Two for joy

"A Thousand Eyes of the Sun and Moon greets the courteous vassals of the Empire and bids them convey our words to the Speaker and their flock."Juna looked at the glowing ball of white light and tried to work out how it was speaking. It had introduced itself as the Mouth of Infinity, but as far as she could see the one thing it definitely did not possess was a mouth. Next to her, her counterpart from Wintermark was frantically trying to scribble everything down. She was not quite sure which of them had draw the short straw, the one trying to talk to a ball of glowing light that spoke ludicrously affected prose, or the one who had to write it all down."We congratulate the Speaker and their wise flock for their prudent choices. The assertions they will make are pleasing in our eye."Nope, no eye either. Just a glowing ball of light... Wonder how it takes a piss? she thought and stifled a laugh. Her colleague stopped writing long enough to glare at her, so she gestured to the herald to prompt it to continue."The Unblinking Eye would reward such illumination with their support should that be pleasing to your Empire. If the Magpies wish to send a plenipotentiary in search of a jewel they seek whose location was known once and will be known again but is not known now, then we will render what assistance we are able to resolve this occlusion.""Er... Thanks... I think." Juna desperately tried to think of something intelligent to say. With little better option she chose the first thing that came to mind. "Only an archmage can send a plenipotentiary." she explained.Impossibly, yet undeniably the ball of light threw her a look of derision, without ever moving. Obviously she'd imagined that - the thing didn't have any features for virtue's sake. Yet when it spoke there was now a clear note of irritation and disdain in its voice."Perhaps your Hierarchs might put the archmage at the service of those who seek that which was lost? Or else dissolve that herald and requite those powers in the hands of those who are reborn in this sodality?"Even with her training it took a few seconds to catch what the herald was suggesting but once she caught on Juna had to pretend to cough to cover her laughter. "Er... I don't think that's going to happen. I'm not a magistrate but even I know that would be unconstitutional." she explained as politely as possible."Yes. You are correct. A Thousand Eyes have seen that you do not do this. It is good that we have communicated clearly. Please convey our words to your Magpies in anticipation of the use they will make of them. Now we speak of the request from your Hierarch of Day that A Thousand Eyes assist you to locate three relics whose location was known once, and may be known again, but is not known now..."The ball of light trailed off a moment, allowing the scribe time to catch up. It really did see all it would appear.

Overview

Following the successful creation of the Apothecaries' Guild at the Winter Solstice, the Senate passed administrative Senate motions approving the establishment of two additional Imperial sodalities, the Magpies and the Vallornguard.

The Magpies are a sodality dedicated to the acquisition of historical artifacts, the first of its kind in the Empire. There have been organisations in the past that have tried to find and locate lost items for people, but there has never been a sodality that is devoted purely to that cause.

In accordance with the procedures developed for the Apothecaries' Guild, the civil service have done what they can to make people across the Empire aware of the manifesto of the Magpies, so that citizens can consider if they wish to join. As is often the case, this has provoked interest from various corners. Intrigued by the new possibilities, disparate groups have come forward with agendas of their own.

The first task is for all the new members to be inducted into the sodality. To assist with that, the civil service have prepared arcane projections that will allow a large number of citizens to join. Once everyone has had a chance to join then the sodality can consider any response.

Before any of that can happen, however, the creation of the sodality must be ratified by the Throne. Somewhat awkwardly, it appears that the civil service have made a glaring error and failed to obtain the ratification of Emperor Vesna for the new sodality. If that does not proceed, then all the other issues are likely to become moot.

Ratification

The creation of a sodality is a constitutional vote requiring ratification by the Throne. The Office of the Speaker assumed that that had happened and has instructed the civil service to communicate the existence of the new sodality to the Empire, so that people can begin to join. However, the Throne has informed the civil service (and they have since confirmed) that the motion was not brought to them for ratification.

The Throne will have an opportunity to correct the civil service's error at the beginning of the next summit, but the Throne is under no obligation of any kind to ratify the motion. The ability to ratify a constitutional motion is one of the most important powers of the Throne - and is a decision only they can make.

If Throne ratifies the creation of the Magpies, then the establishment of the new sodality will proceed exactly as laid out below.

