Medeia has a few theories about the origin of the masses of refugees appearing with little memory, especially those claiming to be from places that don't seem to exist. One theory hits close to home: They were all taken by the Eater of Stories, and they have somehow been returned. If this is true, it would mean that the breaking of all shackles in the wake of the death of Orichalcum resulted in the release of those shackled away from memory. How to prove it?

Medeia's older brother, Estaban, had claimed to have a twin - Emilio - that no one else can remember. According to Estaban, Emilio had been pursuing the Eater (maybe as part of his work as a member of the Inquisition) and got too close. If Emilio can be found among the refugees, it would prove this particular theory. And, if he can be found, it would restore a member of the Saik family to his rightful place.

It won't be easy, but Medeia ensures that everyone who is helping this search is equipped with a detailed sketch of Estaban (And the rest of the siblings - maybe they weren't identical! Medeia and Neilda aren't, after all.) to compare to. While she helps the Physicians tend refugees, she pays extra close attention to men with Lycene accents who would be about 30 years of age. And she engages every part of her whisper network to have eyes in places she cannot be. If Emilio is out there, someone will know something, and she intends to keeps asking questions until he's found.

Emelio was a topic that Estaban spoke of to Lucita on many occasions, what he looked like, how he missed his twin, how none of the other siblings and parents, friends, servants, other Inquisition members remembered him. Journals, family records, old school notes, all were missing references to Emilio yet Estaban remembered him so clearly. Perhaps some information has reappeared so those records are being reviewed again.

People change over the years but some things remain the same. Mannerisms, habits, expressions, a physical build, coloration are often the same with twins, and that is what Lucita will be looking for. She can eliminate a lot of the refugees due to sex, complexion hue, height and such details not matching what Estaban said. She does not know if his age 'froze' at the time he disappeared or if his experiences 'aged' him so will be observing expressions, movements, mannerisms in an effort to narrow down and identify Emilio if she can as she looks through the many crowds of refugees.

Quenia lends her own resources and asks her own information network to start combing through the refugees to see if they can find the missing Lord Emilio Saik. She makes sure they are given miniature paintings of Estaban, in case they were identical and just so they are aware of the familial traits if they are not. She also personally goes along with any member of their more immediate party to ensure no one is asking around alone, making use of the buddy system in case trouble arises. People without memories might be a bit more upset than they imagine.

Duarte lends support through his own information channels, sending some friends of his to scour around. His friends don't seem like the proper sort. They certainly aren't nobles or noble house staff. They're the sort that can get into different nooks and crannies entirely, especially ones someone who doesn't want to be found might be hiding in.

Denica will take what information she hears about Emilio and try to improve the pictures they have of him. Listening to anyone who might describe him, using what she thinks, but also just trying to immerse herself in the knowledge of the man to paint him. Denica will continue to paint portraits of Emilio, not only to share with others, but she hopes that through painting his image, she might connect with him and get a sense of where he might be.

Faye has been around the House of Questions since she was a child, and she still has a few odds-and-ends records of her father's, from when he was Master of Questions. While she has no memory of a man named Emilio, perhaps his name can be found somewhere in the old records, along with an account of what happened to him.

As Medeia informs him that her brother Emilio was a member of the Inquisition, and many of their number were devoured by the Eater of Stories, Alistair gives Medeia access to Inquisition records and old rosters. Perhaps an old report or paper mentions her brother and helps her identify the man in the throngs of thousands that now flood the city.

House Velenosa has a vast array of various resources at their disposal and is not afraid to use them! Jaenelle reaches out to every city and assigns a team to make sure informatio flows freely between the Lyceum to make certain that if something is needed at one end by a city on the other it is easily accessed through well trained planners and logistics department. This includes missing people, as one of the first things the team is responsible for is matching refugees with whatever cities they remember in hopes that their family is there and remembers. Emilio's description, his history, and any other information that is found in the process are sent through the proper channels in hopes that if he is somewhere, he is found.

Emilio is not to be found among the refugees. Emilio will never be found at all. And unfortunately, Medeia is able to discover why.

As they work with the refugees, and now have magic to take a closer look at Azazel's magic, they come to a horrifying realization as they look at some of the most traumatic suppressed memories of the refugees. Azazel's first writ, the one placed on him long ago, empowered him to enforce the Despite as the only time he could take mortal lives- ostensibly as a last ditch effort to prevent another Reckoning and awakening Baalphrigor. Overtime, the Despite of Fable twisted, and became the suppression of quite nearly anything magical at all- and when someone strayed over that, Azazel killed them. He consumed them, and devoured the knowledge that they had ever been. He ate them, and he ate all traces of them.

The missing, the forgotten, they're all dead. Azazel killed them personally.

And they are left with that, as they deal with refugees talking about whole cities no one remembers. Thousands. Tens of thousands. Hundreds of thousands.

Azazel intends genocide, and he is coming with an army to do so.

Ayo, fuck Azazel first and foremost...

Fealty Volitant was created over 10 years ago by Giulio, Mirari and Duarte to serve their own needs as gatherers of information, but it had a large purpose that was more theologically informed.

Fealty Volitant's vaults were built to serve Vellichor. It's complicated, but the vaults were made to be a mirror of Azazel. They collect and hold secrets - not magical ones, just secrets in general. And hidden behind the frivolity of entertainment, gambling and fashion (akin to writing reams of smut in a book before the important stuff) so as not to rouse his or his cult's suspicions.

And now it is time for the vaults to serve their true purpose and deal a blow to the Eater of Stories and Prince of Secrets.

Duarte is not Vellichor's Aspect of Revelation, but he'll wear the hat.

Fealty Volitant for this is going to do a grand, world-shaking sacrifice of secrets. That's right - they're emptying the vaults right into the broad general public. Every illicit affair, every back alley meeting, every Valardin Knight who eats peas with a knife...big or small, likely to cause wars or just evil stares, indiscriminately, everything the vaults has gathered over the past decade is being made public in a massive tidal wave of Revelation. EVERYTHING.

Brought to you by "Perspicacious Owl" - the hero of the beloved Poor Hungry Demon books.

This will likely cause a good amount of CHAOS (which isn't horrible since CHAOS hates Azazel - see? This plan has LAYERS). But to mitigate this, the principals of Fealty Volitant will be flanking this action by playing the roles of concerned diplomats. They are going to attempt to minimize some of the potentially greater fall-out from doing this by giving mediation and leading talks between any rivalries it stirs up.

And of course if any person or group is too much of a salty butthurt asshole about their secrets suddenly floating around the taverns, there is Mirari who has always been good at giving people some...uhh...perspective.

(We got 20k Military to represent protection for the casino and cover for the operatives to keep them anonymous, and we got 20k social to represent the NPC distribution effort)

Katarina DOES feel a little bad about this. Not so much for exposing unjust people as the bastards they are, but for the gossipy stuff, like the poor Valardin knight who eats peas with a knife. He didn't do anything to anyone. All the same, Kat understands the necessity of this vast de-vaulting, and she does her part to make sure that the secrets are properly gossiped about in the Eurusi Quarter and spread out into the greater Eurusi refugee community.

Ferrando has never really been personally concerned with the volume acquisition, storage, and/or retrieval of a mass amount of secrets, but! He's very good at knowing who to talk to around the city to get certain things done, and if you were some organization who wanted to, say, undertake a mass release of (soon to be formerly) secret information to the public, Ferrando can make help link you up with certain smuggling-like operations that will quietly distribute things around the city until one morning, whoa! How did these get there? Never mind that, did you read this!? For what it's worth he also always enjoyed the Perspicacious Owl book series from back when, so that's probably a bit of extra motivation too.

Mirari is a problem solver. A woman with a fondness for chaos, she's curious to see what will happen. It's truly a grand finale, but it's worth it, if it helps people remember. So many secrets, so many squabbles as a result. While others use their political prowess to ease any waves of disconnect, Mirari removes obstacles in their way. There's always someone who decides to make themselves an issue, it's really unfortunate. Mirari will carefully encourage them to make better choices.

Apollo helps distribute these secrets, watching for the fallout but not particularly concerned with it unless it proves as present and existential a threat as Azazel. He doesn't even hold back secrets he finds in Fealty Volitant's stores that might affect how people perceive him, his family, his House: the machinations to ennoble him, various dalliances and affairs.

Mabelle is not very good at gossip but she is good at mitigating damages, acting all innocent and making people think what she wants them to think. Soothing the masses, listening to whatever people have to say and try not to get anyone murdered.

Vitalis is a new recruit to the Fealty Volitant and what a time to join, just as it's being turned inside out. He is good at getting into and out of places he probably shouldn't be in. Who better to get some of these incindiary parcels where the need to go than the Ghost himself?

The joining is a solemn thing for Vitalis, Giulio Corvini was a treasured mentor and is dearly missed. He is proud to be joining the Giulio's storied legacy.

There is something terribly convenient about being viewed as someone who is always willing to help mediate a problem, about being a trustworthy sort. Medeia's reputation for being at the right place at the right time to offer kind advice or to soothe tensions is known throughout noble circles, and so it isn't surprising at all to find her at the Black Fox or Ambassador Salon, speaking carefully with individuals who are upset or hurt by the things revealed. She keeps an eye on the white journals, too, sending well-thought out letters to those who express distress and inviting them to join her for a drink so they might talk about why they're so upset. It's subtle, yet pointed, each interaction whenever the topic comes up, working to turn the populace's view on the revelations neutral if not positive.

It's always hard to tell with something so great in scope and so allegorical it's nature just what tangible effects it has. Certainly they are successful about spreading the word, and certainly a countless number of secrets that would infuriate Azazel are released, but there's not a beam from on high or a sign that can be read without any possible confusion or contradiction.

There are some subtle signs, though.

Without exception, as the refugees come to Arx, it's the Shrine of Vellichor and Great Archive that drives them the most. This certainly wasn't the case before Fealty Volitant acted, but it is without a doubt the case after their secrets spread. Something is drawing people to Vellichor, and it could well be them.

No crows are seen in the city. Not a one. Some farmers comment on it. Could just be migratory patterns.

It must have done something. But precisely what is very hard to say.

