"Stranger than we can imagine" - (Information- Winter, Era I)

[Heartbreaker]

First brightening of Kalendryas, Era XIII Post Fractum

“Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine. "

-Sir Arthur Eddington

The heavens were falling, but in the land where the beautiful city of Jaedaxia stood, things were happening just a little bit differently than they were in other parts of the Empire.

But then again, Jaedaxia, unbeknownst to most, -was- just a little bit different from other parts of the Empire.

The meteorites shattered the mid-morning peace of people going about their day. Citizens and visitors alike craned their necks to get a better view of the small rocks plummeting to the ground, stunned into a morbid stillness as they impacted. After the first wave however, things went from controlled to chaotic.

Children screaming, priests running through the city chanting about the end of all life on Telath, adults rushing to protect their loved ones or property… Probably not too unlike the scenes in other cities that were to incur the wrath of the meteorites. But when all was said and done, and the aftermath was surveyed, one notable thing was documented.

The meteorites had not hit a single thing.

Within a city of such mystery and enchantment, some said, it was little wonder that no damage had occurred. Some said that the Gods themselves had intervened. Whatever the case, the citizens praised the mysterious force that had spared their city.

But now the question arose…what to do with the meteorites?

Thus did the Grand Versailles convene to tackle that very question.

Being the city it was, Jaedaxia was marred in duality and balance. While both the terms conflicted with each other, it was nonetheless true. The official leader of the city was General Craelius – the Imperial watchdog the government had appointed to watch over Jaedaxia and make sure they played nice. However, the real leaders of the city were the five members of Le Conseil Grand, made up of the heads of the five great Houses of Jaedaxia. Barbari nobility to be sure, but in Jaedaxia, nobility meant everything, and the Grand Versailles itself encompassed the entire body of nobility within the city. So as long as the nobility didn’t meddle in Imperial affairs, Craelius was content to let them be. He wasn’t the fool some made him out to be, and in giving them a small measure of control, he looked good to those above him and kept the city in peace.

To him, it was a win-win situation.

To the Grand Versailles however, that small amount of control was all they needed to keep their grip on the city. They were the legendary leaders of the city and an Imperial keeper made little difference to them. The people listened to them, and that was all that mattered.

They convened the brightening after the meteorites fell from the sky, missives having been dispatched quickly to all the noble Houses for the emergency meeting. The one thing that Le Conseil Grand knew from experience is that situations such as this needed to be responded to quickly, either to gain opportunity or avoid disaster.

The historic meeting place of the Versailles, Château de la Mer (translated to “Castle of the Sea”) lay on the outskirts of the city to the north. Carriages and horses by the droves brought the members to the silver castle, which sat on a small cliff overlooking Libertas Bay. Shortly thereafter, the meeting was convened.

The entire castle was built in Gothic style, and the council chambers were no exception, although they were built in the same manner as a theater, so that all might hear the speaker. In the front of the room, a large, long table of marble and dark oak sat with four men who were currently speaking in low tones with one another. Le Conseil Grand was traditionally made up of the five Great Houses of Jaedaxia, but one seat remained empty. As well, one section of the front area of the auditorium was bare as well.

And it would remain so.

Those seats, and the one at the Grand Table, were in honor of the fifth Great House, House Champroi. One of the greatest outrages that the Jaedaxienne people had ever been subjected to, a man named Roland Moonstar had issued a writ that effectively called for the arrest of anyone that wielded the forces of arcana. Widely known to be a gem-blooded family, training each and every member in some form of magic, the beloved House had been forced into hiding and the whereabouts of its members were unknown. Shortly after the affair, Le Counseil Grand made a motion to seal House Champroi’s place as the fifth House and work towards remedying the circumstances that had called for their arrest in the first place. Finding little success with the second mission, they were determined to keep their oath and hope alive by honoring the House that had been effectively run off by another Imperial dog.

Bringing the meeting to order, the head of Le Counseil Grand – Count Vladimir XI de Bourbauge by name – pounded on his gavel. Sitting beside him were Earl Philippe Loraunne, Marquis Napoleon IV Palotte and Earl Louis VIII St. Voiux, looking out sagely at the assembled group. Speaking in a clear and loud voice, the Count began to outline his idea.

After several candlemarks, things had been decided, and plans put into motion. The meteorites had presented several opportunities for the city, and the nobles weren’t going to waste time taking advantage of them.

When it was all said and done, an article was submitted and placed in The Libertas Sentinel. The same article would later be printed in the Empire’s Herald, but it was time to let Jaedaxiennes know what was going on.

“ In response to the stunning events of this cycle, an emergency session of The Grand Versailles was held to discuss appropriate responses to the circumstances which have befallen Jaedaxia. Mostly spared by the meteorites, the Versailles spent many candlemarks debating on how best to seize the opportunities – which many believe the Gods have given them - to benefit this great city.

The House De Bourbauge announced after this meeting that they would be sponsoring a contest for local artists. Commissioned by the esteemed House, the artists will be instructed to make the meteorites pieces of art, made to blend into their surroundings. The House encourages all artists, such as stonemasons and painters, to put their unique spin on this once in a lifetime opportunity.

In related news, meteorites that have fallen just outside the city have been reported to be causing some strange weather phenomena that are being dubbed as “microclimates.” The seemingly heat-producing rocks have altered the climate in the immediate area somewhat, leading the local Nobility to a rather unique idea of how to turn the circumstances to their advantage. Temporary farms will be started in the affected areas, in the hopes that the warmer temperatures which a few of the meteorites have caused will create a new supply of crops for our financially troubled city.

In unrelated news, in conjunction with the City of Jaedaxia, the Grand Versailles has announced its intention to put several long-standing businesses within the city up for public sale. The Noble High Council has deliberated for quite some time in regards to the economy of the city and finally decided earlier this cycle that it was in the best interests of all parties for a limited amount of profitable holdings to be set aside for acquisition. The only conditions of the acquisitions are that the new owners will be required to honor all existing contracts and to continue to employ all personnel in good standing who are in association with said properties.

The businesses involved currently include the De Bourbauge vodka breweries and Trident Fur Company, the Loraunne Jaedaxienne ice wineries and the Champroi rice and turnip fields.

Interested parties are asked to inquire with the Bureau de Propriété in Jaedaxia.”