarl Haakon's effects.

And Finally... (Tharim)

At the advisement of the Hakima we warn the Freeborn of Quzar to avoid the heralds of Tharim. Do not engage or provoke them. Continue to live with passion and joy despite these grim guests. We intend no offence to them. Their business is theirs - and our business is our own.Martha i Guerra, Freeborn Assembly, Autumn Equinox 386YE, Vote: Greater Majority 134-0

The Bound King has, for some time, been providing his black-armoured Bleak Knights as auxilliaries to fight alongside Imperial armies. During the Spring Equinox last year, Tharim offered a new deal, but Ematius of Urizen, as Archmage of Winter, politely declined. Since then, the knights - a thousand strong warband of ruthless magical warriors - have been camped in Lightsea and show no sign of going anywhere. They did go and look at the destruction caused by the rising of the Scorrero, and apparently found it very entertaining.

During the Autumn Equinox, the Freeborn assembly reassured the people of Quzar - perhaps understandably concerned that there were a thousand very-hard-to-kill wickedly-cruel warriors camped on their doorstep - that they should leave the Bleak Knights alone and trust them to do the same. They have done so, although there have been a few reports of one or two Bleak Knights turning up unexpectedly in various parts of Madruga, apparently just to watch people. They give a horrible and unsettling impression of people waiting for something.

Tharim himself remains silent on why exactly his heralds have not returned to the Winter realm. He 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. This business with the knights, though, has people thinking. Back in Autumn 381YE a trio of heralds entered the Empire in the Copse of the Bone Birch in Upwold. One of them, Obligatus, is apparently still there but the other two... are pretty much unaccounted for. In fact, over the last several years there seem to be a lot more cases of heralds of Tharim entering the Empire than there are reports of them leaving. A few people wonder if this is something the Conclave should be concerned about?

Obviously, the Bound King is extremely prickly about disrespect, and so if anyone were minded to raise the matter of his heralds not going back to the Wasteland with him they would likely want to do so very carefully. He is an ally of the Empire, however, so perhaps those people concerned about these Bleak Knights and such are just looking for shadows to jump at. Perhaps.

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