Hello folks, we are going into the final hours before Empire LARP Event 2!
Let’s get started!
Waiting For The Worms
This is a Wind of Diplomacy about the Sacophan Delves.
They are classed as a Foreigner.
First up, the Sarcophans are disappointed that the Empire did not wish to join them in the creation of an international group working together to stop piracy. Because this did not go through, but the issues with pirates will not stop, they will have to raise prices by one fifth. These are the titles likely to be affected, the Kruidenkenner Trademaster, High Herbalist of Sybella, Master of the Root and Stem, Master of the Clearing House, Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks, and Custodian of the Concordium Dock. Several offers to expand titles currently built have been withdrawn, but the Steel Fist will not be affected at this time.
The Pallas Docks have been renamed the DeBruin Docks and the DeBruin family will be importing Weirwood for Imperial buyers. They will not be raising their prices as they are one of the most militarily powerful Sarcophan Delves and they’re not going to let some pirates get in their way!
Aaven Beekhof has stayed at his offices in Sarvos, despite saying he might be leaving, he is still willing to accept Winged Messengers from those who wish to buy his wares. Anyone who has already sent a message should be getting a reply in their player pack, ask a ref if you do not receive one.
The Alvetti Estate will be getting a new temple soon, apparently the House of Silence had some trouble getting white granite but something has come through and should everything go as planned they will have a temple there by the Autumn. Leaguish figures are apparently worried about the presence of a foreign temple and the fact that no one really knows about the religion.
Florian and Gelder Kraft continue to work with the farmers of Wintermark who have accepted their proposal to cultivate vlinderbloem, they have worked out an agenting agreement with the Jolly Jackdaws Cartel in the League, so if you are interested speak to them.
A Sarcophan Art Dealer and a Sarcophan Prosperity Priest will be arriving at the Highborn camp at 17:00 on the Saturday and will head to the Chapel where the Benefactors will be expected to vote on the offer from the Art Dealer.
The Preach Prosperity for the Collectors lecture involved an all-expenses paid trip to the Sarcophan Delves and anyone who went on this trip will be a member of the Prosperity assembly this event. Reports on what happened will be in player packs, speak to a ref if you are missed out.
A Sarcophan merchant is asking that the Senate use their appraisal ability to see about building a port in the Utterland region to facilitate trade with the Sarcophan Delves. If the Senate asks Naomi to take the appraisal the merchant is willing to pay up to half of the fees of the project. There is some friction here, apparently the building of a new trade port might have a negative effect on the ports on the Semmerlak. Also, the merchant has been doing unsanctioned work in Axos, which is only just coming to light now and the Ambassador is a bit embarrassed about it.
if the cost of wains drops too low (2 thrones a wain) then the Sarcophan Delves will become very interested in swooping in and buying as much as they can. The Ambassador is welcome to speak to their mirror in the Delves about this and to try and raise the price. Of course, they will have to make allowances for the cost of avoiding pirates, or get rid of the pirates.
In The Flesh
The situation with the Manticore in the Untrod Groves in the Barrens continues. Last season the Earl’s Council determined that the Manticore Earl could not become a citizen of Dawn, this has caused some discussion since what makes someone truly Dawnish? Is it bonding to the Egregore, or being Glorious?
The Earl of the Groves is hosting a tourney with prizes where Dawnish from Anvil can face off against Dawnish knights allied with the Earl. Anyone who wishes to attend is welcome, but must follow the rules of Hospitality and not fight outside of the tourney. It will be happening at 17:15 on the Saturday on the other side of the Sentinel Gate, so get there early. 8 knights from Anvil will be taking part against 8 knights allied with the Earl.
To find out more about the Earl itself, the Empire is recommended to research Penni the White, a historical King of Dawn, or the houses DuBlanche or Fayer. Simone of House Fayer was the person who finally killed him.
The Golden Sun Army has gained 50 strength from some of the Earl’s vassals who have joined up. This could continue, but the General is free to order their soldeirs not to fraternise and the Synod could also demand that people stop interracting with the Earl.
