First Quarter 611 After Odo

Trinsmyra

Rung

The Eelskull Clan of f Rung finds that it has unprecedented hunting opportunities for the season, as Samarbarsynd Coria strengthens the animist magic in the area, making the animals breed earlier than usual.

Milacke

The Ranzine monks recruit more members among the people of the mountains and positions them on influential posts.

Palamux

Kargom

In faraway Kargom, the merchants of Enji's PurPur Emporium open up trade with the barbarians. They gain access to the colour purple, very revered among their kind, which they trade in exchange for their tattooing skills.

Fokale Plains

The privateers are far from the coast, and making connections with the nomadic desert tribes.privateers make a rum distelery and sell rum to the locals, which proves very popular and gains them access to tribal elders.

Nastrôl

Desperate to turn the tide, the Crystalocrat Manzonla channels whatever funds that can be scraped together from intimidation, rousing speeches and fundraising activities and sends them north to Nastrôl to boost the Condottiers stationed there. The army ranks swell.

Reports of a bedridden Edwyl Hussler cause the citizens concern in HOXOH. As increased reports of attacks in nearby cities lead people to believe that they may yet indeed have to take up arms, they yet rejoice as they see, as promised, HOXOH students and faculty alike heading out to join scheduled patrols. Still people look on, curious as to the potentially damaging rumors, and what they may mean.

The unrest in the south leads to an increase in spirituality, which becomes fertile ground for recruiting more agents to the Animist Inquisition.

Moskoria

Moskoria is a place of upheaval now, squeezed between the tremors in the Kishate and the illusionists in HOXOH. The people of Moskoria are afraid. The storm off the coast of Moskoria reach a fever pitch, shutting down all trade and threatening permanent damage if it stays any longer. [mobilize] They get even more shaken when Ransardian raiders who start intimidating local nobles. Interestingly, they only attack those who might waver in their faith to Shamash the White, which boosts the influence of the Kishate in the region.

In such an environment, defeatism is not rare. Defeat. That's the word the remnants of the ambushed patrol outside Fontra Cilor would use. In the face of utter destruction, whispers among men, regardless of rank, gave them pause. The last stand, a short, violent stand off resulting in total annihilation usually was a social mediator. The resolute stood up, ready to give their lives to give their townsfolk a fighting chance. The attackers move forward, with their leader at the head. Sensing this was it, the guard captain moved to intercept the offensive leader, determined to take this one's life before getting hacked apart. But this wasn't a fair fight, and a rock came out of nowhere stunning the captain, followed by a shoulder, bulling him off his feet. In the midst, a lone figure walked out, towards the raging battle. He raised his hands as if to cast a spell. He speaks instead, 'Stop this at once! In the name of HOXOH you will cease and desist.' Out of nowhere, perhaps a score or more men appear beside him all fully armed and battle ready. The opposition looks on in discust and throw their weapons on the ground as they turn about and run. The man walks over to the fallen guard captain. Whispers follow him as he moves. 'Hey, is that-?' Or, 'Who the hell is that?' They look on as the supposed mage helps the man to his feet. 'You okay son?' The guard captain smiles his thanks, 'Yes. Thanks for saving our ass Grand Syntald Hussler.'

Lasemos-Bhannavil

After the upheaval, local powermongers starts meeting in secret. Confusing to say the least, and attributing to it, the meetings with Ambrion Bluesnout with potential information on a possible sighting of Arn Dimbrink, to which contacts in association with Edwyl Hussler, would willingly look into given the right incentive. And should, if this rumor to be marked as true be rewarded with... say a list of names of all members on the council of the Bodâk, along with names of local contacts be provided as compensation, then the Grand Syntald Hussler would be obligated to look into these matters personally. The locals jump at the opportunity of drawing on the Grand Syntald's power. Vemsica's political connections also find the environment conducive to business as they negotiate with the leaders of the academy for recruits and military leaders for another political storm in which she will be ready to control the area.

The Kishate

The words of Shamash must not be forgotten. Manzonla sends out whatever priests are left to make contact with the still faithful. They find them hiding out, some in plain sight, others in basements and shady places. In Manzonla personally, they find a coordinating leader. Their once mighty church, now battered, start to reconnect again. However, the priests are tired from their work....So very, very tired, and they have to sleep. And when they do, they hear doubts whispered into their ears, which haunt their dreams. One by one, they give up and leave the cloth behind them.

