Grazia calls together her friends and family to perform a ritual to cleanse the primum at the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day. She has set up a brazier to receive her offerings, which are set beside her: some valuable and some just personal mementos. Some jewelry, some paper, some scraps, but all thirteen objects have some sort of meaning to her. She has been meditating deeply prior to their arrival, and once they are all arranged, she says, "This is my ritual to cleanse the primum. May you all watch and learn. These are my sacrifices. May they help to create a stronger dream. A beautiful dream where magic is used for good and all may enjoy its fruits." And then she goes through her objects, explains each one, and commits it to the flames.

1 "A pair of copper armbands with attached umbra that were given to me by my new husband Aiden. A representation of the life that we find ourselves sharing, not by love but by politics, with affection nonetheless swelling in the background."

2 "A curiously cute but fake fur seal handwarmer, given to me by some young friends who found my generally cold demeanor in need of some warmth and amusement. The object is in the shape of a baby seal, as if they expected I could be cold and cruel enough to kill a baby seal for the warmth of its fur. But I can take a joke and I like it."

3 "A pair of sterling silver earrings set with multi-hued Gemecittan quartz, valued more since they were a gift from Guildmaster Joscelin, who enjoys working with the beautiful stones of my homeland."

4 "A ring set with Gemecittan quartz, not important in and of itself but precious to me because it comes to me from my homeland, Gemecitta. This ring was part of the set of favors that we gave out at both Lysander and Silvio's wedding, and at my own wedding to Duke Aiden, and thus it carries memories and strength of politics, doing right by Gemecitta."

5 "A small hairball of cat fur, valueless, but scraped from one of my umbra gowns after interacting with my beloved co-duchess Dafne. Although many assume we are in competition, we coordinate well, and we live like sisters."

6 "A message written to me by my brother Lysander, complaining about the lighting in the palazzo, because if you can't live in a beautiful world, Lysander will make it more beautiful for you."

7 "A mask, representing the Masquerades that Aiden throws, at which I may hide my face and enjoy the party without being the hostess. An excuse to be myself wholly, hidden behind the shield."

8 "A fabulous piece of fabric for Silvio, because he has fantastic taste in clothes and makes my dear brother very happy."

9 "A scribbled letter written by Valkeiri, a remembrance that no plans are truly set and for the man himself, in fondness."

10 "A dawnstone, like the dawnstone I gave the Archduchess, a reminder that a new dawn is breaking for the Lyceum and we are all part of it."

11 "An Inquisition badge, for being an Inquisitor and learning many things and investigating many problems is extremely rewarding."

12 "A simple law folio, as skill as a lawyer made me a valuable member of my family as well as a member of the Court."

13 "A piece of paper on which is copied a white journal from Theron Mazetti, publicly announcing he was coming home from war specifically to see me. I have loved no other the way I loved him."

Dafne is there, to affectionately support her co-ruler, and ready for anything unexpected. She will be paying close and careful note to the ritual as well, in preparation for doing it herself in future.

Miranda has been requested to witness this ritual. She will be observing with attention to detail so that she may learn and repeat it herself, eventually passing it on to others.

Quenia, being every curious about things, heartily agrees to participate in Grazia's ritual. She's intrigued about what it takes the cleanse the primum. She's very attentive to what Grazia has to teach her, and where possible she takes copious notes so that she can proceed with this act herself, and further teach others. She is there in support of Grazia, listening very carefully to what it is she is sacrificing, and sharing with her the memories that each of the sacrifice created. She smiles in support of her Duchess, and takes care not to interrupt her during this long process.

Luis has been invited as well and the curiosity in the man's demeanor cannot be denied. He will attend with paper and other implements ready to make notes on anything he does not believe that he can remember, though in turn he will reach out with questions after the ritual has been completed, attempting to understand the underlying cause and effect of the ritual.

Lucita observes each aspect of the ritual attentively, committing it to memory so she may replicate it using her own items to assist with the cleansing.

