On to the final Winds of Fortune! These ones are more like appointments, events, and scheduling updates.
Who Goes There?
Who is coming to Anvil this event?
A Pouch of Impossible
A new Dawnish Noble is coming to Anvil and will show people a magical pouch that will give the players who look inside an interesting role-playing effect. They plan to visit Glory Square at 9 p.m. on Friday evening to offer this opportunity to whoever wishes to take it.
Silverlark’s Songs Renewed
Endric of Lepidus is returning to Anvil to hear the arrangements Imperial musicians have prepared using recently discovered lyrics penned by Elayne Silverlark. They’re intending to visit the Song and Story Circle in the Navarr camp around 12.30 on Saturday afternoon.
A Winter Offering from Hahnmark
A once-famous coven are coming to Anvil to discuss with owners of herb gardens across Hahnmark whether they should use a Winter boon from the Eternal Sorin. They intend to head for the Tree of Names in Wintermark around 4 o’clock on the Saturday afternoon of the Solstice. They’d also like to meet people who have spent time with Heralds of the Tomb King in the last few years.
Roll up! Roll up!
Mountebanks invite people to try their luck at a unique kind of tombola, with prices starting as low as 1 ring, 5 rings, 1 crown and 1 throne. They have a multitude of prizes on offer including 2 wains of White Granite. On Sunday morning they’ll head directly for the Tree of Names in the Wintermark camp, just after the some of the Nation has headed off to battle. Around midday on Sunday morning, you will find them in the League camp, the time will vary a little depending on how business has gone earlier. Apparently some of the people who have played this tombola continue acting odd after the game is over, but there are few details.
Lost Lore
The Lost Lore steading have raised concerns that Vates within the nation are trusted at face value, and should be fairly scrutinised considering the power they wield. Navarri priests are encouraged to consider taking an oath to advise the vates, and to help ensure their oaths are grounded in virtue, there is apparently a badge that people who take this oath can get. There is a mixed reaction to this as some people feel that it is rather accusatory. Interested citizens should approach the egregores for more information.
Mysterious Mystics
Representatives from the Aviary of Ishal wish to meet with their fellow Mystics at the Tree of Names at 21:45 on Friday. They wish to discuss the role of Mystics in Wintermark going forward.
Belly of the Whale
Jackdaw Larksong has been tasked with assembling a team adventurous to head inside a gargantuan summer herald to cure what ails him. Up to 5 people should come to the Hall of Worlds for 2030 on Friday of the summer solstice, ready to make the slippery journey to Archipelago’s upset stomach.
Tales of Mystery
This is a Wind of Magic, dealing with what weird magic the mortals of this realm have been getting up to.
The Deadwood Knight
The Deadwood Knight continues to build its forces in Weirwater and Karov. The creature sent its forces to attack the estate of the Earl of Fools and it is up to those characters to decide how bad the attack was and what happened. During the fighting, the awful captain of the attacking force shouts a message. The Deadwood Knight requires no test of mettle, and when he comes himself to slay the Earl he will do so girded, and with full steel. Behind it, the captain leaves the heads of Gerard and Margueritte of Valewatch – two of the troubadours that visited Anvil last season. The Deadwood Knight did not appear as part of the attack.
By Blood Undone
The constellation of the Three Sisters shines brightly over Anvil following a curse being given to them by means of an enchanted veil (which may itself have been a tulpa).
Every hakima who attended Anvil last season is affected by the curse. They experience a roleplaying effect: You know that you are being hunted by a twisted monster. It haunts your dreams, preventing restful sleep, and you catch glimpses of it during the day. It is a twisted humanoid, with hateful eyes, that you know wishes you harm. When you see the night sky, it is as if the stars of the Three Sisters are particularly bright.’
While under the effect of the curse, a hakima cannot recover spent mana naturally by sleeping. Other methods of restoring personal mana, such as potions or an enchantment such as Chamber of Delights work normally. This last is an exception to the normal restrictions on recovering personal mana while unable to sleep properly – while it is unpleasant the curse is not currently as debilitating as Dreamscape of the Endless Hunt. If you did not attend Anvil during the Spring Equinox, but still wish to experience the curse, you may opt in to doing so. Once you make that choice, however, you cannot change it during the event.
The urizeni stargazer Cassius, formerly of the Arch of the Sky, is apparently on their way back to Anvil and should arrive immediately following the start of the summit on Friday to speak to the Freeborn about this.
Gossamer Whispers
it is no longer possible to swap memories with Cast Off the Chain of Memory. There are unsettling stories of changes affecting masters of Night magic, such as people losing the memories of their entire childhood or learning new rituals and then disappearing. Anyone who participated in this should seek out magical healers, the Unfettered Mind, or a priest if things get that bad.