The Knight Protector of Summer is challenged to a hunt by the Eternal, Hayaak. They will be expected to hunt a minion of the Earl who is carrying a valuable favour and if they fail to catch them they will be killed. They are expected at the Sentinel Gate before 15:30 on Saturday.
A herald of Wise Rangara called Tuki of the Little Bones, wishes to speak to Alistair de Veere on the Manticore Earl. It will be at 23:40 on the Friday of the Spring Equinox, when a conjunction has opened to the Cave of Bones in Pakaanan’s Pass in Skarsind through the Sentinel Gate. de Veere may take up to five people with them, but not anyone like a Archmage or a Knight Protector as this might scare them away.
The Shape of Things to Come
The Golden Pyramid was give the blueprints for a magnificent Headquarters, now it is the Silver Chalice’s turn.
The Silver Chalice asked the Silver tears to make plans for one as large as the Golden Pyramid in Madruga.
They have found a good site at an old health spa that was abandoned after the previous owners had some touble with eternals. The site is the Well of Life, Quzar, Lightsea, Madruga. This opportunity will be available for as long as the territory is under Imperial control. it will require 40 white granite, 40 weirwood 20 mithril, and 60 Crowns, and have an ongoing cost to the treasury of 5 Thrones a season.
The benefits would include a cheap source of mana and spring vis, as well as the creation of a second title which would provide healing potions.
If any other conclave orders wish to get their own Grand Lodge then they will have to wait for one of the previous ones to be built.
A Peerless Sacricfice
The ability to offer Peerless Kinship to one of the other nations of the Empire has been a popular power of the Highborn. To continue using the power they will have to pass a mandate prioritising it over their ability to call a crusade. Of course, the Highborn could do the opposite, and instead stress the importance of the crusade ability instead. This will be up to the National Assembly.
In addition the Council of Benefactors will be meeting at 11:00 on Saturday and Sunday mornings to discuss the possibility of redirecting the current stream of resources going into Bastion. This will likely be at the main tent in the Shattered Tower camp. If the Benefactors agree they could redirect the wains to a civilan commission instead.
Doing It
There are new options for the heroes of Anvil who wish to take on the Challenge of the Iron Duke.
No one who has won the Challenge in the past year may compete.
Those who wish to enter the fighting portion of the challenge should bring themselves and two attendants to fight a dire beast and its two handlers. The fight will take place in The Green Iron Grove in Icarion, Mareave at 14:45 on the Saturday. Challengers should present themselves to the heralds of Barien at 14:30 before the Sentinel Gate. Spectators are welcome to come and watch the bouts
There is also an opportunity for stealth challenges, Challengers who take up this contest should present themselves at the Sentinel Gate at 22:00 on the Saturday to be briefed by the heralds of the Iron Duke. The conjunction will open at 22:15 to Alderly, Mournwold, a short walk from the chamber. Each challenger may bring up to two attendants to help them, if they wish. The challenge will be to find glowing items in the dark forest while you are being hunted by heralds of Jaheris. If they hit you once then you will be downed and lose the amount that you have already found, so you may wish to “bank” them earlier.
Fair Play is Turnabout
Heralds of the City of Locks have been bustling about the Empire this last season offering many citizens opportunities for assassination, bribery, conspiracy, and espionage.
First up, there has been a request to find a way to assassinate the Salt Lord Seonag. This is going to be very difficult and it may take years for an opportunity to present itself, the up-front cost to the Empire will be forty measures each of Ambergelt, Beggars lye, Dragonbone and Iridescent gloaming.
They have also been kind enough to give a list of reasons why this assassination request has proven so difficult and expensive.
Anyone with a title will have an option to create a standardised “menu” of options for bribery. Anyone who made themselves known to the City of Locks will receive a contract that they can fill out and return to the City for reference. Any title holders feeling left out, the herald states, should contact Enchanter Edmund Torawyr, who will have extra contracts to distribute to interested parties.
Last season a bribery opportunity was mislabeled, the new deadline is now Autumn rather than Summer to make up for this. If people were aware of this then they know what to do to get involved now.
There are also two offers from those who can help to discombobulate the Asavaean Plenum. Plenipotentiaries would be the best way to find out more information and facilitate these deals.
