Skip to main content.
Back to Sophie

Past Actions


Action by Bhandn for Fidelis

(Public Action, OOC Date: Jan. 21, 2020, 9:21 a.m.)

"It all began when he received the sword...and Bhandn feels an uncomfortable sense of something wrong whenever he gets near the Palace of Arx." The time has come to find out why. He has talked directly to both the Lord Commander and First Captain of the King's Own about the issue, explaining that this feeling began when he received that beautiful, frustrating, diamondplate sword with all its troubling implications, and shown the source of that problem to each of them.

With the help of the King's Own and others with whom he has spoken, Bhandn will be taking Fidelis to the palace, uncovered and openly displayed while there, to shine a light on what began when he received the sword as 1011 AR began.

Sir Corban, in his role as First Captain of the King's Own, will guide Sir Bhandn through the Palace in an attempt to pinpoint the feeling of "wrongness" that he experiences. Although he will tour the public and known areas of the Palace with Sir Bhandn, he will not neglect either the Bijoux under the Throne Room or the Newly Opened Passage or Alarice's Study at the end of it. Indeed, if it cannot be found before then, he will lead Sir Bhandn into the tunnels found behind Alarice's Study and see whether that is the source of the troubles. And he will keep his Spooky Senses on alert to see whether he might figure out the source of the Wrongness.

Austen will travel with the others, fully armed and dressed for trouble. Just in case the sense of wrongness that Bhandn feels becomes actively dangerous to them. He'll assist however's needed, searching the palace in a grid pattern if needed.

When Bhandn told Sophie about his affliction and the feeling that he had when he looked at the palace Sophie approached Sir Corban, a friend from her childhood that is now a member of the Kings Own. The incapacitating nature of this affliction when he comes in contact with certain people has Sophie concerned with his health. She will be accompanying Bhandn on his tour of the castle in hopes of tending to his needs should her services as a Mercy be needed.

Sir Bhandn arrives at the Palace, and already it feels wrong, somehow. He waits patiently, and soon enough the King's Own show up - Sir Corban, Sir Austen, and a contingent of Silver Swords that follow. The Mother Mercy also shows up, and it isn't until then that Bhandn unsheathes Fidelis.

Almost immediately he is awash with a sense of nausea, but he gives a grim nod and together they proceed into the palace. The first place they look is the Hall of Metal - because the King's Own is adamant that they first determine if this is something that might affect the King. But whatever churns in Bhandn's stomach isn't heightened by his presence in the Hall of Metal.

And so they turn away and walk back to the Great Hall, and this time Bhandn leads them on a different path. There's a pounding in his ears, and that stomach-churning sensation grows stronger and stronger with each step downward. There is a moment where he stops at the entrance to the prison below and - here he can go no further. Instead, he falls to his knees weeping, and his sword slowly turns until it is pointed at himself.

The Hundred quickly surround him, for his protection more than in concern that he is a danger. He is clearly struggling, tears streaming down his face. He murmurs words that make no sense, in a tongue no one can understand. He sounds like he's begging, pleading for something. Remorse covers his face. And then he passes out on the floor.

Sophie moves to examine him immediately, but there seems to be nothing wrong with him at all. Strange. He's just passed out cold.

One of the guards picks him up and she looks to Corban and Austen - "I'll just take him outside then Sirs? If someone could pick up his sword and bring it too?" She waits for confirmation, and then hauls Bhandn outside. It isn't until she drops him at the fountain of Alarice and splashes some water on his face that he awakens - and all she says is, "You might want to be more careful there. Don't you know that place housed the worst criminals in history? Didn't know you Knights of Solace were so sensitive." There's a spark of amusement in her eyes now, but she waits while the others join them, and then she salutes. "First Captain, I'm on duty with the King presently."

Corban absently salutes and dismisses her - and it isn't until much later that he realizes the duty roster doesn't change over for another hour.

Action by Rafael for Bisland Business

(Public Action, OOC Date: Jan. 6, 2020, 3:10 p.m.)

'Our Mother of Glorious Change,' a Mercies of Lagoma convent at Pridehall

Investing in the Pridehall Chapter of the Mercies of Lagoma, Lord Rafael hopes that highlighting the Compact's more gentle, generous touch will enact widespread positive change -- and glory!

