The Manor of Thane Riconus Xin'dell stood near the Aedile's Office. Two stories high, the Manor still showed signs of its original purpose in its height and wide doors as one passed the metal fences near the entrance. Close to the walls was freshly planted grass and flowering bushes. There were guards at the entrance.
The guards were human and members of the Sapphire Guard as indicated by their crests.
Last edited by Charlie Wallace; March 13, 2008 at 07:54 AM.
Timestamp: 4 Imperos, Summer in the Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne
A trieririus of the Imperial Navy, attended by a Cencoris of the Imperial Marines, personally delivered the following missive, secured by a crimson wax sigil of the Imperial Warbird wreathed in laurels of victory, bearing a baton, surmounting a crossed sword and a quill - the seal of the Imperial Ministry of War.
Quote:
His Grace Riconus Xindell
Thane of Portshire
Secrets :
Imperial Ministry of War, 3rd of Imperos, in the Second Era of the Reign of the Regent, His Most Imperial Excellency the Lord L'Evienne.
Your Grace,
Greetings from the Imperial Capitol!
I have been commanded by His Most Imperial Excellency the Imperial Regent to inform you that the Thane and Citizens of Portshire are to prepare for a significant visit of state by Imperium Himself, for a momentous event that is to take place on Memoriana Brightening, Imperos 15 of this month.
As it is memoriana brightening, I would advise Your Grace to assemble such veterans of ours and such other local military units to prepare for a parade and inspection, and to ensure that a suitable crowd of loyal citizens do attend. I cannot say any further except to say that you, dear kinsman Riconus, on this very brightening ,will be make history.
Prepare your largest gathering place, preferably the main square. Officials of the Imperial Classis as well as the Superintendent of the Imperial Naval Academy and its attendant marine units are being seconded to assist you in whatever you may require.
As always, for any questions, please feel free to dispatch a letter to the Imperial Ministry of War.
Fair winds always,
Alexis Sapientia
Imperial Minister of War and Imperial Admiral.
War is the horror that occurs when rational minds fail at the negotiating table of diplomacy. ~Queen Katishandra of Daittern, Aelyrian Warfare through the Ages. **8/25: Work commitments this week = erratic online time. Posting sporadic, presence spotty.**
Location: Aelyria Prime, Jade Legion Barracks and Taralon, Darkblade Fortress
Posts: 1,331
43rd Brightening of the Fifth Cycle of the Month of Imperos in the season of Autumn; Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.
A letter arrived brought by an Imperial Legionaire.
Quote:
33rd Brightening of the Fifth Cycle of the Month of Imperos in the season of Autumn; Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum.
To: Lord Riconus Xin’dell, Thane of Portshire
From: Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson, Cencoris of the 1st Cohortii of the 2nd Daos of the 9th Imperial Legion.
Ref: The War in Sheria
Your Grace,
As you certainly have heard Sheria is preparing for war. As a representative of the Government and a former member of the Imperial Army you are well aware that these promises made by the Orcs won’t be enough to stop the Imperial War Machine and that the horrors perpetrated against Narim and Autumnus can only be answered with fire and steel.
I come hereby ask for Portshire to send help so that this war doesn’t turn into a slaughter for the Imperials like the one before did. All help you can send will be welcomed. Be it in the form of soldiers, engineers, weapons or supplies.
Thank you for your patience.
Signed, Eyvind Redbeard Avornmagor Björnsson, Commander of the Black Shield
Brightening 5 of the Second Cycle of The Month of Kalendryas in the Season of Winter
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening
A messenger wearing purple and black arrived at the Thanal mansion carrying a letter bearing the Thanal seal of Vortex, addressed to the Thane of Portshire.
Secrets :
To His Grace Riconus Xindell, Thane of Portshire
Serale,
I will take the Portshire’s government’s word for it that the Vysstichi attacking the city did indeed wear the colours of the three major Vysstichi Houses residing under the city of Vortex. I have yet to receive the replies on the inquiries I made to said Houses on the matter, but I can already say that it is most improbable that these attackers got their orders from one of the three Har’oloth Houses, regardless of what banners they may have been marching under.
First and foremost, when I spoke with their representatives some time ago each made it perfectly clear that they had no interests in stunts like what happened in Silrosia. As far as I’m aware, their this hasn’t changed and I see no reason why it would.
Secondly, while the three Houses may live alongside each other they share many disagreements. I cannot see them forming a single form one front that easily, nor do I see them doing so secretly. Again, there’s no signs they made such a sudden change.