A Pillow of Winds
Wind of Diplomacy for Faraden this time, this is a Foreign nation and one that the Empire trades a lot with. They are squished between the Jotun and the Iron Confederacy and lack a land border with the Empire. They view the sea as bad luck and dangerous.
The Faraden are thrilled that the Empire has invaded the Lasambrian Hills, they cannot offer military aid because of a treaty they have with the Jotun, but they are willing to see if there are other ways for them to help. If the Ambassador wishes a trade envoy could be sent to the Empire for the Summer summit. One point to remember is that the ongoign war with the Empire is one of the things keeping Faraden from being the Jotun’s next target, so the way things are going works quite well for them. They have pointed out three regions that they would really like the Empire to take to make trading easier.
A military family have asked to be allowed to come to the Empire to see what the war mages are like here. The only problem is that they will have to travel through Jotun lands to do this which willl almost certainly cause problems. There is the option to send the Rod and Shield to help them make their way here, and then to also send the Celestial Arch to keep an eye on them and smooth over the diplomatic issues, but this could cause more problems than it solves.
Caitun no longer provides weltsilver to Imperial traders; instead the port provides a basic fleet with 54 rings in luxury goods, larger fleets will gain more.
More Marcher Cow News!
The Faraden are interested in seeing whcih of the Marcher markets is the best at selling cows, so they will keep an eye on the upcoming season’s markets very closely. ALSO, there is a family lookign to invest in some Cow Wains. They want 16 wains, which they are willing to pay 30 rings each for (totalling 24 crowns). If the Ambassador to Faraden can arrange to make sure that there are at least two of each type of cow and a mux between the two markets, then thye will pay an additional 6 crowns.
There is an offer for the Alder of Meade from a trading family, they have 12 wains of mithril in total, and are prepared to sell either the entire shipment for a lump sum of 400 measures of iridescent gloaming, or half that shipment for 200 measures of iridescent gloaming.
The Parador of Wind and Flame has been completed at the Azure Chorus and from now on the Azure Sutannir and the Freeborn in general will be seen as a good intermediary between the Faraden and the Imperial religious figures.
The Faraden still want to build a market for their produce in Holberg. They will not have any problems with the Sandfishers, but might have a problem with the powerful aura on Holberg Gate, so appreciated the warning to avoid it. They will have their own priests and temple at their enclave and want to know if this is going to be a problem now, before they go to the expense of building things and then having a major problem.
The Asavaeans are imposing themselves on the Faraden by comparing their gods to the Faraden’s Virtues. Some Faraden priests are requesting back up from the Empire. As such, they are issuing an invitation to Imperial priests from the assemblies of Courage, Loyalty, Pride and Prosperity to come to Faraden and preach together, hand in hand. Not the other virtues, though, they don’t believe in those ones. The relevant assemblies can post a mandate telling their priest to support this mission. If at least 40 priests and their congregations go then the Faraden will be bolstered against Asavaean interference, they will probably also be bolstered against Imperial interference too, but they will at least like us a little bit better.
A small sect of militant Faraden vengeance priests intend on asking the Freeborn National Assembly for help in getting to Asavaea and helping their downtrodden rebel against them. They will make their way to the Hub at 10:00 on Saturday, where they hope to meet with any Freeborn priests who are interested in speaking with them. However, there are many issues with maintaining this secrecy, obviously the Asavaeans would be very angry with the Faraden if they were found, but also the majority of the Faraden do not want this sort of thing going on so it would have to be hidden from them too. This will no doubt complicate things.
Also, does the Empire really want Vengeance influenced Way gaining influence in Asavaea? And the Sumaah would not be pleased with that either.
What Shall We Do?
Another Wind of Diplomacy, this time for the Citadels of Axos. They are counted as a Foreign nation and are a member of the Liberty Pact.
They are thankful that the Ambassador sent warning about the storms in the Bay of Catazar, but are starting to wonder if trading with the Empire directly is even worth it, given all the problems going on. They would very much like it if some of those problems could be solved. They are also not thrilled with Therunin being abandoned and left to the Druj since they have a trading post there.