Under the direction and suggestion of Archducess Jaenelle Velenosa, and under the leadership of Marquessa Quenia Igniseri, the Mirrorguard are going to scout around the hedges to look for any sign of cultists or dangers that they can deal with head on, within reason. They will be making certain to stay away from the danger of the hedges itself, having been informed about the dangers that lurk when people get too close from those with past experience.

The Mirrorguard have been instructed to make smart choices about handling any dangerous cultists or monsters they come in contact with. If it is something that's too big for them to handle as a group, they are instructed to make a note, then move on and keep scouting. If the group determines they can handle the lurking dangers, they will attempt to do so to the best of their ability.

Quenia will be staying behind at the Mirrorguard Headquarters to help organize the efforts, working as a researcher and tactician in the background, but making sure the group is well coordinated to get the job done. If any question comes up with regards as to how to defeat a certain type of monster, she'll do her best to find any answers she can about weaknesses they can exploit to help get the job done. She'll also make certain the members of the Mirrorguard that are going out scouting are outfitted and have enough supplies to see their efforts through. She will make certain that Jaenelle is kept abreast of any activity as soon she is aware of it herself.

Jaenelle will go with the Mirrorguard to assist Quenia in any issues that might arrise. She will be there to command or direct as needed while also working with other groups to make sure that the Mirrorguard can be used where needed.

Caspian has already been to the thorns once.. so what is once more. And even better now that this time he isn't hacking his way into the heart of it. He has seen a good deal of cult activity, and knows some of the signs to look for. More over, he is experienced with surviving int he wilds and knows what to look for to identify oddities and potential areas of attack.

Duarte is not likely to leave Arx, but he is sending out some hired help he thinks are just perfect for this job! "Researchers and cartographers!" he claims, with his winning smile. Certain to only better document the scouting effort, while he stays behind and helps Quenia sort through the reports that come back in. Why is there a bowl grapes and a bottle of wine? Well - that's necessary to help keep Quenia well motivated, Duarte claims!

Thea is pretty familiar with the vines. So very familiar. The bright side is she at least knows what to look for at this point. So she’ll go and scope out the area, going as close as she can without disturbing the maneaters. The Countess will record whatever it is she finds and report it back to headquarters, likely in great detail.

Alexio will focus on preparing supplies, documents, maps, and ensuring messages are getting conveyed discretely from different groups. Alexio also will clearly play favorites and make sure as many mirrorguards make it into the Mirrormask blessings when and wherever they are. Alexio will also support Quenia's efforts to make sure Mirorrguard have optimal equipment for their work.

Jan is not one for subtly or stealth but she has the legendary Glinting Gale which apparently has it out for the abyss and a mind to help. Thusly armed she will use her knowledge and experience of war tactics to stage areas near where the scouts will be scouting so if the sneaking encounters trouble she and others there to help provide protection. She will assist in providing cover and assist those there to offer protection to the scouters can quickly join any trouble and try to keep scouters safe.

Most of the Mirrorguard experiments are very frustrating. The hedge grows back. Most of it can't be burned, or even chopped. It is dangerous to approach. And on and on. But one small shadowed stretch of the hedge doesn't seem to grow back at all, and can be chopped or burned. A very dark part of it, where the towers of Harrow Hall block the moonlight from shining upon it.

While the rest of Arx is engaged in figuring out this thorn business, Fealty Volitant engages in a counterespionage program.

Knowing that some past attempts to deal with thornweave were thwarted by a certain abyssal agent, it's necessary to identify any other potential enemy agents of the abyss who are among the compact and its allies. Nothing will be done with this information, yet.

The goal is to use Fealty Volitant's expansive network of spies and informants to identify actual or potential enemy spies, informants and saboteurs.

The information gathered will be used in a future action.

(OOC NOTE: This is not meant for rooting out PCs who are on 'team bad'. The intent is to gather a large list of NPC identities like 'Joe Blow the cultist' or 'Harry Buts the sabotaging scholar' or 'the book club down the street that's really a satellite cell consisting of a bunch of Horned God loving lunatics' who can be targeted in a future action. This action will lean on Clue #2846 as well as the story action contributions of Fealty Volitant members.)

Quenia is no stranger to working with a network of spies and informants, having been a spy master herself back in Granato, sometimes doing the dirty work herself to get the information she needed. She puts her considerable charm and social skills and treks out into the world, asking questions, taking names, and making use of the Fealty's network to pass information along where she can. She's careful to apply make up, change her appearance, and make sure she's not followed home, using more private areas in public buildings in the city to make subtle changes here and there before beating feet back out into the world once more to get the job done.

It helps to be involved in many different ... organizations. On the surface level, here's a neo-noble who earned his Knighthood and has gained some respect on numerous accounts through various dangerous trials and tribulations. Here's also a man who dazzled everyone with his Spectacular Spectacular, becoming well known enough for his death-defying escapism that certainly people would LOVE to talk to him. On the underbelly of it all, well, he'll use what connections (ie. secret orgs) he has to pull on a few more strings, to get a few more jingles of information to play with. Low hanging fruit is obvious the best to fill the basket with.

One way or another, Mirari always finds a solution to every problem. There are different ways to get an answer, and the woman is skilled in the ones that work. As head of the Corsetina family, Mirari has a vast network of connections in many parts of the Compact. Let's be honest, some might be questionable sorts, but those are the kinds that get the best information. And so, she will smile and she will tempt people into telling her their secrets.

Well you do not become a Minister of a Duchy without having a few aces up your sleeve and Mabelle has plenty. Aside from the spy network controlled by her alleged cookie girl, she has something else now: people she broke free from the control of the traitor that were once hive minds to his cause and are so grateful, they want to bend the knee to Laurent. Certainly she can learn from them about missions they carried out for him, especially to handle threats to him or allies he gathered.

People just seem to trust Medeia. A lot. It's almost effortless for her to meet someone and understand them deeply, providing a foundation for that trust. Which is likely why Duarte brought her in to review collected profiles and see what information she can glean from them. He promised her the comfort of an office, and so she nestles away in his - for easy access to whiskey - with several stacks of information over a few nights. Her focus is particularly upon the possible motivations of each person profiled. Are they desperate, ambitious, bored? This is all compared against what she already knows of various Abyssal cults to try to find connections between them.

Celine has been obsessively working with Occultists for years (Clue #4183 'Celine's Secret') and has therefore built up a tightly-knit network of people (NPCs) whom she implicitly trusts. She'll meet and speak with those that she's able to reach out to at such short notice in order to gather names of interest that may pop up, not only in connection with the current Thornweave crisis, but others that are known to sympathise and work with the Horned God's followers.

Never one to maintain something quite so formal as an organized network of contacts (or, to be fair, an organized much of anything), Ferrando's ubiquitous gregariousness and access to every social strata from the Whisper House down to the Murder of Crows nonetheless provides him access to a fairly comprehensive set of people of all shades, stripes, and walks of life. And he's a good listener, which everyone really appreciates! Over the years in Arx his habit of stacking up contacts from guys who know a guy and informally fixing person who has this with person who needs that has built up to a semi-chaotic web of unconventional access, and combined with the finely tuned nose for the street he had ever since his young days as a cadet guard back in Lenosia, any diligent effort he puts into ferreting out something out-of-the-way tends to scare up some results more often than not. Put simply, few people know the city top to bottom as comprehensively as Arx's favorite (semi-retired-from-bouncing) bouncer. Combined with the typical Artiglio trait of over-and-above tenacity, it's a very useful thing to leverage for contributions to a little list-building project.

There's an awful lot that indicate a half dozen nobles and prominent individuals are working in the Horned God's service, having been promised power or positions of authority when he takes over the world. Some are fairly certain, with individuals making admissions or trying to sway others to the Horned God in private. But the trouble is there's nothing that could really be presented as evidence, such as writings or objects, and all would just be testimony at any trial. So they can definitely pinpoint individuals, but public trials might not go their way.

Fealty Volitant uses its vast network of spies and informants to distribute a series of anonymously authored and illustrated booklets called "Confessions of a Poor Hungry Demon". This heartfelt series follows the life of a poor, sad toothless fluffy bunny who one day gets asked to eat just one little secret and then becomes an insatiable, mean-tempered gluttonous blob-bunny. Brimming with ridicule, the narrative is told in the first person from the Poor Hungry Demon's perspective. How he was just "so hungry" and "only following orders" - he hopes the reader can find it in their heart to forgive him.

Each edition of the series introduces a new bit of magical knowledge and history (e.g. the role of primum, or a beseeching ritual) which the Poor Hungry Demon greedily devours to hoard for himself, only to be foiled by Perspicacious Owl who reminds the Poor Hungry Demon that he's "not the only game in town" where secrets are concerned. Mostly illustrated, even those of low literacy can glean some understanding of the magical nature of things.

Towards the end of the series, the Poor Hungry Demon reduces in size back to the sad fluff-bunny he was before as all his colleagues and friends desert him for shinier things. He grows so small that he can't even eat a bite-sized secret, and when he's no bigger than a field mouse the Perspicacious Owl eats him up.

Of course, the crew is very careful to cover their tracks, keeping the authorship of this loveable series untraceable even with the most modern of 14th century investigatory technology.

Katarina will be telling her noble friends about the most charming series of books she's read. That said, a book called 'Confessions of a Poor Hungry Demon' might not fly with her more Oathlands-y friends and family, so she'll be choosy about to whom she voices this recommendation. More discreetly, she'll personally translate the books into Eurusi, to ensure that they can be spread in the Eurusi Quarter of the Ward of the Traveler.

Mirari will use her street contacts to help with the distribution of the books. The intent is to make sure that no one knows the source, where they came from, etc. But also, to convince those that receive these shipments to make sure they get distributed and placed front and centre.

Avita has found the most darling books, just laying about!

Why, it's so simple even a child could understand the plight of the Poor Hungry Demon -- and you'd have to be completely heartless not to at least feel a little badly for the obviously remorseful little beastie, right?

Right!

So, with all the generosity and forgiveness that Avita is SO well known for (I heard that scoffing, knock it off), she delivers a copy to that Library Raja's always speaking about in the Lowers -- the one always in need of books -- and to the Archives, that others might enjoy her find as much as she did. She will speak to others about the book candidly, if off-handedly, in a way that marks her as the clueless silk that she is:

It's so original! So evocative! What a strange tale, a new perspective, oh, she just can't say enough about this unknown, unnamed author and illustrator -- but, their cheek! Their audacity! Their -sincerity-!

