Rysen seeks to discover information related to who assassinated Duke Asger and why. He travels to Coastside to meet with Crackneck leaders, and pour over every account of what happened. He inquires into the nature of the poison used to murder Asger, who might have had access to it, where it might have been acquired, who had access to the cup from which the Duke took the fatal sip. He also presses all of his social contacts, from the nobility, to the Coastside cooks and beggars, as well as anyone who spent time with the Duke in the weeks before his death, in order to determine any suspects or find any hard evidence, which might lead to the truth of what happened.

As the newly minted Duchess of Stormwall, Fianna will summon as much man power for investigative work as possible to help discover who murdered her older brother Asger. She will call upon those that wish to seek justice for House Crovane and she will meet with authoritative figures to help strengthen the cause. There will be no proverbial stone unturned and she will invest silver as needed for those that require compensation for their time and expertise. Fianna will work tirelessly to determine why her brother was assassinated while visiting Coastside.

Rukhnis will attend Rysen on his trip to Coastside, and aid him in attempting to gain information related to Duke Asger's murder. She will speak with the servants to see if any of them noticed any suspicious behavior among their fellow servants or guests immediately prior to or following Asger's poisoning, and also attempt to gauge whether any of these servants have suspicious responses to her inquiries. She will also apply her knowledge of medicine to the accounts of Asger's exact manner and timing of death in an attempt to determine what poison (or any other other cause) might have led to his demise.

Cadern will join the search for the poisoning. In particular with what information he has gathered about the blood wedding (hopefully further along by then). In particular searching for similarities and who might be involved or targetting them.

Somewhat improbably, Gilroy is joining Rysen's search to find out who killed Duke Arn. Though widely considered a curmudgeonly old man, Gilroy rather respects Arn for his straightforward demeanor and his world weary take on things. As such, finding out that Duke Arn had been murdered by poisoning really got to Gilroy. He's entirely on board with finding out who it was that killed the Duke of the Telmarch and wh- Asger? Duke Asger? Okay, so, he clearly misheard something, but he doesn't realize that they aren't after Duke Arn's killer until it's way too late to turn back, so whatever, he'll stick with it because he thinks Rysen's an okay guy and because at this point he's hoping they get fed when they get to Coastside. Though hopefully not fed poison. He will join in with the others, though being a shadier sort he's looking to speak to the shadier people one can find in and around the keep.

Amari will tag along with a small detail of Keaton Huntsmen for guards (Kael will surely insist), to help House Crovane conduct the investigation into the murder of Duke Asger. She'll dutifully and thoroughly record the accounts given so they can be later reviewed and compared to others, and when requested to, assist with interviewing witnesses using a mix of charm, empathy and sharp intellect. In the end, she hopes to help build a narrative based on the facts they're able to determine which hopefully will lead to a culprit. She'll also be a font of legal wisdom and advice as the investigation unfolds, should it be needed, and also do her best to give the appearance, at least, of being an objective third party in all this.

She will not be drinking any wine on this trip, and will bring her own trusted servant to prepare her food, to be safe.

They are able to determine fairly early on that it was an identical poison that killed Asger as the ones that poisoned the entire wedding party for the Crackneck and the Valdossa. Rotflower is extremely rare, as it is very difficult to cultivate, and only grows in some colder and rainy isles in the Mourning Isles. Hard to detect, without known antidotes, it would have been incredibly expensive to have so much that it could kill the wedding party- and it loses potency extremely quickly, so it would have had to be a different dose to kill Asger. While all the individuals that had been to the kitchens had been questioned, there was one former thrall that wasn't directly involved in food preparation... but did clean some of the cups, and did come from the Isles. Geoffrey Dampsail, who they go to question, and find poisoned and dead in his own chambers. No one seems to know who last saw him, but there were rumors he was consorting with a couple of shady types recently, a sellsword named Garza and a bard named Itzal Culler.

You have drafted a new action (#2882): Following @action 2878, a precursor to @action 2881, and a part of plot "House Durant #54", Norwood leads a scouting group. They start in Artshall then sweep their way up through Duskshire and then into Keaton's Shadowood. They're on the lookout for anything that Jael's storytellings have managed to stir up. They'll stick away from the main roads and sweep through the forests mainly.

