Once upon a time, several years ago, about twenty thousand people in Stormward suddenly had no place to go. The Liberators took up the call, expanding previous efforts of assisting those freed from bondage to make it work for -- a much larger number. And, because of the help of countless supporters who came together, they were able to see those people safely relocated (for those who wished to be) and resettled (for all of them) into new lives.

Well! Now we have...several tens of thousands of slaves from the Saffron Chain ending up in Arvum. That is quite a lot. Some of them already seem to be settling in the Lyceum where they landed, but the Liberators would not be doing their duty if they did not respond. And so Aleksei and a number of others are traveling south to see what can be done. A lot of ex-thralls from Stormward ended up settling in Setarco several years ago after Pravus offered such notable assistance, and he'll reach out to see if some of those people -- maybe some of them became Liberators! -- will offer some of their assistance, as people who have benefited from this sort of aid before, along with, of course, connecting with the local Seraph and the Faith discipleships in Setarco.

The process is simple enough: the Liberators always seek to give refugees as many choices as they can. Where do you want to live? What do you want to do? Aleksei provides as much guidance as he can, helping educate people on their options so they can find the path most suitable to them. And then, wherever they land, the Faith makes sure they have places to stay and food to eat as they go through the process of first finding work or apprenticeships to find their feet. A simple enough process! But one that requires a ton of work and resources.

At least it's not Aleksei's first rodeo, right?

Zara's bringing her diplomatic talents to apply to the problem. She has limited direct experience with refugees but a very great deal of experience in smoothing feathers in the midst of great change, as with the Great Road. She's also able to use her position as Voice of Valardin to aide those who would settle in the Oathlands.

Raya began her journey into the Faith, before taking her vows, as a disciple of Jayus. And she still believes there are none better who can aid those in need of finding gainful work as makers of beautiful things. So, she works her connections to help those who can craft find apprenticeships. She also offers instruction on the Pantheon and general cultural matters, so these new citizens can understand what's expected of them and acclimate to their new lives.

Having heard about the move by Aleksei and the Liberators to help settle the Eurusi refugees, Dianna is keen to go to the Lyceum, her birthplace and former home, to assist with helping smooth the transition of these people. She'll use her ability to charm and persuade mass groups of people - her prestige and renown having grown since becoming both Godsworn and a Third Reflection Mirrormask (and it hasn't hurt to be Countess Vanora's protege, as well).

In each of the encampments, inns, or other gathering places where these newly freed former-slaves congregate, Astrid will be there. She'll walk among them, shake their hands, kiss their cheeks. She'll arrange times to preach about Choice and its consequences, on the dogma of Skald. And any who wish to join the Compact (or re-join depending on where they were taken from) she will help find a new life.

Change can be frightening in the moment, even if it is ultimately for the better. Freedom may seem daunting after what feels like forever under the lash, but it is ultimately the first step to a new life. Estelle feels the divine calling of Lagoma to assist these multitudes in need as best as she is able to bolster them through to this new stage of their lives. Long trips and new places can unblance one's humors, and the Mercy will first seek to keep their bodies strong and healthy so that they are better able to focus on the encouraging mentions of what the Liberators and Arvum can offer.

Once upon a time, several years ago, about twenty thousand people in Stormward suddenly had no place to go. And Kennex were greatly in need of help and were greatly assisted by the liberators. Since then, Kennex has grown into a duchy and has a reputation for being one of the most progressive houses in Thrax, and all because of the Liberators help.

It is now time to help pay forward the help the Liberators gave to Kennex all those years ago, by providing support and assistance in the form of writs and silver and support. Catalana will leave the ships and moving people to the others more experienced with boats, while Catalana Kennex will come herself and help take charge of the paperwork. If it's one thing the lady knows, is that paperwork saves lives. She'll take note of what people say in their interviews and where they are interested in being placed. She will look at lists of who has lands available and match them to where is most suited. She will co-ordinate all ships coming and going and make sure each ship has the correct rations and passenger loads. At the end of the day, she will present summary reports and cost analysis to Aleksei and hopefully save him from pulling all his hair out.

Jyri has experience of similar situations, though the scope of this is much bigger than anything he's been involved with before. Either or, he hears Aleksei's call and immediately offers his help. His expertise in survival and leadership is his focus, he knows how to make much out of nothing, so he comes along - despite being quite dubious about travel at sea, should they need to get on a ship.

Before leaving, he held a raffle with one of his paintings as a prize, and a fair bit of extra resources was the result, all to help the refugees with. He also adds on a considerable amount of his own. As a former refugee, he knows fully well how rough this will be for them and every bit of coin helps.

So, his services are protection, and he can train refugees or put his skills as a leader to good use, making sure things run smoothly with his commanding aura. But, additionally - he is the Minister of Population for house Whitehawk and his house is offering housing and work to refugees, to as many as Whitehawk land can reasonably accept.

Darren loves a good liberation, and will gladly travel with Aleksei and the others down south with little grumbling to do his best to help out. He'll extol the virtues of the Northlands and Freedom and offer jobs and homes to those that would take Redrain up on their offer. He also brings with him a contingent of soldiers to ensure that both their own journey, and the journeys of those that wish to travel onwards from the Lyceum, are suitably protected.

Tatienne is a skilled merchant, affluent and willing to invest in this heavily to help the newly freed acquire genuine freedom. She figures this many people will need to be fed and clothed, and so she pulls in on her considerable network contacts to provide abundant amounts of both; and any excess funding can go to building up homes for the newly freed.

Orrin has done this before! Orrin has done this before repeatedly. Between readying his land for refugees with a particular focus on thralls (action 3129), building an entire town set up for the care and education of newly freed folks (action 3284), to screening refugees (acion 3358) and several rounds of hunting down cultists on the heels of that (plot 425), to freeing slaves in the Saffron Chain and settling them at Pearlspire (plot 595), Orrin is prepared for this in particular.

He's going to do three things.

1: He's going to make sure that everyone working on this - from Liberators in general to folks with their specific holdings - have an accounting of what has worked to prepare lands for refugees, what has been good but extraneous, what has been less effective. He's going to make sure that everyone working on this knows what has worked to find cultists and bad actors amongst refugees, in particular using those more familiar with the cultural background of the refugees in general to make note of those acting in ways that are inconsistent with people who legitimately just want to live their best free lives.

2: He's going to identify helpful folks from those who have successfully settled in Pearlspire from the Isle al'Aswaq, whether they are helpful because they have linguistic skills, keen insights into other people, or other social skills that would make them persuasive and capable of helping, and lead them through the process of refugee screening. For those holdings that are taking refugees who don't have such help, he'll try to identify people who would be willing to travel and do this work in other holdings as well.

3: He's going to offer homes to as many screened refugees as possible, with a focus on populating Breckendale Vale.

When the offer to help slaves from Eurus comes her way, Raja was dubious. She has her own private reasons to not get involved. However, curiosity wins at the end. This would be an opportunity to mingle with people from her place of birth, even though they are the lowliest slaves. She sets off with the Liberators, working alongside them to help settle in the now freed people.

Alessandro will be assisting with the finances of this sort of endeavor. There has to be some sort of budget, and the more it's stretched, the more refugees can be settled somewhat comfortably and hopefully happily. He will also offer Greenhaven as one of the choices for the refugees to settle in, should they wish to. He has some experience with resettlement due to the aftereffects of the Great Road, and so he puts those to use now.

Porter Kennex will be using his position as Admiral of the Stormward Fleet to help transport refugees and get them resettled. They'll be given an opportunity to settle in Stormward, if they should so choose to.

Shard has limited resources, of course, but what she does have in abundance are a whole lot of sellswords available for work, and the ability to provide said work at the cost of their contracts alone, and without taking a cut herself or doing the usual mark-up for profit. And it just so happens that a fair chunk of those sellswords are ex-Kennex Thralls, recruited during that crisis many years ago. They'll be providing security and protection for the incoming refugees, as well as any necessary escort to wherever said refugees choose to go. She'll also be offering a place to any former slave who wants to actually take up the life of a mercenary.

Oh, and if any of her sellswords get any ideas about taking advantage of the needy circumstances of the people they're protecting, or for that matter sticking their fingers into the vast amounts of wealth that need to be moved around to make this happen, well, there are other examples to be taken from the Valorous Few's time in Kennex lands; that of the very swift violent end a few of them met when they decided to start looting. The Captain-General has no intention whatsoever of letting her crew run wild on this trip.

Mailys is a merchant, and that means several things:
1) She has considerable liquid assets, and she'll personally contribute five hundred thousand silver to this cause.
2) She has a talent for getting a -lot- of goods at a discount, and so many of these new refugees will need the sundries. They'll need a change or two of clothes, soap, pots and/or pans. They're going to need bedding, and tools of their trades-- or their apprenticeships, or whatever path they take. Mailys is going to do her absolute best to get the most bang for her buck, trying to get the perfect balance of quality and quantity. None of it's going to be amazing, but it'll all be quite serviceable.
3) She'll offer free room and board within Arx for one (1) year, for any refugees that don't find a place elsewhere, whether that is at Casa di Corsetina or one of the various boarding houses within the city.
4) Employment! Corsetina Merchantile has a wealth of job opportunities for all kinds of skillsets.

Elora accompanies her husband, Jyri, as he provides protection and trains/leads the refugees, she would provide medical services and advice to anyone that needs it, using her skills to spot illnesses and injuries before they become worse (or in the case of diseases, spread to the greater population), as well as providing triage so as not to no misuse valuable resources to ensure the best outcome for all of the surviving refugees.

A well-known merchant, Svana has the gift of a silver-tongue and a perceptive eye. House Stahlben and Svana will donate silver to the cause as well as other resources - though Svana's main goal during this trip will be to help manage those resources. There is a art to stretching both gold and resources. And due to Svana's exquisite charm, it might not hurt to have her talk to those who might be liberated or are newly liberated. She can be very persuasive - even better when the cause is a good one.