Why, it's just what those dreary, dusty stacks need, isn't it?

It works. It really, really works, in that most people in the Lowers in particular are now openly making jokes about the demon. In fact, a lot of common people are joking about 'Azazel, the Eater of Stories' in particular, and Duarte is pretty damned sure he never used the name. All of them now seem to be being followed by crows quite often in public. The black birds just... watching them. And angrily cawing at them whenever they pass by.

Quenia Igniseri is not entirely sure that House Igniseri is experiencing financial troubles. Since the death of Malrico, their finances have gone up and not down, like others within the Lyceum. However, she's not about to let her confidence in her domain's ability to stay afloat get the best of her. Granato is the main shipping area for both Igniseri and for Rubino-Zaffria, so she's well aware the ports could house folk, unbeknownst to her, who might have been digging into shadier elements that might bring either domain to ruin.

So Quenia is going to do her due diligence. She's going to travel to Granato to speak with her mother, Emisilia, who has been managing the affairs of the city while Quenia has been governing from Arx. She will go over the books with her mother to help figure out any discrepancies. She's also going to travel to the various banks within the city and to the docks to see if they've noticed anything off with their accounts or with the shipping records of goods coming to and from the city.

If they find anything from the records, or by talking to the bankers or the dockmasters, she's going to follow that trail to see if it leads to any actionable circumstances. IE: she'll confront those people they discover who might be responsible for shady dealings.

To achieve this, she'll be using her various investigative and social skills and she will bring along those people who can support her in digging out information; those good with street skills, those good with additional investigative skills, and those who can provide muscle should muscle be needed. She's employed the help of her family and her friends, and has hired outside help with this task, in hopes of being able to retrieve some of the missing hoard of Malrico or at least find a lead on where else they must look.

In an effort to aid both the Lyceum and House Igniseri, Luis will add his knowledge and skills to working at securing what was lost, or misplaced, or hidden away. Through his contacts and with some of the knowledge that he has gleaned over the years with respect to this exact issue, he will work towards helping Quenia recover the missing goods. He has made contact with the one who controls the gold through Arx and those whom have attempted to oppose them, which he believes will likely be involved with the missing goods.

The fact that Malrico's name has been replaced with a bloody coin is something that Luis believes is tied to the coinmaster. Many things have gone missing in the last year and they are all likely tied together in some elaborate plot, so Luis will pool his knowledge and resources with his family and those whom are helping them in uncovering this.

Luis will also utilize his understanding of the Grey Mages and the True Lyceum to attempt to put some context to the situation and help address the possible fallout from the change in heralds, as well as the long standing issues that they have had and how those conflicts could affect current affairs.

Lucita was a former Igniseri before marrying out. Saik and Igniseri are close allies. When Quenia asks help of Lucita, she willingly assists her in the effort to dig through records. A little charm and bit of subtle manipulation goes a long ways to persuade bankers and dockmasters to talk in order to try to discern if any are involved in diverting funds from their proper destination and following up as such information shows to be necessary. Thieves, bah! Thieves for a Herald, tripply bah!

It might not be so surprising to hear that Mailys and a host of Corsetina accountants are well aware of the discrepancies with ledgers throughout the Lyceum. Though her family's two previous leaders sided with the Pravosi, Mailys has remained a constant presence and service to the Princess Jaenelle, and the Archduchess' counties, like House Igniseri. So the missing shadow ledgers weren't required to see silver flowing back into the Igniseri coffers. What seems to be the trouble, across the Lyceum, is locating where silver was wandering off to, and what (if anything) was the silver used to buy?

Recovering stolen goods, laundering sums of money into investments, purchasing things through other representatives all have a shady element that is hard to pin down unless you know where to find those people. Mailys knows how to find those people, and in what languages those people discuss business. The Dockyard and the Merchant District of any good port city holds key details to which businesses and owners grew fabulously wealthy, and which found themselves lost when a sudden disappearance folded an entrepreneur's success. There would always be stories, rumours, and jealousy to keep details flowing over the decades, or so the Corsetina hoped. A desire can fall into many categories, and the Corsetina toolbox is very full with options to trade for leads.

Intrigue really was at the heart of her games to turn people into assets of knowledge. When Mailys had but only a single thread, she can weave all the charm and control necessary to get what she wants and deliver.

Duarte is going to use what remains of his lycene connections to see what he can do to assist Quenia's search.

Economics and ledgers are not a strong suit for Raja. However, she does understand shady dealings rather well. Instead of focusing on the finances of things at the top, she goes straight to the bottom. Using some of her shadier contacts, she will work to follow the silver trail and root out the criminal enterprises of the area. What she is ultimately looking for is discovering who the criminal groups work for. Sure, Malrico is gone, but Raja assumes a lot of his criminal infrastructure remains in some degree or fashion. Someone out there is still getting the money.

Caspian is not a criminal mastermind. But he is clever. He is not a blade in the dark. but he is a blade. Quenia has called for the more shady folks to help her root out corruption. Caspian cant be of huge help in THAT part, but when it comes to the actual rooting.. he is very good at that. He is damned good with a blade, knows the streets, and can blend in easy enough.

Also, as they search through these caches, Caspian will be looking out for that Amber maulet.. the one Malrico was given by Weohstan. It could be useful in future endeavors and so he will take careful note of any reference that that.

Raven will prowl around the nearby city and settlements looking for places which may stand out to her. She won't use mage sight but she will see if she can find anything suspicious or anyplace that reminds her of those shadowy places of Setarco-those forboding nooks and corners where people shy going near because of the feelings of ominous, or maybe it's being watched-she will mingle and look for the spooky hidey holes of the area Marquessa Quenia and her house are searching.

Things /are/ tied up in some elaborate plot. That much is clear. The spy networks do seem to point to various Suspicious Caves around the Lyceum but any attempt to venture into them has lead to death or severe maiming with the survivors telling tale of an elaborate underground system. Though with the location of some of these being known, including in Granato vassal territories, perhaps a larger group can make the effort in the future.

Looking into potential criminal enterprises is more promising. There are at leas five different merchant families that seem to have far greater an influence on trade than they ought to, with supply and demand fluctuating as a result of their whims, though they've quietened down since Malrico's death, leading to some stabilisation of the market. But they are still around...

Fealty Volitant uses its vast network of spies and informants to propagandize on behalf of Victus Thrax. They pose as merchants and traders, sailors and such to speak well of the Thrax High Lord and, also, maybe exaggerate the horribleness of the pretender in Eurus with healthy mix of disinformation and outright rumor.

Orland uses his network of spies (clue 2846) to gain the upper advantage here. His sole intent will be using the network to laying out propaganda in favor of progression and change! The world doesn't need to be held in stasis for so long that it refuses to change! All those neo-nobles that were elevated in the Thrax compact? Suddenly they're getting glowing reviews and stories abound about their heroic deeds! Imagine that, they do deserve to be nobles after all!!!

Savio will pose as (well, and actually is) a bard to make songs and other content that exaggerate the horribleness of the pretender in Eurus with healthy mix of disinformation and outright rumor.

Quenia takes a somewhat different approach than the others with regard to the schism. She still uses bunch of spies and informants from the network to do the work of sending out propaganda. And, she does somewhat focus on the issue of how change can be good. However, she doesn't speak to how having neo-nobles is good. That might inflame a few people that they're trying to convince. So, she focuses on how Thrax has thrived and prospered ever since Thralldom was abolished, how people have benefited, and gained strength and wealth through those changes, and what a positive impact that has had on the Compact overall, since many people viewed the practices of Thralldom barbaric. Those who embraced change suddenly found themselves with new trading contracts and alliances that were, perhaps, not previously available to them. These are things that many nobles think about, the prosperity and wealth of their families, the reputation of their House, and the sort of legacy they want to leave behind. Be the change you want to see. Be the House that puts forward a positive legacy. Be the house that shines in the eyes of the Compact. This is the message she directs the spies and informants to put out there.

Zakhar takes to the streets, his knowledge of how Thrax works and what the traitors seek, using each to power through and send proper information along with misinformation for those of his contacts on both sides.

Thralldom hasn't been popular across the mainland in since the time of Alarice the Great 500 years ago, when abolishing slavery in the Compact was one of her core reforms following the Elven War. It's there that Fealty Volitant will see their greatest degree of success. Duarte organizes the vast network of spies and informants (and their spies and informants and so and so forth...) with a degree of skill that's impressive, and it works out well. It helps that Zakhar is on the ground level, taking information at crucial choke points among society and feeding it back to him. He has far better luck than some others, speaking to traders and servants that can give him the scoop on members of the Peerage. The help hears /everything/.

Orland and Savio are a splendid team together, not that anyone was going to suspect otherwise. Utilizing the information and tips that come from Duarte and Zakhar, they're able to press their propaganda at the appropriate people using their own network among the Compact. Those that might be swayed by a compelling story of neo-nobles and their rise to fame find themselves listening a bit more intently and openly.

Quenia is there with a less sensational touch, she doesn't speak on Eurus or the neo-nobles. Instead she has her informants spread the good word on how well Thrax has been doing since the abolishment of Thralldom. Her people whisper in the ears of the Compact that they too could enjoy such prosperity.

The Lyceum, Northlands and Saffron Chain are generally the most receptive, with some traditionalists agreeing that this wave of change in the east is worthwhile, possibly even good for everyone. The Crownlands and Oathlands are less so, stuck firmly on their distaste for the neo-nobility but agreeing that Thralldom has to go.

It's in the Mourning Isles itself that they see the most resistance. The line between the progressives and traditionalists is drawn long and wide. There's particular hate brewing for Thrax, Kennex, Redreef, Darkwater and Eswynd, viewed as dangerous radicals to the way of the Compact. It will take more than songs and positive whispers to change hearts and minds there.

A beleaguered mind left slow and wasted by sleep deprived nights and hunger pangs for the better part of a year yet clings to hope as if it were the last soft glow of a flickering flame in a labyrinth. One wherein any false move, any breath, might extinguish such a thing and leave one alone and adrift in the sticky dark.

Duarte's seclusion was by choice, but what choice did he have? And now his visits to the shrines are motivated by what? Self preservation? What is there to preserve? An obligation to his County? The one he didn't want? The final trap Belladonna laid to ensure he could never break faith with House Pravus?