Their primary objective will be to uncover anything they can find about House Redire on the hope that the stories being spread will have encourage them to come out. They'll have numbers enough to move quickly, but also enough to prove to be a deterrent against being attacked by any annoying House Durand or simple Bandit types.

This group has no plan to engage if at all possible, but seeks to learn what they can and then report back to Cristoph.

Faye comes along on this mission to see if she can provide any assistance with her perceptive skills. While scouting isn't precisely her forte, she has a few wilderness and survival skills as well as some experience hunting, which may be useful. If nothing else, she can help keep the party fed along the way. She has an eye for detail and good investigative instincts, and along the way she keeps watch for any trace of House Redire. While she isn't looking for trouble, she has her crossbow and isn't afraid to use it if any aggressive forces attack their party, shav or otherwise.

Amari is going to stick like glue to Norwood, to the point he'll maybe wonder why he ever thought it a good idea to bring her along. The way she'll watch him and seem to take notes on his behavior, actions and decisions may be mildly unsettling, as if she's trying to learn his manners and mindset in order to vanish him in the wood, stick on a fake beard and take his place with no one the wiser.

Less frighteningly, she'll also smile a fair amount, be cheerful and sing on occasion as she rides along atop her faithful old horse, Clopsy. It might all help morale if the scouts start feeling down, or scared. The Shadowood is pretty spooky and full of dangers after all, but she has lived there and knows her way around, roughly, and is familiar with some of the shavs and how to speak their lingo, and not infuriate them in the process.
Above all, she's perceptive. She'll keep her eyes and ears open, alert to danger and any hint of House Redire the party might stumble across.

Scouting in the woods? Now this is something Cullen excels at. During most of the mission, he'll remain on elk back with the rest of the group, looking for signs of House Redire. However, any time they face any dense woods or terrain generally impassable on horseback, he'll use his masterful talent for tracking and moving about the forest, living off the land and counting on his physical hardiness to get him through while slithering through the most difficult of terrain, then report back to the party.

Natalia will be accompanying the scouts, with dogs and Podraig (Sis is being left at home). She will step up diplomatically wherever possible if people are encountered, encouraging non-violent resolution to any encounters the group might have. She will assist in translating, and lean on Podraig for general basic information about the people they run into where it pertains to the Shadowood.

Travel the countryside trying to hear whispers of a lost house? Cristoph is there. He has a strong sword arm to wield if the group gets in trouble, but largely he attempts to remain discreet. If something comes up during the Artshall portion of their tour, he'll chat with the locals and smooth things over. But with Natalia there? He's not expecting to need to step in all that much there either.

It's slow, methodical work, going through the Shadowood, a huge stretch of land that it's easy for even the most seasoned of scouts to become lost in, and one could spend years in it and only grow familiar with a tiny portion of it. Full of valleys and near impenetrable stretches, it's no wonder that Abandoned tribes go for decades before contact with the houses of the Compact, and it's been all but impossible to flush raiders out. Against that, Amari is able to help keep up morale, as otherwise scouts would start to become despirited as they go over area after area, looking for anything.

Faye is the first one to find anyone living in the woods, the small Woodscutter family that's been living isolated for years in an exceedingly hard to find cabin. Though they haven't had much to do with most of civilization, they aren't truly Abandoned but they are still technically sworn to House Keaton. They are obviously terrified and loathe to speak of what they've seen recently in the Shadowood, but Natalia is able to relax them, and the oldest daughter Henrietta speaks of how a few days past they heard terrifying howling in the woods, like a great hound but it was so loud it shook their cabin, and then snarls. Very distantly, they could hear screams and the sound of battle, and some strange buzzing sound, roughly from the direction of Old Hound Creek.

Even with directions, it takes the better part of a day to find Old Hound Creek, with Cullen being the first one to find the trail through wood so thick near every step has to be climbed or cleared. When the scouts follow Cullen's directions and lead Norwood and Cristoph to the creek, it's hard to piece together with what they are seeing.