Thirdly, if for some reason the three Houses did band together they’d surely manage to gather a force capable of doing more then just killing three and wounding five guards. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a veritable shame that those guardsmen were killed defending their city. However, the results of the battle seem to point at a much more unorganized force behind the attack, if anyone is behind the attack at all.
Like I said, the Houses are contacted and a small investigation is started on this side. I’ll be sure to forward you the results of course. I do hope that you’ll show the courtesy inform the Herald that Har’oloth, and to the extend the city of Vortex most likely is not the one behind these attacks.
My regards to the families of the fallen and a speedy recovery to the wounded,
Amber Brightwing, Thane of The Vortex
__________________
Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much. - Oscar Wilde
Brightening 8 of the Second Cycle of The Month of Kalendryas in the Season of Winter
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening
A Vortex messenger arrived with a reply to the previous letter.
Secrets :
To His Grace Riconus Xindell, Earl and Thane of Portshire
Serale,
I understand your concerns towards the Vysstichi. However, I can assure you I do not base my takings on the matter on my trust on the Houses, but rather on my knowledge of how and why they do things and compare that to what happened in Portshire. I did not need their word to conclude that the attack was not of their doing. I never intended you to remove Har’oloth as suspect in the attack's origin, though I do would like to see their status turned to unlikely. I do not like false accusations against my city no more then any other Thane and I’d like to see a new Herald article regarding this.
You mentioned the attack on Silrosia. That did indeed origin in Har’oloth, I won’t deny that. I wasn’t around during that time though, so I can’t shed much light on the exact happenings like why there were no retaliations at the time. The responsible Matron found an untimely end and was replaced before I even arrived in the city. However, it is untrue that they would operate under the assumption the Aelyrian Empire would stand by idle during their attacks. I was assured at my promotion to Thane that similar happenings would draw an Imperial answer and later transferred this message to the three Matrons. Two of them have never even showed any intention of moving their influence outside of Har’oloth and the new Matron of House showed more wisdom then her predecessor as well. They are all well aware of the consequences and smart enough not to risk them over such a small skirmish.
Which brings me to the attack itself. Compare to what happened to Silrosia. That was done by just a single House. Assuming for a moment the unlikely event that all three Houses did band together for some reason then you can surely agree one would expect a more effective attack from them.
I would like you to ask yourself. Would three rivalling forces band together for an attack which they know they would be risking their very existence with and then proceed to execute it in the most shoddy way they can imagine? I think not. You can say a lot of things of Vysstichi, but they are not stupid.
It leaves the question who did commit the attack of course. I don’t know what other enemies the city of Portshire has, but perhaps another line of thought could be asking what enemies Har’oloth has. The more I think about it, the more it sounds like it was a ploy to direct the Empire's armies towards Vortex.
Sincerely,
Amber Brightwing, Thane of The Vortex
__________________
Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much. - Oscar Wilde
Brightening 14 of the Second Cycle of The Month of Kalendryas in the Season of Winter
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum in the Age of the Darkening
A third letter was delivered.
Secrets :
To His Grace Riconus Xindell, Earl and Thane of Portshire
Serale,
The Herald didn’t accuse Vortex, though it did call the city ‘questionably loyal’, a questionable statement at best. Merely pointing the finger at Har’oloth is sufficient to extend the accusation to Vortex however as the city holds responsibility for their actions in the eyes of the Empire.
Of course, I never meant to say the Herald’s opinion was yours. Instead I merely hoped that you would be the one to bring the reporters up to date about how it is unlikely Har’oloth was the instigator of the attack as originally thought. I could have just send them a letter myself, but I thought this would best done by those in charge of the main investigation.
I’m rather doubtful that another Vysstichi city would be setting up as – if I’m not mistaking – their are Houses that relate to Har’oloth Houses in each of the other Vysstichi cities. Additionally, an attack of the Empire on Har’oloth wouldn’t help them much if they had interests in gaining more influence. For similar reasons I doubt any of the smaller Houses would be doing this as a way of climbing up. In fact, I’d even be surprised if this was done by anyone with much knowledge of Har’oloth as I doubt they’d have used the colours of all three Houses.
While I don’t believe Silrosia would do something either, the thought of Light Elves being responsible is perhaps not such a stretch. Two summers ago the city of Vortex suffered from a cowardly attack by at least one Master Mystic so forced the citizens to attack and murder each other. Many innocent citizens perished before the spell could be undone and there was no indication at all who was responsible or even why it was done. During the attack several Lightborn Elves were seen wandering the streets unaffected however. Though the attack had been primarily on the surface city perhaps these two events could be related?