If the creation of the Magpies is not ratified, it remains in suspension and may be ratified by the current Throne or any future occupant of the Throne at any time. If that happens, then the Magpies won't be established as an Imperial sodality. The space reserved for them to meet in the Senate chamber will remain available, but they will not gain any legal benefits, and there will be no impact for historical research or similar.

Joining the Sodality

To aid the formation of the new sodality, the civil service has created an arcane projection that will allow everyone present who is willing to join. The magnitude 20 Autumn ritual is identical to the one provided during the creation of the Silver Chalice and will be presented to the incumbent Speaker of the Magpies Morgan Waystone Path. If a lot of people wish to join the sodality this will help to reduce the costs required.

The civil service has reserved the use of the Senate chamber for the Magpies from 15:00 to 15:30 on the Saturday. The first order of business is likely to be performing the ritual, so the Speaker or a member of the sodality would need to find ten mana crystals and a coven prepared to cast it, if they intend to use it. After everyone has had a chance to join the sodality, the title of Speaker of the Magpies will be elected. The title already exists, but falls vacant at this summit. It was previously appointed by the Assembly of Vigilance - the Senate have confirmed that it will henceforth be elected by members. If any legal powers have been delegated to the sodality, then they will be able to employ them by simple vote of Magpies present at this point.

Aid and coordinate Imperial efforts to seek out lost artefacts and historical knowledge Support the interests of historians and artefact hunters of the Empire Ensure accountability, protection, work, and suitable reward for the historians and artefact hunters of the EmpireManifesto of the Magpies

Scrutiny

The Constitutional Court has scrutinised the manifesto of the Magpies and identified two clear constitutional implications.

The first is the issue of historical research. Currently the authority to direct the Department of Historical Research lies with the Senate. The manifesto that the Senate have given the Magpies makes clear that this authority should pass to the sodality. This conflict must be resolved as quickly as possible to avoid a constitutional impasse.

The second issue is the election of the Golden Fleet Salvagemaster. This Highborn position is currently elected through the Bourse, by the Tally of the Votes, and has the power to recover historical items each season from the wreck of the Barabbine Fleet where it lies off the coast of Arbonne. The well-worn path for a title that recovered historical items would be appointment by the Magpies. It is not essential to amend the title - but the Senate could do so if they chose.

There may well be other issues that will come to light in the future on further scrutiny or other powers that the Imperial Senate could theoretically grant the Magpies; the two legal issues listed below are only the ones identified by the court at this stage.

Historical Research

The manifesto of the Magpies, laid down by the Imperial Senate, explicitly grants them the authority to "aid and coordinate Imperial efforts to seek out lost artefacts and historical knowledge". If people assumed the focus of the sodality would be to find lost items, their manifesto is very explicit that it also covers the coordination of Imperial efforts to seek out lost historical knowledge.

The only constitutionally coherent interpretation of this clause is that it is the role of the Magpies to coordinate historical research. If that is what the Senate intended, then the Senate must devolve the authority for historical research to the sodality. To enable the Senate to determine which option they prefer, the Constitutional Court have asked the office of the Speaker to raise the following administrative motion in the Friday session. The motion is unusual, but is constructed in such a way as to ensure that the constitutional conflict is guaranteed to be resolved whether the Senate pass or refuse the motion.

To amend the first line of the Magpies manifesto to be "Aid and coordinate Imperial efforts to seek out lost artefacts."Administrative Senate Motion

Pass

If the Senate pass the administrative motion and it is not vetoed then the manifesto of the Magpies will be amended as per the motion.

Fail

If the motion fails - that is, if it is rejected by the Senate, or it is vetoed by the Imperial Synod or the Throne), then the manifesto of the Magpies will remain as unchanged. That will have four key legal consequences:

    The authority to direct the department of historical research will be devolved from the Senate to the Magpies. The Magpies will be able to direct historical research by simply majority vote of members during a session of the sodality. Appointment by the Magpies would become the well worth path for any title with the power to direct historical research The power to appoint the Minister of Historical Research will pass to the Magpies. If the sodality appoint a Minister of Historical Research, then the title holder would need to make their announcement during a formal session of the sodality, not to the Senate. Their powers would be adjusted accordingly.