It's a huge undertaking, but goes well as can be expected. The largest concern for most is of cultural clashes, as most of the Eurusi fleeing the war in the Dune Kingdoms are aghast at the thought of giving up their worship, and it's complicated that the Eurusi don't all share the same religion with one another, and that the Oathlands Orthodox would be horrified at the thought of thousands upon thousands of non-believers settling among the Compact. True, they all swear oaths of fealty under the sight of Limerance, so they don't -reject- the Pantheon, but that's not the same thing as whole heartedly accepting it. Still, through a monumental effort, the Eurusi ex-slaves and refugees are spread throughout the Compact and it's a triumphant relief effort.

Which is not to say there's not incidents.

While searching for the ill intentioned among the Eurusi, Aleksei gets an uncomfortable feeling among one particular group that has a few burly ex-soldiers that deserted from the Dune Emperor's armies. The soldiers are three scarred and dangerous looking individuals, standing out in a group of a mix of refugees that includes a kindly old woman who must be in her eighties. The little old lady walks haltingly with a cane as she translates in heavily accented Arvani for the group of Eurusi, and seems a little frazzled as she struggles to respond to the angry demands of the former soldiers. The soldiers seem to have a cultural clash with the idea of taking an oath of fealty underneath a foreign god, as they fear it will bind them and make them slaves, misunderstanding the implications. A group of templars moves in to help keep the calm, as Zara tries to ease tensions, and Aleksei, Astrid, Raja and Shard approach to assist.

The little old lady seems very grateful for the help, and turns towards Raja, "Oh! Dear me, you're the whelp of Rasheem Al'Harashi the Traitor, aren't you? I'm going to eat your heart." She smiles toothily and begins to reach forward towards a recoiling Raja, as a templar instinctively steps forward in reflex.

The old woman casually juts her cane towards the templar and it pierces through his platemail breastplate as if it was paper, and she flicks her wrist up and down, lifting the impaled templar in the air with her cane and bringing him crashing down on the cobblestones with such force that the templar's upper body turns to an unrecognizable paste and the stones shatter below.

In the next few seconds,dozens of swords leave sheathes, even as the templars look around in confusion at what the threat in could possibly be as screams and panic takes the crowd, with the previously worried eurusi soldiers scrambling and running. The little old lady is pouncing forward as Raja dances back and stabs with a previously hidden alaricite dagger as dozens of Culler thugs that had been milling around the docks rush forward to help Raja. Arrows whistle through the air from Shard, punching into the old woman who is tittering with a disturbing laugh as she skitters forward spider-like, reaching up to tear a Culler gang member in half with her hands as one gets between her and Raja.

Then the templars and Culler gang members are on her, as well as a half-dozen arrows feathering her body from Shard. As the little old lady tears another templar's head off, dozens of dagger, sword, spear and mace hits impact the horrifying threat, and though she is impossibly tough, the wounds start to cut her apart. Jyri finally cleaves off her head with the Howl, his massive glaive, and the decapitated head is still laughing, "THE PROPHET WILL DRINK DEEP OF YOUR BLOOD! THE PROPHET WILL COME FOR YOU ALL! THE PROPHET WILL..." And an arrow through the forehead from Shard silences her.

So that happened.

Since winter, the Stone Grove has been withered, the plants crumbling, the spirits themselves quiet and filled with pain. Now, Spring has arrived, and it's time for the Spirit Walkers to begin their restoration of the Grove. As the one who lead the ritual that inadvertently poisoned their sacred space, Mirk will be leading their efforts to heal what still remains.

Their rituals begin with a transplant of a healthy plant into the Stone Grove as an offering to the spirits. After months of cultivating each one and preparing them for transplant, it's a symbol of their devotion, one that might help breathe new life into the Grove.

For his part, Mirk aims to plant a seed from Cybele and Bashira's tree, in hopes of drawing on that special connection he has to that particular tree (See: Action 3194).

That's only the beginning, however, as Mirk leads the Spirit Walkers in calls to the spirits of the forest, begging for their presence and their aid. Perhaps this will persuade the spirits to heal the Stone Grove, or perhaps there will be an additional price to be paid for purification. He takes pains to warn each Spirit Walker privately about that possibility.

There are volunteers from outside their ranks, who do not participate in their rituals, but instead collect offerings for the Spirit Walkers and assist in the mundane aspects of tending to the land.

A special invitation is extended to the Faith, and the Disciples of Petrichor in particular, for a grove is a sacred space to Petrichor as well: The Faithful are offered space to conduct their own prayers as a gesture of respect. Mirk is careful to maintain an appearance of separation between the rituals of the Spirit Walkers and the prayers of the Faith, so that no one might accuse them of mixing the religions together.

In the end, the three groups shake out as follows:
Spirit Walkers: Mirk, Drea, Khanne, Danvir, Kaldur, Jyri, Acantha, Vano, Leonaess, Mikani.
Faith of the Pantheon: Sina, Brigida, Aiden, Sophie.
Invited Guests: Vincenzo, Petal, Darren, Cillian, Fianna.

Drea is holding rituals at the Grove. To her, it's not just about the Spirit Walkers and Shamanism, the Grove is sacred to Petrichor as well. She holds a big event that is open to all where they rededicate the grove, anoint and rededicate the altar, and offerings are made from those who attend. Rope is strung in the trees and participants hang bells up on that rope to show that they honor the Grove and want continuous evidence of their dedication and desire to help it heal and be made anew. (http://play.arxgame.org/dom/cal/detail/3285/. http://play.arxgame.org/dom/cal/detail/3267/)

Khanne has been contributing towards the recovery of the Stone Grove since she discovered it was withered. She leaves offerings to the Spirits, prays to Petrichor and Mangata, and talks to the stones. She assisted with plantings, and even gathered the Spirit Walkers to plant a Remembrance tree for Cybele and Bashira there that she hopes will grow tall for many years with branches that will stretch wide.

She knows it is not jsut about planting. It is about the Spirits. It is about the Gods... She knows the tales of the origin of the Stone Grove, and that... for her... is her point of reference in what she can do to help restore it once more. She does most of her offerings and prayings before one particular pillar, the one that was broken years ago, one that she helped repair then.

This space is sacred to her in many, many ways. She will see it recovered, and will not stop trying until it is.

Will plant 2 blueberry bushes in a spot behind the far benches in full sunlight. Will spend working the soil ensuring that it is fertilized and ready for the planting when the time comes for the planting he will join the others in planting.

Kaldur makes a trip to Pearlspire to go diving with the spirit he's linked to seeking pearls in a bed that's important to his people. A place important for centuries, possibly millennia, streching back perhaps as far as to the time of the Old Gods themselves. He dives, and swims, and surfaces with oysters from the craggy beds, returning to shore when he's exhausted. He brings these treasures from the ocean back to the Stone Grove.

Jyri will get his hands dirty and clear away dead plants, preparing for the replanting of the new. Having spent a fair deal up north around Hawkhold due to his ties with the Whitehawks, he's brought back some plants from there that grow wild; blue anemones that only blossom in spring normally. A yellow flower that starts to blossom shortly after the anemones. A purple flower that blossoms after that. A white flower that starts to grow beginning of summer. All wild flowers that grow in the meadows around Hawkhold, planted in a any patch he'll be given to do so. For every planting he will also give thanks to the spirits of the Forest for their bounty and to the Stone Grove spirits, for their sacrifice.

With Petal's assistance on selecting the best saplings and with Merek's direct help on where to plant to align with marking seasons change, Vincenzo transplants twelve trees to help encircle the stone grove. At each of the saplings, Vincenzo has paid for the best stonemasons to craft a small stone plinth with offerings of food, drink and clothing to any and all that might stop by the particular tree. But his main work is the ballad that he has composed which he plays on his harp, and he sings it for thirteen days and nights at each of the saplings. It combines his deep love of the Faith along with those who follow the Spirit Walkers and braids their stories and meanings together. His membership with the Crafters Guild, and his daily close proximity with the highest of nobles due to his craft, he is pouring a significant amount of his own social and economic resources into this action (1,500 economic and 2,000 social) to show that Jayus can inspire great things and through creation, we can connect closer to the gods (or spirits, as the case may be).

The Ballad of Nature's Prayer, for harp and voice.
Mountains reign majestic, their diamond summits gleam pale.
The wind sings with the wolves, dear pilgrim listen.
Their bones rest deep in the world, the sky scrapes on their crowns.
Petrichor's strength lays in them, dear pilgrim listen.

Dark forests stretch, like blankets they roll.
Their arms uplifted in prayer, dear pilgrim listen.
Their treasures and help they give, to any and all.
Petrichor's friends do speak, dear pilgrim listen.

Old Ashtalon, teach us to be resilient.
While the storms come and go, may we be flexible.

Beechspur, teach us tolerance.
While words like axes bite, may we not lash out.

Birchleaf, teach us to seek truth.
As darkness of ignorance falls, may we shine so bright.

Cedartooth, teach us to find inner peace.
As our days grow so chaotic and busy, may we find our thoughts cleansed.

Cherryblossom, teach us compassion.
As the seasons come and go, may our prosperity be shared.

Old Elmbeard, teach us to be wise.
While suffering comes and go, may all scars fade in time.

Hollysprig, teach us to overcome anger.
To friend and foe alike, may we always protect.

Mapletwig, teach us your generosity.
Be great or small, may we quick to give.

Old Oakheart, teach us to have courage.
While challenges may arise, may our conviction be strong.

Old Pineskin, teach us harmony.
To our enemies of all kind, may war be temporary.

Cleverwalnut, to us bring focus.
As we are pulled so many ways, may our work be fruitful.

Willowhusk, to us give an open mind.
Whether Faith or Spirit Walk, we are all Skald's children!

Petrichor, Petrichor. May we remember your words.
While dominion is ours, may we do so responsibly.
We pray for your help, and we thank you this day.
To you and your friends, we pilgrims humbly listen.

When the time comes to assist with healing the Stone Grove, Sina follows through on her promise to Mirk, and comes prepared to offer up prayers to Petrichor, as well as the other gods of the triad of creation - Lagoma and Mangata. She will bring offerings with her - a vial of water blessed before Mangata's great statue on the beach, thirteen plants of different varieties to plant after the withered growth has been cleared, and a small painting on a cut-out circle of fine vellum along with a small brazier lit with Lagoma's eternal flame. The painting is a depiction of the change of season from winter to spring with a lovely border of leaves and vines. On the left half of the painting, there are delicately-painted winter trees with bare branches and scrubby and leafless plants among snow drifts, with a pale sky of lavendery pink and gold as if at dawn or sunset. Lush green growth, trees and flowers and plants with animals frolicking among them decorate the right half of the painting.