With the blessing of Bisland's Heads of House, the local Seraph, and the Mother Mercy, Rafael will facilitate a donation to the Faith in the form of a Mercy convent at Pridehall. Dedicated to the worship of the entire Pantheon with certain tasteful emphasis on Lagoma, the new institution will serve to instruct and induct new healers into the Mercies of Lagoma. Pridehall's auspicious seat near-center on the map will ensure that these 'Lions of Lagoma' will be primed to trek outward in any direction they so choose, enriching not only the Crownlands but the Compact at large. Traditionally, many Mercy members travel to Blancbier for their training. A central Crownlands locale will make a healer's education much more accessible to those unable to undertake such a journey.

A stone castle with aesthetics befitting its purpose, 'Our Mother of Glorious Change' will include space enough for indoor and outdoor religious services, educational and residential wings, and separate accommodations where Mercies and novitiates may tend to the Faith of the Pantheon's flock in instances when housecalls may be inappropriate.

Assist Summary:

I. Lord Michael Bisland, Voice of Pridehall, will acquire and gift the appropriate lands and see to financial incentives for merchants involved in the convent's construction.

II. As donated by the High Inquisitor, Prince Laric Grayson, a brazier housing the Eternal Flame shall be displayed at the top of the new castle's highest tower where it can be admired for worship even from afar.

III. Lady Lailah Bisland, Magister of the Vellichorian Academy, has offered to curate a library for the convent specially purposed for the study of Lagoma and the healing arts.

IV. Lady Kaia Malvici nee Bisland has volunteered to see that the convent's interior design is up to par with the quality standards that her noble tastes dictate.

V. Along with an incentivizing gift for the first class of students, Sister Sophie Valardin will foster comradery between the Pridehall chapter of Mercies and those in Arx by providing a portion of the initial faculty. Sister Sophie, Mother Mercy of Arx, will also oversee academic materials and supplies along with the help of Novitiate Mercy, Princess Isidora Valardin, and Lady Mabelle Laurent from the Physician's Guild.

Lord Michael Bisland, as Voice of Bisland, certainly sees the need for Pridehall to further establish itself as the center of the Compact. Geographically, of course. Because that is what is true. It sits in the center of the Compact near a major arterial river. A chapterhouse of Lagoma's Mercies should have all the fixings, a covent is probably what others would prefer it to be called. Michael flexes political muscle for the project, getting advisors in the form of surveyors to find the best location for the castle. On the major avenue in Pridehall, near the city walls proper, with space for their own stables and exterior walled courtyard. The location is prime real estate in Pridehall, so it will take a good deal of negiotiation to buy up the landplots that the castle will be built. Michael offers both tax abatements for the sale of land as well as tax abatements for all the vendors who will be involved in the construction.

Of course Isidora would help with anything that would help the Goddess Lagoma. Though she is a much more quiet of her Valardin counterparts, her inner passions for healing and medical arts are things she thinks about. Isidora would take on the medical side of things making sure that this area is stocked with all the medical supplies and items needed to be 'cutting edge'. She would also make sure there is any training available there for those that wish to learn the path of Lagoma and healing.

Sophie will travel to this newly built Mercy convent when it is completed, and oversee that the supplies and teaching materials are appropriate to the task. She will help to supply seasoned Mercies from the Arx chapter to assist in the teaching. She will foster a strong sense of cooperation between the Mercies of Arx and the Convent so that this might carry into the careers of the students for many years to come as they scatter throughout Arvum to act as healers to the realm.

As a gift to the school Sophie intends to gift 200 gold filigree lanterns to the first 200 students to attend this Mercy convent to learn healing. Engraved upon the side are the words, "May Lagoma's light ever shine upon your path and grant you the strength to provide succor to those who need it. When we work together our lights shine brightest. - Sister Sophie Valardin, Mother Mercy of Arx"

Of course Laric is going to get behind a Lagoma-centric project in the Crownlands; though the fact is never emphasized, he's been known to participate in ceremonies and recently contributed his time and personal labor to repairing her shrine after some guy, who definitely wasn't Laric, somehow basically burned it down.

In addition to making a significant monetary contribution, he finds a mason and a metalsmith to make a gilded plinth and brazier for the convent; when all is said and done, he'll see to it that the brazier is lit with fire brought from the Eternal Flame itself.

Lailah would curate a library with specific sections dedicated to Lagoma and Mercy training, along with other general sections. She would use her knowledge and training in teaching to select a cost effective set of books and other materials.

