What shall we do now?

The Grand Ilarch Keloparia of Maykop was feeling... snippy. The fire was too warm, but more than a few minutes with the windows unshuttered plunged the room into a deathly frozen chill and blew all the candles out. She very much wanted to make her irritable mood someone else's problem and fortunately one of her secretaries, Andis, was giving her that opportunity."Is there anything else, or can I get back to being bitter about the inevitability of death," she demanded, glaring at Andis over the top of her spectacles. The man had an excellent poker face - if he was annoyed by the various unhelpful demands and make-work tasks she head responded to his otherwise quite reasonable queries with, he did not show it."I have some... memos," he said, a tad grimly."Oh? What about?" She had a suspicion she knew what it was about."The matter of your communication to Ilarch Maxatious regarding the fine arts and moribund arts curricula." Andis was the only member of her staff she knew who insisted on saying "curricula". As if he thought it made him better than anyone else."I'm sure," she said. "Go on then?""Lecturer Molkoth of the history department has written a quite detailed explanation as to how they think allowing more Imperial students to attack the Halls will inevitably see us all murdered in our beds in what they are calling a second Solokha. Professor Nehaemoth doesn't go quite that far, but raises the spectre of trying to teach theology in a classroom full of slaves of that hateful old bastard by which I assume she means the Creator. Despite the fact that according to my notes she has a class of only a dozen students, mostly doing it for the merits, and none of them are from the Empire nor have been for the last year... no two years.""Tell her that I will actively encourage them to come and excommunicate her. Tedious old woman that she is." Nehaemdth had been Grand Ilarch for a few years two decades ago and felt that gave her special status. Keloparia did not like her. Andis made a little note on his pad, and continued reading off the various parchments he still held in his folder."The Bursar proposes that we charge higher fees for Imperial citizens to study art here because of... additional wear and tear and supplies and so forth.""Her answer to everything is to charge higher fees." The Grand Ilarch considered for a few moments. "But she has a point as always. Add ten percent on and see if anyone notices.""Very good, Grand Ilarch. Honoured Doctor Timoret again expresses 'legitimate concerns' that more Freeborn students will bring down the tone of our sacred halls, with their gaudy garb and raucous singing, and their ways that are so very different to good Axou ways and..."Keloparia cut him off. "Has anyone actually from the art department actually said anything? Or is it just the usual bores being boring?"Andis riffled through his papers, which the Grand Ilarch knew was just a performance for her benefit. There was no way Andis had not memorised everything before entering the office."Let me see. Dean Ketna says that she is looking forward to some fresh perspectives, and mentions that while the whole Andretti affair was obviously horrible and terrible and what have you, it was over a century ago and also by all accounts incredibly exciting. I think she will be disappointed if none of the Imperial exchange students are serial killers, if I'm honest."The Grand Ilarch barked a laugh."She does mention that she's a little worried that they may have some gauche ideas about colours, but I think that's a more technical issue. As for Master Kessed... he says that he is very much looking forward to discovering what a warrior-artist is, and anticipates the excitement that a people who traditionally burn their dead will bring to the study of the moribund arts."Andis shuddered at the word "burn" - the idea of disrespecting those condemned to the Labyrinth in such a way horrified most right-minded Axou.Keloparia didn't care one way or another. "Typical artist; always desperate for a bit of drama."She considered for a few moments. It was clear the majority of the faculty were very unhappy by anything that reminded the Empire that they were welcome to send students to Maykop. On the other hand, the idea of disgruntling that band of annoying bores had quite cheered her day up."Right, bin off all those other memos. Invite Ketna, Kessed, and three other members of the department to dine with me and make sure the rest of the faculty know about it. But also - " and here she lowered her voice slightly and spoke very seriously "- make sure that the more dangerous necromantia tomes, and you know the ones I mean, are all accounted for and under lock and key. We really do not want a repeat of the Andretti incident now matter how dramatic and exciting it was."

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.

Imperial relations with the Citadels of Axos are slowly warming but the path is littered with bear traps. The hard work done in Solokah has helped mitigate most of the bad feeling remaining after the incident with the raid on Tsark. They remain members of the Liberty Pact and while they may dislike elements of the Empire it's clear that at least some of them value the opportunities presented by trade with their overwhelming neighbour to the west. On the other hand, the little nation is clearly undergoing a level of internal upheaval at the moment thanks to the ambitions of Grand Ilarch Kyther, recently ascended to the Throne of Kaban. And, of course, they remain as prickly as ever to any hint of condescension or paternalism from the Empire.