She will kneel within the grove in an area set aside for the Godsworn to do their prayers, separate from the shaman present, and pray, slipping into that meditative state she's come to learn. Once she has prayed over each plant, she will plant them with her own two hands. Then she will pray:

"Petrichor, lord of the forest, the deep woods, and of growing things - your stewards come before you to ask for your blessing and your grace upon this withered grove. Aid us as we seek to drive away this blight, and restore the peace and sanctity of this place. Let your blessing infuse the land to sactify it once more, and heal the plants and trees here from within, to restore their glory.

Next, she will uncork the vial of holy water, and scatter droplets of it upon the ground. She'll slip deeper into meditation, and attempt to find that place within herself that weeps for the wound created here. She will add her own tears to the mix, along with the holy water. She will pray:

"Mangata, blessed of the Air and Waves, we call upon your grace to bless this grove, for life springs from you in the very air we breathe. Let your cleansing rains wash away the pain, and the sorrow, and the blight within this place. Let your nourishing waters bless this land, sustain it, and renew the life which springs from it."

Finally, she will roll up the tiny painting she created with her own hands and skill and burns it in a small brazier that she will bring with her which was lit with a spark from Lagoma's eternal flame. She will pray:

"Lagoma, Lady of Change, Goddess of seasons and the healing of wounds - we ask your blessing upon this grove, that the land may once again be healed. Let this offering be a symbol of the passage of seasons, winter to spring. So too, we pray, may this withering be healed, and new life come forth within this place."

Once she has finished with her prayers, Sina will linger in silent meditation for a time. She'll help with planting, clearing away the old and withered things, and offering her quiet support to her shaman friends. She will be very careful, however, to only call upon the Gods of the Pantheon, though she will show respect for the traditions of the Spirit Walkers, and those who hold this place sacred.

Sword Cillian Weatherwood married Petal Penrose in the grove in hopes in a offering to the spirits in hopes that they will come back and help grow the grove once more. It is a special place for him and he feels a deeo connection to it. He also attended the Ritual a few hours before hand giving a offering to the spirits, he continues to return to the grove daily to offer in hopes that it will help.

Petal will attend this attempt to help the grove. She will use her knowledge of plants to help with the plants in the grove, checking their health and well being. She was married to Cillian at the grove of which was part of the healing ritual of the grove. She will offer her own prayers as well.

Darren is more than pleased to take part in the cleansing of the Stone Grove. He provides the resources and manpower to bolster the efforts of the Spirit Walkers along with his own personal attendance.

Acantha is going to help with this by transplanting the pumpkins and the carrot garden that she was dealing with over the months in the Spirit Walkers Hall. She's been stopping in once a day and tending to things at the grove. She's been going daily at dawn along with Lord Vano. They have been making small offerings to the spirits together. She will be assisting in the rituals when it comes around to it as well.

Vano will nurse some of Riva's local flowers, the fairyslipper, to transplant into the grove where it can get good sunlight and plenty of water. As he already intends to visit the Grove every morning with Acantha, he wil spend extra effort to make sure they have sufficent water and tended soil. Additionally he will be participating in the dedication rituals when it comes down to calling on the spirits.

Archlector Brigida of Petrichor is joining in the Healing the Stone Grove. She'll be making sure that the separation between the rituals of the Spirit Walkers and the prayers of the Faith is properly maintained and will be giving making sure none of the Faith stray over too far beyond respecting and acknowledging the Spirits. There will be no mixing the religions together on her watch. Kind reminders will be backed up by her sharp tongue and the thwack of her staff if necessary.

But of course no one will be foolish enough for that right?

Brigida will be leading prayers to Petrichor during this, maintaining a presence throughout in the section put aside for the Faithful. She will take steps back to allow others to do their songs, chants and prayers during this time but ensue that there is, at the least, constant worship to Petrichor during this time.

Her own personal contribution to the proceedings will be the planting of 13 Golden Yellow Roses from Tor. These roses of course will still have thorns attached.

Once upon a time, Aiden was part of the Observers and the Courts of Arx. While he is no longer a part of either, he is still affiliated with the scholars and the Society of Explorers. Why is that relevant? Because the necessary skills and habits have been taught to the man, specifically the ability to make detailed accountings of what he experiences and observes. He has written books before, so it is not an uncharacteristic thing for him to do, during this ritual, to capture the essence of it as it transpires. Truth, to his eyes, will be documented on the pages that Arvum is lucky enough to have to properly praise Vellichor. It is on blank pages he will write, almost without looking down at the pages themselves, as his eyes turn from person to person, capturing in whimsical detail the personal touches each has to offer the ritual. He acts today as the Scholar that will preserve these memories of this day into text for all time, keeping it safe from entities that would otherwise attempt to cloud the aspects of his writing with deceptions.

Baron Archibald Chirpingtong, his loyal adviser, no really, it's quite possible the Gyrfalcon has such a standing now, is roosting near too Aiden, be it on a perch he has brought for the Baron or simply upon the branches of a nearby tree. Oddly enough, some of the words Aiden writes into documentation will carry a distinctive ... or unique, perspective - quite possibly something that humans just couldn't or wouldn't comprehend. At some point, Aiden will walk over to the Baron and the Baron will offer a plucked feather. Taking the feather in hand, Aiden will settle it before the seedling dedicated to Cybele, murmuring, "May you guide us once again." Then he goes on to make a quiet prayer to Petrichor, before retaining the pen of Vellichor to ensure he doesn't miss a single detail of how everyone is contributing - the music in the background, that harp, soothing to write alongside with.

The support of the Faith is given, at least by the Mother Mercy, Sophie Valardin and the Mercies. Sophie has procured thirteen fire lily (Clivia miniata) bulbs, and on the day of the ritual she gathers 12 of her most trusted senior Mercies, and they have formed a circle around the area containing the blight. Holes have been dug and prepared, and when the time comes they all kneel in tandem, bowing their heads in a prayer that's whispered in unison.

Our Lady of Change
Transformation and restoration are your domain.
Patron of Farmers
The land and the plants that restore us are your domain.
We beseech you both to restore this land, just as you restore the lost to the Faith
We ask that you bless the plants and flowers that grow in this holy space.
We ask that Lagoma's holy cleansing fire remove the blight from this land,
Leaving healthy plants behind.
We ask that Petrichor smiles upon the grove, that it might flourish.
We ask that the healing herbs that grow here heal wounds of the body and the spirit.
That your children might better serve you and the entire Pantheon.

Once the prayers are given the Mercies plant the bulbs, covering them with dirt.

The Stone Grove was a place new to herself but it's pain was felt with a keen sense of disruption, brows furrowing as she walked about the sickened space with an ear open to what whispers or thoughts might be gleaned from flora and fauna. Leonaess supplies two sprouted plants that had been cultivated lovingly in colorful pots, it was Anise and Lavender that would be her offering. All the while would she sing and hum, the rich soil she used in the pots used in setting the plants in their new beds where she surrounded the dark recently patted soil with seashells she had picked from the shore and glittering bits of colorful quartz. Accustomed to camping out, she'd spend a day or two in an attempt to connect with the area.

As often as she is able to, Fianna visits the Stone Grove to make her offerings and connect with the sacred space through controlled breathing and meditation. She does her best to quiet her thoughts and focus on connecting with the spirit realm and to one spirit in particular for answers and guidance (See: Action 2340) regarding the matter at hand: the cleansing and renewal of the Stone Grove. When she's not in quiet contemplation, Fianna is planting and tending to the Edelweiss flowers that she brought as seeds from the lands of her beloved Stormwall. She makes sure that her gratitude is conveyed clearly to the spirits before leaving the Stone Grove every day that she can visit.

Mika is glad to help with the cleansing of the Stone Grove. It was a place of peace and solace after her Cousin Bashira died. So Mikani brought a fireberry bush from Cedar Vale to be planted. She hoped that the bush would thrive. It wasn't that she knew much about plants but she said a soft memory of Bashira before leaving the plant at the Grove.

There's something different about the Stone Grove. Something has changed, and recently. But even so, the blight remains and so a determined group heads to the Grove to do what they casn to fix it. Sophie, Brigida, Aiden, and Sina work together on behalf of the Faith of the Pantheon. The Stone Grove is, after all, sacred to them too. Sophie and twelve of her senior mercies form a circle around the area containing the blight, and on the day they all are working, they do their best to beseech Lagoma and Petrichor to heal the land, murmuring their prayer in unison as they plant thirteen fire lily bulbs in a circle around the blight.

As the Mother Mercy plants bulbs, Archlector Brigida leads a prayer to Petrichor, praying for his help. Archscholar Sina leads a prayer to the Traid of Creation. All involved focus on healing, on rejuvenation, on cleansing the Blight that infects the Stone Grove.

Meanwhile, Aiden watches carefully, recording and protecting what they do there. At one point, he moves over to take a feather offered by Baron Archibald Chirpington, but as soon as he takes it, the Gyrefalcon takes wing with a screech, and circles the grove thirteen times.

Others come to help too - shaman and non-shaman alike, who feel strongly about the Stone Grove and its place in their history. Mikani brings a fireberry bush from Cedar Vale. Fianna makes her offerings and tries to connect to the spirits of the Stone Grove, and tending the Edelweiss flowers brought as seeds from Stormwall. Vano and Acasntha transplant things mundane and fanciful - pumpkins and carrots and fairyslippers to grow, tending the flowers as they are transplanted. Darren oversees it all, watching and helping where he can, unafraid to roll up his sleeves and do a little planting of his own. That he also supplied resources and help is just what he does as High Lord - but it means something that he would be here to help them.

Petal uses her knowledge of plants and helps coax the Grove back to health, with Cillian at her side every day. He too offers his knowledge and his assistance - and both Petal and Cillian are particularly helpful when Vincenzo starts selecting saplings and planting trees. He has paid for stonemasons to craft a small stone plinth, but the main work is the ballad he sings and plays on his harp. He plays it next to each of the saplings, and it is truly a beautiful thing. Indeed, it seems for a moment that the trees themselves start to sway when he gets to the verse about their particular type of tree.