Kaia will make use of her leadership and command skills to organize a group that will ensure the interior spaces of the convent are functional, safe, and aesthetically superb and pleasing. The group of high-end decorators shall determine the space requirements and select proper decorative items, taking in consideration things such as colors, lighting, and the best of materials. No expense shall be spared in the execution of this plan - it is for the glory of the gods and their work after all!

Mabelle volunteered to assist Sophie and Isidora with the curriculum from both the mercies medical training as well as apothecary basics. She will use her knowledge taught in the years of the Lyceum.

The new castle rises with magnificence and flame over Pridehall, and prospective students, old and young, flock to learn the arts of healing. Pridehall sees an increase in population as a result, and the sheer amount of social capital expended on the academy greatly increases its standing and the fame of everyone involved for a time. A real alternative to Blancbier is very attractive, especially in the wake of the failed Great Road pilgrimage, and the building is so beautiful beside having no troubled history at all as yet.

Action by Mirk

(Public Action, OOC Date: July 30, 2019, 4:40 p.m.)

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.

Action by Estelle for Bellerive and Threerivers

(Public Action, OOC Date: April 28, 2019, 8:04 p.m.)

Working for the Faith, Estelle is organizing a caravan of Mercies escorted by the Knights of Solace to the battlefield of Last Bridge. Once there, they will begin to sort and care for the bodies of the fallen, ensuring that they are sent off to their respective homes for proper funeral rites. The living will not go neglected either, with the wounded from all sides involved being treated as best as the Mercies can manage. For those beyond treatment, Estelle will read prayers specifically prepared by the Mother Mercy Sophie herself.

Sophie seems intent to let Estelle handle the organization of this caravan. When they arrive she focuses on healing. She walks through the wounded, setting bones, mending wounds, and whatever else might be necessary to send as many home to their families as possible She's prepared extra bandages, salves, and tinctures for pain. Sophie doesn't neglect the dead, but her primary focus is on the living. Once she's done all she could do in the way of healing - she'll move to saying prayers for the dead of both sides.

Teagan has entrusted this venture to Estelle: both as a family member and as a Mercy. She believes Estelle will be able to do what is best for all involved (notably the dead and wounded). However, Teagan will attend insofar as ensuring that Bellerive themselves do not interfere with any Threerivers representatives that are present to see to their people. She wants to make sure it is as smooth a transition as possible and that the focus is on both mourning and healing: further politics can come after. She'll also welcome any representatives of the other houses involved (such as Fireside and Delcambre) so that they can see to arrangements for any of their injured or lost.

Umbroise, who will already be in Threerivers hopefully (@action 3152), will work on convincing the new Countess of Threerivers to allow the Mercies to do their jobs, and bring home the fallen Threerivers soldiers, including Count Trevor and his Sword. Umbroise will be very careful to ensure that all due diligence is paid to honoring the traditions of House Threerivers with regards to the handling of their dead, and will advise the Mercies on such as an intermediary of sorts, hopefully to prevent any further tensions. Umbroise will suggest, based on Mother Ailith's advice, that the new Countess send her representatives to meet wtih the Mercies on the disputed lands to retrieve the fallen. She will offer her deepest sympathies to the new Countess of Threerivers, and will stay for any funeral rites that are performed should the bodies be safely returned home.

It's somber work, taking care of the bodies. Sophie is able to help a great many of the injured, including some that were thought to be beyond help, winning praise, but it's scattered bright spots in an extremely sad duty. With great care and courtesy, Estelle, Teagan and Sophie see to the bodies and being certain they are treated with dignity, and Umbroise is familiar enough with the Threerivers' ways to be certain that no offense is accidentally given by the Oathlanders seeing to the bodies. It's hard work, but it's very important work, and the bodies are taken by Estelle to meet with Ailith for transport.

Due to their efforts, House Bellerive at Last Bridge and House Threerivers are willing to talk, and it makes the other jobs to come much easier.

Action by Saoirse

(Public Action, OOC Date: Feb. 7, 2019, 1:06 p.m.)

The Great Road. What a cock up! Saoirse Velenosa has been tasked by the King to find a way to fix it. She and a team of diplomats are going to work to find compromises via a signed accord between the Houses along the road bringing them together in the spirit of cooperation. For this first stage, the Great Road Negotiators are going to meet with houses along the road to hear feedback and propositions in regards to possible treaty issues. Saoirse is generally sending lords and ladies from the assorted fealties to handle their own, to listen and be seen. In addition to listening to Houses' wishes, Saoirse will also propose to the houses a toll on the roads, paid in part for the upkeep and safety of the road and in part to the houses that are along said road.