The Axou Ambassador to the Empire is Ilarch Maxatios of the Towers of Kantor. They are a close relation of Grand Ilarch Katya, the nominal ruler of the citadel of Kantor, and are the primary point of contact for Imperial citizens wishing to communicate with the smaller nation. They often seem exasperated with their Imperial counterparts, frustrated by their apparent inability to get the Empire to recognise that Axos is a nation worthy of respect.

Fintan Nighthaven remains Ambassador to Axos.

Questions of Risk

The Axou Ambassador thanks his Imperial counterpart for delivering a warning about storms in Redoubt raised by the Children of Wrecks. There is some concern in the citadels about the logistics of continuing to trade across the Bay of Catazar. Between the regular storms, the Grendel, the Children, and the Asavean bounty placed on ships trading with the Empire traders are finding it increasingly difficult to justify continuing the risky trade. Closer trade ties with the Sarcophan Delves mean that there are more lucrative ports for Axou merchants prepared to brave the Sea of Teeth, and for all their national character is one of surliness and condescendion, the Commonwealth ports have kept to the principals outlined in the Liberty Pact and offer valuable goods at a reasonable price. Can the Ambassador offer Ilarch Maxatious any sort of reassurance that at least some of the problems in the Bay of Catazar are to be dealt with soon?

Illarch Maxatious is concerned that all Imperial forces have pulled out of Therunin this season, given the presence of the Khiklotu Khrysoú trading post there. They are watching with significant interest to see what happens to Menoetius, the popular agema who has fallen into the hands of the Druj. Fortunately the Khiklotu Khrysoú traders heeded the warnings issuing from the Imperial Synod of all places, and avoided getting trapped at Peakedge Stead.

Given the Druj have overrun the territory, and the Empire appears to have abandoned Therunin, and that there is talk of the Navarr intentionally goading the vallorn into full wakefulness, the Khiklotu Khrysoú do not intend to reopen trading in the east even if the Navarr are restored to sovereignty over the marshy woodlands. They are considering if they ought to take this opportunity to cut their losses; one of the things causing them to be cautious about focusing their efforts elsewhere is that the trade with the Empire has been reasonably lucrative in the last few years.

Technical Difficulties

It seems Ambassador Nighthaven' congratulations regarding the re-opening of the docks at Issyk might have been premature.The repairs were well underway, and the planned expansion nearly complete, when some of the investors began dragging their feet and apparently trying to get out of their contractual obligations. They have reassured the Chambers that they will find someone else to take over their investments, but Ilarch Maxatious is quite cutting about the reliability of the "Sarcophan Beetle House."

Maxatious is also a little cutting about Ambassador Nighthaven's proposal that he should "Challenge the citizens of the Empire to craft the perfect play for the citizens of Issyk" as part of the "celebration" of the docks opening. The Ilarch has no particular interest in challenging the Empire to create a theatrical entertainment, but has at least ensured that Grand Ilarch Andronicus is aware of the offer. League plays are in demand in that citadel, particularly artistic efforts that cater to the dark comedic-tragic sensibilities of the Issykoi, and obviously troupes are welcome to visit the citadel whenever they wish.

Regardless, Maxatious reassures the Ambassador that Andronicus has made little secret of the fact that they intend the docks to be available to Imperial merchants. While they will not receive particular favour when visiting, he is confident the situation will be more palatable than it was when the last time the docks were open.

Luxurious Trade

Ilarch Maxatious is perhaps a little surprised to hear that the Empire is especially interested in things other than "common herbs, forest, or mine materials". after some discussion with the merchants of Kantor, the Ilarch is pleased to tell the Ambassador that there will be an opportunity for Imperial vessels visiting the docks below the Towers to acquire two Axou consumables he has heard arouse some interest in the Empire (and that as far as he knows are not illegal). In place of orichalcum, going forward, Imperial traders will receive 2 doses of Sable, and a dose of Blackened Key.

Sable is also known as Kraken's Ink in some parts of Axos. It is a delicious black liquid that is very popular with high-status sorcerers who need to maintain a clear head for leadership. It also has a certain "edge" to it in that it is also used by participants in the bloody pit fights that entertain some of the lower echelons of Axou society. Blackened Key is a much more cerebral substance, often used by practitioners of necromantia to achieve a meditative state of mind before they interact with the spirits of the departed - indeed when consumed by even the least skilled magician it allows them to speak with ghosts and phantoms for a short time.