The creek is still running red with blood, and what might have been humans have been completely torn apart. Armor that might have been platemail has been totally destroyed, chewed into pieces no larger than a hand, and the best preserved corpse is hanging from a tree's branches about fifty feet in the air, half impaled upon the branches that knocked off part of the tree from what might have been an impact of impossible force. That corpse clearly shows a surcoat bearing the sigil of House Durand much like the others whom they've fought before. Piles of thousands and thousands of stomped and torn apart centipedes litter the ground, and most oddly there are giant tuffs of fur scattered around, some about as large as a man's chest.

There's no tracks leading from the carnage, though Norwood is the first to notice that there's no normal wood ambience there at all. No birds, no bugs, nothing.

Sorrel gathers friends and family to her, around a warm brazier. "The time has come," she says, "To cleanse the primum and to sing the world as it truly is. This is my song. This is my ritual. Yours may be different, in turn, for it must truly come from you. I pray that each of you supports me wholeheartedly in this and that you take this as a sample to perform your own ritual."

"Let me sing you a song of love in thirteen verses, each one carefully written with time and creativity. Let me sing Love into the Dream with joy and sacrifice:"

Each bit of the song is pinned to a scrap of fabric that is meant to represent the person or thing the verse of the song is about. The first one is a scrap of violet baby blanket. The second one is a square of gray fabric with a Thrax sea serpent embroidered on it. The third is simply plain gray fabric. The fourth is a bit of aeterna, very plain. The fifth is another square of plain gray fabric, this one with the sigil of the King's Own. The sixth is a square of green seasilk with a sword worked upon it. The seventh is white silk with a spiraling red vine embroidered on it. The eighth is white aeterna edged in gold threads. The ninth is a dirty piece of wool. The tenth is brilliant green seasilk, embroidered with tiny clovers all over it. The eleventh is umbra with the sigil of House Wyrmguard embroidered thereon. The twelvth is also umbra, this time with the sigil of House Thrax. The thirteenth is umbra edged in gold. As the song is sung, the appropriate bit of fabric is placed into the brazier to be consumed.

1 Kyrios is a hope for the sanctity of life, a beautiful new thing being born, something that can grow into something new and greater than that which proceeded it:

Precious love of mine
For nine long months time
Small one within me
No greater love than thee

2 Galen is love. Passion, ambition, attraction, and all the things that attract people to one another. Let the world be full of love and lovers:

My great love for you is a burning flame
Now one and whole, we are never the same
Half of me is you; what am I to do?
To your dear love I will always be true.

3 Leona is faithfulness and fidelity, the choice of a dearest friend. Beautiful and true, a close bond of spirits in trust and friendship:

Sister not of body but of spirit.
To you do I tell secrets; you hear it.
A special bond of choice and freedom dear:
Our friendship in the purest sense is clear.

4 The Choir is a group of us with similar talents who all sing the Dream as it really is. Freedom and love and beauty:

Beautiful dreamers, listen now to me
Hear my song truly; it lets you be free
Power and strength coming with every note
Let the world be as my song is so wrote.

5 Corban is strength and honor, the true knight. Given the opportunity to do something the right way, he will take the path of righteousness:

Brother you are, though no brother you be
Like my own kin is how you are to me.
To you I entrust the most precious weight
Knowing that you are a knight very great

6 Luca was a Champion, and he stood for the honor of others. He also fights for the Light as a member of the Inquisition. Although he may not be a knight, he is a great man, admirable and true:

A fighter you are, champion to all
Dueling for true, never taking the fall.
Working for Light yet behind the closed door
We're lucky to have you give 'em what for!

7 Tikva represents sisterhood and platonic love. The sort of love that comforts you through tears and is joyful for you when you're joyful, love that melds in harmony:

Beautiful singer, sing your songs with me
Together meld in perfect harmony
Best friend and girl friend and companion true
I'll always be found singing next to you.

8 Ailith is Faith, a friend who has recently found her way to greater heights. Faith and love of the gods is important, a real true religious sort of love:

Peaceful, faithful, knowing of mystery,
Joyful, respectful, caring of history.
Guide me in the ways of the gods and love:
Advice that is tempered by those above.