The ultimate goal of the Treaty will be to establish a broad base of support that brings the houses on the road together with tangible benefits and expanded cooperation.

As a diplomatic sort himself, Alaric is quite happy to lend some assistance to the project he has set before Saoirse of identifying the benefits merchants and Houses are getting from the Great Road and assigning Crown personnel to go out and get input to find out what's working so it can be made better or easier, as well as put together a wish list of things they'd like to see to help commerce develop, and also float some ideas by people to see if anything gets traction. A standardized system of barrels and crates for easier goods transfer and inspection? Traveling veterinarians paid for by a collective donation? A system of amnesty for bandits that give themselves up to be sworn to the Knights of Solace for training and posting elsewhere? Ultimately the goal is to find out what sort of things have enough widespread support to form the basis for an accord spanning most of the Road itself.

Gwenna will travel the affected areas in the Northlands, especially those along the contentious borders with the Oathlands. She does /not/ go as an authority figure, Voice of House Redrain, seeing as she believes quite strongly in the autonomous nature of Houses, but as a diplomat who also happens to be born of Houses Redrain and Laurent. While she can not fix what has been done, she will speak to the positive history between the fealties, of alliances forged by marriages after bloody wars. Princess Marian, now a respected War Chief of House Redrain, for example, came to be known after a marriage that started in such a way with House Valardin. Lastly, she pledges to make this trip a yearly one going forward should things settle, visiting each of the Houses and hosting small banquets with them, if they allow. In sum, she will be a firm but soft voice requesting negotiations and peace.

Donella is a pragmatist at her core. There are plenty of people talking to the folk along the road where havoc is having a heyday, so she focuses on touring the nearest neighbors of impacted holdings to make them understand what their skin in the game is. She can only be in one place for a given amount of time, but changed or empowered minds are there all the time to put the pressure on. Donella is saying that if the Road endeavor fails, then it will continue to be difficult, costly, and slow to move manpower, materiel, and intelligence across Arvum. And that equals death, deprivation, and darkness for damn-near everyone. If it succeeds, everyone benefits-- defensively, economically, and strategically. She can also point out that the High Lords of Sanctum, Bastion, and Maelstrom are going to be taking as dim view of vassals' violent incursions on the holdings of their allies, just as Darren Redrain does. So let's calm things down, shall we?

Zara has never thought the roads idea was bad, but she as many knew that with any advance there were by setbacks as the people got used to the ideas and sadly others would take advantage of the change and unrest follows. That is what Zara will be helping with. Soothing the fears, offering suggestions on personal levels and in general putting people at ease for the houses she steps in front for, and doing the same in the background//in support of the others Negotiators.

Desiree will talk to the people and listen to what they have to say. She will do what she can to put their mind at ease and see if she can help them work something out.

While Sabella still doesn't believe the Great Road was a failure or a bad idea, she is all for going out and talking to people about it to try to keep bad feelings down to a minimum. She'll listen, talk to people, put a positive spin on everything, and then either delegate to the proper vassal houses to go deal with their people or go out to talk to people herself. Focus on the positive!

Diplomacy? It's not actually Berenice's /foremost/ strength, but getting people to agree to compromise? That is something she is very, very good at. The more intricate details of treaties and the like are often beyond her: instead, she focuses on finding ways to give people what they want -- and compromise what she needs them to compromise. She'll be there to ply her whims on the heads of the various houses they visit, so very attentive to their hopes and wishes, and finding those points where she needs them to give a little. She's not above fluttering her eyelashes where she needs to. (She is, in fact, so far below.)

Sophie, the Mother Mercy of Arx arranges Mercies to accompany the diplomats on their missions in an attempt to both reduce the loss of life, and to help drum up goodwill with the Abandoned tribes along the road. The Mercies will provide healing to all who need it, regardless of fealty, and they will share knowledge of healing techniques with any abandoned healers that wish it. The Mercies throw their support behind this effort to bridge the divide between the compact and the abandoned tribes along the Great Road.