Myxa

StartFragmentMyxa is also drawn into intrigue. Bribed nobles working for the Prince of Folda establish strong relations with the local nobles and they start supplying the local pirates with luxury goods from Fontra Cilor. This comes very much in handy for the pirates when they establish a smuggler base for profit and power.

Ziddisbar

New madnesses sweep through the mountain region. Once only tired souls who waited on the shore to whisper secrets to the winds at dawn, the Apostles of the Storm are increasingly preaching to the Barbosks of the joys of movement, strife, and jubilant rage. This goes over very well indeed with the raucous locals who flock to the new faith. Another strange movement started as one, a man wandering around aimlessly. then spread to another, two men talking and laughing together to start, then beating each other bloody afterwards. People in Ziddisbar look on confused at these strange sightings wondering briefly if they were possessed, acting out some silly fantasy, or had simply gone daft.

Paratorna

Ilibauria

While opiander addiction still hasn’t been cured, the efforts of the DiFolts have led to some intriguing treatments for mitigating some of the effects. Gozcana da Skugre herself speaks of the utility of some of the treatments, as evidenced by the alleviation of some of the worst of the sores she sported from her addiction. “It is not enough to merely live,” she was heard saying. “We intend to attack this affliction until it is eradicated, that we might thrive!”

Ruhl

The newest cadre of potion making apprentices are bright, earnest and loyal. Their needs are provided for in every way, and their jump in circumstances draws admiration. There would be envy, but those who choose to allow the apprentices to make their potions (under the sharp eyes of a senior potion maker) pay a mere fraction of the usual cost. This includes more pleasurable potions, giving regular access to certain concoctions that normally are only available during holidays or to the elite. It is a happy time for Ruhl.

Paraltro

The popularity of the drug cafes and the medical theatres moves wealth increasingly into certain pockets. That wealth is funneled back into the grateful populace. Who would be fool enough to speak out against those who provide pleasure and health? The increasing addiction among some nobles means that power shifts to those who do not indulge, most of which quickly fall into line with the Throne Loyalists.

In Digeta Longa's headquarters, fervent activity continues, which lead to many speculations, rumours and conspiracy theories being concocted. Some say the secretive organisation is preparing some major action, while others suspect the spies to be involved in the Shagulite debacle, and now attempting to hide their tracks and cook the books.

The merchants of the house of Trimelda find themselves in a good position. They came back with the last shipment of goods from Marjura. They now sell these, particularly the furs of native fuzzards, which sell for a much higher price than ever before, making the Trimeldas a tidy profit, to the joy of Kastyke.

Meanwhile, one of the Whig Maker's Guilds' shipments is attacked. It turns out to be a false flag operation, but it gives Dokella's thug the pretext they need to 'secure the streets'. Soon enough, they are as established as the city guards.

Duke Kamesti's condottieri do nothing to intervene with this, as the army is busy outside the city, many exercising and manoevring. As a result, it is now as strong as it has ever been.

Tricilve

The news from Marjura has transformed Tricilve to near hysteria, as people are gripped by anxiety at the thought of the Crown losing a third of its revenue. Meanwhile, everyone is scrambling to position themselves as the Bodâk keep being in session. The atmosphere echoes through the ranks of the city. While the rich busy themselves with court intrigue, commoners are also affected by the charged atmosphere. A new spirituality grips the city. The mechanics working on the Chronolab spread the new gospel: an end to superstition and the old, a beginning for the new, for science and reason. It starts small, but soon, they are backed by the scholars of the academy, and even nobles and merchants (who see a chance to make a tidy profit) join. The rich start sponsoring new scientific ventures, and scholars gain a status they have never enjoyed before.

Meanwhile, in the halls of the powerful, everyone is positioning, seemingly waiting for the proper moment to strike.

Loyalists to the throne seek more support. From the confiscated material from the nobles and merchants who have been purged during the year a lot of books and rare material have been collected in the capitol. Encouraged by the priests and learned men and women the Emperor gives his permission for a local Collegium Arcana to be established in the capitol, and the confiscated prizes are donated to the Collegium. Invitations are sent out to all important centers of learning and magic to participate in the inauguration, with the representatives from HOXOH invited as guests of honor . The Queen's allies similarly strengthen their positions. The house of Gomba rallies nobles by claiming the secret service was doubly incompetent for putting so much of the nations revenue in one basket, failing to diversify our resource streams, and then failing to protect that vital source of income, which convinces many who seek Goba da Grummi's position, while house Trimelda's courtiers remember the mistakes they made previously when trying to gain the ears of the high and mighty. They sit down and take stock of what they did before, learning more, particularly about the art of taunting, which is the most important skill for any courtier in the city.