Streets of Kalpaheim
Something seems to have stirred within Ogila’s tower or its regio. Strange noises can now be heard at night in the Street of Runes in Kalpaheim and are beginning to spread across the city. There has been time for only cursory exploration of the mystery before the Summer Solstice. Investigations have shown that there is a massive crack going through the regio and tower, and since then odd noises and clouds of stinking breath have been heard and felt around the city.
Art of Miaren
An enchantment inspiring art and creativity has settled over Miaren, in conjunction with a statement of principle it has encouraged people to reclaim the trees damaged by Cold Sun. Across the Empire, where stridings camp and especially along well-travelled trods, it becomes common to see a tree hung with flowers, or decorations woven from wood or grass. In some places, brightly-coloured designs are painted onto the bark of older trees, with successive stridings adding their own splash of beauty.
Beaches and Nets
The ritual Combing the Beach no longer functions, instead Roshanwe has passed a ritual text of Netweaver’s Eye to the Archmage of Day. This ritual allows someone to check if a named magican has cast a named ritual in the last three days. Until the end of the Autumn Equinox, the ritual Distillation of Diverse Parts can be used to break a tempest jade effigy into its constituent tempest jade.
Combing the Beach has been removed from all players’ mastery lists and they now have a free slot to master something else.
The Red Dice
The constellation of the Wanderer has positioned itself squarely over Anvil, glowing brightly. Anyone staring at the star for any period of time experiences odd dreams.
Anyone who is outside during the night and seeks out the Wanderer will note that it seems to be hanging over Anvil in a slightly unsettling way. Spending at least a minute in appropriate roleplaying studying the star will mean that, when you sleep, whatever else you dream of your dreams will feature the bouncing, rattling red dice. The exception is that anyone who is unable to dream – such as people who have been excommunicated – will still not dream.
Cunning Whales
A cambion whale has been wreaking havoc in the Sea of Snow, ramming ships and stealing objects held over the side. The Lictors believe a Callidus herald has been swallowed by it and is corrupting the creature. The herald owes a debt. The Lictors appear to be holding a Freeborn man to account for this, but details are scarce. At the moment, the whale is more a nuisance than anything else, but if it continues its surprisingly clever attacks it is not impossible that it will start to impact trade between the Empire and Faraden.
Conjunctions
The Lesser Sadness
A group of “former” cultists have been discovered. There is no indication what kind of cult they were exactly – possibly following an eternal, a sovereign, or even a tulpa – but they are clearly trying to make up for what they have done in the past. This skirmish is a combat possible encounter. The Custodian of the Lost is responsible for finding out what is actually going on
Starstrand
A steading in Broceliande is suffering a strange effect.
They are looking for Guides, Vates, matchmakers and astronomancers to help – as well as inviting any who would benefit from the services of a matchmaker to visit.
There is a combat unlikely conjunction for 50 participants to the Starstrand Steading in Boar’s Dell, Broceliande at 2230 on the Friday of the Summer Solstice.
This encounter takes place in an area with a locational roleplay effect. Whilst in this area, you become more aware of the need to connect with others. You are drawn to finding those who may help you achieve your ambitions – and feel an increased certainty that the right people to help are close by.
Tales of Imagination
Now, onwards to the Wind of Magic which deals with the magic of the Eternals and the magical realms.
Heroes Fair (Summer)
This season, Barien has been prevailed upon to allow Four Corners Fair to be accessed from the Imperial regio, at least for a time. The scuttlebutt is that the Regent of the Eternal Sea has prevailed on the Elder Statesman of the Summer realm to grant access to Imperial heroes to aid them in their fights against the Empress of Sharks. Regardless of the reason, the fair will be accessible to heroes starting at around two in the afternoon during the Summer Solstice. Egregores have been given invitations for five players from each nation, players will receive a time on the invite and will have 20 minutes at the fair.
There is one other matter; after it has visited Menos, the lion-eagle of Meraud wings its way over the mountains to Dawn to deliver an additional invitation to Catrina Words The Unbelievably Magical. The Golden Magician, the Lord of the Isle, the Summer Mage, requests that the respected magician offer her assistance; something about helping to run a certain game at the fair that would normally be the province of one of his apprentices, but that the apprentice in question has accidentally been turned into a lion-eagle and refuses to be turned back. A herald will meet her with more details at the summit, but Meraud will consider it a favour if the Unbelievably Magical Catrina is prepared to help him in this slightly mundane matter.
A Looming Issue (Sanvar Isk)
Access to the Loom of Spells will be auctioned at 14:00 on Sunday at the Imperial Regio. Bids should once again be given in any combination of mine and forest materials, with only the total quantity mattering.