Selene seeks the most vocally opposed and stubbornly resistant to the Great Road, banking on the reputation of Whisper House as quiet negotiators between troubled parties. Any particularly troubling snarls are where she wants to be, playing the compassionate listener, patient diplomat, and only then proceeding to address the concerns. Organizations she takes a direct hand, noble houses she sends words and messengers with, offering to help mediate any concerns. She will speak to ongoing economic and social advantages, using examples of the Empyrean Trade Route, interest expressed by merchants, and similar infrastructure projects in other lordships or realms. Point out the positive, downplay the negative. Groups that need further encouragement how they might benefit, she'll offer ideas or suggest connections to proper parties like the Scholars for research or the Crafter's Guild and Silver Consortium. She presents a sympathetic, willing ear to their worries and problem-solver par excellence as need be.

Does anyone in the Compact know how tedious and difficult it is to get literally scores of different houses to agree to a uniform anything? Probably not, but everyone involved in this treaty effort now does. It is excruciating to get dozens upon dozens of proud (the diplomatically polite version of 'obnoxiously arrogant') lords to agree to nearly everything, as virtually all of them expect special treatment where of course every -other- domain should be taxed endlessly, and be forced to make massive commitments of troops to keep their roads safe, but by virtue of their own importance they should be spared any such considerations. Fortunately, this effort has ten of the finest diplomats in Arvum involved, and they are able to make progress which would have been hopeless for anyone else. That they are almost all leaders, exceptionally important in their field, and supported by the King helps. Also, that they are almost without exception charming and stunningly attractive doesn't really hurt either, since most of the leaders they are dealing with are not and very not.

In the end, Saoirse and her team manages to create a sprawling treaty of hundreds of pages dealing with a million exceptions for the Mill That No One Cares About Except Baron Stubbornface and similar circumstances, while creating some very, very basic rules for dealing with territorial disputes that come up from the Great Road, and basic guidelines for uniform tolls paid by travelers that can contribute to upkeep and increased patrols to increase safety.

More importantly, while most of the brushfire conflicts already in progress continue, the diplomatic team has headed off, by their calculation, probably several hundred wars started by total idiots. Preventing something from happening is, when you get down to it, a vastly underappreciated triumph.

Action by Eirene for Turmoil in Southport

(Public Action, OOC Date: Jan. 4, 2018, 12:39 a.m.)

Now knowing that Clue: The Pointed Confession of Leporis says that their men got eaten, Eirene works on finding out who is still alive and can possibly help. She also uses the time in Southport to look up those who retired from active military life or did their mandatory service and went back to Civilian duty. Her assistants she uses to find out what slots need to be filled or what families need to be compensated or cared for.

Bianca will be accompanying Eirene on her trek to Southport and utilizing the aid of the local Scholars of Vellichor parish for assisting manpower in the search for information regarding the missing individuals. Utilizing the local Scholars as a task force, Bianca will be working out of the parish to document and collaborate all information found pertaining to the missing parties to help paint a better picture of what happened... and where they've gone.

Leola will be providing aid to attempt to prevent more vanishings, as well as ensure Orazio's safety. To this end, she ... starts feeding, and organising, cats, explaining to the remaining guard how important dogs were during the Siege of Arx, but how cats are, frankly, cooler and far more in keeping with the Lycene aesthetic. She will teach them how best to react to a cat's attention, laughing about how cats see far more than we do. Of course, during this, she also organises the cats to watch for the Shadows, to alert guards and she arranges food and comfort for them in return, as well as many guardsmen on which to perch.

Orazio's going to reach out to old friends still in Southport, both from his time of service, and his time as a priest there. He'll make a trip down, reconnect, buy many rounds of drinks, and see what he can find out about the missing people, as well as what those who remain are thinking about all of this. Where he can, he will soothe concerns which can be soothed, and pass on concerns which probably should be addressed. He's also probably going to drink a /lot/ of beer, and meet a lot of people's kids and grandkids.

Sophie will reach out to the Southport chapter of the Mercies as well as the Knights of Solace there. Perhaps they have heard some odd tales from pilgrims and patrols, or maybe have encountered unusual injuries and illnesses (amnesia, in particular).

Marcos answers Eirene's call for assistance. He ponders the problem and starts trying to figoure out the when of the missing people. Moving about with a list and checking in with friends and family of the missing folks. When they wer last seen. Any oddness or wrry they expressed. He tries to set up a timeline for each missing person so that timelines can be compared to one another. Also durring his looking into things he, of course, will keep his eyes open for other clues or strangeness.