The title is due to be elected at this summit, so unless there is a change to the sodality's manifesto, that election will be scheduled to take place during the first formal session of the sodality. Candidates for the position should present themselves to the sodality, the civil servant will permit each candidate to give a short speech extolling their virtues, allow the sodality to ask questions and then conduct a vote on who the sodality wishes to appoint.

There is no requirement for titles appointed by the sodality to be a member of the sodality - so any citizen could approach the sodality and ask to be appointed as the Minister for Historical Research.

Salvage Rights

In Spring 386YE, the Suranni Duke of Arbonne auctioned off the salvage rights to the remains of the Barabbine Fleet (also known as the "Golden Fleet"). The ill-fated venture of the Highborn emperor, which saw three navies founder in their attempt to invade the Broken Shore, is the resting place of Emperor Barabbas and many who supported him. Despite fierce competition from several interested parties, the rights to salvage the wrecks were purchased by Caleb of the Cenotaph of Highguard, who decided to focus salvage efforts on the recovery of relics and items of historical interest instead of weirwood and wealth. Salvage efforts are the responsibility of the Golden Fleet Salvagemaster - a Highborn title which, like the Minister for Historical Research, is up for re-election at this summit.

Given that this title recovers lost items of historical interest, the well worn path for election would be appointment by the Magpies. While the Salvagemaster also recovers a small amount of valuable resources, it is very clear that the focus of the title is on recovering antiquities. The Court would look askance at any attempt to have the Bourse appoint other titles that deal with the collection of historical relics - now that there is a body of states with that responsibility. But the Senate could choose to leave the existing title as is, in which case the civil service would simply note that the irregular election method should not be taken as an example of a well-worn path when considering other positions.

Patronage

Any new sodality is bound to create interest from various groups across the Empire and beyond and the Magpies are no exception. Some of those groups are prepared to offer patronage in one or another to the sodality, but only if they are confident that the Magpies will represent their interests. As a result, each of them is pushing for some changes to the manifesto in return for their offers of support.

Changing a manifesto of a sodality is expensive and difficult - it requires a constitutional motion which is not easily obtained. Given that challenge, each of the groups is promising aid to the new sodality if their requirements are satisfied. It seems unlikely that they could all be made happy, but in theory, a single Senate motion could rewrite the entire manifesto, provided the new wording was constitutional.

Spiders Eat Maggots

It is perhaps no surprise that the torchbearers of Urizen might take an interest in the Magpies, given their stated goals to protect and support historians and recover historical knowledge. Their is some scepticism however - there are some cynics who suggest that the Magpies are really just treasure-hunters, barely more than maggots, who have only coopeted the robes of historians to give them a patina of respectability. These Urizeni historians want to see evidence that the sodality is committed to more than just tomb-robbing.

Of all the torchbearers, the Sacharissans emphasise recovering and storing knowledge. One group, the torchbearers of Spider's Vantage in Redoubt are keen to motivate the new sodality to do more than just pay lip-service to their goals. Originally founded by Sacharissa, the spire of Spider's Vantage has grown to become a large well-established centre for the distribution of knowledge. Despite the attempt three years ago by Faraden agents to destroy the spire, it still has an impressive library and an equally impressive reputation for scholarship.

The spire hopes the sodality will do everything they can to demonstrate a similar commitment to scholasticism. In their view the best evidence of that would be if the Magpies find a way to persuade the Senate to reject the administrative motion and grant the sodality the power of historical research. If that happens, then it will be harder for anyone to deny that the Magpies are every bit as committed to unearthing the secrets of the past as they are to recovering its treasures.

The spire would have the Magpies go one stop further though. Rather than appoint the Minister for Historical Research, they argue it would be better to move the Senate to abrogate the title, or if that isn't possible, to simply leave it vacant. If that happens, if the power to commission historical research is devolved from the Imperial Senate to the Magpies but the title is not appointed for any reason, then the sodality would be able to commission the research by majority vote of sodality members. The torchbearers of Spider's Vantage argue that this is a better basis for ensuring that the power to uncover truth does not end up concentrated in the hands of one person but remains in possession of the entire sodality.