Mae is not entirely unfamiliar with odd rituals, so she'll not only be observing, but also helping, best she can. Pass ingredients over, help drawing lines with chalk, whatever it is Grazia might need, Mae will be the dutiful ritual assistant!

Mayir is, well -- Mayir is there. He seems more curious than anything, hanging out on the edges of the ceremony and observing what he sees, trying to make mental notes for his own ritual some day. When an Inquisition badge goes in, however, he smiles. Nothing like seeing the Inquisition get burned up. Metaphorically.

Notes will be taken. Copious amounts of notes. Details will be cross referenced. So. Many. Cross-references. Even more cross references then that. He does, however, keep the pen skritching to a minimum. Giulio is all about that 'not dying from primum poisoning'.

Antonio will attend the ritual, and quietly observe what happens, taking notes as he can.

Silvio listens to the ritual and participates

Jordan will be present for this ritual, keeping himself solemn as he takes mental note of all that is said, all that is sacrificed. He prays as the ritual continues, solemn and disciplined as a knight.

Fecundo has been invited to witness the ritual. He is attending to observe and learn how the ritual is performed, as requested by the head of his house and for his own benefit.

Grazia calls together her friends and family to perform a ritual to cleanse the primum at the thirteenth hour of the thirteenth day. She has set up a brazier to receive her offerings, which are set beside her: some valuable and some just personal mementos. Some jewelry, some paper, some scraps, but all thirteen objects have some sort of meaning to her. She has been meditating deeply prior to their arrival, and once they are all arranged, she says, "This is my ritual to cleanse the primum. May you all watch and learn. These are my sacrifices. May they help to create a stronger dream. A beautiful dream where magic is used for good and all may enjoy its fruits."

She starts with copper armbands gifted to her by her husband. The copper flares and the flame burns green for a moment, flickering in the room as all watch carefully. Then a handwarmer, given as a gift - and as she explains its purpose and its meaning, Dafne laughs aloud. In fact, for a moment they are all sharing in the joke of it, touched by the humor of her gift and her vision of the Dream.

A set of silver earrings is next, and it's obvious this is the work of Joscelin. It's followed by a ring of Gemecitta, and as the two pieces of jewelry slowly melt in the flames, there's a sense of home, and beauty, and the touching feeling of welcome after a long journey away.

Then a hairball, and if it's an unusual sacrifice, Grazia's explanation has everyone turning to Dafne. For a moment there's a connection between the two women, shining and true in the light, and then it fades as the ritual continues.

Piece by piece she consigns to the flames, and with each one the feeling of warmth and welcome and home - complex and tangled, binding and freeing all at once surrounds each of them. When the ritual is completed at last, they all breathe a little freer - and with them always will linger a sense of family and home and connection, clean and true.

Ainsley is leading up a mass organized attempt at charity and relief efforts for Stormwall and Darkwater. He's gathered multiple people to help with his efforts and many donations. They are as follows:

1) Aiden, Samantha, and Ainsley will head together to Stormwall to personally drop off supplies, services, and other things for the recovery efforts (of course keeping away from those tar pits). Samantha will be providing lumberjacks, lumber, and the like. Aiden will be helping to provide morale boosts and help the families and the survivors. While Ainsley will be busy helping to direct and work with the locals for the people they are providing to help.

2) Titania will be heading up the efforts to help recover Darkwater. She will be in charge of taking the donates resources, supplies, and money to Darkwater to liaise with the Darkwater people. Likely Ariel and Malesh will be helping her. Ariel will be contacting people to help find aid and suitable locations to help relocate the Darkwater Redoubt. While Malesh will be putting his economic Know How to good use to try and generate funds to help with the rebuilding efforts.

3) Roxanna will be handling dealing with public relations and help gather donations, public support and otherwise getting word spread that these things are happening! She is our PR person.

4) Olivia, Jordan, and Harlan will be helping as well. Sir Jordan will go along as a pledged sword to help protect the caravans and help make certain that they are not attacked on the way to Stormwall. While Harlan will be assisting Aiden by sending ahead money and resources to be sent to the distribution center. And Olivia will be working as healer to help the people of Stormwall as they go, focusing on recouping the human cost of battle.