But perhaps that's just wishful thinking.

Or is it?

The shaman perform their rituals and rites, asking the spirits to help revitalize the Grove. Drea organizes the stringing up of bells and chimes that ring pleasantly with a gentle breeze. Seeds are planted for special plants. Healthy plants. A seed from Cybele and Bashira's tree. Please, they entreat the spirits, help heal the Grove. They are willing to take a geas if they must, but will the spirits help or is the Stone Grove doomed to be Blighted forever?

Danvir plants blueberry bushes. Kaldur brings water from time spent communing with Bluewave. Jyri clears out the dead growth. Leonaess adds two sprouted plants - anise and lavender - to add to the Grove.

In the end, when they step back and look - the dead growth is cleared. New plants are everywhere - some simple plants, food plants. Others are flowers. Some from far away, some from nearby. Some common. Some less so. But with their efforts, there is no evidence of Blight - not any more. No, this Stone Grove is a green, growing place - will it stay that way?

And then the place where the seed from the tree where Cybele and Bashira died shimmers suddenly. And slowly, cautiously, a small sapling sprouts - too fast for it to be natural, it breaks the soil and grows. Six, seven inches high, with one little branch as they all watch in awe - and then ever so slowly it unfurls a single green, unblighted leaf.

It seems at last that they have succeeded, and the Stone Grove is cleansed once more.

This is a project a long time in the making, ever since before Quenia first started working on improving the Igniseri lands. She queried her family, and other friends, for ideas of what to include as part of the progression of improvement, and one of the things suggested was to include something on the Path of Pilgrims, and thus the idea of an agricultural center was born. This center is to be built just outside of Granato itself, on a stretch of land cleared specifically for this purpose. It will be built using the finest materials, made to withstand the ages, as well as be dedicated to the Triad of Creation - Petrichor, Mangata, and Lagoma. There will also be a small building attached to the side, for use by the Scholars of Vellichor, for writing up any agricultural research findings they might discover. The inclusion of the agricultural center on the Path of Pilgrims was cleared by Legate Ailith, of the Faith.

Quenia has made efforts to reach out to the Faith, House Rubino-Zaffria, House Velenosa, the Lodge of Petrichor, the Mercies of Lagoma, members of the Crafters Guild, the Whisper House, and the Scholars of Vellichor to help with this project.

Jyri's task in this endeavour, which he looks upon as a chance for his cared for refugees to get those jobs that Quenia has worked hard on earlier to ensure, is to be the leader he is good at. As a former Abandoned, and with many of the refugees now being new prodigals, he'll help lead this group of workers to be efficient, but also to ensure they acclimate to the new conditions - but also to be their voice during everything, as the Goodwill Ambassador of ARRG.

Teireno is helping with recruitment towards the project and spreading word about it. He's helping to bring on board people who will help out in various ways, from construction to promoting.

Samuele has been working on mustering up his MIlitary contacts including members of his own guard staff along with other able bodied men to provide protection for the construction sight as well as manual labor for the project handled by Quenia. He makes an effort to assist Miranda.

As Voice of Rubino-Zaffria, Miranda will add resources to the efforts of their most loyal vassal, House Igniseri. As such, RZ will be providing 600 social writs, 600 economic writs, and 300 military writs towards this endeavor. In addition, if there is any security needs, Miranda, as commander of the Gyrfalcon Infantry of Gemecitta, will gladly coordinate with Igniseri's military to make sure those involved in this project will be as safe as possible. Working closely with Quenia, Miranda will be the eyes and ears for Rubino-Zaffria and thus be able to let the Duchesses know of the progress and any additional needs that Igniseri may need. This project coincides with a project not yet in the works, still in the planning stages, of Rubino-Zaffria: to expand their own lands by creating more farmlands. This project will, in the future, assist in their own endeavors making both Houses better for it.

Videl is active by organizing various events to raise funds for the center, parties and lotteries among other things, trying to excite people to bring in the resources needed to make this center the best it can be.

Swaying public opinion, exciting the masses, building the mystery.. this is something Juliana is good at. Trough social engagement or casual meetin; speak in the correct ear and the word goes out a thousand times more. Juliana may be Igniseri but she was born Pravus and this is something she excels at.

Archlector Brigida is here here to make sure that the dedications go ahead properly and that the Gods of the Triad of Creation get their respects given properly. She'll lead prayers and meditations on the nature of the work they are doing, focusing of course on Petrichor but giving both Lagoma and Magnata a good deal of time and ensuring that the proper prayers are used along with the correct services.

Isobella has no experience in matters agricultural, but as a Voice of the Velenosa, she can certainly share word throughout her socialite circle that agriculture is good and supporting agriculture is better, if they want to keep eating nice things at parties. Especially if they want to keep being invited to said parties.

Olivia is going to help actually get the center planted and good to go. She has quite the connection with plants and will do everything she can to ensure they are doing well, and will flourish for years to come

Duchess Grazia wants to see her vassals thrive, and as such, she'll be talking up the project to various sources. She'd like to see it bring in a wealth of economic opportunity to Granato, and she'll help by making certain that people know about it. She's also interested in the wealth of knowledge this will create for the future.

Petal plans to help with this by helping to tend to the plant in the agricultural center and to choose out the best ones for growing there. She wants to help make sure the land is healthy and well cared. She wants to see the well being of the plants, checking to make sure they are healthy, have the right soil, the right amount of water and so forth.

After prior successes in architectural endeavors, Willow hears of the project at the Lycene clothing raffle and is invited as an architect/engineer. Drawing from prior experience both at the Nightgold Mansion and in a similar project to help increase productivity of food during her diplomatic tour of the Mourning Isles, she volunteers to assist with drawing up blueprints and schematics to assist with construction of the center. In addition, she offers to create sculptures and murals of the Triad of Creation drawing on her well known name as an artist.

Evangeline Whisper lends her support and expertise of contract negotiations to assist with the import of the finest quality materials and labor she can find.

Lottie is looking to assist Willow (and learn from her) in the design element of the structures and art to be placed within the Agricultural Center. She is simply an assistant, though while she is a notable baker she is also competent in design work. After all, everything starts with a picture. In combination with her work she prays, ever a heart of faith, for guidance to help bring glory to the gods featured on the site.

The act of raising the food through out the Compact has been made tantimount on Kincade's priorities. He's learned a fair bit working with Olivia and Harlan on a gourd project and embracing it in Chevalle with it's own society. Here however Kincade focuses his efforts on ensuring that the resources tied up in the project are spent shrewdly and go farther than they need ensuring extra funds when challenges may arrive. The waste on the project is minimised calling for reuse of materials where prudent and ensuring the highest quality where it matters.

The agriculture center proves a massive boon to Granato and the combination of beauty and practicality plus the careful partnership with the Faith enhances everyone's reputation with the Faith. Everyone is spoken about for some time after for their organizational prowess - this was quite the project to bring together and so successfully, too.

The conflict is brewing and people are suffering. Displaced refugees, most of them likely abandoned, move to where they won't get attacked and lose their homes in the process. Though no huge numbers, some refugees have fled the cruelty of the Shavsbane house, or left the Greyreeve area for fear of violence. Jyri asks for any aid in helping them and will once more put his leadership skills to use. All sorts of aid is needed, so he reaches out to the houses in the Bisland fealty chain since this time, it's directly impacting his own house and it's more personal. Though all refugees will be offered aid in forms of medical help, supplies to sustain themselves and at least temporary shelter, only those that bend the knee and join with either Whitehawks or Riven, will actually be escorted to live on the lands. The others, those that won't bend the knee, will be left alone and given just enough help to keep them going, without interfering. He will not force anyone to bend the knee, even if one could argue that they ARE being forced by dint of wanting to survive.

A mission like this requires certain skillsets.

* Diplomats: Any with skills to smooth talk and reassure the refugees of the good intentions.
* Soldiers: Protectors and escorts and those used to campaigning in the field.
* Organisers: Those good at organising and keeping tabs on where the money goes, keeping things in order.
* Members of faith and shamanists: Knights of Solace, other followers of the faith, and Shamanists are welcome in order to see to the religious needs of the refugees (and for more protection - who doesn't want a Knight of Solace at your back?
* Security: There's a risk that enemies sneak in some spies amongst the refugees, in order to get another intelligence source. Plus, there's always the risk there's cultists. Someone with a good eye for this sort of thing is very valuable.

The Baron of Hawkhold will provide Jyri with the supplies and military protection he may need to adequately protect and provide for the refugees. He will make himself present should anyone wish to bend the knee, or may be on the fence on doing so, in hope of the idea of having an attentive liege lord may sway a few or them to his side - or at least make the mission go more smoothly.

Thena provides Solace knights to protect and escort the refugees the safer areas. The Godsworn in their number are prepared to see to the needs of Pantheon followers, and they have orders not to attack those who choose not to bend the knee unless they are attacked first. They will also patrol the new settlements and escort supply trains.

Working cooperatively with everyone else, Uncle Bedivere sets up a vetting process (which not only involves 1-on-1 interviews with him but also the imperative input from all those who are helping out here, too, concerning their own experiences with each refugee). With the help of our organizers, detailed dossiers are written up on each-and-every refugee (even young ones), and these important documents are always guarded (subtley/strategically so).
During camp time across several days, small cells of Solace/Whitehawk troops are set up as 'secret supervisors' for a single refugee who shall aide their appointed group in cooperative-yet-easy-yet-productive tasks while being socially observed. This is not the first time that Bedivere ever employed this vetting tactic, so his trusted troops know what is up and what to do with these familiar shenanigans (talk lots with their assigned refugee as well as report back on anything amiss/off/noteworthy/etc for follow up).
Should there ever be any suspicious person who we picked up who might be a potential cultist/doppleganger/spy/threat/etc, Uncle Bedivere can turn into the bad cop. Lord Commander of the Iron Guard Baron Silas can be the good cop (who can pretend to save their souls from Uncle, so they might spill their beans and secrets to him rather than his Uncle).
All this is not only about weeding out bad apples, though. The flip side is to take note on how to hopefully provide the best help we possibly can, too, for the 'good ones' who will ultimately inhabit Whitehawk lands. There could be future recruits who sign up with the Solace or Whitehawk militaries, doing so after actually interacting with our fine forces during the vetting process (and quite possibly learning something new, too)!