If the sodality are successful in persuading the Senate to confirm their manifesto, thereby granting them authority to direct the Department of Historical Research, and they do not appoint the Minister for Historical Research (or the title is abrogated) then the spire will gather mana from Urizeni torchbearers for the sodality as an ongoing bequest. They will provide the sodality with twenty-one mana that can be granted to a single member of the sodality each season by simple vote for as long as the sodality continues to conduct historical research and support prompt publication of the results by the civil service.

The Sacharissans are clear that this bequest would be intended for the use of the entire sodality; that it would be "their" mana crystals, just as the contents of a Conclave order's vaults are the property of the order. Legally such bequests have to be endowed on a single citizen, so that they can be efficiently dealt with by the civil service, but the torchbearers would expect the sodality to collectively determine how this bequest should be utilised each summit.

Publish and Be Damned

The final statement of the Magpies' manifesto says that it exists to "Ensure accountability, protection, work, and suitable reward for the historians and artefact hunters of the Empire". This broad statement seems to cover all the possible bases, ensuring that every aspect of the needs of historians and artefact hunters are included in the sodality's remit. However, the statement is so complete that some people have pointed out that it somewhat invalidates the second clause which simply states that the sodality will support the interests of historians and artefact hunters. What interests could there be, that aren't already covered by the final part of the manifesto?

Such nit-picking is in the service of a higher agenda. Historians in Highguard and the League note that the Magpies are clearly going to work to support historians and antiquarians, but there is no mention of any efforts by the sodality to protect the work itself. There's no suggestion that the sodality cares what happens to their work after it is recovered. Are the members only interested in the thrill of adventure and the pursuit of the unknown? Or are they also prepared to contemplate how important it is to preserve the items and lore they have recovered?

The suggestion is that the second line of the manifesto could be entirely replaced with a new statement focusing the sodality on the preservation of lore and the protection of libraries and museums. Perhaps if such a sodality had existed in the time of Emperor Nicovar, someone might have acted to stop the mad Emperor before so many libraries were destroyed? Of course that would represent a significant expansion of the sodality's remit, encouraging librarians and curators to join the sodality and give it their support. That might dilute the Magpies purpose and thereby weaken it - or it might broaden their support and strengthen it.

Any change is only likely if the Magpies decide to lobby for it, but it would not be easy either way. To rewrite the manifesto would require a constitutional vote by the Senate. That would lead to further scrutiny by the Constitutional Court, which might well bring yet more legal powers and titles under the remit of the sodality - something the Imperial Senate might not be keen to permit.

These groups have no interest in putting their support behind a group of treasure hunters and rumour chasers, but if the sodality is able to expand its scope to incorporate the promulgation and preservation of history and lore, then it would see a swell of interest in, and patronage from, these well-established groups.

The Printers Guild of Tassato are one of the foremost publishing houses of the Empire, much to the chagrin of their less well-known rivals the Holberg Historical Press. The latter group comfort themselves with the nation that while their work may not sell as well as the material published by the Printers Guild, they have higher scholastic standards. Of course, being eclipsed by their more successful competitors means that while the printing presses of the guild are booked up months in advance, the print rooms of the Holberg Historical Press have considerable spare capacity.

The Holberg Historical Press are pinning their hopes for prominence on an offer of patronage for the Magpies. If the sodality succeeds in updating their manifesto as outlined above then they will offer the services of their printing house to the sodality at discounted rates. Their proposal is short but simple - they would need a Throne to help cover the printing costs each time, but provided that was forthcoming they would publish a single manuscript each season and ensure it was widely available across the Empire (OOC Note: - the Speaker for the Magpies would need to email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk with a simple pdf containing a piece of writing from the Empire setting, which would be added to the wiki in the same vein as used for the Seer of the Gateway).

The Shape of Water

The guidance for the creation of a sodality originally issued by the civil service contains a glaring error. The manifesto stating what the sodality exists to do is crucial for the civil service to judge what legal powers fall within a sodality's remit, but a complete manifesto - of the kind employed by a Conclave order should begin with three assertions, three clear, concise statements of belief. The first three statements of belief should complement the second part of the manifesto giving guidance and direction on the sodality's purpose and goals.