How many times had he poked at the abyss? With how much smug disregard for the warnings? He'd survived near evisceration, hadn't he? Didn't he, by charm and persistence, befriend Mirari, a former most dangerous foe? And hadn't he earned Belladonna's ire for it? And didn't he earn the favor of House Velenosa to the consternation of House Pravus, on the heels of accepting a patronage from House Thrax - also to the consternation of those close to his duchess? And didn't he make the crassest Culler his own protege for a time? Did he not also patron the most controversial scholar? And every would-be scandal he slipped right through. Doing exactly what he wanted - getting exactly what he needed - and not once being thwarted or even called out.

But life has a way of catching one out, Duarte thinks, and this curse - this affliction - is the mit.

So what is there that motivates Duarte in his existing state of resignation to this sudden onset: the culmination of everything a life like his is owed? An unsworn oath to The Dream, perhaps? A pact made before birth against a command that he survive? Who knows. Who cares?

Whatever his motivation, Duarte is visiting the shrines as part of his own cleansing journey, to rid his spirit and body of abyssal taint foolishly acquired (clue 2871). And indeed, part of that journey - a small part - is for him to conduct his own Rite of Cleansing for the greater good. For the purpose of the primum we all share, in which we live, that is us - is everything.

So when the calendar falls on the 13th day, and the sundial approaches the thirteenth hour, Duarte breaks from his meditations in the Shrine of the Sentinel and invites another to watch, as he was shown, the cleansing ritual.

In the courtyard of his under construction (which construction has halted) estate, Duarte creates thirteen points of light with thirteen candles - one for each God - and submits to them each an item of significance.

But for Duarte, perhaps the ritual is different. He is to sacrifice 13 items that are meaningful and profound, but this - to him - does not necessarily mean that he must sacrifice items of particular fondness.

And while the items he selects are all meaningful in some regard, there are a few that perhaps stand out more than others:

To Limerance he burns letters he kept from years ago when he had Lianne's fondness. Whatever misunderstandings have occurred, he prays his steadfastness in honoring his oaths to her are recognized by the Gods, if they are not seen by his liege herself.

To Vellichor he burns pages from the file he's kept on Legate Bianca - those pages which contain the most damning items he'd learned of her. No one would care now, anyway, but he longs for her friendship in these lonely days and is regretful that he ever kept these.

To Gild he burns an old hat. One he wore frequently when he was a commoner. He prays that whatever he's done, at least this one sees how he's amassed wealth, improved his station - by hook or by crook - but has also given back dearly. The fact is he's not a commoner any more, and longing for "that life" is needlessly silly.

To the Thirteenth he burns a slice and a trimming from the vines that have grown and are embedded in his flesh. Irreverent, perhaps, but not theologically uninformed. Duarte's 'gift' to the 13th is not a 'gift' but a reflection of one. He's casting to the flames that which has been given to him.

And to Aion, the dreamer, Duarte burns a slip of paper upon which he had written 'the future'. Someone dunk the man in shallow water already.

Mirari arrives at the time and the place. She is there to observe so she does not interfere nor contribute. She simply observes and tries to focus on the ideas, the thoughts, the things he is putting out into the world.

Thirteen days. Thirteen baths. Thirteen prayers. Thirteen nights. Thirteen gifts to each of the Gods. Thirteen offerings of action. And on the thirteenth day, in the thirteenth hour, Duarte starts his Rite of Cleansing, as the culmination of all of this.

Through it all, Mirari watches him, observes as he sacrifices an old hat to Gild, bespeaking letting go of his longing for an easier life. She watches as he burns pages of a file on Legate Bianca, with the yearning for that old, dear friendship burning in his heart. She watches as he prays to Limerance and offers letters from a time when Lianne was fond of him, and re-pledges himself to faithfulness and steadfastness in honoring his oaths to her.

With each sacrifice, he feels stronger. He breathes a bit easier. With each moment he feels better - he regrets his smug, callous ways. His courting of scandal. He feels stronger, better, cleaner. He stands taller, as the ritual slowly comes to a close, but it's while the flames are still burning that the courtyard suddenly darkens.

"You stand balanced on a knife's point. Cleansed of Blight by the Gods you hardly believe in. Oathed to those who serve the Darkness." Indeed, he can feel that knife's point, and suddenly he feels as though he is hanging in the darkness, standing on the thinnest of supports.

And then two paths before him - one strewn with rocks and hard going, difficulties and enemies he may not survive, but in the air hangs a rainbow, bright and beautiful and perfect. The other is easier, and he can almost feel the wealth and glory that lie along that path, with enemies and obstacles still, but so much adulation.

"Choice is the greatest gift given to humanity. You must choose."

And then he is back in the courtyard, and the fires flicker out, and the vines that were once embedded in his flesh are gone, leaving only scars in their wake. But somehow he feels the vines wrapping themselves around his heart, like impending doom.

Or perhaps that's just morbid imagination.

Duarte is growing and establishing the spy network for Fealty Volitant across Arx. He is acquiring paid informants such as courtiers and house staffs as well as orphans and sell swords in the boroughs. He is contracting well vetted "professionals" as insurance policies. He is more than generous in his monetary exchange for information, but his trust and his financial backing comes with trust and a heavy price to pay for "loose lips". It's an undertaking for sure consisting of money and other economic favors, social pull and muscle. But mostly money and muscle. He is seeking to have his agents in every ward. Eyes and ears everywhere. With a steady stream of intel funneling into the Vault, to be categorized and filed. And of course he wants his operation well protected.

Tessa comes across as silly and vapid, and that's useful in it's own way, she gets away with pouring people too many drinks, and asking questions other people wouldn't because she puts a giggle on the end of them. She also is working on adding to the network, a coterie of maids, servers, and stable hands, the sorts of people who are, like lovely Tessa, often overlooked when important people speak around them. They have know knowledge of where this information goes, just that they get coins, or nice cloths, or jewelry for passing on information to the Moore lady, but she does document who said tid bits come from for the files in the Vault... after all, one day the may need leverage and 'well I can prove you've been spying on your liege for the last year' is useful if that's the case.

Joscelin is at the hub of all Crafters Guild information, as all issues and complaints and applications of patronage and gossip and well, anything that happens in the Guild, is there available at her fingertips, she simply has to ask the right people the right questions, and she'll tap into a never-ending font of information. Apprentices as unassuming as servants know they can speak to her without fear of their Masters, journeymen and Crafters coming into their own know that the Guildmaster will ever have an ear for them. This is common knowledge to any Crafter in the Guild: the Guildmaster serves. But on the flipside, Joscelin uses what she knows to collect information, effectively using the eyes and ears of every member of her Guild to garner insight and information and gossip. Who's buying what? Why are they buying it? A gift for someone? Who's the gift for? A secret lover? A scandalous child from the union of an affair? A secret ally? Cheaply made items disguised as high-end merchandise as a subtle insult to a superior? All of this, and more, is at Joscelin's disposable, and while she would never use this power maliciously, she would use it to keep her people safe, funneling what's important to Duarte and mindful of what should stay secret and what can be used to further the endeavors of the Fealty.

It takes some time, and it's not easy. But gradually they make contacts - merchant contacts. Military contacts. Economic contacts. There's a lot of information here and it's nigh on impossible to sift through all of it by hand, but there's definitely information that starts to come in. Do they have eyes and ears everywhere? No. But do they have eyes and ears? Absolutely.

Now it becomes a matter of figuring out what information is useful and what information is not. But with a group this large there's bound to be something of note.

Having been granted leave by Hadrian and Cambria to form a new vassal house -- though, without reliance on House Mazetti resources, Giulio is going to begin the work towards finding a shav tribe that would be amenable to joining the Compact. As part of this, Giulio intends to cement the new alliance with bonds of blood, and will offer to marry one of the 'noble' members of the tribe, who is of marriageable age, healthy body and hale of mind and spirit.

This endeavor will likely take some time, and will be focused in the Lyceum. To Giulio's benefit, he does speak the tongue of the Lycene shav and is going into this with the understanding that not all of the tribes are alike. He is particularly looking for a tribe that is likely to have the least difficulties with melding itself into the Compact. Additionally, he will attempt to shy away from tribes that seem to be engaged in shadowy worship.

As of late, the Archduchess of Lenosia has been personally attending whenever her vassals (or vassals of vassals) interact with the Shav'Arvani, especially when they are trying to convince them to bend the knee and join the Compact. The Grand Duchess makes a point to display the wealth and strength of the Lyceum in her person, something that potentially speaks even more loudly than the words she says.

Mydas does not speak the language of shavs, yet this barrier won't stop him from appliying his intellect in preparing messages of propaganda to put Giulio's efforts under the best light, to be translated by those able to speak the language. He does not take a center role, and indeed much to his habit, his influence is felt rather than seen. Distant aid, yet no lesser for it.

Iseulet helps Giulio with the diplomatic side of this effort and while she doesn't speak the language but she has a good mind for negotiation and a silver tongue to boot. Whenever able, she definitely pulls her weight with words in his favor, too. Not only with the tribe themselves but with the rest of the Compact trying to avoid any political messes and thumbing of noses from the Peerage as best as she can.

Elgana has never been to the Lyceum but what a better time than the present to change that! Sure, she doesn't know the land itself, but she has made a great many friends who are part of the Lyceum since coming to Arx and has learned a great deal from them about their home, their culture. And since it is now one of those friends who has called upon her to assist, assist she shall. She will accompany Giulio but stay largely out of the way of any fighting - no fighting for this Redrain! - and instead she will speak with the people and talk both Lord Giulio /and/ the Compact up. What can this man do for them? What can the Compact do for them? She'll be certain to help him give the right answers and look friendly, charming and approachable while he is giving them. She will be on her most charming behavior for if there is one thing this Bear Princess knows, its people.

As Mydas makes his influence felt from afar, Duarte takes that campaign to the lyceum directs and manages the day-to-day of the diplomatic efforts following along the generalized positions and outline set. He is receiving the debriefs from the field and planning the next diplomatic maneuvers in either continuing negotiations where appropriate, or moving on entirely; helping to isolate the most advantageous arrangements and leveraging political capital. He is essentially managing the activity and actions of the legation.

Mirari does not speak the shav language, but she can climb over the language barrier to speak passionately about Guilio and his drive and abilities. She will find people in small groups, speak to them as the Sword of Lenosia, telling them how much better life could be under good leadership.

