When I met you

Overview

It is not just the great and the good of the Empire who come to Anvil each equinox and solstice. The tent-city that springs up around the Imperial Senate and the Forge attracts visitors from all over the known world, and beyond. Some are drawn by the promise of wealth, some by the need to find the wisest and the bravest to help them resolve their dilemmas, some seek to influence those who wield true power in the Empire, others come to celebrate and forge new relationships with those drawn to the heart of Imperial power.

Some who plan to visit Anvil are at pains to conceal their arrival, or their intentions. Others, though, make no secret of their intentions - indeed they often choose to send word ahead to ensure that those they hope to make contact with are prepared for them. Here, we talk about some of those who have been most public in their desire to meet those who throng to Anvil, as the new year begins and the old fades into the shadows.

Friday Arrivals

Lights in the Dark

By a Day regio in the Navarr territory of Therunin lies the steading of Glimmerwater. For many years the merrow who dwell in this part of the Eastring bayou have offered those prepared to make a pilgrimage to the eastern borders of the Empire a chance to bathe in the light of the lantern for seven days of quiet contemplation. In doing so unlineaged humans can have their merrow lineage brought forth, and the Glimmerwater steading will help those of any nation find their right home in their new form.

The tragic destruction in Therunin at the hands of the rampaging Druj has not spared Eastring or the Glimmerwater steading. The steading has been forced into hiding nearby, but have saved the lantern and kept the regio secret from the Druj. While the trip to Therunin is now extremely treacherous, by good fortune a conjunction has been identified to take people directly to the hiding place. A member of the steading, Eanna Glimmerwater, will visit the Navarr market to discuss with those interested in the nature of merrow, and take up to ten unlineaged humans to bask in the light of the lantern as part of a group contemplation on the current moment. Those who attend may find themselves transforming afterwards, but the effects may take some times to show.

The Benefactor's Legacy

The Champions of Virtue and their artefact Pilgrim's Shields are well known across the Empire. Forged during the Consolidation, in the reign of Empress Teleri, by Ezkiah the Benefactor, the shields each have a storied past. The chapter of Ezkiah's Legacy was established during the reign of Emperor Hugh, to honour the inspiration of Ezkiah and support the virtuous in their actions. Sadly, the chapterhouse was overrun by the Druj in their conquest of Reikos and only half a dozen of the chapter were able to escape. The survivors took time to rebuild once Reikos was reclaimed, and now, inspired by the work of Solomon, Senator for Casinea in establishing the Voices of Virtue, the chapter looks to support the Voices.

The chapter does not have anywhere near the funds to purchase the ilium necessary for seven artefacts; they don't even have the funds for one, but they want to support how they can. The opinion of the chapter is that the best way for the Voices to inspire pilgrims of the faith and laity, aside from talking to them, is using ceremonies. Miriam of Ezkiah's Legacy will visit Anvil to meet with the Artisan's Guild to discuss an ongoing commission for seven Mendicant Cassocks, one for each of the Voices, to be delivered each year. They are expected to reach Anvil around half-past-nine on Friday evening.

Saturday Arrivals

The March of Fools

Along the road from Casfall, an unusual sight greets travellers; a parade of motley-garbed creatures with sack-cloth skin bedecked with tufts of straw that jut oddly between seams and from under sleeves. At their head is a landskeeper, one Ash Markedford, and a particularly agitated Highborn farmer. Introducing themselves, Ash is quick to explain that their retinue are hukkup - creatures of the Summer realm that have recently crashed marriage festivities at Sombregate, the grounds of a small chapter to which Ash's perturbed companion belongs. Struggling to manage the increasingly boisterous, rowdy crowd of perpetual celebrants, Ash indicates that they are making for Anvil, where they hope to make use of some of the unusual qualities of these Summer entities and perhaps recoup some of the farmer's lost Prosperity - with plenty more for the benefit of the wider Marchers.

Before the chaotic travellers move on, Ash implores passersby to gather up the finest mummers ]]the Marches|the Marchers]] have to offer and gather them for midday on the second day of the summit for what promises to be an unforgettable luncheon.

Ketsov on the Road

Having been encountered coming to and from Ossium along the winding roads of Varushka for the last two seasons now, representatives of the divisive family Ketsov make for frosty company during the lengthening nights. They offer little up to curious travelling companions regarding their recent decision to withdraw support from the position of Burgher of Ketsov save what they've already shared - they are simply looking for ways to make the penance laid upon them by the assembly and ensure that the killing implements for which their people are well known are placed into hands positioned to kill the Empire's foe with more surety. Further questioning receives a cold shoulder - if people wish to know more, then they should attend a meeting on Ossium to be held on the second day of the summit in Anvil at one hour past midday.