Lady Kaia, representing Bisland, is helping Jyri and the rest of the party with both diplomatic and organizing services. She is smooth talking and reassuring the refugees, with her innate charm, sliver-tongue and honeyed words, of the multiple benefits of bending the knee to Bisland's vassal Houses; and, also providing assistance with the overseeing and proper management and distribution of supplies.

Evonleigh is eager to help the refugees, having found a calling in this sort of work. She speaks highly of the Rivens, Bislands, and of course the Whitehawks to assuage the fears and worries of those uncertain of finding a good life in the lands of those houses. When it's helpful, Evonleigh uses the Crownlads Shav dialect to help the Refugees feel she truly is listening to their needs and questions, to make them feel more at ease with her and her companions. She speaks of those Prodigals she knows who have found meaningful, rewarding lives after bending at the knee. And she speaks to assure the Refugees the choice is truly theirs -- that no one will be forced into a way of life they don't believe in, that they will be aided and supported regardless, so long as they remain on friendly terms.

Eshken will take on the role of an organizer, helping to develop and manage the plans and assist the other personnel in performing their duties without problem. Should any problems arise, Eshken will use his quick-thinking and skills at commanding to help corral everyone and ensure everyone stays on plan and continues to perform their jobs properly.

Conditions on the ground might have been far worse than it even seemed. It looks like House Shavsbane has certainly been trying to do active purges, and small Abandoned tribes flee into Whitehawk lands under the security that Jyri helps organize. Thena's knights report that they run into some very tense confrontation with Shavsbane troops that demand that Abandoned be turned over to them, but thus far thanks to Kaia's diplomacy the Shavsbane troops are willing to back off.

Evonleigh is able to help launch a charm offensive presenting the refugee taking in a positive light, and the compassion that Whitehawk is showing does improve some nobles opinions of them, even if it is an uphill battle against anti-prodigal sentiment for the Abandoned bending the knee. Eshken and Bedivere are able to keep the stream of individuals settling into Whitehawk lands well organized, and fortunately Jyri and Silas are both extremely experienced at keeping the peace.

Orrin wishes to engage in a little extra screening action up at Pearlspire with the refugees resulting from the widespread news of increased infrastructure and a welcome to former thralls. Because he's getting refugees 1) fleeing violence (the sacking/starving of Wyndhall) that was at least partially at the hands of a Grayson vassal (Longwood), and 2) generalized violence due to Victus's proclamation, he wants to be on the lookout for folks come bearing grudges. He is also aware that he has made Pearlspire a target of ire, and wants to be better equipped to spot more directed malfeasance. He's going to be largely bankrolling and providing security support for Jyri, Natalia, and Maru to do their stuff and taking a distant leadership role - mostly because he knows his people, recommending the right people for the others to be working with (or talking to in order to find the right people).

Natalia's focus will be both on screening and in teaching Orrin's folks to screen; they're looking both for general potential troublemakers and then traitor-sorts, as well. Questions to ask, body language to look at, watching how people are interacting and integrating with others. Right now she's asssiting in checking the people that they have already received, but hopefully also preparing Pearlspire to continue to do this on their own. As a secondary objective, she will be helping with getting people settled in. Assisting in integration, making connections between people and their community, prevent not-troublemakers from turning INTO troublemakers.

Wearing his official ARRG hat in this, Jyri uses what he has; a commanding presence and an instinct for survival, both in determining who is in most need of help and to train them for their new lives, martially and pure survival. He doesn't suffer nonsense or foolish behaviour and won't sugar coat it for them but he will also not be mean. Just telling it how it is and being fair. He'll work closely with Natalia and Maru, bringing them information he hears or learns from the refugees in order for them to assess. Furthermore, Arvum Refugee Relief Group will put some of its own funds into the effort, especially in equipment and training, or building of homes.

Maru will do what he's good at and teach the scholars up in Pearlspire how to do what he's great at: investigate. In many cases this will be supplemental training, as Pearlspire's scholars already have a fair amount of experience reviewing personal histories of incoming thralls. But the refugees and other folks coming in will have different kinds of things to look for in their histories and documentation, and that's what he'll focus on. He'll also coordinate with Natalia and Jyri to offer whatever additional training he can offer there as well.

Orrin, Maru, Natalia and Jyri work on screening the refugees entering the Pearlspire. It's a good thing they did.

Natalia has a loyal following among some Abandoned groups, a few help alert her to the presence of men they recognize as former Clan Heartsworn, a particularly vile sect of cultist raiders in the far southeastern part of the Saffron Chain, knowing for cutting out the hearts of any that fall into their clutches and eating them raw. The half dozen or so Clan Heartsworn members were former thralls released and sent to Pearlspire, and according to the former Islanders at Pearlspire, this is exceedingly strange because very few Thraxian houses would ever attempt to place Heartsworn in shackles and attempt to make them thralls- they are seen as insanely violent, almost without exception, and execution is standard.

This holds up as well, since once the Heartsworn are discovered, they immediately turn homicidal and attempt to murder the guards trying to seize them with their bare hands, and have to be cut down. From Jyri and Maru's investigating this further, it appears that some unknown Thraxian traditionalist houses are attempting to capture and release the most violent and homicidal individuals they can find and release them, to undermine the anti-thralldom reforms.

Joscelin has watched the unfolding of events, the death of her husband and the rise of traditionalists, the influx of thralls both current and former, and the announcement from House Thrax itself that they intend to end thralldom once and for all, over the course of some handful of years. Through it all, she's gone up and down with her responses, her heart breaking, mending, breaking again, through anger and turmoil, finally, through thoughtful possibility.

Joscelin is a problem solver; its what she does, she sees something that can be neogtiated, worked through, built, or torn down to begin again, and this time, through personal inspiration or Jayus-brought (I mean, can we ever really know where such ideas come from?), Joscelin decides to build a town that will house, clothe, and train former thralls to new skills as tradesmen, with the aid of teachers and Crafters of all walks of life, to aid them in their transition to freedmen and contributing citizens of the Compact.

The plan is thus: several phases (@actions) will proceed, the first being to secure land large enough to build on. Through connection and conversation, Joscelin has acquired the permission needed to build a town on Seliki land, though what comes next will be funding the indefinite lease and the actual construction of it.

Through her own means and those of them she reaches out to, she hopes to come up with enough resources and money to build a well fortified, efficiently designed town that will not only protect and shelter former thralls freed from their contract, but generate a form of income through local paid labor and trade and eventually, crafted goods.

Orrin is of course the connection that Joscelin acquired permission through. And in truth, her aim here is very much in line with the kind of development that he wants to see in Pearlspire: continuing their mandate of accepting former thralls, educating and caring for them. Because of the anger aroused recently, most of the work he's doing here is internal to Pearlspire. First, he's supporting the venture economically, calling in favors from local and nearby trades to get opinions on siting and local conditions. Second, he's supporting the venture militarily, ensuring there are adequate boots on ground to see to the safety of those working on building the town. Third, he's supporting the venture socially, speaking to his people about bringing artisans and training equal to the glorious bounty they receive from Mangata and the rest of the Pantheon so that Pearlspire can flourish and proudly produce the finest goods in Arvum - both pearl-based and a variety of others.

Jyri, pragmatic and hands-on, goes to work on behalf of Joscelin - he is very much on board with her idea and determined to help to the best of his abilities. He'll bring his dogs and spend time out exploring Seliki lands, under the guise of his alter ego 'Red' (a name he uses rather than Lord Jyri Whitehawk). A survivalist expert, he will try to determine where borders are amongst the local Shav'arvani, looking for that one spot of land that will not offend or start a conflict with anyone, including safe routes to Pearlspire from this area - best if it's not TOO far from the town either.

If finding something, he will map it out, make notes of the area and bring it back to Joscelin for overview, or if she can come, bring her there to have a look herself. Any spot found and chosen, he will also make an offering to the local spirits, explaining to them what they are there for and their intent.

Fianna will see that Joscelin's project is well supplied with lumber from Crovane lands, an exotic and hearty quality that resembles the eastern Northland's support in more ways than one. The lumber will be transported at regular intervals to help keep the town's construction on schedule with its deadline. Draft horses from Fianna's personal stock will also be provided to help assist with the project by pulling wagons and acting as transportation as needed. The Duchess of Stormwall will also frequent the site to meet with Joscelin as needed and to act as a supportive presence for the Guildmaster's efforts in bettering the lives of all who will occupy this future town.

Kaldur sets out after a site has been chosen for the new settlement, gathering support and building morale amongst the people who will be doing the construction. His aim is to highlight the importance of the what they are all building as the world shifts and changes - Pearlspire and this new city will be a beacon of what can be. He does it site by site. House by house. Person by person. He ensures that the people doing the work have a stake, a home there too if they want it. Additionally, any who find they have a taste for building are encouraged to join the Seliki Engineering Corps.

Peri uses her leadership skills for project management. With her leadeship skill she maintains a constant situational awareness of the project as it unfolds and evolves. All of that she holds within her mind and uses like a leader would. This situational awareness allows her to know when people are unable to make good progress. When this happens she can act as a leader would to resolve the situation. This awareness also makes her aware of when people and groups are being excellent so that she can praise them.

She makes sure the working conditions of those she leads are pleasant and healthy.

She makes sure everyone has everything they need for their work ready-to-hand.

She will use multiple types of resources to assist in this. Her social adjuncts will use their social skills to aid when soft skills are needed. They will also help things run smoothly in terms of noticing if there are bad actors. Her military adjuncts will help manage the military logistics and defense aspects of the project as well as oversee army gruops. She will pour economic resources into this work to make sure everyone has high quality tools and materials to work with.

She makes sure that this town is connected strategically to the road network and also with consturnctions such that it is easy to embark and debarc supplies and troups to and from ships.