Grazia is remarkably good at getting people to believe that what she's saying is in their best interests and even happens to be their own excellent idea. She's going to help Giulio for her own reasons, as a favor, but she'll certainly work to build him up as a paragon of Compact leadership as well as presenting Compact membership as an extremely appealing idea. She's got a commanding presence to her and she knows the Lyceum well, even if she doesn't know this particular group of shavs, and she'll make a point of lucrative alliances both in and out of their fealty chain. It's obviously pragmatic for them to form a County, for the wealth and well-being of all, especially since they'll have powerful allies.

In support of Giulio, Talen will be attending the Archduchess during her address on the Mazetti lord's behalf, complimenting the speech with a demonstration of military prowess. Velenosan infantry in full plate armour with war hounds to accompany them, fully barded heavy cavalry churning up the turf as knights ride, and destructive power of a siege weapon will be all shown as a core reason why the Shav'arvani-- unless they side with the Abyss-- are powerless against the forces of evil. It is a show meant to pair itself with Eleyna's speech in not threatening the Shav'arvani, but rather imploring them to take the protection of the Compact, so that they do not need to become the puppets of the Abyss.

Of course, it also works well as a cover for having an actual army there, just in case bad shit does go down.

House Corvini is in many ways a perfect fit, really. They aren't warlike, they were a respected house of the Compact before the Crownbreaker Wars and vague memory of them remain, they aren't shamanistic. The propaganda efforts, and particularly House Velenosa getting behind this and pushing, are largely successful mostly since the Corvinis are far more acceptable by comparison to the recent Redrain houses of wild shavs, or for the Volkovs closer to home. So critically, while the diehard traditionalists will always resent -anyone- being ennobled, even there it could be argued it's just a restoration of their deserving station and Giulio was a respected noble being granted his own holding, which is unexceptionable. Of course, some truly just hate Abandoned regardless, and there will be a lingering degree of disttrust and hate directed at Corvini, but far less than at some of the others.

Duarte and Joscelin are throwing a LEGENDARY extravaganza to open the Crafters Gallery at Crossroads Casino. For Duarte, he is newly-ish ennobled and still gets the side-eye on occasion for his base behavior and lack of "cradle-to-adulthood" grooming in etiquette and noble affairs. So he hopes to make a big name for himself and draw attention to his successes as a noble, a business man and a humanitarian. To that end he is getting his story out there by way of propaganda and social contacts, making sure it's all properly spun and laudatory by calling in some favors (investing resources).

This joint endeavor establishes a permanent storefront which will boast high-priced, high profit margin, limited edition items from designers in the city made exclusively for Crossroads.

The Grand Opening event will include a high-end fashion show with the likes of Melody Whisper, River Whisper, Gianna Whisper, Princess Katarina Valardin, Caspian and more!

Numerous sponsors have signed on to help cover the costs of the event planning, spaces and talent.

Modeling in Arx is a new trend and until now these professional trendsetters had little to no clear idea how to price their services. Duarte's work in organizing the event took a census of their societal impact and helped each establish a pricepoint for their value. The sponsors ate it up and were quick and eager to procure these services - thus establishing a new industry in the city.

This event highlights Duarte's commitment to not only artisans and artists, but the people of Bravura - the demesne of House Amadeo - to whom he swore he would represent their interests and passions here in the capital of Arvum. Not only has he stayed true to this promise, but Crossroads Casino has also been giving back to the local community and is one of the largest employers in the Boroughs, while Duarte himself does not take a single penny from the operation (as verified by independent accountants!). Can you believe he did it all while increasing Bravura revenue 62% in the past 3 months and quintupling reserves!?

Joscelin has busted her ass for this event, calling in Crafters, helping with designs, and pulling in new, up-and-coming talent to help fill in the holes in the ensembles, making personally sure every outfit is complete. She is also announcing, talking to prospective patrons looking for proteges and guiding them to Crafters that might fit what they're looking for, being the best damn Guildmaster she can possibly be without flagging.

Mirari will be present at the Fashion Show, she'll be debuting some new pieces that has been paired with clothing that others have sewn up. Known for her fashion sense, and the things she sells regularly, she'll try to draw a crowd, promising some new Corsetina creations that will amaze and hopefully inspire (people to buy things)!

Lottie has been hard at work at a new line of confections specialized for the Crossroads Casino. Wheel of Chance decorated sugar cookies, dice shape hunks of fudge, little Game of Stones boards with chocolate molded game boards and hard candy 'stones,' she's done her best to emulate the spirit of the establishment in her confectionary designs.

Giulio will work with those present to attempt to convince people that they desperately need the newest items, or that they might wish to procure something for their beaus -- various things of that ilk.

Count Duarte enters the social scene with a splash, opening a permanent storefront as part of the Crossroads Casino which will boast high-priced, high profit margin, limited edition items from designers in the city made exclusively for Crossroads. The Grand Opening event included a high-end fashion show with the likes of Melody Whisper, River Whisper, Gianna Whisper, Princess Katarina Valardin, Caspian and more! Numerous sponsors have signed on to help cover the costs of the event planning, spaces and talent, showing the general mood in the city - Duarte is clearly on the cutting edge of fashion, and people want more! more! more!

Modeling in Arx is a new trend and Duarte's commitment to artisans and artists does not go unnoticed. He manages to rope in Big Names like Guildmaster Joscelin of the Crafters' Guild, Mirari Corsetina, Sword of Lenosia, as a designer, and Lottie Parkins to cook delectable food for the Grand Opening. Lord Giulio Mazetti lends a hand too, spreading word of the Grand Opening and the fashion delights to come far and wide.

His people notice, and so does the city of Arx. The Grand Opening is mobbed, and the fashion show is a decided hit. Industrious designers start vying for attention, and overall it is weeks before people stop talking about the fashion hit Count Duarte organized. It is, as they say in the industry, a triumph.

Iseulet begins spearheading a campaign to put into motion a new -MASSIVE- permanent trading route by water that stretches from the Telmarch, round the coast of the Oathlands, heading south round the Lyceum, to the Thraxian Isles, and cutting across to Arx up to Stonehearth.

Each House that participates is asked to donate 50-100 military writs for the funding of security escorts and the fightin' off of Pirates - river and otherwise). Optionally, each House can /also/ donate some social writs to help spread the word along.

The goal is to stimulate trade between Houses - Houses both import and export goods and benefit from the taxes and stimulated economy! Thereby giving a monthly income boost (and maybe some initial economic writs) to all houses represented here. Every House gets an equal share of all the profits, with the exception of the Houses contracted to secure the route from bandits/pirates (those that have attached ships to the action). Not only are these houses entitled to a bigger share of the profits (due to their increased risk) any and all contraband seized by pirates along the route will of course, be theirs.

The Count of Riva himself has taken a very strong interest in this wonderful mission, probably most likely because the idea was born out of a conversation with he and Iseulet. He knew he would be especially helpful among the peoples on the rivers and so the Count would head out to use his charm and diplomatic skill, as well as his life experiences and relationships to assist in the negotiating among not just the peoples of the rivers, but anyone who seemed inclined to hear him.

Belladonna endorses the deal, meeting with merchants and sailors around her port city and spreading word, building hype and excitement for this new trade route that will open up new revenue streams for the bold and daring who sieze the opportunity at hand!

Baroness Skye Blackshore lends Lady Iseulet the resources she needs to start the trading route, giving her military escort and blessing to move forward with these trading agreements.

Lady Tesha Telmar has spoken with Lord Ansel Telmar and they have decided that this is a good idea for the Telmarch to join in. So they are going to be providing Military and Social support for Lady Blackshore in hopes that this venture goes smoothly and without any bumps.

Always on the lookout to place Caina in traderoutes, Oriana, as a Voice of Inverno, interviews her ship captains to carve a new force from Caian's navy specifically to provide safe passage for trade from New Hope and spreads the word through her contacts and mertchant captains at home and in Arx.

As the Queen of Silver for the isles of Ischia, it's important to pursue business policy and trade like it's nobody's business. No pun intended. So when Lady Iseulet begins such a massive campaign she knew she had to be a part of it and was grateful for the opportunity. Providing ships and the Black Curs' finest corsairs, this southern House hopes to protect the vested interests (and further them when possible) of everyone involved. With the blessings of Gild and the spirits of air, luck and sea, Prisila will work closely with the Voice of Inverno and contribute her forces to helping provide safe passage as well as investing economically into this beautiful project.

Aethan will be supporting Lady Blackshore in her trade endeavors by escorting trade ships as needed, as well as clearing pirates from optimal trade routes able to be accessed by the Kennex navy.

Octavia notes the need for Stormward to be part of the building trade route, and commits significant resources to the establishment and securing of the trade route. The Stormward Fleet, an anti-pirate patrol by its origins, will certainly be excited to join the fray and tear the pirates apart.

Having received contact from Iseulet, Marquis Fairen meets with his staff and vassals to discuss the trade route, examining it's feasability to improve on the economy of Leaholdt. The resulting meeting ensures that not only does Fairen support the goals and objectives of the project, but he also uses this as a way to improve the sales on the unique product, Leaholdt Dreamwine: A rare and expensive alcoholic drink with a milky, herbal texture, and forest green in color said to produce lucid dreams if the consumer drink a full glass. Not to mention, the Marquis encourages his vassals and the merchants in Leaholdt to take advantage of this trade arrangement.

When she was a young woman, Petra listened to the wind and used her gift of clarity to guide her tribe to safe paths. Now that she is helping her family rebuild after the tragedy that Brand inflicted upon them, she has been relying on this ability again and she does so in this instance to help establish a trade route. She asked the voices threaded within the breezes which route they should follow: 'What course best balances safety and prosperity?' When she is given an answer, she relays it to the others and advises them which currents to follow.

Following the lead of Tesha, Ansel will be assisting in commiting the resources of the Telmarch to bear on establishing and maintaining the trade route project. As the northernmost bastion of the Oathlands, the Telmarch itself holds a key position in economic routes through the area, and Telmarine forces will be dedicated specifically to establishing and safeguarding the route. They will clear the way of any bandits, help establish any trading posts along the way, and provide security for the first few rounds of caravans that make the trip, in order to establish it as a safe trading route.