9 Ian is loyalty. Love born of loyalty between soldiers, comrades in arms, in the field true. Love that is camaraderie:

Always at my back, you do yourself ride
Your right sword hand always at my side
Forever my protection with your men
Come! An adventure! I'll need you again!

10 Clover represents family love, the love that comes from sharing the same life growing up and the natural love and loyalty that inspires:

Beloved sister, bound by blood ties --
We would be best of friends yet anywise.
Bubbly temperament, always a joy:
When you were born, I was glad not a boy!

11 House Wyrmguard is where I grew up and how I developed my fascination with dragons. The love of House Wyrmguard, an ancient house, is one of fealty and devotion forever:

Though on the ground, the wyrms may yet lumber
The House recalls: Not all dragons slumber.
Danger is near? They will not surrender
As Valardin lives, they will remember.

12 House Thrax is where I married and to whom I currently owe fealty. Although I am not a sailor, I am learning to love the sea, and though I have reservations about some of their traditions, I am learning to love their culture:

A mariner's dream, so the current flows
Whenever the tide is out, there Thrax goes
Rough Islanders living off of the sea
One of their number is where you'll find me.

13 Music is what I want to fill the world with. Beautiful music is the song to which we should all live our lives, singing the Dream true and full of love:

A song is a song, but in the right key,
It can be a balm for you or for me.
All the world's dreams can be sung in music:
Finding the right words is the only trick.

Cora will learn the ritual through being present when Sorrel performs it so that she might perform it herself to teach others.

Sabella will quietly watch Sorrel's ritual with rapt attention!

Charlaine will learn the ritual through being present when Sorrel performs it. Charlaine will definitely try to perform it herself later in order to spread the knowledge and asisst in cleaning the primum.

Sparte will be present to observe, learn, and lend support.

Amari will sit in to watch Sorrel enact the ritual so she might learn and perform it herself (not nearly as awesomely, but she'll try her best when it's time)!

Having been invited to witness Sorrel's ritual, and hoping to learn it, Alexis attends to bear witness - and if necessary, offer protection, presuming any danger is even physical.

Carita will observe with awe, take notes as she listens, and quietly lends her support to the cleansing of the primum. There are moments when Sorrel's song brings tears to her eyes, or a smile to her face and while she might want to close her eyes to let that song wash over her, she doesn't so that she can witness every last moment.

Invited to bear witness to the ritual, Denica will stay with them and study with her so that she might perform the ritual herself someday.

Caspian watches the ritual with interest, and when it is over, he can already be seen scribbling down verse ideas!

Katarina is but one of many invited along to bear witness to the ritual that may very well begin cleansing the primum of its poison in the land. She listens, watches with rapt attention and intrigue, ready to help however she may.

Sina has been invited to witness the ritual to learn it. She has agreed to bear witness and learn, that the primum may be cleansed.

Ohboyohboyohboy! THIS IS IT! IT IS HAPPENING! /MAGIC/!!! Well, the first step towards it anyway. When Sorrel invites her to come observe the ritual, Caith is the first one there. Bright and early. Probably even before she and Galen and the baby are even awake that day. 'Don't mind me,' she'll shout through the door at the Thrax Estate. 'I'll just wait out here in the hall until you guys are ready!' A few minutes will go by. 'Are you ready now?' A few minutes more. 'How about now?' Five minutes later: 'Do you need help in there? Have you fallen down and hurts yourselves? Come on! Let's get a move on! IT'S RITUAL DAY! WHEEEE!' Caith is there with paper and pen and ink, all bright-eyed and bushy tailed and ready to take /NOTES/. And when Sorrel is done, she will ask /QUESTIONS/ to double-check, triple-check and cross-check her notes. Because, and maybe this isn't clear but: Caith is VERY INVESTED in this.

Bianca will also be observing so that in the future she too may perform and teach others for the betterment of all humanity.

Sasha will sit and carefully watch the ritual as Princess Sorrel performs it. She is eager to learn to so she can help the Primum be cleansed.

Olivia is likewise joining in to watch and learn!

Edain willl participate and observe the ritual. He will be somber and respectful, but he will be paying close attention. His intention is to attempt to perform this rite at Cairn Valardin in the very near future.