Relocating this many thralls into Seliki lands was never going to be an easy thing. The logistics for resettlement may actually be the easiest part. Lord Jyri and the Seliki engineering corps narrow down a townsite to three potential locations, finally settling on the forested Breckendale Valley tucked at the foot of the mountains west-southwest of Pearlspire on the grounds of its excellent potential for a lumber mill and a thriving salmon run. With help from Duchess Fianna and Guildmistress Joscelin, transporting the necessary building supplies to begin laying out a plan gets underway well before the start of spring. Count Orrin moves the necessary soldiers and scouts along the trail, and Lady Peri has her hands full preparing the logistics of the workcamps and layout.

The idea of moving a large number of Mourning Islanders into one domain leaves the Seliki populace torn. On the one hand, they are vocal supporters for ending thralldom and Lord Kaldur finds substantial support for 'doing something,' but a fair number of those people he talks to reserve deep unease about bringing a group that contains former criminals and unfamiliar ways into their backyard. Several coastal villages band together and their representatives enter a heated discussion about the cost to their livelihood and bad apples among the batch. Orrin, Kaldur, and Joscelin face many questions that repeat in several communities close to Breckendale, and these concerns prove almost prophetic when a vicious fight breaks out at one of the working camps. When the dust settles, two builders are injured and five more thralls sent to the Mercies before Seliki forces break up the scuffle. The news naturally gets distorted when carried and soon, Kaldur and Orrin are fielding louder inquiries about how the thralls can possibly integrate when they attack others.

With the Count focused on allaying his people's concerns and baseless rumours about supply thefts, Kaldur identifies rabblerousers inciting the violence among the thrall camps. It takes time to hunt the men down and bring them in for questioning, but the Selikis didn't enter into such an arrangement blindly. With the saboteurs removed, the camps calm and progress picks up rather quickly. Working side by side for a common goal, the first warehouse is raised within weeks. Plans are laid for a mill, with Crovane lumber and expertise invaluable for laying out the sturdy outbuildings. Excitement grows, for the weary thralls finally see the fruits of their labour taking seed in Crownland soil: a place they can call their own, a home for themselves. The Crafters Guild play a major role in moving between thralls and Selikis, while the nobles on the ground go a long way to convincing their county of a promising start.

With a band of skilled outdoorsmen, explorers, cartographers, soldiers, and other miscellaneous tag-alongs, Baron Silas Whitehawk sets out on a quest to further acquaint himself with his lands. Beyond mere curiosity, this is also to ensure there are no nasty surprises when he expands his demesne. Goals are as follows:

- Map the region in its entirety, accurately. Note mountains, landmarks, villages, mines, etc.
- Explore ruins, if any, unless inhabited by hostile entities
- Determine which land is suitable for additional farming, mining, and housing
- Try to do all the above without trespassing on abandoned land or running afoul of hostile abandoned tribes in the area

Additionally, he is also interested in uncovering what may have happened to the noble houses who once oversaw his lands - before they were apparently exterminated during the Elven War and Crownbreaker Wars. Could there still be artifacts left behind from these battles? Or were they completely wiped away, leaving absolutely nothing to denote their existence? He hopes his own doesn't meet the same fate as House Grayfellow, House Tallow, and nameless Bisland vassal house.

A small military retinue will be deployed in case they unintentionally run into trouble, but not one large enough to draw alarm if they approach borders.

A soldier and a survivalist, Jyri puts his skills to use for the Whitehawk barony. He's no cartographer, but he knows the forest and can lead any team safely through dangerous areas. He'll use his scouting abilities and expertise at surviving in the wilds, tracking abilities and hunting skill to good use. The dogs will go with him for extra help with that. If encountering Shav'arvani, he'll avoid violence and try to talk with them instead, but he'll try to avoid meeting them entirely for this particular mission.

Elora will be on the outskirts of helping. She doesn't want to put herself in danger in her current state, however, she will help chart the safer areas, and speak with the local wildlife for clues and information that only the animals of the area might now.

Evonleigh is not a skilled explorer, cartographer, soldier, or outdoorsmen, but she is a miscellaneous tagalong -- one with a charming demeanor and skills in diplomacy. These she will put to work by chatting up the locals and making sure that her party doesn't offend the wrong people. She'll ask for directions, advice and stories from the people she encounters, and make sure the group is seen in a good light to the best of her ability.

Oswyn's good at a few things - he maps, he's good with riddles, puzzles, and lore, and he's a decent healer. Cuts? Scrapes? Broken legs? He is along to fix them. Making friends with isolated villagers that might need basic medicine is also a thing. He'll keep his eyes open, too.

Vitalis is along as eyes and ears on the foray into the lands surrounding Hawkhold. He's an experienced scout and works well to fill out the mission's objective of cataloging the lands in detail. He is not familiar with this part of the Gray Forest and is quick to ask those who are about things he notices, trusting both trained and innate senses to alert him to anomalies or dangers.

There is a special importance to Whitehawk's lands for Sparte, and he is more than happy to help in this. Pulling from his experience as an explorer and a cartographer, he'll do his best to ensure the goals set forth by Baron Silas are met.

he will be particularly interested in any of the history of the land that comes to light, given his connection to the lost House Grayfellow.

The survey takes quite some time to complete, and even then it's not truly complete. For the most part, Sparte is able to make a lovely map of the area as a whole. But there are several areas that he cannot thoroughly map.

One is an Abandoned area where Vitalis and his scouts encounter opposition and hostility - they've set perimeters and while they don't leave those boundaries, they are obvious enough about their rather thorough guarding of their determined border that Vitalis and his scouts know it will take a fight to oust these people from this small section of territory.

Another is a section where Oswyn seeks - and he falls to the ground at one point, blinded. "It's so -bright-," is all he says before he passes out. And when he awakens, hours later, he has a terrible headache that lasts for two days.

Evonleigh visits a few places, with Jyri making sure she's well protected as she goes. There are a few taverns and places for travelers to stay that aren't really part of Silas' lands, but after talking to them it seems they might not be averse to joining those lands. Provided the terms were acceptable to both parties - those tavernkeepers have an eye for business, and will need to be convinced that joining Whitehawk would be good for business and not bad - and they have no intention of stopping caring for those travelers not part of the Compact - silver spends, regardless of source, after all.

And Elora points to a place on the map where she says the animals will not go. Absolutely will not, cannot, not ever go. They call it "theplacewhereevilgoeswhywouldyouevengetcloseyoulunatic" and speak dark words of death and horrors.

But overall, the map is complete - the area surveyed.

As consul of Arvum Refugee Relief Group, Jyri is not one to be idle. In fact, he might be doing things a bit too fast sometimes, but he sees little point in waiting around while people suffer, and if he can do something, he will do it. This mission, under the (literal) banner of ARRG (he's made one, based off a painting he's made), is something that he feels strongly about. However - he really can't do this alone because he is not a diplomat. Hence...

Jyri gathers a team of diplomats, healers, empaths and soldiers who will go out and talk to refugees along the great road, abandoned ones particularly but others too if there are any. Abandoned refugees will be given an offer: bend the knee, swear fealty to the Compact, and they will be given quite a few good options.

1. Move to Stahlben lands - the Stahlbens are willing to take refugees on and give them homes and work.
2. Move to Laurent lands - Laurent house too has offered to take in refugees and offer homes and work.
3. Those of an agricultural bent (farmers, crafters) can move to Igniseri lands as Countess Quenia is in need of workers. They will be provided homes.
4. Soldiers can apply to join the Iron Guard, assuming they get through the vetting process.

Families will not be split up and groups will be moved with their tribal affiliations in mind as much as possible. They're not choiceless and will be listened to, even if there is a hard demand on them to bend the knee before being offered new homes.

To ensure this meets with some success, he won't be the one doing the talking if he can help it; that's why he's asked the experts to help with this. He will lead the group, he will protect them (and bring some hired guards along), and he can tell any Shav'arvani about his own experiences as an ex refugee who has joined the compact, but smooth talking is not his forte.

Additionally, a lot of resources and silver will be poured into it. The refugees will be well fed and equipped with good basic gear if they are lacking (even those that do not want to bend the knee will be given this.) Medical supplies will be provided too, for those that are hurt or sick, as much as they can be helped. The ARRG has received a fair few donations in a raffle and through the Whitehawk Charity shop, which is put into this endeavour.

An adventure upon the Great Road in order to bring peace and prosperity throughout Arvum! That's the dream and the ambition, anyway. There are people in need... there are people out there who aren't necessarily in need, but no less need to be given the good word of the Compact. Marquis-Consort Hadrian Mazetti is there to support Lord Jyri Whitehawk's efforts. To speak to the Abandoned about the virtues of the Arvum Refugee Relief Group(ARRG), the works they've done thus far in settling those returned to the Compact and even those citizens of the Compact, into new homes. Fluent in the shav'arvani dialects of the Lyceum and Oathlands, he lends his aid in that manner. Acting as both a translator and hosting more direct communication between himself and those they encounter. He lays on the charm, of course, because that's what Hadrian Mazetti do... but neither does he lie to these people - he's honest that reintegrating into the Compact can have challenges that one must face and overcome. He points to Lord Jyri Whitehawk as a success story, points to other renowned Prodigals within the Compact in recent years who have distinguished themselves with service to the Compact, the Pantheon, and more.

He would be remiss not to include mention of the many Prodigals which joined the banners of House Mazetti with the threat of the Pirate King on the horizon and how they have prospered under Mazetti rule, under the auspice of the Compact. He, again, is not above being honest and forward in mentioning that while the Prodigals under House Mazetti (and many other Houses, no doubt) have prospered, so too have those lands and noble Houses which the Prodigals have bent the knee to. A House, its lands, and cultures are people. From high to low, it takes all working together to create a brighter future, which is what is on offer. A chance to work together through shared dreams, mutual cooperation, and an eagerness to forge a better (and perhaps bolder) future for all.