While the Trade Route is largely over sea, but for it to be successful once it finally reaches the end of the route in the Oathlands, where there are relatively few ports, there has to be ways goods can reach overland, as well as goods reach Sanctum and other Oathland Ports so they can travel back along the route. Edain will focus his efforts on setting up solidly defended trade line to Pride Hall to the East and Farhaven to the North. Attempting to extend the reach of the Blackshore's trade route, and to give the Oathlands, Crownlands and Northlands more ways to access the route if they are far inland from it. Where Isabeau is brokering most of the deals, Edain will do his best to make certain they are well protected and those roads are safe.

On behalf of House Valardin and the overarching route(s) through the Oathlands, Princess Isabeau will coordinate and negotiate with local merchants and militia knights to ensure that trade is fair and the caravans are secure. What's more, she will offer a small tax incentive for merchants who wish to travel on the new trade route and/or share their goods with customers outside of the Oathlands. She will also do what she can to help coordinate with the other Oathlands houses and provide assistance to them where required. (Assisting with an additional 200 writs of economic, military, and social resources.)

With the desire to trade by sea and Harthall being an Island based house, the two mesh rather well. Orvyn will work closely with Iseulet and others to best organize the ships and their routes. His own contacts among the various sailing groups will come into play as the pocketbooks of others will likely aid in ensuring that proper bribes and deals take place throughout the seas of the compact. He will commit several of the house trade ships and encourage their sailors and captains to find ways to follow the prescribed routes in an attempt to streamline the fee structures. Further organization with the other Voices and heads will take place so that two ships loaded with similar goods will not pass each other on the seas, organizing bills of trade so that expedience and profit can both be maximized.

It is Hadrian's attention to set about making arrangements for the planned commerce within the city-state of Ostria through acute applications of... delegation! Putting the proper minds to work within Ostria itself to work in establishing the necessary measures to safeguard Ostria and House Mazetti. Making absolutely certain that visitors, whether merchants or otherwise, to the city-state adhere to the laws and traditions of Ostria and remain in the Outer Round. The fleet of House Mazetti shall patrol their own waters and, if necessary, defend traveling merchants with utmost tenacity from the First Ostrian Fleet. Ostria will welcome escorts attached to commercial traffic in order to maintain the safety of the convoys of merchant vessels. The escorts will however be expected to maintain a respectable distance from the Walled City by the Sea. House Mazetti too will be promoting the endeavor, urging those citizens in need of employment to make inquiries at the docks with the potential boom of new trade. Finally, Hadrian will be dispatching his invaluable lawyer to review any documentation before providing his final nod to Hadrian before anything is agreed upon by the Hydra.

Lady Catalana Kennex will be supporting these endeavors. She will personally speak to every noble of Stormward to negotiate such things. She will happily trade with Blackshore of course to boost both of their economies.

The Crown Minister of Coin permits the use of the harbours and ports in the vicinity of the City of Arx as part of the trade route and provides a measure of support in economic waivers, military permits and social connections for the suitable parties. All in all, the effort is more administrative, indicating that on behalf of the Crown and King that the initiative will not be hindered. All they take, of course, is their cut through taxes from any eventual profits.

Malesh is going to commission a brand new trade center at Stonehearth. Port facilities will be expanded, as well as new warehouses and vaults. City defenses in general shall be beefed up as well, in an effort to make Stonehearth THE place to trust your goods with quick an easy access to several trade routes including this new one. As his people handle that at his expense, he will be busy touring the existing routes speaking to the benefit of this new route as well as the virtues of Gild and, of course, the value of trading through Stonewood. Stonewood forces will take charge of protecting the final leg of the trade route, from Arx to Stonehearth, both on the river and along side it. (1000 Economic Resources, 500 each Social and Military)

Ariel will be hosting a trade fair and festival to Gild to coincide with the trade route announcement. She is aiming for a week-long event showcasing the goods, services, and performers of the region. A tithe of 10% will be given to Gild of all money's made/raised. She will be putting forth the money to host the event so the craftsmen spend nothing out of pocket to set up. The trade fair will run during the day why the night will be devoted to performers. Singers, dancing, and theatre productions.

Amari, acting as House Keaton's Minister of Finance, will oversee the Oakhaven leg of the trade route, while the Riverdogs under the command of her cousin are committed to escort merchant ships and inspect them for contraband. A strong supporter of Lady Iseulet's endeavor, she'll tout the benefits to local merchants and others in Arx she's dealt with during her tenure and offer incentives to bring them on board. Otherwise she mainly concerns herself with the numbers and logistics of the undertaking with a lawyer's eye for detail and compliance, trying to make sure it's all as profitable and legal as can be.

Operating as a merchant for years, Lord Fredrik knows the best and most profitable routes among the Isles. How to avoid pirates, how to get the best profit for your returns, and how to make certain that you are not ripped off by the hundreds of hidden fees that are scattered in every port authority. He will bend this knowledge to help the trade efforts, as well as examining the rest of the route thoroughly for wastage or investment opportunities, trying to make this route one large, flowing river of product that benefits everyone involved.

Duarte represents not only Bravura, but also the greater goal and group, in negotiating trade routes and costs with transporters and contractors, mercenaries and merchants. Tying together such an intricately detailed route and nailing down precise agreements for the benefit of all is not always as straight forward as 'Let's do the thing!' and Duarte is there to help smooth the waters and finalize the commitments as a new, but adept, diplomat.

Lys, Voice of Afflua, will of course help! Granted, Fen de Lire is not particularly nearby the water. So she'll be doing what she can to put the word out for the project and see if she can get people to help with it! And of course they'll provide some extra muscle via the Valorous Few.

Lucita evaluates the maps and plans shown her and decides to assist. She uses her charm and skills with propaganda to heighten interest in this project, both locally in Saikland Greens and amid the trade partners she has already established, Secure trade and steady protection and trade partners can only help build the economy and strengthen the military protection against pirates of all who are involved. 100 military resources are put into helping fund the protection from pirates, 300 economic resources are invested.

Lady Cadenza Fidante is happy to assist with this endeavor. As both the Voice of Hawkmour as well as the Admiral of the Tempest Rose, she will be ensuring that Tor and their vassal's lands are properly patrolled and protected as they have always done. She will see to it that the waters around Tor and Brassfall March are properly guarded for the trade route to be safe and successful. In addition, of course Brassfall will be taking part of this trading endeavor to boost their economy.

Duchess Calista Fidante is well know for her charming ways and when it comes to public relations, there are few who can match her talent. She speaks with the Merchants of Tor about new trade commissions and how this opportunity will stimulate the economy. Tor is a city-state that is rich with resources. More trade means more money and everyone likes money.

While gratuitously thanking House Malvici for its offer to protect areas which include areas under control of Tor, their offer will have to be declined. House Fidante has protected Tor and her surrounding lands for a very long time. Knight-Captain Ignacio Fidante shall instead however increase patrols within the Torean region to ensure any efforts by bandits or pirates will be thwarted.

Quenia hears out Iseulet's plan, and agrees to talk to her merchants and her nobles. She works to convince them that this would be a good idea, bringing in new goods, and much needed new avenues for export. She also reminds them that all the new goods would also be traveling to Gemcitta, since Granato is the hub for trade with Rubino-Zaffria lands as well, which should help convince them. She talks to her fleets, and sees that they handle additional protection around the ports of Granato. It's not that she doesn't trust Malvici, getting on with the Duchess well, just she wants her own people to be out in the waters as well in a combined effort to protect the trade routes. Working as one Lyceum. As such, she invests military favors (100) and economic favors (200) into seeing this prosper.

House Malvici will most certainly not come anywhere near Lenosia with its ships. House Velenosa shall protect its own waters, with their own ships, and ensure the proper passing of any trade vessels along its part of the sea route. Prince Mydas Velenosa makes that abundantly clear, before setting to work on using his own knowledge of economics to ensure the venture is a successful one. He also brings in the Silver Consortium as its Voice, to supply their expertise and existing networks to the effort. All for commerce! And to each their own waters!

The proposed trade-route precisely fits with Sudara's hopes for the kingdom as a whole and the Truesworn in particular. Given Esterhold's location, this plan could bring many advantages to her beloved Prodigals: she is committing herself and her little House to its support. Personally, this entails uncovering as much relevant information as possible, and accurately passing it on to her people to help them serve as guides and guardians in their home waters: the latest maps, schedules, accounts of seasonal changes in weather and currents and tides, recognition signals and flags for all the nations and Houses, and more besides. Her hope is that she can make the waters near Esterhold as safe as possible for merchant shipping, and turn her little fief into a favoured port of call.

Tenebrae, like her Lady Sudara, is devoted to helping her people gain power and riches that they deserve. She will do all she can to assist in this endeavor, though with her skills, it will probably be restricted to ensuring the safety of ships around Esterhold and assisting with the navigation of the nearby seas.

Pasquale represents Malespero in seeing the trade route established, putting what military weight his young House has into helping secure the waters and encouraging Nilanza's sailors and merchants to utilize the route for buying and selling. He also puts some of his own personal time to use in studying the raiding patterns of pirates along the route and tries to come up with strategies to avoid and combat them.

Duke Harlan Ashford will also supply social and military support towards this endeavor, but also bring up the fact that he's expanding Fortune's Harvest in Oak's Rest -- and suggests expanding the trading route towards there, especially as he's already building a road from Arx that will lead there -- and the Knights of Solace are patrolling (see action 2250)! The duke will also be allocating 100 military and social writs to the cause.

Lady Olivia authorizes House Ashford's participation in the route, as well as encouraging its (NPC!) vassals to participate and supplying resources in support of the endeavor. In terms of personal contribution, while not a merchant, she is an expert in agricultural affairs and will effectively use that skillset to try and leverage Ashford's participation in the network as a food exporter, studying crop patterns and directing a focus toward those likely to create surpluses in excess of local use. She can also to a degree export that agricultural knowledge as a good itself, ie by selling good seed stocks and other such bounties to their trade partners, hopefully increasing production among all the participating holdings.

Dycard will be working his way through the social scene, reinforcing that this is a great idea and the profit should be rich - and that other trade routes will likely come of it. Not in on this one? Well, when it's a success, there'll be others. Worried about changes? Life is change, and not all changes are for the bad.