Count Artorius Magnotta joins Eirene as she returns to Southport with one of the ships from his navy and a band of his elite guard from Magnotta to help keep the peace, as well as personally help solve the mystery of where in the hell all of their soldiers had run off to.

Under Lady Eirene Malvici, old soldiers, veterans, retired people, and those thinking about getting out of military service are encouraged to think about the community. Father Orazio, Archscholar Bianca, Mother Sophie, Count Artorius, and Lord Marcos go forth trying to talk to various people with varying levels of success.

Archscholar Bianca, perhaps with her newfound familiarity with the Eater of Stories' habits, works with Lady Eirene to learn where the missing folk have gone - and to their combined dismay, they conclude that it's quite likely they were simply eaten, not just kidnapped or hidden away.

Father Orazio reaches out to people he used to know and they are generally pretty receptive to sharing a beer with him and showing him their grandkids. For the most part they're fairly confused by the entire debacle - because up until the heist happened, they were confident in Duchess Calypso's leadership.

Mother Mercy Sophie is similarly successful. She hears some odd tales from patrols - not of amnesia, but of surprisingly well-armed shavs that are also increasingly hostile. It's a little ominous, considering that she is interviewing mostly veterans who know better than to underestimate an enemy. They're concerned, to be sure.

And Leola? Leola looks to the cats for help. She hears things like 'I could probably tell you, but I'm just so thirsty. It's hard to think when I'm thirsty." And then pointed glances at the nearest dairy. Or "You know, that fish yesterday really helped me focus on looking for those shadow things." And then a look. The Look. Cats are unpredictable at the best of times, and these are decidedly not the best of times. They will work for Leola - as long as the bribes keep coming, which means she spends her time in Southport literally herding cats.

With their efforts, veterans and retired soldiers start filling in the ranks of the missing soldiers. Slowly, Southport is getting up to strength again.

Action by Leola

(Public Action, OOC Date: Jan. 1, 2018, 10:55 p.m.)

Is the Lodge becoming a grove?

Leola, while many things, is not the sharpest arrow in the quiver. The healing plants growing in the soil, which suggests it is rich in Primum - the First Children's visits - and of course, the coming and going of intelligent, spirited animals - suggest it may be. As the Paladin of Groves, Leola attempts to divine and - potentially - secure this blessing.
Those noted as blessed by Creation, or walkers of the spirit paths, are invited to the Lodge, to best study it. Leola attempts to divine the Lodge's standing, comparing it to those other groves she knows (c.f. The Hesitant Hedgehog).
She also talks to the First, to the Knights of Petrichor. She seeks their approval and their aid in turning the Lodge into a place truly devoted to Creation.

Orazio dispatches priests and himself to say prayers and undertake a full rite of consecration, protection, and worship of Petrichor on the premises of the Grove. This is a full Church rite, which means it takes days, involves a lot of very seriously considered prayers including kneeling, standing, ritual purification, and all that fun stuff. It may be noticed that the praying and the cleansing goes up a notch whenever one of the shamans are around, and that the prayers themselves are dedicated very /pointedly/ to Petrichor, the Pantheon, and all who worship and honor the gods of the Faith. Orazio also will probably hang around at weird times hoping to catch a glimpse of a unicorn. Because. Unicorn.

Cybele wanders the lands of the lodge, trying to map out occult confluences and Primium rich areas by - well, mostly by feel, and also by the presence of any spirits, seeing as spirits seeem to also enjoy groves. And if not, the shaman is more than willing to seek the advice of spirits on how to make the Lodge a Grove!

Khanne holds the Stone Grove sacred and something very close to her heart... but also, to her soul. She has had visions of its first days, and believes she knows why and how it was raised... at least in part. it is storied Petrichor himself blessed the Stone grove, and she would work with Leola and Cybele to pray to Petrichor and make offerings in ritual for the Spirits to do the same to the location of the Lodge, if it is indeed determined to become a sacred Grove as well. Along with her skills in agriculture to aid in documenting all of the plants and comparing them to those found at the Stone Grove.

Anze isn't magical himself, and he knows very little about Petrichor other than what he's learned from leola herself, but that doesn't mean he doesn't see merit between the blening of shamanism and the southern church. The tying together of the two faiths to create a holy place untainted by the corruption of the dark reflections is an important piece of work and so Anze will do what he can, beseeching the spirits himself is the best Anze can do to try and help. He will pray that the spirits find the place as holy as Petrichor seems too and that they will take residence and try and make it holy thrmselves.