Sincerely,
Amber Brightwing, Thane of The Vortex
__________________
Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much. - Oscar Wilde
Brightening 10 of the Second Cycle of Kalendryas, Winter, Era XV Post Fractum
A letter sealed with the insignia of House D’Rinishad arrived.
Secrets :
Serale, my friend,
It has been much too long since we’ve last seen one another. Let me be the first to convey how relieved I was to hear that you were not among the casualties suffered during the recent events in your city. I would like to express my sincerest condolences for Portshire’s losses and especially for the courageous men and women who died defending their homes. The world is in dire need of such people already, and it is a tragedy to have lost many more. Their brave sacrifices shall not be forgotten.
I am not only writing this letter to communicate my commiserations, but also to refute the claim that the Vysstichi of Har’oloth were responsible for the city’s attack. While I do not condone many of the actions of my people, I can personally testify that they were, in no way, the orchestrators behind the raid. As the Weapons Master of House Kitrye’veresi, I possess control of the clan’s military personnel, and all of them have been accounted for. You know me, my friend, and you know that I would never have ordered such an attack. Additionally, I can similarly vouch for the other two Houses criminalized in the Herald article. If the three Houses of Har’oloth truly were the culprits behind the attack, then Portshire would have experienced an invasion of a much greater magnitude.
There is no reason for the Vysstichi to have traveled hundreds of miles to attack the city. There is nothing in Portshire unattainable in Vortex, and I question whether the Vysstchi who attacked Portshire were even from Har’oloth at all. It is not unknown that many dark elves parade the surface lands in small bands. My personal belief is that it is one of these that waylaid Portshire.
Again, I am sorry to hear of Portshire’s losses. No doubt those men and women were undeserving of their cruel fates, but such is the unfortunate reality of life itself. I would like to come to Portshire to visit, my friend, if you would have me so that I might personally speak on behalf of my people. I understand the threats involved, and thus I would like to ask you if there somewhere we might meet where my safety will not be compromised. You may contact me at the D'Rinishad Academy of Arcana. I hope to hear from you soon.
From: His Royal Excellency
The Royal Lord Magus
Atl Myrsa
Bureau of the Arcane, Aelyria Prime
Serale
I write to you in responce to a herald article that will shortly come out. I need to know of all the arcane institution that are within your realm of power. If you have any religious institution that teach Thaumaturges to its priest and only its priest, they may be excluded as they fall under the realm of the Archprelate and the Church of Faith. If though they teach none priest any magical arts they are no longer considered and exception. The purpose of this announcement is that to often the Arcane school run according to various traditions which cause radical differences in the teaching of Arcane through out the kingdom. We ask that you share this with the heads of the Arcane schools through out your territory after the announcement in the Herald.
The Bureau of the Arcane and His Royal Highess are begining to issue Royal Arcane School Licenses. Each school must meet certian standards. They will be given six months to either meet these standards or present to the Bureau a long term plan to impliment them.
The standards of the Licenses are as such. Each school must have record system of their students. The students must register with a valid Visa, and supply the school with their information. Schools must confirm that their students have a place of residances, or provide them with a residance and food for the time of their teaching. The physical needs of their students must be taken care of. To often do we have potential students who can't aford the training because the can not provided a living. How the schools do manage to provide this is to be left up to them and the local area. As long as it is with in Royal Law.
As for the educational needs. Simple arriving to the class room is no longer enough. The student must show their abilities outside of class room, and outside of random combat situations. Students must volunter their time either in service to the school as seen fit or in the community as arranged with local entities. Also a test before the master of the School will be required to show that the student can think on their feet, we are here to teach magus to think about how they are throwing around arcane power.
Lastly our schools have become to complaincent. Recent Arcane events have occured and they occured outside of the Schooling system of the Kingdom. Each school must open a research section. They do not all need to invent the next flying ship, but we need to exapand our magical range.
This leads to the last requirement. All of their Teachers must have Arcane Teaching Licenses, and introduce Tenor. As in the cause of School Licenses these are to confirm and improvement in our teachers. The exact requirements for teaching Lisences are be that they must prove themselves in a test of arcane at the time of licensing. To keep their lisences they must show that they can do research as well as cast magic. They must also take a teaching test. Tenor will allow Masters to make research into what they feel is critical with out fear of dismissal as long as they obay Royal Law. The rules of tenor are to be set up by each school.
The Bureau is making plans to purchase a press to print arcane articles sent in from the Masters across the kingdom their by making their research known across the kingdom.
Lastly their will be licensing of Masters who teach but are not part of any school, but that will be handled by the Bureau itself, and reports of independant masters would be appreciated.
I thank you for your efforts and do not fear to write to myself about any questions you may have.
Semper Paratus.
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