There are other potentially interesting luxury items or tools of the sorcerers trade that might be made available to Imperial visitors. Ilarch Maxatious will continue to work with the various high-ranking trading houses to see what deals might be secured. If the Ambassador can make any suggestions, the Ilarch will bear them in mind and communicate them to Axou merchants.

One delicate matter that the Ilarch mentions in passing is that no Axou merchant will deal with Yellow Lotus (which is also known as Fallow Essence). He has heard that there have been unscrupulous individuals trading this substance with Imperial ne'er-do-wells. The substance is instantly recognisable by its pungent, unpleasant odour and sickeningly sweet taste. The Grant Ilarch won't go into too much detail, but indicates that the drug is illegal in Axos. If the rumours that someone has been trading it to Imperial traders are true, he would be interested in any information about who has been responsible for it.

Pacts and Politics

One thing that has apparently irritated Ilarch Maxatious is Ambassador Fintan's reference to an agreement related in some way to the Liberty Pact. The Imperial Ambassador has been very vague about this treaty or pact or whatever it is, while also making disturbing comments such as "we would not want to risk breaking either pact and betray allies who have supported us in the efforts to end slavery across creation." The Empire is free to discuss pacts with other nations - obviously! - but why would the Ambassador bring this particular discussion up and then studiously not explain why it might be relevant to Axos. Are the Axou not capable of making their own decisions about pacts and treaties that might affect them?

Ilarch Maxatious flat out demands the Ambassador provide actual details about what this pact is - if you respect Axos you won't make decisions on our behalf and if it potentially impinges on Imperial membership of the Liberty Pact, perhaps as a co-signatory to the pact the Axou deserve to learn the details? After all, it was Ambassador Fintan that brought this deal up in the vaguest possible terms - the least they can do now is explain what it is about.

Momento Mori

One unexpected matter involves the Halls of Maykop. Apparently an Imperial citizen named Allegra i Riqueza, a "warrior artist of the Brass Coast" has been in correspondence with the Grand Ilarch of the citadel about the possibility of visiting the Halls to study Axou art. There have been problems in the past with Imperial artists, but the Halls of Maykop pride themselves on the flexibility of their curriculum and on accepting foreign students who sincerely wish to study under the masters of the Axou arts.

As such, Ilarch Maxatious has been asked to remind Imperial students that there is already an existing agreement with Maykop negotiated with the Senate several years ago by Mistress Isephenia - the well respected professor in the faculty of natural philosophy who is on extended sabbatical in the Empire. As the Bursar of the House of Spirits liases with Axos students in the Empire, so Imperial students are welcome to attend the university and study the mundane disciplines taught at the Halls of Maykop. They can study history, philosophy, the natural sciences, engineering, rhetoric, and indeed both fine art and the more moribund arts associated with death.

Grand Ilarch Keloparia considers the enquiry by Allegra i Riqueza to have been distinctly appropriate however given the whole Andretti incident and commends them on their civility. She will be pleased to welcome Imperial artists to study in Axos if they wish to do so - and of course assuming they pay the traditional fees.

Participation: Any character is free to roleplay that they have spent some time studying in Maykop. The existing agreement made in 383YE allows Imperial students to visit Maykop, and Axou students to study at the centres of learning in the Empire. The only exception is that neither sets of students study the magical arts - it is a purely mundane exchange program.

War in the North

Last season, the Axou Ambassador passed on a request from General Dancia Terricos of Ipotavo requesting one of the League generals, or former League generals, to share with her the Imperial plans for the Mallum. This is particularly relevant as news of the Empire's foray into the Sarangrave reaches the citadel responsible for guarding Axos from the Druj. The general has been pleased to receive a missive from Gabriel Barossa, general of the Towerjacks and former general of the Wolves of War, and has asked Ilarch Maxatious to pass on their thanks and kind regards.

Maxatious does so, and mentions that he understands the letter was very well received, although Dancia has declined to speak of the contents. She will reply directly to the former general, however, rather than troubling the Axou Ambassador with details of strategy and logistics. The Ilarch does point out that Axos is not without interest in the Mallum themselves, and that he is very much looking forward to Grand Ilarch Terricos' upcoming address to the gathering of Grand Ilarchs, due to take place during the Spring Equinox at the Chambers of Issyk. It seems that the former general has gone up in the world.