Wolves and Bears (Cathan Canae)
Warrior-heralds of Cathan Canae were invoked to defend the beacons of Kallavesa and Hahnmark and now the eternal assumes that the nation will wish to build some in Semersuaq as well.
If the beacons are built, she will grant a third boon to the people of Wintermark in honour of their strength and resilience. The Drums of the Iron Harpoon will call forth the tusked-folk of the Lake of Iron who abide in her realm, to protect the beacons. All she asks in return is an acknowledgement of the aid she has given; that when the beacons of Kallavesa are constructed, a white granite statue of a great bear be placed on the shores of Lake Atkonaroq gazing out across the waters.
The statue could be included in the same motion and commission used to create the beacons, but would increase the cost to create them by a further 5 wains of white granite and 15 crowns. Alternatively, it could be commissioned separately as a folly at any time before or after the beacons are created. The Mistress of Monuments might take this task on (it is easily within the limitations of their powers). Once the statue is completed, Cathan Canae will send a herald to bring the third ritual text to the warriors of Wintermark; it is her intention to deliver it to the general of the Narwhal’s Spear unless a more appropriate candidate presents itself.
Crucible of Ink and Fire (Azoth)
Last season, the eternal Azoth presented an opportunity for the Navarr to reattune the last singing stone, recovered from the depths of Brocéliande during the grand adventure into the forests. The stone is currently only usable by Terunael covens – and there have been no Terunael covens for a thousand years or more.
Shortly before the Summer Solstice, a brightly-painted herald of Azoth turns up in Seren with a message from its master. Azoth is apparently pleased to see that the Navarr have made a profound change to their nation, and as a consequence is ready to help them reattune the singing stone. All they need to do is prevail on the Archmage of Night to arrange a meeting with their Plenipotentiary powers. When they are ready, Azoth will help them bring the stone into alignment with their people, unlocking its power to be used by Navarr covens.
Light The Fuse (Janon)
The title of Shadowed Torchbrand is now available to be appointed by the Conclave.
A Herald of Janon will attend the Hall of Worlds at 11:00 on Friday to deliver regalia and a list of tasks to whoever is appointed.
Mercurial Toad (Sadogua)
Sadogua offers to help the Dean of the Lyceum continue to codify rituals even though the Lyceum remains hidden behind walls of mist. The Dean of the Lyceum can take advantage of this by simply submitting an arcane projection for codification via the normal rules.
He offers use of the Well of Shadows to the landskeepers of the Marches. The player who contacts Sadogua will also need to e-mail plot after the event with details of the arcane projection they wish to codify; if there are any queries the Marcher egregore may be able to offer advice.
He remains surly, and will not do more than the bare minimum in response to Dripping Echoes of the Fen.
Best in the World (Jaheris and Eleonaris)
Jaheris & Eleonaris have each recruited champions with a contested claim to be best in the world at something. They will be coming together for a series of debates late on Saturday night.
As well as the representatives, a total of 100 people will be able to use the Sentinel Gate to observe the contest. Each pairing will have 7 minutes to make their case. Heralds of Jaheris have made it known that the Moonsilver Prince’s appointed Arbiters, Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra and Marta i Guerra, are responsible for ensuring the attendance of the Empire’s champions and a suitable audience.
The Forge at Sunset
Challenge the Iron Duke will not be able to be cast until at least Winter 386
The heralds of the Iron Duke wish to speak to Ishka & Jaska at the Imperial Regio at 6:30pm on the Friday of the summit
At the Autumn Equinox the heralds of Barien will host a melee to be known as the “Pinnacle Tourney”, with further details to come after the Summer Solstice
Also at the Autumn Equinox some of the victors of previous Iron Duke challenges will be invited to take part in a special “Grand Challenge”.
Some people will have received letters inviting them to a rewarding ceremony for completing their challenge. Due to an error it was missed off that you may bring up to 5 people with you to the ceremony if you wish.
Loquacious Longing for Letters (Lashonar)
People interested in sharing their heartfelt letters with the Eternal Lashonar can take part in an opportunity by putting their name into a night container in the Hall of Worlds
Heralds of Lashonar will be visiting Anvil on the Friday evening to promote the opportunity and Sunday morning to hand out tokens to those taking part
And that is that!
Hope those of you who are travelling to Empire today and tomorrow have a great time, and stay safe! Whether from cannibals or sunburn as the case may be!
I won’t be making it this time, but if you end up with any cool gossip do let me know, also how typical is it that I’m missing the one with the decent weather?
If you enjoyed this or found it useful, please check out my new novel, Hack & Slash. Links can be found on the bookshelf page.
K
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