Ever eager to prove she's more than a mere character on a stage in a pretty costume, the actress-turned-diplomat Evonleigh Whitehawk is happy to speak to the Abandoned and other Refugees. She speaks persuasively on the behalf of her fellow Whitehawk Jyri, the Compact, and the houses Stahlben and Laurent, lauding the merits of their lands and the security of life under their protections. Lady Evonleigh uses her charms, as ever, but her recent experiences with diplomacy have taught her a bit more about knowing how to approach different groups of people -- what approach will work best, which to steer away from, when to change approaches, etc. Evonleigh will rely too on her knowledge of Crownlands Shav, to pick up any tidbits here or there while they travel, or to use when she thinks showing she can speak it might earn her a point or two in her favor. And she'll play with the children, teaching them here

Cambria lends her aid to Jyri's grand effort. As they travel the Great Road, she does her best to promote those key points that all are hoping to drive home to those who are either uncertain, or against what is being proposed.

Lothar is, of course, ready and willing to help when the call comes; he's there to help protect the other envoys as they travel out along the road, though it happens that his own life serves well as an example of the benefits of bending the knee and accepting the light of the Gods into your life, particularly Gild.

Mina has been doing a lot of work for the Iron Guard, it's a lot of talking and soothing bruised egos, but it's something she loves doing. Amicable outcomes are extremely satisfying, but improving a group of people's lives would be even better. After hearing about Lord Jyri's raffle, she dumped quite a bit of her resources gained from her work into it to help out with the refugee problems. It didn't hurt that there was a beautiful painting up for grabs, either.

When Lord Jyri offered the country bumpkin a place in the group to reach out to the refugees she could hardly believe it. She could change people's lives by just using her silver tongue. It's never too difficult for the farm girl, the promise of something good along with a cheery demeanor and some flattery would convince many a listener. And Mina certainly had a cheery demeanor, she was so excited to talk with them and greet them with all of the stories of how so many of the people of Arx, nobles included, welcomed and helped her get settled in. Surely some first hand experience with relocation would be beneficial.

If there's any arena in which Isabeau might arguably excel, it's matters of diplomacy. Accordingly, she will accompany Lord Jyri's small contingent of those looking to persuade any Abandoned refugees to consider bending the knee, joining the Compact, and settling in House Laurent's lands. As it so happens, she is versed in Oathlander shav'arvani slang, and may even be able to communicate with them in their own tongue.

Happy to help try to bring hope and healing to anyone, Elora joins Jyri and the others. While they work on the democratic style dealings, she will focus her efforts on looking after the sick, both animal and human alike. She'll make sure that nyone who might want aid will get it, along with offering a little teachings on their own methods of first aid to help the healers and medicine people learn more methods.

Quenia talks about the benefits of being part of the compact, and a community that absorbs other people in their environment. She speaks to the work that she did with the former Thraxian thralls, taking those that wanted new homes and lives into House Igniseri as well as giving them jobs, homes, and a solid way to live their lives on their own terms within the confines of the law. She tells them of the project that she has that's up and coming, building a large agricultural center - which should take quite some time to complete - and offers those that wish jobs and homes within the compact to come work for House Igniseri, provided of course they bend the knee. She promises they'll have a safe place to live, and additional work even after the ag center project is completed. Additionally, she will provide safe passage via ship to make the travel load for those that want to go to Arx, Granato, Artshall or Bonespire much shorter than traveling completely over land.

Rather than attempting to sway hearts and minds with logical arguments and compelling oratory, Tabitha will act to gather information that the real diplomats can make use of. She'll talk with respect and kindness to the Abandoned refugees, with the aim of using her natural empathy to discern their interest and concerns relating to joining the Compact. The idea here is to listen carefully, and to pass on her findings to the diplomats so that they can use them to figure out the best approaches to their task, and hopefully apply some diplomatic damage limitation to the endevour in advance. Misunderstandings between the Compact and the Abandoned have been an issue in the past, after all. Tabitha also speaks Crownlands shav'arvani, so hopefully this will be of use.

The amount of suffering on the Great Road for different Abandoned is immense, and Jyri on behalf of the Arvum Refugee Relief Group leads a successful effort to relieve that, though it's not without complications.

Most Abandoned traditionally flee or fight on any contact with the Compact, and most bend the knee really only after defeats, but these diplomatic efforts have a higher percentage of success, particularly when Evonleigh and Isabeau help speak to them. Some groups still refuse and flee, particularly ones with heretical beliefs that they simply will not Abandon in order to join the Compact, but it's a much larger amount that settles to Stahlben, Laurent, Mazetti or Igniseri lands than most have accomplished, and a significant number that choose to move towards Arx look to join the Iron Guard. Hadrian, Cambria, Quenia help ease the transition to the different lands, and Tabitha, Elora, Mina and Lothar help keep them safe in transit, which is no easy task.

The biggest danger, of course, is that some of the traditionalist factions that object to -any- Abandoned becoming prodigals, and associate houses friendly to refugees as extremely friendly towards Abandoned, but that will be happening regardless for any outreach efforts.

Great Road Patrol/Reese is going lead a patrol of the Great Road in the Crownlands in the name of Grayson and Solace. Her goal is to keep the road for travelers, merchants and civilians safe. She wants to help keep the road in Bastian as a safe place to travel and she wants to contribute toward the road being used to help increased trade in the Crownlands. She is bringing along about half of the Grayson army. She is going to try avoid battles if possible. She will be focusing on chasing off thieves, those stealing and attacking from the road. She will not attack anyone who is not hostile to their patrol, clearly tainted by the abyss unless they are someone attacking others who will not cease such. She will retreat from overwhelming odds. She will try diplomatic means before going into combat if possible. She really wants to bring back the army in one piece. They are staying on or close to the road. They are going to follow the normal paths that Solace would take. She is not going to venture into the lands of Grayson Vassals because she respects agency. So while she patrols the pathways, she won't go chasing down bad guys in Riven lands for example. She hopes to make a positive show of force that will help those in the Bastian. She hopes to a patrol that reflects well on both Grayson and Solace. She will throw in the weight of her name as the Knight of Ribbons and the Grayson General to help in the image of the patrol. Since many important members of her family supported the road, she also hopes to give the road a better image as well.

Reese has invited Rey to be the head Mercy that moves on the road with this large group. She will be there to offer healing to the warriors as well as any on the road that has need. During this time she will be looking and marking sites for warstations to be placed along the road itself.

Rymarr will be present to aid in the patrols of the Great Road alongside House Grayson's efforts. He will be present to offer himself in the physical sense, but to also act as counsel when sought by the General of House Grayson.

Lisebet has been asked to come along, bringing her diplomatic skills. She's there to try that diplomatic approach in an attempt to settle things peacefully wherever possible. To that end, she'll be studying up on the lands they're going on, and making sure she's got a good idea of who she might be speaking to and with, so that when they are there, she will be at her best. Although she's not a Whisper, she's a fairly good diplomat, and used to helping out in such ways.

As a former Crownsworn and with a fierce loyalty to the crown and the vassal houses under the Graysons, if Princess Reese asks Jyri to help, he will come. So, using his expertise as a soldier, he will join this effort. He has a vested personal interest in the safety of the road as well, and it fits perfectly with his wish to see that refugees can travel safely to safe areas. The safer this part of the road is, the better for them. He will keep to what Reese orders, but offer his expertise at living in the wilds, work as a scout in the nearby forests to look for trouble, and he can also talk Crownlands Shav'arvani should they face any Shav'arvani of that kind - not that he's much of a diplomat, but he can translate if needed. And of course, if it becomes violent, he knows how to use that spear.

As per the modus operandi of Princess Reese, Lord Bedivere rides forth with Hawkhold's Soldiers and some promising Solace recruits mixed in ((from @action 3080)) at a 10:1 ratio. He will help patrol that Great Road which he and his men helped build. Whenever come close to Whitehawk lands, they temporarily detour to check those then join back up with the Grayson patrol.

Olivia is comming along to help keep the group healthy. She is not a fighter and won't be able to contribute in any martial way, but hopefully her knowledge of Medicines, Herbs, Alchemy, will help keep everyone in top top shape! Ideally though the group stays safe and healthy enough to not need her skills.

A show of force is enormously helpful. The Crownlands were spared much of the worst of the problems facing the rest of Arvum as a result of the Great Road, due to Alaric forbidding construction in areas that would have cut through largely Shav'arvani controlled lands. Being spared the worst doesn't mean 'no', however, as more than one Abandoned group took advantage of the distraction of the chaos of the Great Road to prey on travelers, and brigand attacks are at a high not seen in decades. Reese patrol largely puts an end to that.

Some of the groups can be talked down, of course, particularly with force behind them. Lisebet is able to resolve one inane border conflict between House Twinstone and House Ratherford, two of the baronies sworn to Grayreeve that had quarreled since Augustus' declaration. Jyri is able to convince the Gray Forest Reavers to stay well clear of this, after some had ventured from closer to Nox lands. Rey and Olivia help aid many of the wounded on the road, which turns out to be more than might be expected- there was at least four significant skirmishes between Whitehawk soldiers under Bedivere's command and brigand groups, ending with the latter's apprehension.

Reese and Rymarr lead the main Grayson forces, and there is one major engagement against a several-hundred strong force of Clan Wildrage, who seemed to be preparing a major raid against villages near Old Oak lands. Suspiciously, Clan Wildrage is closer to Grayreeve lands than it is to Old Oak, making it exceedingly odd that they would have been able to travel that far unchallenged, but unfortunately the handful of ones that surrendered were clan spearcarriers that only knew that they were told by their leaders that Old Oak lands were vulnerable and ripe for raids.

At any rate, as a result of the patrols, the Crownlands are significantly safer for it, and word spreads of their success.

The Lodge of Petrichor stands - at a heavy price. Directly after the attacks stopped, a new unit was made in the Iron Guard: The Rangers, or the scouts. Jyri calls them The Crows. The unit will be a hundred men strong, but the Iron Guard is down with a thousand men, so recruitment is still ongoing. However, the existing new unit has some soldiers in it and they need to get to work despite being new.

Jyri will take the scouts out to the Lodge, and dispatch five groups with five men/women in each group out and scout around the Lodge. He wants to get back reports on the effects of the forst, that the Horned God and his minions left behind. He wants to see if there are Shav'arvani refugees that could be convinced to come to Arx to get help. He wants to see if there's been an effect on the land itself - trees, animals, anything odd. The scouts will be asked to stay out for no longer than two nights, and then report back. THey are NOT to engage in fights, but try to remain unseen or simply withdraw if they have to. Fighting will be if they have to defend themselves.