Dark in the Light

For some months now there has been a movement in Axos to attempt to cleanse the dark malaise that hangs over the ruins of the sixth citadel, the Spires of Solokha. Destroyed during the reign of Emperor Nicovar, and left a haunted sinkhole of malignancy, it has previously resisted all efforts to reclaim the land or rebuild the citadel. For centuries the hills have been haunted by the tormented ghosts of those who died in the fall of the citadel, and by large areas cursed with vicious hauntings (an axou term for lingering spontaneous location auras). When Eilian Sweetwater visited the place as part of a historical research expedition, he wrote of "the hungry spirits of those ancestors who had gone nearly two centuries forgotten and without the honours that the living paid to them and of "the darkness (that) had seeped into the very hills themselves, and corrupted unguarded minds."

A recent grass roots movement in Axos committed themselves to reclaiming the haunted ruins. The Axou have always claimed that the fall of the citadel was the Empire's responsibility - indeed Axos even tried to invade Spiral in retaliation. This time, though, an offer was made to Imperial priests: come to Axos and aid with the task of laying the resentful ghosts haunting the city to rest, and help us remove the taint of madness that hangs over the place. The Imperial Synod discussed the matter, and both the Assembly of the Way and the General Assembly supported the proposal, and raised significant amounts of liao to contribute to the project. it seems that some of the Axou priests have also, recently, come into possession of a significant amount of liao of their own (the nation as a whole relies on a much more expensive and potentially deadly substance called bone dust for their religious ceremonies).

Further discussion during the Winter Solstice revealed some of the challenges facing Imperial priests prepared to personally support the cleansing of Solokha. Quite apart from the dangers of dealing with angry ghosts and haunted ruins, they would also be exposed to malign spiritual presences. Axou priests are neither as united, nor as politically influential, as the Imperial Synod is in the Empire but each of their sects works with spiritual powers in different ways - and some of those spiritual powers are known to the Empire as dangerous and corrupting. With that in mind the Vigilance assembly sought both to encourage priests to find out about the sects and to keep a close watch over those who visited the ruins. They were ultimately successful in only one of those goals unfortunately. While their encouragement to gather information about the sects was fully supported, there were simply not enough priests prepared to keep a close watch on who visited Solokha to be able to compile a reliable list.

A Terrible Task

The task of actually cleansing the ruins was already underway when the first Imperial priests reached the ruins. A large camp had been established by the Axou sects in the hills near Solokha, far enough from the cursed ground to allow rest and recuperation. Imperial priests received a guarded reception - the Axos religion is absolutely at odds with the Way after all. Yet in one way the relative weakness of the Axou sects actually made it easier for them to work alongside their Imperial counterparts. The sects are not united, so many of them are used to dealing with other priests with whom they do not agree.

Several priests of the Way were invited to join the loose organisational council made up of spokespeople from each of the main sects cooperating with the reclaimation of Solokha - one from each of the Virtue assemblies represented by the Imperial delegation. This council saw to the logistics of several hundred priests moving around a dangerous ruin - one that threatened not just spiritual harm but actual physical danger. Haunted as it was, Solokha was also an abandoned city with multiple levels of ancient catacombs beneath it and one wrong step could send someone plunging tens of metres into water, or onto hard stone and broken rubble. There was also the consideration that true to its name, Solokha was a city of towers and spires, many of which were now unstable. Add to that a plethora of wrothful ghosts driven by bloodlust and vengeance, some with supernatural strengths allowing them to physically manipulate the environment with powers that go beyond the usual posturing and moaning, and the decision by the Axou to employ several companies of mercenaries to guide and protect the priests proved even wiser.

The citadel itself was divided up into areas, with groups of priests taking responsibility for removing the auras and laying the ghosts to rest in different sectors. The problem was exacerbated by the fact that the ghosts in particular, and many of the more potent auras, were only active at night. During their time in the ruined citadel, Imperial priests contended with some of the worst, most angry, and most dangerous spiritual forces many had ever encountered. The ghosts represented not only a danger to body and soul but to the mind as well, many of them driven to try and share the horrors and nightmares that had tormented them at the end of their life, and for some two hundred years since. There were also places one priest dubbed "sinkholes of evil" - places where atrocious acts had been committed by the citizens driven mad by the powers unleashed on that terrible night long ago. These places held powerful auras that could quickly erode the ability of anyone within them to tell reality from nightmare, or tried to drive those entering to acts of violence and murder.