Desiree will be there to witness and study the ritual. She is hoping to learn to perform it.

Zoey will be there as well, watching and, knowing her, probably taking notes. Because ritual. Learning rituals. Et cetera.

Fredrik will, of course, join in these proceedings, knowing how valuable this ritual is, both for himself and for the Compact as a whole. For all our futures, it must be spread.

Reese will join this and will try to assist Sorrel however needed. She will attempt to pay close attention and to learn how to do the ritual herself so that such can be done when the time comes for her own. She will be respectful, helpful and largely quiet during the ritual.

Richard will be present in Sorrel's ritual. So that he may learn it and use it in the future.

Victus is here to learn. He doesn't know much about what he's looking at, so he's taking down notes with a quill and parchment and saving all the details in his head.

Kace will be joining in on the ceremony in order to learn the ritual that she might complete it herself someday soon.

Sorrel gathers friends and family to her, around a warm brazier. "The time has come," she says, "To cleanse the primum and to sing the world as it truly is. This is my song. This is my ritual. Yours may be different, in turn, for it must truly come from you. I pray that each of you supports me wholeheartedly in this and that you take this as a sample to perform your own ritual."

"Let me sing you a song of love in thirteen verses, each one carefully written with time and creativity. Let me sing Love into the Dream with joy and sacrifice."

And then she sings, feeding each slip of verse and a small piece of fabric into the fire, and with each one she weaves love through them all. The love of a child, the love for her husband. For her sister of the heart, for the choir. Freedom and strength, chivalry and righteousness. Honor and comfort, joy and harmony. Faith now, and loyalty. The love for family and home, the love for duty carried long through the generations, for fidelity and for music and happiness.

With each verse her love, deep and abiding and joyous, wraps around all of them. It pushes away the darkness, it pushes at the poison. She is seeking to reshape the future and her contribution is love, and there is one timeless moment where everyone assembled feels that love course through them. And while it fades, each of them knows they will remember always the strength of Sorrel's heart as she fights for the people she loves the most, for her family, for her friends, for the Compact, for humanity.

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.

Venturo is drumming up business with a variety of the fine houses of Arvum. Specifically, he's working with them to craft trade deals that will result in the lease of lands in the houses domains to create breweries and cultivate local crops. Additionally, he will be starting the establishment of The Kismet Carnival, a festival in each of these geographical locations, one that does honor to the Raconteur name: games of chance, and small entertaining stories played out by showmen, acrobats and more. These small snippets and games are all too appeal to the everyday man.

Venturo's role in this endeavor, beyond pulling together the group that is helping, will be pulling all of his old strings to call in favors. Builders, performers, merchant, tradesmen and the like that he can use to help align the endeavor for success.

It is no secret Khanne has enjoyed the brews and stories of Master Brewer Venturo Thayne. So when he came to her with an opportunity that would bring his talents to her lands while helping to show the rest of the Compact some of the best aspects of Halfshav lands, she jumped at the chance. She helps him find a good spot in the city of Whitehold to open a brewery and not too far away from that, a parcel of farmland to grow the unique ingredients that can thrive in the tundra climate. Of course, she would work into the agreement the caveat that he must always offer some variety of Whiskey as well.

She is, personally, most excited to help promote the aspect of the Kismet Carnival. While the North knows how to enjoy life, such treats as the carnival would help boost the morale of the people of Whitehold and nearby. That it is a traveling fair would benefit not only the Halfshav Duchy, but all of the Redrain region, of course something she would be proud to be part of.

In addition, Venturo has asked her to travel to all the regions he will be starting this project in, to help analyze the lands available for farming and help create a land management plan that would help grow the most beautiful, healthy and hearty plants he can. She agrees to do so (with the permission of those leasing the lands to him of course) and looks forward to seeing the homelands of others, perhaps in areas she has not ventured to before.

An undertaking of this scale with so many moving parts requires contracts, and someone to write and review them all. That's where Amari the lawyer will come in, focusing on making sure the agreements are all a) legal and b) fair for all parties. With input from Venturo and the partners he's already brought on board or will yet, she'll formalize the deals and write up stipulations that will cover contingencies so that whether the venture succeeds or fails, everyone knows what to expect from beginning to end. This, hopefully, will put investors and potential backers at ease, knowing there's a solid framework behind the business.