Jyri will scout himself as well, despite a severe lack of stealth, with a team of Iron Guards and close allies.

Reese would like to like join Jyri and help to scout. She would like to go on a scouting mission and help to collect information. She is following Jyri's lead on this mission and will only take over overall command if an emergent need for such arrives. Her goal is to find out information, not draw notice and not cause any trouble. She wants to be good strong support for Jyri and the Iron Guard on this scouting mission. She will fight if she has to in self defense, but her goal is to avoid fights and just collect intel.

Elora is going to be joining up with the scouts, working on her own stealth (which she currently has none of). She'll join Jyri in helping with the Shav'arvani refugees, offering medical aid where she's needed to them, soldiers, and wounded animals. She'll also be checking the area to make sure that the animal's homes are mostly undisturbed and that they can continue safely. She has a hawk and a hound to help aid her during her searches, one on the air and one in the ground.

concerned with the possible affects upon the land, Rhue has gone to specifically evaluate the trees and other flora for anomalies. While she does not have any stealth, she does have skills to assist injurred parties if necessary.

Marian offer her services to Jryi and the Iron Guard. She is willing to lead one of the parties sent out to scout into the forest. She will use her knowledge of survival to navigate the forest, treading lightly while she records the aftermath of the Horned Gods minions. She will bring her bow and on the journey teach the new recruits in her party how to survival in the forest. When she meets any Shav'arvani in the woods she will approach them as a prodigal, telling them of her experience in joining the Compact and trying to convince them to bend on knee. If they refuse, she will leave in piece, having the location mapped by one of her warriors. If they get aggressive, she will use her knowledge of the forest to quickly withdraw and disappear into the trees.

Harper has her own new orders to get underway from Bosshawk, but she's worked with Jyri for a long time and trained with him. So when her friend puts out the call for help, she naturally pitches in to help him build the team. When the time comes for the scouting, she'll head out with the others, taking along some of their new recruits on her team to use this as a training opportunity, as well as to gather information. Once in the field, she will set each of the recruits to their tasks before heading out herself with clear instructions not to engage, to stay low and out of sight, and to report back at regular intervals.

After all the trouble at the Lodge, it's hard to find any shav'arvani at all willing to talk to them. In fact, most scouts can't manage to find anyone at all. Whoever's still there in the Gray Forest, they're being extremely cagey and not at all welcoming to visitors. But this team is filled with seasoned scouts, so it's highly unlikely that they're going home empty-handed, right?

Reese, with her knowledge of the Gray Forest and her experience here, suggests they head northeast. There were plenty of problems coming from that direction toward the Lodge it's true, but by her reasoning that's also the most likely to have people resettled, now that the Compact has spent such time clearing out cultists and very large creatures who were perfectly normal and not any sort of name rhyming with "marmantuan."

Rhue keeps an eye on the foliage now too. With winter passing this should be the time of rebirth, but the foliage here in the forest is much greener than expected. The flowers are blooming early, and in such an abundance it's a heady trip through trees and grassy clearings of wildflowers. Dark red blood apparently does make the green grass grow.

Elora catches the next hint of life, studying the animals and their paths through the forest. She sees a family of deer, squirrels scampering through the trees, the trill of a delighted songbird. She stops, listening to the sounds of the forest and then she looks down and points. "That way," she says as she corrects their course due north now.

It's Harper that catches the next shift - she turns into the wind and sniffs, and there's a faint scent of smoke in the air. She raises a finger to her lips, a call for silence. Together they draw weapons, get ready, advance. Jyri shifts to point, Marian moves to rearguard. They move forward, together.

And they come upon.. a family. Around a campfire. They startle when they see the Compact's scouts, standing up quickly. The parents hide the children behind them protectively, but they raise their hands. It's clear they don't want trouble.

When questioned, they are quick to give up details. The cleansing of the Forest went surprisingly well. Those who followed the Horned God have gone, and their relief at not having the cultists and zealots nearby is palpable. Slowly they're returning to their homes, the shav of the Forest. But though they're grateful to the Compact for handling the massive problems and cultist issues, most of them simply want to live their lives. "No trouble," they says. "We want no trouble."

And that is the current status all through the Forest. Oh, the scouts find evidence of squabbles, and once in a while what looks like signs of a raiding party. But it seems that relative peace has returned to the Gray Forest.

For now.

Together with Volcica, Jyri will make an offering to the Gray Forest spirit (and all spirits of the forest) ahead of the Lodge of Petrichor fights, in the hopes they will aid and protect the fighters against the Horned God and his forces. Coming from the Gray Forest himself, he's done this in the past before big fights, where the tribe Shaman performed a ritual and everyone offered something.

Offers: A small statuette of a Red Wolf - symbolising himself and his dedication to the spirits. He will promise to work to remove the taint of the dark forces after the fight and restoring any damage to the forest. (This is an actual item in my possession - Jyri ordered it awhile back not knowing why - but now he knows what it was for!)
A bottle of good booze and some good pipe tobacco
Mementos/small personal items from Iron Guards so the spirits know to protect his new 'tribe' - the Iron Guards. (Sparte gave a painting called a A Hound's Tale that will be offered plus a pair of old socks!). It'll be things like an old spoon, a hair band, a leather string - these are not so much offerings as a way for the Spirits to recognize who the new tribe is.

Jyri and Volcica will walk far into the forest but not too far from the Lodge itself and perform this ritual. The items will be placed slightly raised from the ground on a boulder or in a tree.

A month ago, Jyri brought up the idea for a ritual in the Grey Forest. Clearly, Volcica was interested. The idea is to try to sway the forest and its spirits into aiding the defense of the lodge and the forest itself, against the Horned God and his minions. Her offerings are simple. A piece of antler, carved with intricate sigils and a promise to cleanse the forest of any taint or lingering corruption left by the followers of the Horned God.

Jyri makes an offering to the spirits, with Volcica by his side. They settle into the grove and all around them, preparations are being made for the defense of the grove itself. And yet in this moment the world fades away and they are focused on the spirits.

Sometimes the spirits show up for these rites. Sometimes they don't. But today they show up, one by one whispering around the trees and speaking - not to Jyri, but the trees themselves.

"Sanctuary," says one.

"Healing," says another.

"Home," says a third.

Jyri and Volcica perform the rite, offer the statuette with the Red Wolf, and that's when the spirits give them the only answer it seems they will. "A wolf to hunt, the prey no longer wounded, a choice to be made. The precipice, a becoming or an ending."

And then the spirits are silent once more.

A team of survivalists will build traps and oversee the building of traps around the Lodge to aid in its defense. Traps will be built in choke points/most likely places for sneak attacks/attacks by human or animal forces - with Calaudrin having made a map of where they're best placed for defense. In particular Jyri looks to protect the flowers of the Lodge, but also the Unicorns, but no stone should be left unturned in order to build smart traps to injure/stop enemies.

Silas has given Jyri command of unit 1291 (army 327), which will serve as scouts and focus on any enemies coming in towards the traps or getting past them. Their job isn't to fight hand to hand but to pull back should that happen - and keep ranged.

Additionally, during any attacks, the team will stay on and fight (those that want to) or trigger traps, pull wounded out of traps if it is deemed safe and generally just be there to help.

Perronne makes traps! She's talked with Jyri about using the handy-dandy map that Cal provides and using it to be sneaky. She proposes (and can help construct) a multi-layered wall of traps. Outer layer has lethal, hidden traps. Next layer has mostly dud traps, with the occasional real one to ensure that anyone trying to make it through the trapfield has to slow down and check /every single trap/ for whether it's a dud or going to take off their head. Last, innermost layer has all lethal traps again, for when they start getting exasperated and decide to just plow ahead. She also suggests that the density and lethality of the traps be used to funnel and guide invaders towards those places where defenders will be most ready for them.

Calaudrin is going to be hunkered down in the watchtower for a significant portion of this whole thing, probably. So while he's there, he spends what free time he has writing up a slim instruction manual on where to place and where NOT to place the traps. Because it would be sad and unfortunate if they snared one of their allies. :(

The instruction manual is pretty straight forward and comes with illustrations, maps and arrows on where are good places to do things. There's also a cartoon of a cat with an eye patch named One Eyed Jack. He provides comical narration.

Thesarin will be assisting in the laying of traps along the ways leading to the Lodge. Ditches, pits, snares, spikes, blinds and redoubts. With half his life lived in the forests, as a hunter and a warlord both, he'll be working with Calaudrin to set the maps, shaping the terrain to the defenders' advantage, and laying some unpleasant surprises for the Horned God's forces.

Harper will be assisting by documenting the traps. She will check, double check, and triple check the locations reported to them to make sure that no traps go undocumented on the maps they are keeping of the area. In order to help keep their allies out of the traps, she will make absolutely certain that Calaudrin's plan for the traps is followed and make sure the information is up to date and gets into the right hands. Since she is stationed at the tower with Calaudrin, she will continually track the progress of those setting the traps and update Calaudrin and their allies on any possible changes to the plan. Oh, and she will also add a sketch of a very cranky looking old goat on the drawing from Uncle Cal, with the name under it of 'Old Carl.'

Sable is an experienced hunter, and so she's familiar with setting up traps, including traps for people and not animals. She'll help plan the traps out, make suggestions where she can, and do some of the grunt work if necessary. If she is shown the sketches, she will purse her lips and shake her head without saying anything.

Under the direction of Jyri, a small group go into the Gray Forest with the intent of laying traps. Not focused on gargantuans - that's really too big a problem to handle with such devices - these are focused on cultists and slowing anyone who attempts to come from the Gray Forest to the Lodge. They work quietly, secretly, their efforts not really known among the Compact at large.

With Perronne's suggestion, they make layer after layer of defense. Sable quietly helps with her expertise in trapping. Thesarin adds his forestry knowledge and his experience from a life spent in the forests proper. Jyri keeps a weather eye and directs the work. And Calaudrin helps from his vantage point at the Watchtower - and Harper makes sure to document exactly where the traps are to avoid future Compact tragedies.

With their work done, all they have left to do is wait - and hope.