Mostly the Imperial priests worked together - there was no "crossover" between the Way and the Axou faiths - and indeed the sects of Axos also worked seperately. There was some speculation they were no more capable of cooperating than any priest dedicated to one true Virtue could cooperate on spiritual matters with a priest dedicated to a different Virtue. The initial mixing between Imperials and Axou took place at the "base camp" and at some smaller encampments that began to be erected nearer the city as the project continued. Over time, the barriers between the sects and the Imperials broke down a little, although some were much more welcoming than others, and heated arguments raged about the Virtues, spiritual powers, the role of the Creator, the torment or salvation of the Labyrinth, and all the other differences between Axou religion and the Way. It's doubtful any Axou priests were convinced to reconsider their own faith, any more than any Imperial priests were.

That is not to say the Axou had nothing to teach; in the chaos of the encampment and in places where Imperial priests spent time in the ruins with their Axou counterparts, there was also ample opportunity to speak about belief and spirituality in a more measured way. It's not clear if any Imperial priests chose to become dedicated to a malign spiritual presence during this time, despite the Vigilance of some Imperials, it ultimatly proved impossible to be sure either way.

Slowly, as the weeks passed, the task became a little easier. With each haunting neutralised, and each ghost laid to rest or exorcised, the next ceremony became a little easier. It was as if the sheer concentration of terror and suffering in the place had formed a net, each horror supporting the others. Unfortunately, the further the priests pushed into the ruins the more often they encountered roaming spirits and wells of hatred and despair. The mercenaries were called on several times to fight mobs of angry phantoms - although insight sugggested that these mobs were actually more akin to single terrible spirits spawned from the horror that befell the citadel than groups of individual spirits. Toward the heart of the ruins there were areas so steeped in suffering that they required well-organised groups of large numbers of allied priests working together to unravel them, a task that the priests of the Way proved especially useful at facilitating.

Finally, the darkness that fell over Solokha, yielded to the light of Virtue. The ruins are still troubled - there is every chance the land here will never be truly free of the influence of those terrible events of two hundred years ago. But the bulk of the work had been done. Some of the Axou priests expressed a desire to see Solokha rebuilt, while others wished to see the place left as a memorial to the dead - a true necropolis.

Regardless, the presence of the Imperial priests was ultimately welcomed, and along with the phantoms, ghosts, and poltergeists of Solokha, some of the echoes of the past were also laid to rest this season past.

Participation

Those priests who took the appropriate preaching action are encouraged to create stories about their time in Solokha, dealing with furious ghosts and terrible hauntings, or meeting with the priests of Axos. Reviewing Axos religion may help create some suitable stories. The ghosts of Solokha are much more dangerous than those commonly encountered, with little personality and a drive to hurt and kill the living. You may have had one or two intense encounters with a restless ghost whose spirit you were able to calm through counsel and aid and whose terrible tale of woe has left you emotionally drained. Most of the ghosts were beyond such aid and required exorcism, often performed while battle raged. As well as haunted areas, there were also a few cursed objects encountered that held malign spiritual auras inimical to the living which required strong hallow ceremonies to cleanse. The work was exhausting for all involved, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

Outcomes

More than enough priests chose to Support Solokha this downtime, so the ruins of Solokha have been reclaimed. This is a diplomatic success for the Empire; many of the Axou priests have a much better appreciation for their peers in the Empire (while still believing them misguided), and much of the lingering resentment about the Imperial role in the fall of the citadel has been alleviated. If any priests chose to become dedicated to a malign spiritual presence, their dedication will have already been updated. They would also receive a summary of the sect that initated them's beliefs with special focus on the non-Imperial spiritual power outlining the auras they can now create.

Any priest who chose to Preach Vigilance by Studying Solokha will receive general information about the sects, as well as a summary of the historic fall of the citadel. Enough priests took part in this specific action to achieve the full report. While these priests may have taken part in the exorcisms and cleansing rites, their main focus was on gathering information so they did not count toward the minimum needed to secure the city.

Unfortunately, there was not enough priests chose to 'Preach Vigilance - Watch Solokha and so there is no comprehensive list of Imperial priests who visited Solokha this downtime available.

Further Reading

Click Expand to see a summary of various pages related to Axos.

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