She'll be happy to explain all the particulars of the trade agreements, and address and amend any sticking points throughout the process until everyone is satisfied.

As her own mother hobbies at brewing in Farhaven, Gwenna was quite excited by the opportunity presented by Venturo along those lines. With the limited growing season of the northlands, the cultivation of more crops in Farhaven could help with both trade and what may be stored over the winters. Lands available for lease for that purpose, with the permission of their owners, would surely been a boon. The north loves their whiskey, so a brewery that would not impose upon, but rather work in harmony with the others in that region, is also an ideal opportunity. She will speak with those locally in charge of such things and hopefully sway them to the ideas.

What truly draws Gwenna in is the festival though. Considering the recent Pirate War and the losses experienced by those in and around Farhaven, The Kismet Carnival would be a welcome activity and surely bolster spirits. Gwenna brings 10,000 of her own personal funds for use by families who many not have the disposable income for such things after the war. She will spend the first day of the festival handing out the silver herself and warming people to the ideas of both the festival as well as potential commerce.

The scope of such a large endeavor requires many elements to be drawn together from the permission to lease lands through out different cities in Arvum, the contractual agreements that must be drawn up, to the building of structures for a brewery or stages and stands for the kismet festival. There is also the hiring of skilled workers for all stages from building, to service and performance that requires careful oversight and strategic set up. Terese has offered her assistance on the global scale of the project in order to aid Venturo in the latter tasks once the agreements and contracts for land have been finalized. She is willing to travel to each of the sites as needed in order to best assist in coordination efforts.

Jonathan is a man of the soil, and always has been, and has recently been made the Keaton advisor to all things agricultural! As such, he is in an excellent position to provide assistance to Venturo's efforts in his own land, helping to clear out space to grow all the hops, corn, and (in the case of the Keaton Lands) pumpkins that will be used to brew the fine concoctions of Master Thayne. In addition, Count Kael has already cleared a brewery to be set up in Oakhaven, adding to the economic flow of this already-burgeoning county. He will, of course, welcome the input of Lady Khanne, as well as any others, and also in turn assist them in planning out the plots growing in other lands, expanding his own experience and hopefully providing his own insights into the deceivingly complicated art of squeezing productivity out of lands that otherwise might run barren or go unused.

Pasquale agrees happily to lend House Malespero's support to Venturo's efforts. He puts some economic power behind it to promote the project and get the breweries established, and will assist in negotiating with representatives in the Lyceum wine country as to securing a location. Most of his passion though, likewise, is for the Kismet Carnival and its possibilities as a boon for the land following the devastation of the wars in Setarco. He directs the sailors and merchants under Nilanza's direct authority to spread the word of it and support it as they can, asking them to play it up as an initiative that could restore cheer and the coin throughout the region.

Natalia is assisting on behalf of House Keaton in the establishment of Venturo's venture in Keaton Lands -- Elmhurst, to be specific. She is coordinating with the others on the project where it relates to the branch there, smoothing the way for the industry moving in and selling it to the locals, helping people work together, and all of that fun stuff. She is putting a significant focus on putting locals to work for the project, working to ensure that those employed in Keaton lands are from the Keaton lands -- or are heavily vetted for their 'fit' with the local community. Her focus is the long-term success of this project where it relates to Elmhurst.

Jaenelle uses her influence as not only a master economist, the Voice of Velenosa, and knowledge of infrastructure to see that the Lyceum welcome Venturo's Carnival with as much smoothness as possible. She personally assists with finding an appropriate location within Lenosia for the Carnival to stop, as well as offering backing by providing monetary and resource assistance. Beyond the location, she assists with finding local tradesmen to help, providing jobs and boosting moral, especially with the influx of Prodigals who've arrived lately who might not have had the opportunities to find stable work yet.