5) Lastly all donations should be split equally amongst the two houses: 2k Econ for each house, 250,000silver split for each house, etc.

Samantha is riding alongside Ainsley and Aiden to personally deliver All of The Things. As for her contributions, she's aware that Crovane's duchy has significant access to lumber, so she is going to round up as many volunteers as are willing to come from Deepwood and its fealties. Lumberjacks, carpenters, carvers, etc. Samantha will also arrange for volunteers who are willing to provide adminstration and organization for temporary housing, sanitations resources, and communal kitchens. The people of Old Oak pride themselves on their philanthropy, and this is an opportunity for all of Arvum to see and consider their example.

Aiden can contribute in the means of morale boosts. He was acting as the Commander of the Grayson Army during the conflict at Stormwall. He will help by personally visiting the survivors of Stormwall and speaking with them on an individual basis. It will be a long grueling process but one he started in the aftermath of the fighting, when he went around speaking to the injured. The easiest way to accomplish this is to visit the survivor's camps first and there he will collect the names of the family memebers which are yet surviving, those who are lost, and start compiling a sense of what each family needs in respect to long term compensation and immediate need. It's a great undertaking but he's pulling in help from his social network (social writs: 200) to make the task easier to manage. The next step is to set up a distribution center in which can allocate the resources more efficiently in a tirage sort of decision making tree - shelter, food, and water being of the utmost concern. He'll have contributed what he can to the economic plight (economic writ: 300) as he feels responsible for all those that lost.

Titania along with her husband Count Gailin will be taking the resources, services, materials, and etc to the Darkwater Redoubt or to whoever is in charge of their rebuilding efforts on that side.

Roxana assists dear cousin Ainsley's efforts with what she does best, skillful public relations. She builds up the plan that Ainsley, Aiden, and Samantha set out for Stormwall and Darkwater to all of her contacts who will listen, including those loyal to her Grayson and Malvici kin. Other groups and individuals she has ties with hear the same message, that she would be so very grateful if this worthy cause was given the attention it deserves among the populace of Arx and the nobles of Arvum. Any difficulties that arise from the organization of these efforts that she might assist in smoothing over she will, and she will continue to make sure that the Grayson penchant for doing the best by the people of the Compact is always recognized and appreciated.

Princess Cassima Thrax has funds to offer as part of rebuilding efforts for Darkwater and Stormwall. These funds are the proceeds of the Islander Relief Auction, which took place just before the final naval maneuvers against the Gyre began. As promised, Cassima is prepared to make these funds available for use by any who seek to provide relief for the Isles and, by extension, Stormwall. To this, Cassima has pledged the support of 100,000 silver for the rebuilding efforts, as well as her own skills in budgeting and economics to help make favorable purchase agreements for materials.

Jordan can't contribute with much; his finances aren't all that good and he's paying off a thing or two, still. Nevertheless, he pledges his sword in efforts to ensuring the caravans sending support, material and cares are secure. He'll accompany them to the roads leading to Stormwall, as well as assist with his manual labor in the rebuilding process. He's not going to shy away from giving his all in helping the Northlands.

Harlan can also contribute in the means of morale boosts. Under Aiden, he lead the Grayson archers during the conflict at Stormwall. He will also be visiting the survivor camps, gathering family names, as well as reaching out to as many survivors and families of the fallen in Ashford that he can. Likewise, he will be using his social ties to help him with this (150 social writs) to help gather the information. He will assit Aiden with the distribution center, but also be working within Ashford to do the same there as well (Economic writ: 200). He will also be supplying Grayson with 50,000 silver towards helping with the rebuilding of Stormwall, as he was unable to travel there himself -- he also gives Jordan his blessing to accompany the others on their journey with him.

As she was at the battle in Stormwall as a healer, Olivia will make a point of returning with the support effort to provide medical assistance. She'll check in with any old patients who survived the battle, render what care she can, and so on. In terms of material support, she'll focus on preparing medicines and other such necessities to focus on the human cost of the battle rather than the physical and economic destruction.