One Last Time

Jarl Ustigar, accompanied by a party of Jotun from Kalsea, has been on campaign with armies of the Jotun over the past three months. And as the season turns and the summit draws near, the delegation leaves the Jotun camps in Sallow and travels to Anvil. As they near Casinea, Andos - the godhi who has taken over writing letters for Ustigar and who appears to be somewhat responsible for the delegation - makes clear to civil servants and other Imperials on the road that this is a delegation, but the reason for their travel is personal. Jarl Ustigar, ruler of Kierheim and uncle to Yrsa Jansdóttir, Queen of Kalsea, Jarl-of-Jarls, is travelling to Anvil to die.

The orc has ruled Kierheim and Skallahn with it for decades, advising subsequent Jarls-of-Jarls and ensuring that the people of his territory prosper. For six years, the ruler of Kierheim has been in communication with various Imperials to discuss matters close to their hearts. For six years, the Jarl of Skallahn has spoken with Avisena i Kharizmi i Guerra, the Golden Jarl, and Iron Osric, the Iron Jarl, about the place of honour, honesty, and heroism in the war between the Jotun and the Empire.

It appears that time has finally caught up with the old orc. He has suffered from bouts of illness in recent years and many of his close advisors feared he would die in his bed. Desperate to avoid that fate, He has beseeched the Jarl-of-Jarls to release him from his responsibilities and they have given him permission to search for a way to cross the Howling Abyss. Now the Jarl is eager to join his ancestors. He has been seeking a heroic confrontation with one of his honoured enemies on the battlefield, but fate continues to deny Ustigar the end he seeks. So now he comes to Anvil in the hope that he can find peace.

The Jotun claim that this visit a personal matter and that it would not be honourable to use this meeting to negotiate, however they say things like that all the time. If the Empire does find a way to give the old Jarl the end he is seeking then it might help with efforts to find a resolution to the war with the Jotun. The meeting place is being rebuilt, Jarl Haakon is dead, how many other conditions that Naomi identified in her appraisal remain to be fulfilled?

The delegation brings with it gifts for those in Wintermark they will speak to, and contains several influential Jotun from across Kalsea. In addition to gifts, the delegation will also be bringing small tokens of food, and they hope that the three traditions of Wintermark will join them in doing so. Andos requests that William 'Bill' Hooke of the Marches, and others who saw the death of Haakon, also attend to tell the tale of the warrior's death.

One member of their party is a yegarra, who claims the role of godhi. There has never been a firm answer as to how humans fit into the spirituality of the Jotun. While most of the party are polite but stand-offish, the yegarra, Eirik the Golden, is reported to be happy to talk to almost anyone who is polite and sincere in their desire to learn more.

Compassion & Choices

A small number of travelling yeofolk - some bearing the yellow sunburst of a knight-errant - are making their way to Anvil from [[Astolat#Caer_Faucon|]] in Astolat. They carry a simple pennant showing a red-haired figure riding astride a lion, leading several figures in the breaking of chains. This is, the travellers explain in only slightly-accented Imperial, La Suna Imperiestrino; the Empress of the Sun, Empress Richilde. These are Free Folk - once slaves in Marracossa, but now Proud citizens of Dawn and the Empire.

As they travel, they speak of their excitement regarding the recent recognition of Lady Eleanor Novarion - former Lady of the Proffered Hand - as an exemplar of Pride. On the subject of of Lady Novarion, whom the Free Folk refer to as the Lady of Compassion, it is revealed that this entourage is making for Anvil to celebrate this elevation. They also hope to seek advice from the heroes of Anvil on how they can best follow in the Lady of Compassion's example.

Comforts in the Dark

There are a pair of travellers coming to Anvil for the first time. They claim to be miners from Brez, Volodmartz, and they are looking to hear tales involving dark places and creeping dread. They say they've been "invited", but nobody thought to ask who by. The pair are largely unremarkable, just another group of travellers among the thousands making their way to Anvil for the summit, but these two have an odd air to them. When folk describe meeting them, no two tales are ever quite the same; there is always something, some small detail, which is slightly off in the different tellings. The one constant is the pair's fascination with darkness and their requests for stories of such.

Sunday Arrivals

TBC

Playback Speed