The official guidance has now been updated, so anyone looking to create a sodality in the future would need to have a complete manifesto, but the Magpies have time to carefully consider the right way to word their three assertions. Once they have these details agreed with the other members, they can inform the Civil Service who will then update the official details. (OOC note: the guild leader should email plot@profounddecisions.co.uk with the details once they are agreed).

While many Imperial citizens are more concerned with the sodality's legal position and powers, the lack of any assertions seems to particularly perplex the eternals of the Day Realm. Two of them have sent heralds, to pass on messages on this matter. While this might seem like nothing more than punctilious perfectionism, the Apothecaries Guild also failed to lay out their assertions yet none of the Day eternals seem bothered about that. Clearly there is something about the Magpies which is of considerable importance to the worthies of the Day Realm.

The first herald is from Leviathan, a peculiar creature called Moonquill - a short, squat fellow with the wide head of a monkfish. He asks the civil service to pass on a greeting from the The Watcher Beneath the Waters. The eternal is hopeful that the sodality will ensure that their assertions include a clear statement extolling the benefits of knowing the past as a route to understanding the present and charting a course into the future.

If that happens, The Dweller in the Depths would only be too happy to stand as a patron of the sodality. When asked what benefits their patronage might offer, Moonquill seems a bit confused. The Abyssal Lord already answers the questions of Imperial magicians who seek to understand why things happen - what more help could they possibly offer.

After some thought, the herald states that if the sodality adopt a set of assertions that are pleasing to the Dweller, then he will grant them a wetstone. This non-descript rock taken from deep in the Day realm is always wet to the touch no matter where it is left. The wetstone will have a boon on it that lasts a year, allowing it to be invoked once each summit while a coven is employing an effigy to send a question to the eternal. If that happens, then the eternal will permit the coven to ask a question about the history of a specific relic or antiquity. Moonquill cautions that the Dweller in the Depths cannot tell the sodality where such a thing might be found - for that they would need to spend with Kimus - but he can reveal what he knows of the history of this item, provided it is clearly described to him.

Of course, the herald is happy to confirm that the Watcher Beneath the Waters would welcome regular questions sent to him by members of the sodality.

To Infinity And Beyond

A beautiful ball of silver light that calls itself the Mouth of Infinity makes a special visit to the Hub to pass on the congratulations of the Unblinking Eye to the Speaker of the Magpies and their entire "flock". Having observed the assertions chosen by the Magpies, She Who Watches is very pleased by the decisions the sodality will make and accordingly she stands ready to support them.

The Mouth claims that the Unblinking Eye has received a plenipotentiary from Gralka, the Archmage of Day. In that missive, the Archmage has levelled several requests of the eternal, including three objects they wish help in finding. Given the many and varied nature of the Archmage's requests, the Unblinking Eye has chosen to help the Empire find one of the three requested antiquities. However rather than decide themselves, in recognition of the wise choices that the sodality will make for its assertions, the eternal will grant the Magpies the right to choose.

The three items that the Unblinking Eye could find are;

The Archmage may be able to provide the sodality with more information - or perhaps the citizens who are seeking these things can. Either way the Unblinking Eye is content for the sodality to determine which item the eternal will look for. Moonquill will return briefly after the summit is over to speak with the civil service to find the outcome of any vote on this matter taken by the Magpies during their session on the Saturday.

The Mouth of Infinity claims that the Unblinking Eye hopes that the Magpies will have more such questions for them in the future. The Mouth makes a number of suggestions, most of which are unconstitutional, but the useful interpretation of the herald's words are that the eternal would welcome any effort by the Archmage to use their power to help the sodality in this way. If the Archmage requests help finding an item, then eternal will assume that that request comes with the endorsement of the Magpies and will render what aid they can. If the Archmage requests several items, then the eternal will send their heralds to ask the sodality which item they want to prioritise.

This approval by Kimus might be contingent on the sodality choosing a set of assertions that the eternal finds pleasing, but since they seem to perceive that that has already happened even though it definitely hasn't, then perhaps everything will just be fine.

Further Reading

Playback Speed