Oh! Caith has found just the PERFECT spot for Venturo's brewery on Maelstrom. It will be a great way to not only bring a bit of commerce into that particular area and be an opportunity to teach thralls and former thralls life skills but also: who doesn't love a brewery?! It's fun and joyful! A place for the community to come together and share laughter and stories over drinks! And to get people excited about this, Princess Caith throws a party with all the food and drink (Raconteur, of course) people could want. There is dancing! There are stories! There are songs! But she is also on hand to listen to any concerns people might have and address them -- she is extremely empathetic and wants to make sure that everyone is onboard. Cheers!

Aureth's role in this is as representative of the Faith (and occasional consumer of fine beverages). He's not entirely unfamiliar with the economics involved as a former purchaser and purveyor of liquor and beer, but primarily what he is here to do is to offer his prayers and blessings over the croplands in honor of Petrichor and the Pantheon, and also to noise about quite a bit about having done so with the showmanship of a fair to decent propagandist.

Grady assists by involving the Deepwoods. After speaking with Marquessa Samantha, the Deepwoods allocate land for Venturo to use for farming, and on which to build a brewery. They commit resources to helping this be established in as expedited a manner as possible. They send guards as well, and work on trade roads throughout Deepwood lands, to improve and ease passage and to keep the area safe. In return, they expect the bump in trade to be good, and besides, everyone's happier when there's good beer to be had right? It's a good deal for them, as increasing economic activity, finding jobs for more people who live in the area, and generally improving the quality of life is what Grady feels the ruling family should do for those in their care.

Cambria has given her permission for Venturo's project to expand its reach into Ostria as well. She invites both himself and Lady Khanne to tour available lands for lease, herself traveling with the pair as well. Funds are allocated to the endeavor to assist in establishing the brewery and acreage for farming and cultivating local crops. Guards are called in for safety's sake, and Cambria also calls in her advisors within Ostria itself to begin drafting plans to see that local roads are kept in good repair, and reminds her cabinet as well that with the recent boom to their population, there are plenty of locals ready and willing to work - be it at the brewery itself, or in conjunction with the Kismet Carnival. Rumor has it the Marquessa of House Mazetti is considering the notion of expanding another series of walls around Ostria, should business continue pouring into the city-state to offer additional safety and security to those who both work and call their home the Walled City by the Sea.

Venturo Thayne, proprietor of Raconteur Brewing, rolls out a new plan for what he's calling the Kismet Carnival! Designed to highlight the best of the breweries, to expand his brewing ventures into new lands and reach new civiliations, he has been making huge inroads in many areas. In Whitehold he opens a brewery, and Lady Khanne is on hand to help with the opening and promote it. She also travels with him to various points of interest around the Compact, helping select appropriate places to harvest, so that he can create local vintages unique by domain. It's an aggressive, interesting plan and the people seem to love the idea.

In Farhaven, Princess Gwenna Redrain finds a good place to lease to him, working with him - and donating some of her own personal funds to the venture - to help bring a bit of lighthearted cheer to her people who have undergone such travails of late. Jonathan Fieldstone and Natalia Whisper coordinate efforts on the part of the Keatons, careful in their selection of an appropriate place to locate a brewery with the blessing of Count Kael. Lord Pasquale arranges room in Nilanza, Princess Jaenelle in Lenosia, and Marquessa Cambria in Ostria - ensuring that the Lyceum does not go without the joy of the festival.

In Old Oak, a new brewery is established under the direction of Lord Grady Deepwood, whose complementary wines go nicely alongside the famed Deepwood Cider. In Maelstrom, Princess Caith Thrax has found the absolutely perfect place - or so she tells literally anyone who will listen - and she is excited, nay, THRILLED to guide construction there.

Lady Amari Keaton draws up the complicated paperwork, and manages to keep all the names and places straight - the mark of a good lawyer. Princess Terese Valardin helps as well, working as strategic direction overseeing so many buildings and workers all going up at once. And Archlector Aureth also assists, talking up the project and encouraging people to work together and to enjoy some truly excellent vintages.

It is a massive undertaking funded by a great many people, but as people flock to the market and enjoy the wares of the Kismet Trading Company, they remark that this is the best of the Compact - and it's hard to argue when drinking the fine vintages.

Also hard to argue when drunk on the fine vintages. Which is probably all part of Venturo's master plan.

Rejoice!