While quite new to all of this compared to most, having joined Petrichor's Discipleship within the last year and still very much learning such things, Olivia is nonetheless eager to help. What help means? Well, sanctifying groves is a bit beyond her normal religious pay grade, though she will offer prayers with everyone else. But most of all, she walks the grounds, wanders amidst the various flowers and trees, touches a few, and can be seen leaning close to some, perhaps merely to listen, or... possibly to whisper? It seems in this company she is not shy of making known her habit of talking to plants.

Sophie was present when the Lodge grounds were first secured. Leola revived it with Petrichor's favor, while Sophie successfully beseeched Lagoma to purify the grounds. (Critical roll of 140 resulted in Apostate saying anything wicked would be kept away for 169 days. Which, yanno, has long since passed but still.) As such, perhaps she has some sort of connection to the place. She'll certainly meditate and pray upon it to see what insights might come to her -- or what her Sight might show her should it kick in.

Aiden, surprised by the invitation, isn't confident what he can contribute, but being able to talk to the First in the past might help. He is trying to form some way to communicate with them on a regular basis and strike an accord to secure their help. So any opportunity to speak with them, is a good one. He'll come out to the Lodge to part take in the study, listen to the birds, speak with the First if they allow him to, mediate, to pray. He'll contribute as much as his knowledge will allow him to.

Monique has no divination skills, no magic abilities but what she does have is information and contacts, and a way of sussing out the heart of a matter with those skills. She'll investigate the history of the Lodge, the creatures and beings who have been known to visit there, and anything else that might give clues about its status.

Orazio comes with members of the Faith to sanctify the Lodge. It takes days, but it is a beautiful place and so there's little hardship to being there even in winter. The Lodge has always been a place of peace, but now it seems even more holy, even more peaceful. Olivia sees the plants there growing faster than they were before - even in the greenhouses of the Lodge that protect from winter's chill.

And now the spirits come in response to Khanne and Cybele's entreating. They come and they stay, for this is a welcoming place, this Lodge, this holy place. Some who come were simply spirits roaming. Others were spirits gravely wounded. One comes and greets Cybele with a nod of recognition, healing up from harm done months earlier.

And then as those assembled look on, little white bunnies hop out of the woods and perform a choreographed dance number, singing in harmony, audible and understood by everyone present.

"Do you wanna make a Grove now?
Come on, let's do this right.
You're not a pal-a-din, that was just to win,
in Brand's Silent War!
But Petrichor still loves you, and your friends,
who called all the spirits heeeeere...
Do you wanna get a Grove set?
(It won't quite be a /Grove/ yet.)
Hold back the night..."

Incredulously, Leola suddenly blurts out, "WELCOME TO MY LIFE!"

Action by Bianca for The Despite of Fable

(Public Action, OOC Date: Dec. 26, 2017, 8:45 a.m.)

The truth shall set us free.

The call has been made and a great archival is being set into motion by the Scholars of Vellichor, reaching out to the entirety of the discipleship far and wide in an effort to duplicate and spread information contained in each outpost of Vellichor’s faithful from the grandest library to the smallest monastery.

The plan itself is no small task and in reality Bianca is aware it will take years to come to fruition, but they had to start somewhere.

Phase 1: Organization - A rather large focus team is gathered utilizing local Scholars and overseen by three Senior Scholars (NPCs) to take point on the clerical end of the Archival process. The role of this team is ongoing, their job being to disseminate information to the known enclaves of the discipleship throughout the many territories of Arvum regarding the archival process and how it will function. Once the process begins, they will be the ones dealing with the incoming reports and developing an encoded master inventory list of all outlying literary collections within the jurisdiction of the Scholars. A secondary list will also be created in regards to the location of lost relics that may be hidden away though in the possession of the Scholars. This secondary list shall also be encoded, its construction remains solely in the hands of the three senior scholars on point for this team and is only to be viewed by them and Archscholar Bianca. Once both lists are completed a secondary action will be taken to protect the contents of the pages (either via in-game actions or a storyrequest). From there a procedure will be set in place for all future acquisitions to be reported to the Archives to be properly categorized and added to the proper encoded list.