Turo commits to protecting the trade routes to and from his waters, ensuring clean hand-offs of responsibility to other fleets as they occur. He also commits his formidable skills and experience in planning naval efforts to maximising these routes. Turo collaborates with the merchants in Escuma, as well as the Arts Academy, and brings Estil - the minister of Income - into those discussions as well.

Arcelia will work to support the additional trading routes at port sites around Escuma. She will also attempt to combine her own efforts in establishing trade routes(@action 2257) for Escuma with Iseulet's much larger expansion of trade routes around Arvum. She will attempt to utilize her relations with the Marin'alfar to expand trade routes to them as well, an attempt to see to it that our potential underwater allies are well supported.

Given the proximity of House Darkwater, Redreef, and Blackshore - Edward already knows these routes fairly well. These are the routes that his family, when he was still Redreef, had him personally following and tracking to ensure efficiency and little loss of cargo for the two Houses. Now he will apply this same knowledge for House Blackshore, showing Iseulet how to incorporate House Blackshore into these trade routes which includes at least two routes down to the Lycem, one specifically going to Setarco. This information is meant to be used to not establish the route since there is one but to ensure the depth of its efficiency - knowing when it is safe to push hugging the coast line against when it is okay to move out. How much cargo can be moved before spillage takes place in terms of perishables, and what the most commonly desired imports for those places are so there is no guesswork to be had.

As Voice of House Tyde, Archeron is keen to promote trade which takes Tyde's hardwoods and other exotic goods wider than just the Mourning Isles and the East coast, especially as they are trying to expand their forestry. Tyde provides a good number of resources to acquire military guards, even recommending a few of the old reavers who have retired from House service but who know the waves and how to defend goods. They also put the feelers out to their vassal houses, spreading the word through their social skills and resources. Archeron will be as charming as he can, of course, to those who wish to trade - showing them the fine qualities of Tyde hardwoods, with the confidence a woodsman has. And of course, direct the leaders to the best and most skilled former soldiers, as mentioned, to defend them.

While her brother, Valdemar, sets up the trade routes, Ingrid's focus is to ensure an economical boost to exports while expertly managing the taxes and other red tape associated with establishing a trade route coming in/out of Grihem's Point. Understanding that often you must spend resources to net in a bigger profit, House Grimhall does just that, using some of their economical clout to influence potential new partners.

Ember prepares Redreef Shores for an influx in trade by organizing patrols to protect the trading ships entering the waters near Redreef shore as well as meeting with local merchants so Redreef Shore may benefit from the new trade.

Donato will take command of Caina's fleet and help to secure the burgeoning trade route. He will drill the sailors and inspect the fleet to ensure they are fighting fit and disciplined and help to plan out the most effective and efficient naval patrol routes to ensure everything goes according to plan.

Demura has given Anabelle the responsibility to oversee the new investments of the Trade Route with Blackshore, and as such the girl has taken an interest in learning more about the world of Investments and the Finnacial Stability of Lyon's Redoubt and her family. The girl seem very interested in the potential of this great partnership to be used for something more among the Dominions, and will make sure that the profit is guaranteed to all parts.

Marquessa Demura Lyonesse will command personally the Lyonesse navy to make sure the first few days of the trade route will go smoothly. She will organise routine patrols and establish proper scouting alongside her strecht of the route to make sure no merchant will be harmed while trying to pass through the Lyon's Redoubt, while promoting the incoming trade goods among her folk. (100 military resources will be donated, 100 social resources will be donated and the Lyonesse navy will be added to the action)

Clover would give aid in spreading the news about this campaign, talking to people and getting others interested in not only investing but using this new trade route once it's settled. She has friends in all sorts of places, and connections plenty. She would see if she could also get independent captains willing to provide help with protection.

House Farshaw adds to this trade route some of its merchant fleet to assist in the shipment of goods as well as two ships to help with escort. What is good for the betterment of the west also is for the betterment of Westcrown. All in Farshaw are in agreement increased trade is to the benefit of all. There is a profit to be made here.

Calypso is going to be using her newest assets to their fullest extent. While using the new naval base (still pending @action, Apost still needed to review early) as a logistical strongpoint for her fleet, she will be directing it to help ensure that the ships she is applying to the trade route not only are deployed properly, but that she is exercising the best coverage. Being relied-on to guarantee the southern route for now, she will be ordering her ships to keep a watchful eye for pirates. Ships Captains are expected to prosecute pirates with extreme prejudice. Her vessels will not be entering waters recognized as belonging to other Houses, however. In the meantime she has been coordinating with Valardin about the logistical angles while building out her combat fleet (Apost is aware of plans, pending base @action approval) and plans to spend a few days in Southport directly rallying her troops and sailors, getting them motivated and putting her best people forward. (The Army attachment should include pending additional Longship purchases, as discussed.)

There's a lot more pirates than expected. A -lot- more. And they seem to have caught word of exactly this new trade route, with a suspicious amount of forewarning about exactly when and where different galleys would be making port calls, as well as a decent amount of resistance by coastal lords who are resistant to seeing any warships in their waters even to guard commerce, which makes things tense and difficult.

It's still a spectacular success.

The amount of diplomatic work in easing tensions, and the amount of military forces dispatched to help oversee this, even with the limitation on where they can and can't go, means that the overwhelming majority of galleys are making their port calls, and after a few crushing defeats of piratical forces, it doesn't look like much will threaten that... provided that the forces stay committed to patrolling the waters of their domains.

The Empyrean Trade Route, as it is being known, covers over thirty primary domains as ports of call or in-land trading partners, and the gains in commerce is significant, even if it is just starting.

Who can you trust? Who knows. These troubled times? Pfff.....Luckily, though, we have definitely untrustworthy Lycenes who know all about how untrustworthy sorts act, and look. It is coming in handy. Duarte uses his years' long experience as an intelligence operative for House Pravus to set up a small task force of wiley Lycenes (and a prodigal - but the best prodigal - Alistair) to conduct a counter-espionage sting across the main ports of Setarco.

The initial reports (clue 21465) were certainly inconclusive, but our Archduke is wise to insist on follow-up and a closer look in these days before the siege. This group of folk will use their combined skill-sets to lay stake-out of suspected infiltrators and pounce like hunting tigers on any suspicious sort, removing them from the front lines and politely asking them questions and their intentions and orders over tea.... <.< (They'll probably be arrested and tortured for information)

Basically we're going to stake out the docks and beat the sh*** out of suspected traitors until they sing like canaries.

The High Inquisitor, and now Prince of House Velenosa, is not keen on making a repeat of the infiltration of Arx that resulted in the death of Lord Killian Ashford and Dame Zhayla. Using his particular skills and nose for those who carry the taint of the Abyss, he and his Confessors will make the rounds through the newly arrived Prodigals of Setarco, questioning them to make sure none in the midsts intends to do harm as the battle for Setarco nears. At the same time, Alistair knows the difficulty and pain of coming out of the wilds and joining Civilization as a prodigal. Those who assist and both in rooting out dangers and in assisting in the war effort and excuirty of Setarco will be rewarded and elevated. Alistair will not tolerate those who abuse the kindness of the Compact, but those who embrace that kindness in turn should be prized.

Saoirse isn't really a "sit at the docks and beat 'em" kinda gal. So her tactic is a little different. She plans to go after those arrested, or those pointed out, and lure them into providing information. Using her intellect, her wit, her charm, and even her status as a princess, she will manipulate the infiltrators into telling her what she wants to know.

There's not a lot of infiltration going on in the city of Setarco. The enemy forces clearly don't care what's going on in the city right now, so much as what's going on just outside the city gates while they throw all sorts of enemies against them. Still, the three manage to ensure that the people within the city are safe from the Gyre's agents, and that's a pretty impressive thing with everything else going on.

--- Overview ---
Archduchess Eleyna Velenosa has appointed her Consort, Talen Velenosa, as the temporary High General of the Lyceum. The focus of the campaign is staging a defence of Setarco using the ground forces of the Lyceum in conjunction with House Thrax's under Prince Galen Thrax (see his @action), and House Valardin's under Princess Alis Valardin (see her @action). This will happen concurrently to the Compact's full fleet sailing at Setarco's coast under Grand Admiral Victus Thrax.

--- Battle Plan ---
The battle plan is to leave 1/3 of forces within Setarco city itself (Mission: 'Hold the City'), chain the harbour, and use the remaining 2/3 to meet the enemy close by to the city lands while monitoring them elsewhere (Mission: 'The Vanguard'). A protracted siege is inadvisable due to strangled supply lines to the island, so the intent is to do as much damage as quickly as possible, accepting the higher losses for expediency.

The hills around the city and before the plains will host the archers, ordered to fire first and with a mixture of blunt arrowheads for the undead, minimising friendly fire in the expected storms and fog that follow the enemy. The cavalry will then charge and trample on the plains (Mission: 'Don't Lose Your Head') beyond the prepared pits and trenches, followed by the advance of pike and infantry, staged to hook enemies and create shield walls to control and slow the advance while hacking, slashing and bashing for decapitation and dismemberment. A steady push back toward the city by the enemy is expected and planned for, with intent to use the modified terrain (Mission: 'Getting Your Hands Dirty') to act as a further buffer and obstacle. Any high profile targets, witches or monsters, are hunted by strike forces in the midst of it all (Mission: 'Witch Hunting').

Collecting the injured, dying and dead (Mission: 'Bring Out Your Dead') is a vital practice due to theories surrounding possible reanimation. Evacuation of towns and villages on the island, including Bravura, will fill the city and so morale must be kept high (Mission: 'Prayer and Care') during the rationing (Mission 'Did Someone Say supplies?'). The Choir will be hosted in one of the tallest towers in Setarco city, sung to its people within, and for the armies outside (Mission: 'Pitch Perfect'). Enemy agents undermining these efforts are a concern and planned for (Mission: 'Who Can You Trust').

Use of fire is claimed to have no extraordinary effect against the undead; it is therefore prohibited under martial law as it may present more dangers than benefits.