The members of the New Sphere in the Secret Service are not idle while this goes on. The Digeta Longa also profits from the turmoil of the emergency session of The Bodâk, which lead to significant shifts in political loyalty of several noble families. In a fervour to free themselves of suspicions of Shagulite influence, many dirty secrets were spilled, both in secret and in public.

However, while these rich and powerful kept their attention on the Bodâk, Ingolmo Dokella saw his opportunity. The Whig Maker's fashion show in Tricilve had more than accomplished its goal. Ingolmo's agents, masters of gossip, style, and the exploitation of vanity, sank their teeth into many nobles and important people. Now, they used those connections. Manipulating those eager to be seen as stylish, until they're in deep enough to be turned into puppets. All the scandalous gossip is becoming blackmail. Those who aren't 'friends' to Ingolmo are certainly pointed out and discredited. In the chaotic climate of the city, some people disappear. The official line is that most of them simply left town without telling anyone. When a public debate about the culinary properties of paper versus papyrus is held in the Amphitheatre in Tricilve, and ends when a tumultuous argument between two philosophers and a chef spawns a minor riot, Dokella pounces. There is a sharp increase in violent muggings and home invasions shouldn't be mistaken for a series of assassinations. Soon, the city guard is effectively run by well placed contacts working for Dokella, and the nobles leave their quarters at their own peril. For now, the mob rules in the capital.

Hiltre & Hoeja

Duke Gomba forcibly suppresses a mythical skeck uprising. Apparently, some skecks burned down that barn over there ".. honest", he said, adding "About time we built a new one anyway". The result is the complete domination of the area by the forces of the Gomba family.

Malusa

Gomba's houshold starts a recruitment-drive for likeminded individuals who see the skeck for the threat they are. While many new recruits are brought into the organization, it turns out that most of them are poachers, trying to flee from an accusation of a rash of poaching in the Malusan countryside by unlawful huntsmen and greatly impacting the leatherworkers guild of Kamest has taken the city by storm. Bounties placed on the heads of the poachers were tremendously effective in bringing the poaching to heel and ended the poaching problem within a few short weeks. Word that the poachers were in fact an organized attempt by Duke Gomba to undermine the rule of Duke Kamesti only served to reinforce the negative perception of Gomba within his rival’s fief, and people rejoice when they see Gomba's rangers swinging from the gallows.

Meanwhile, Dokella's snitches try, under the pretense of talent scouting, to get the most vain nobles alone in order to get blackmail material which can be used to further Ingolmo's interests. However, as this happens during the purge of Gomba sympathizers, the nobles clam up entirely, as they believe the snitches are working for Gomba.

Bralorge

Gregor Trimelda's Knights spend the quarter in the field, with endless, endless drills. As a result, they reach unprecedented levels of combat readiness

Bretalva

Rumors of Shagulite cult infiltrations are abound in the whole of Paratorna, but especially in the region of Bretalva. To snuff out the cult before it can take root the military are sent in by force. Roadblocks are set up, shipments searched and public trials of suspected cultist takes place under the watchful eyes of the loyal nobles (including the family of de Spinalunga) who have proven their loyalty. After a few months of persecutions and military rule the region is once again safe and the restrictions on travel are lifted. Both merchants and nobles have been purged and their places are now filled with more loyal individuals of unquestionable character.

Karramak

In Melse, the drama of the Shagulite conspiracy spawns somewhat of a witch hunt. Previously trusted servants, established community members and other influential common folk are accused, many found with implicating evidence of suspicious activities, and ousted from their privileged positions.

Training and recruitment continues at the naval base. With the army out of the way the focus of the base is shifted to the imperial agents and their ranks are bolstered after a long time of active engagements. New and better equipment are supplied together with the new operatives.

Duke Iaslop tours the province and with his vast network of allies begins to double down on expanding his influence with the daughter of the ailing Duke, who is the real power within the Duchy. He is gracious and understanding of the many trials and tribulations facing the young woman, and keen to offer his assistance wherever possible. However, his allies are seen as strangers in the city, and the locals do are not swayed by their honeyed words.

Saphyna

Frimboline Plains

Taxes that have been levied during the year from the trade and farming of Frimboline plain is now collected and quickly spent to increase the military. All to prepare for the upcoming expedition against the enemies of the crown.