Ariel will be sending out messengers to Stonewood holdings to get together what can be spared. Contacting others seeking their aid in the matter and help in finding suitable locations to house the displaced.

Malesh has had his chance at leading in combat and that went well enough, given the circumstances. He's much more at home in this sort of thing now, taking advantage of the foibles of trade deals and the locations of this good or that. Putting quill to paper and chewing through a good deal of it, he will assist in the crunching of numbers to ensure that the funds and resources gathered are stretched to the absolute breaking point to provide the greatest results. Coin is pooled to buy in bulk, and chains of goods purchased to ensure the free flow of the supplies needed from one town to the next.

Prince Ainsley takes the lead in Grayson restoration efforts. Raising money for aid to Stormwall and Darkwater both, he enlists diplomats and society notables to help raise relief funds to be put to use in rebuilding both destroyed domains.

Prince Aiden, Marquessa Samantha, and Prince Ainsley head together to Stormwall to personally drop off supplies, services, and other things for the recovery efforts. From Deepwood, lumberjacks and lumber. From Grayson, financial aid and morale support. They help with the organizational efforts and the actual building alike.

Countess Titania Fireviper leads the efforts to help recover Darkwater. She will be in charge of taking the donates resources, supplies, and money to Darkwater to liaise with the Darkwater people. Marquess Malesh and Marquessa Ariel also help, contacting people to help find aid and willing backs to clear the debris and carnage from the Redoubt so that it can be rebuilt. Princess Cassima Thrax, Economic Genius, also pours Thrax money into these efforts to aid her family's vassal.

Lady Olivia, Sir Jordan, and Duke Harlan will help too. Sir Jordan helps protect the caravans and help make certain that they are not attacked on the way to Stormwall. Duke Harlan assists Aiden by helping supply funds and supplies for relief. And Lady Olivia will be working as healer to help the people of Stormwall as they go, focusing on recouping the human cost of battle.

And Princess Roxana Grayson drops word in just the right places. There's a fundraising party here. There are people collecting supplies there. She makes sure that the flow of information is smooth and seamless, that people who want to help know where to send donations, and that the people in charge of helping are well known for their efforts.

All in all a resounding success on both fronts, and the Graysons are certainly taking part in the rebuilding efforts in both places. Things are looking brighter in Darkwater and Stormwall.

Alright! Trying this! Jordan is going to be embarking on a great and wholly mundane adventure to help merchants heading from Arx to several Crownlands destinations, but particularly Ashford holdings. He'll just bring his awfully charmed self and aimless wandering to help some good people for free with his assistance. If he stops on the way back to help some farmers with his toil, what's the problem, right? This is what hedge knights are supposed to do, and Sir Jordan is a man of good deeds.

Jordan heads out to protect some merchants on their way to several Crownlands destinations. It's the sort of thing he does, and it's not really that shocking - even a Knight has to eat, and a Knight who eats and manages to protect honest merchants against potential bandits is doing some good in the world. And for the most part, his trip is without event. Well. Except for the rock.

Not just a rock, it was a riverstone really, found far from any rivers in the middle of a forest, in a depression in the ground. Weird. Bending down to pick it up, an arrow went whizzing over his head - giving him just enough time to warn the caravan and draw his sword. They successfully defended the caravan against the bandits, and Jordan's river rock made its way into a pocket.

A few days later as they continued on, while traveling he got bored - as often happens when traveling large distances in slow manner - and he pulled out the stone to take a look. But it dropped from his hand and when he bent to pick it up, he saw tracks in the dirt - a group of horses had passed this way recently, cutting across the path and headed into the woods to the left. Standing, he signaled the scouts and guards and again, they found an ambush and repelled it, for nothing is so dangerous as being part of an ambush when your prey knows you're there.

Twice more he found sign of an ambush by fiddling with that river stone, and twice more the caravan was safe. But as they arrived at their destination he stood looking at that rock near the edge of a river, and then somehow he lost his grip on the rock and it plunged down into the river, lost forever - but leaving him with quite the story to tell.