--- Special Missions ---
Aside from the main battle, special missions have been launched (these are all separate @actions), aimed to provide specific advantages through unconventional warfare:

- 'Hold the City', led by Sparte Fatchforth: One hundred men will assist Sparte Fatchforth in ensuring the city of Setarco, and its harbour, remain secure no matter what happens.
- 'The Vanguard', led by Lady Alessia Mazetti: finding the enemy with scouting parties before they find us so we can respond accordingly
- 'Don't Lose Your Head', led by Baron Stefano Gilden: leading the charge of teams of horses linked by steel chains to cause mass damage to the undead hordes
- 'Getting Your Hands Dirty', led by Dame Leola Allenatore: preparing the battlefield terrain with trenches and pits, hopefully to slow down the enemy, tricking their dumb minds
- 'Witch Hunting', led by Baron Audric de Lire: High profile targets on the battlefield who are using magic need taken out quickly, so let these idiots try
- 'Bring Out Your Dead', led by Master Waldemai Isenhu: preventing our injured, dying and dead from falling behind enemy lines and turning into undead
- 'Prayer And Care', led by Brother Driskell Stillwater: spiritual and morale focused care of the populace of the city of Setarco
- 'Did Someone Say Supplies?', led by Prince Fiachra Valardin: supplies will run short soon enough, so let's stock up and make them last
- 'Pitch Perfect', led by Lord Ian Kennex: a song will be sung for the defense of Setarco, by the Choir, ideally with no wawble
- 'Who Can You Trust', led by Prince Alistair Velenosa: uncovering suspicious activity coming in and out of the city to any Marin agents

--- Personal ---
Talen will remain in the commands tents and utilise the Mirrorguard Steel Squad (@army #150) as his personal retinue. They will act as a more secure method of communication so that he can channel updates and orders to his generals. In contrast to his usual hot blooded temperament on the battlefield, the Dark Prince is instead going to exercise the restraint instilled in him by Archduke Widower Niccolo Velenosa, comporting himself with decorum and a dangerously controlled exterior.

After days' long periods of praying faithfully to Gloria, Duarte finally emerges from his lair to sit in his war room (also his breakfast table) to translate the overarching plans of defense into specific orders for the Mighty Army of Bravura. How he labors over his texts and maps to design the perfect strategy! The results of this night-long endeavor crescendos into a series of hastily sent off missives to his loyal commandants, who in turn break the plan down into more specific directions for their units! Who break them down further for their sub-units! Who break them down further for the sub-sub-units! And so it goes! Until every man, woman and child(?) wielding arms in Bravura is fully briefed and ready to FIGHT!

Duke Inigo Fidante will be on-hand, along with Ignacio, to lead the Fidante troops as their General. Being still relatively new to the entire leading an army thing he will be conversing with and receiving advice from the more senior and learned members among the officers. He will have his armor and diamondplate sword at his side should the need for one, or both, arise.

Through several prayers to Gloria and with the longer uncommon prayers of battle and readiness, Luis sets his troops into action to join the armies that have rallied at the behest of the Velenosa family. The units, crisp, organized, and ready for battle are seen to and checked over methodically while encouraging them through his charm and leadership capabilities. They will march with the others, join in as needed and fight where directed. As much as Luis would love to remain with his family, he understands the duty required of him and will lead his troops out into the field, for it is with the blessing of his Marquessa that the Lord Igniseri travels forth, ready to prove the Igniseri motto, 'We will not be quenched.'

Marcos pours over the meeting notes as well as submitted plans and actions by the other generals looking for every way possible to make plans to bolster their actions on the battle grounds. Looking to turn his smaller Saik army into a 'flying squad' for precise attacks and quick reinforcements.

After saying his prayers to the individual gods, Artorius begins strategizing and formulating the movements of his army. Battleplans upon battle plans while also ensuring that his army is well trained and provide as many men as his brand-new County can spare. With the information given to him by the High General, Artorius makes changes to the kinds of arrows his archers will use, along with outfitting his legion of warriors with top quality armors. This was going to be a hard series of battles, and Artorius was going to send all that Magnotta could offer, remembering his oaths.

The House Fidante answering the call to war is sending its armies to Setarco to assist in the war there. Lord Igancio Fidante, escorting the armies personally to fight among side of the infantry.

Marquis Hadrian Mazetti will be working alongside the Mazetti banners to get them ship-shape and ready to be sent out to rendevous with the other forces of the Lyceum assembling to defend Setarco. Rousing speeches and all the rest. No doubt many accolades awaiting those who return. Yadda, yadda.

The armed forces of House Pravus in Setarco muster and prepare for battle, erecting two large seige weapons, one on either side of the main harbor at the direction of the High general of the Lyceum. Lord Sebastian Pravus will remain in Setarco while Duke-Consort General Cassius and Duchess Belladonna are in Setarco attending to the war preparations there.

The Crimson Blades have been hired by Talen to safeguard the 'Bring Out Your Dead' mission. The elite of mercenaries have sent Iron, Copper, and Bronze Companies (100 heavy infantry each) south for this job, under NPC Crimson Blade Captain Fredrick Yosim. Their job is to be sure Waldemai and his people can rescue/grab as many of the fallen and wounded as possible in case the reanimmation theory is correct, and protect them while they do it.

Waldemai has agreed to listen to the Crimson Blades as experts on warfare in the field, and Tobias has agreed Waldemai is in charge of the actual work, and will allow Fredrick to decide when having Crimson Blades help with labor is appropriate. Fredrick will be given letters with all knowledge learned about the things from the Battle of Maelstrom, and will be instructed to give these letters to the various military commanders (especially Talen) when he arrives.

Nilanza answers the call to defend liege and Compact, the bulk of its army sent to the shores of Setarco. The marquessa will not be present for the battle, but will prepare assure that the forces are well-prepared before departure for the conflict they are about to face.

The armed forces of House Gilden muster and travel with the Lycene forces to Setarco. All but the cavalry will follow the main battle plan. The cavalry will bed led personally by the Baron and will be undertaking a special mission (Don't Lose Your Head).

Rubino-Zaffria answers the call and sends its army to war! They will join with the rest of the Lycene troops.

The De Lire forces (and the Few, obvi) will be showing up to do some fighting! The De Lire forces left to Talen's disposition, as Audric and the Few will be busy doing something very dumb elsewhere

For a while, it looked like ground forces in Setarco wouldn't be needed at all. In fact, some wondered why they were even there, since the entire Compact fleet was protecting the waters outside Setarco. Duchess Belladonna and Duke Cassius had prepared the city - fortifying their fleets, consolidating their forces. Surely nothing could overcome that!

But then Stormwall fell and the packs of wild dogs came, more reinforcements showed up, and the messengers lost their minds and got very creative with the stories they were telling, and people were very, very glad for both the foresight of their leaders and the extra ground troops. Even if their initial missions were unnecessary, their presence kept Setarco from falling to the Gyre's forces and for that the civilians are especially grateful. Even if he was just a jumped-up pirate king.

Intrigued, Duarte determines to find out more about Veritae Evergloom. The man is clearly not unaware of the dangers of the lower boroughs, and so Duarte shall use the unfortunate occurrences that sometimes transpire in those areas of Arx.

Duarte shall trail Veritas once again to his meeting, accompanied by two sellswords.

When confirmed Veritas is heading to the pub, Duarte will give Mirari the signal to head to the inn and ransack Veritas' room (gaining access by bribing - or threatening - the front desk) to acquire any information such may provide.

Meanwhile, Orathy and Duarte will surveil Veritas and watch him pass off orders. They will then mug one of the recipients of said orders after the trade and filch the orders for study. Orathy gets to also keep any silver, or booze, or nice clothing, the man may have in his possession.

Mirari has decided that it's worth it to help Duarte. Once she gets the signal that Veritae has moved to the pub, she will move into the inn, charm the front desk and offer some silver to gain access to his room. She'll search it quickly, but thoroughly, trying to find something to help Duarte with his work. Of course, information is valuable. I hope Duarte is ready to put up to get it.

Orathy likes to do his homework. He will have followed and tailed Veritas a few days before the mission, watching him from the shadows of the lowers, noting those he speaks with. It's so that he's better prepared for when the moment comes that he needs to act for his employer. Generally he wants to make sure that when Veritas passes orders on, it won't be the fake ones that guys like Veritas usually have in case they're watched over. He wants to ensure the drop is legit and when it is, he'll drop in on the poor sap who received the orders. The mugging will be swift and from the shadows. Any items of note will be taken. The orders will be given to Duarte.

The chase is on!

Veritas heads to the pub, trailed ably by Duarte, who signals his accomplices and continues on to follow the man. Mirari taps her nose with her forefinger - a subtle sign she's on board before she drifts off to slip into Veritas' room to do a quick and dirty dump and sift.

She doesn't know how much time she has, so she slips up to the room itself, handing over the silver to make sure the woman at the front desk leaves her alone while she does. Checking the room though it seems this Veritas is careful - there's nothing incriminating here. Some clothes in the dresser that make it seem like he lives here regularly enough to have a steady room. A book or two, probably just for show - some general pamphlets on the various gods in the Pantheon that seem like the sort of thing Disciples probably leave in every room. And nothing else.

Meanwhile, Duarte witnesses a clandestine meeting. At one point he even takes the opportunity to stroll past the table casually while heading to the bar, hoping to glean something - and indeed he does, as he can't hear much more than the word "cobalt" but it's enough to make him look away to cover the widening of his eyes. At this particular meeting, it seems that money is changing hands - from the contacts, to Veritas specifically.

And then there's Orathy. Orathy dutifully trails one of the men Veritas meets with, and discovers a paper with little more than an address and a number - but the address is one Orathy knows vaguely - it's in the warehouse district, so it's entirely possible that this is the location of whatever it is the men at the table paid so dearly for. Perhaps? The man certainly doesn't have anything else of note on him, other than 20 silver pieces that Orathy adds to his own pockets instead.

So when they meet up again - a warehouse, a muttered word and the appearance of a long-term residence in the city. Whatever is going on it's set up well.

Duarte and Cassius have recently tracked the name 'Vincent Brand' to a woman by the name of Ula the Lost. Having found this woman, Duarte will now spend some time simply observing her, watching, listening, and recording all the names that she speaks. If Vincent Brand used to exist, perhaps these names are other men and women that the Despite has erased from history. This story request is to hopefully obtain a list of those names, as they might be helpful in tying up some loose ends elsewhere.

As Duarte spends time around Ula, she rambles also about the One Who Remembers in the Panopticon, and Duarte asks around, finding out about someone who has stark similarities to Ula, while both give a long list of names that are seemingly meaningless and never have existed. (Clue added)