There have been issues with one of the groups working on the new docks at Issyk and the opening has been delayed. Imperial ships will be as welcome there as everyone else, and will not be overly favoured.
The port of Kantor no longer provides orichalcum to visiting ship captains, following the Spring Equinox a standard fleet will instead receive 2 doses of Sable and one dose of Blackened Key. There are also many other luxury goods that magicians may be interested in if they wish to explore othr options. One thing the people of Axos do not approve of trading is the Yellow Lotus drug that may have been offered to some Imperials. If this is the case they would appreciate information on that.
The Ambassador said something concerning to the Axos and they would like to know what they are going on about.
The Halls of Maykop are still welcoming Imperial Students for non-magical studies.
Ilarch Maxatious sends formal thanks to Gabriel Barossa on behalf of Dancia Terricos of Ipotavo, apparently there were some details sent to the Ilarch about the Imperial plans for the Mallum.
Over downtime many Imperial priests went to the ruined city of Solokha to help remove the many, many ghosts that infested it. Many also went alogn to research the different religious groups in Axos and some research will be returning with them. However, not enough people chose to take the mission that would give the Empire a list of the priests who went, so the Empire will not get that list. That might be a bit of a problem since the wind is also fairly explicit that some people will have been tempted by the False Virtues on offer by Solokha and who knows who might have taken them up.
Eat Like Kings
Meraud was in the midst of some difficulties last summit, he requested numerous boons be returned to him so that he could reabsorb their power. He got a lot more than he was expecting and is very grateful for those who reached out.
He is feeling much better, much stronger, and for some reason much more foxlike.
There are several changes to rituals;
- Lions of Phoenix Reach, Golden Ramparts, and Noble Mien of the Hawk Lords can be cast normally
- From the Mouth of Babes can not be cast until further notice
- Golden Trumpets can no longer be cast
In addition, Meraud is annoyed by the fact that the ritual Noble Mien of the Hawk Lords is called this, he recommends that it be renamed to one of the alternate names it is known under. This can be done through Conclave. He would prefer it if the ritual were used sparingly until it can be renamed. He will gift the magician who does so with a more powerful ritual which they will be able to use however they wish.
The eternal plans to restore the regalia of the Churnspire Adjutor and will double their supply of golden apples.
Katrina Words and Leo the Rainbow Sage may each codify a single ritual, of any magnitude, at a cost of one tempest jade for each level of magnitude.
The Fire Mage has created a magnitude 80 arcane projection to raise a mountain to thank the Empire for the bounty of tempest jade.
The Summer Archmage has been given 20 golden apples to distribute among any others who helped in proportion to their aid.
The Final Cut
Last year several Cardinals made an oath to carry Peace aura’d items for a year.
Then last summit they were brought up on numerous religious crimes, some of them resigned their places, and all things considered it has become a big mess that has grabbed the attention of everyone with an interest in religion.
There are three questions whcih have really caught the public’s attention, though.
First the people of the Empire waht to know what exactly they should be doing about False Virtues? There is a mandate to encourage them to cast aside False Virtues, or alternatively to try and learn more about them. These mandates are in competition with each other, but the Assemblies can choose to push through neither and allow the situation to escalate.
The individual Assemblies will also be able to post statements of Principle on these and the people of the Empire will be very interested in reading what the priests of Anvil have to say.
There is also the opportunity for the Wintermark Assembly to tell their people not to pay attention to the mandates and statements of the people outside their nation, which would be a tempestuous choice, shall we say.
An important note – The last few summits have shown that there are some holes in the Synod game design, the game runners will be working on ways to update this with their new knowledge of how the game might be played. This will take a while, so don’t be surprised if things are a bit wobbly every so often. Check the wind for more details.
Alright, calling it for tonight. It is 10pm on the Wednseday before LARP and there are still winds coming out and I am going to go to sleep.
I hope I’ll see you all this weekend, and whether or not you are going to be spending it in a field pretending to be magicians and soldiers and farmers of weird mushrooms and too many cows, I hope you have a lovely time, wherever you are.
See you soon and stay safe out there,
K
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