Phase 2: Reproduction - The next step of this accounting is the duplication of documented works. Any pieces of literary record (fiction AND historical) not found in duplicate shall be reproduced by the Scholars located in the parish these works are found to be and aid from Arx will be sent to the smaller libraries in the form of manpower to help. The goal is that a copy of everything not deemed ‘imprimatur’ will be replicated and disseminated to the Archives as well as the discipleship’s library in each of the five regional capitals: Sanctum, Lenosia, Maelstrom, Farhaven, Bastion. Anything deemed ‘imprimatur’ will also be duplicated though these duplications will only be sent to the Great Archive. This process will also be applied to all new information coming into the Archives or discovered by the discipleship moving forward.

Phase 3: Dissemination to the Public - While the Archives have always been open to the public and all noble houses, an immediate public relations campaign is set in place to better inform those of Arx and Arvum on the whole that the pursuit of knowledge and information will not be turned away or looked upon with wary eyes. This campaign is to be fostered by /all/ of the discipleship setting the stage for an open door policy and as more information is collected in Phase 1 and Phase 2, the Archive will be able to ideally provide direction if not a copies of what is being sought. The title of the campaign is “Let no question go unanswered.” For those seeking knowledge that extends beyond the bounds of what is considered safe for public consumption, they will be directed to petition the Scholars for access. A small council of senior scholars headed by Archscholar Bianca will be set to task in reviewing such requests and disseminating information on a case by case basis (unless of course PCs come to her directly).

Now, with the discipleship’s funds recently diminished due to the recent expenditure in Stormward, Bianca is also reaching out to all those outside the Scholars willing to aid with this tremendous undertaking. Donations are to be accepted in specific to aid in the Archival as well as individual manpower for replication of books not marked ‘imprimatur,’ though the most poignant request in the forefront is martial cooperation and aid. There is a great danger present and those tasked with the duplication or simply traveling to disperse information and transport copies will undoubtedly need protection and assistance while traversing the many territories of Arvum. And sometimes boats. Boats are cool and there are a lot of islands to be reached.

Lady Monique Greenmarch has a wide net of contacts she employs, along with their silver and her own gratuitous charm, on behalf of the ArchScholar's endeavor. How does she find out the things she does? It's impossible to know, but she will attempt to secure safe roads to travel, and trusted safe houses for those scholars and their handlers to stay in, alongside vaults for the information to be saved.

Fortunato, although no official scholar, is happy to lend his hands and eyes to the work of replication (if with a tiny bit of illumination in the margins as strikes him, not enough to seriously detract from the speed of the task). He is able and willing to travel to the regional archives to aid copying work there as well, if, of course, with escort.

Sophie will be aiding in Phase 2, leading any and all Mercy volunteers to go through the extensive medical records and white journals of known Mercies, collating what is deemed important information. She will also write to the Mercy chapters throughout the Compact, seeking their cooperation, and offering organizational instruction to those wanting. Finally, she'll do what she can to procure what House Valardin has.

Phase I-III: Ailith will coordinate through her increasing network of Seraph contacts across the Compact, and reaching out also to the Seraphs that the Dominus and Legate of Creation informed Ailith about. She'll explain the first Phase of Archlector Bianca's process and encourage the Seraphs in how the parishes may assist such as the Seraphs providing copies of any texts to the Archlector or the three Senior Scholars. Ailith will assist in fielding any questions if the Seraphs respond directly to her. In additional letter will be included.

Calaudrin will be joining with other members of the Iron Guard in helping protect the Faith's documents as they move through the city. He'll be especially on the lookout for anything at all suspicious as they go.

Lord Commander Silas will be helping direct his men in protecting the precious cargo -- copies of invaluable lore from several great libraries and archives. He himself will likely lead the retinue guarding the largest cache. They will avoid all thoroughfares known to be havens for thieves and criminals, and all guardsmen on this mission will be thoroughly armed and alert. They will also not be guardsmen with past criminal history, themselves, no matter how small the theft or how long ago the incident occurred. No chances!

Ainsley will be helping with the Iron Guard portion of things. He'll be assigning more senior soldiers to help with the transportation and dissemination portion-- helping to protect the scholars. He, himself, will be with one squad of people helping to transport and protect. Carrying with him his Alaricite sword and his rubicund plate, as he leads the forces. He'll also supply some of his own military favors, writs, and currency to help with the project.

Harald has given leave for the the scholars of Vellichor to travel to Grihem's Point aboard his ships and under his protection, as well as granting them access to the Grimhall libraries. While the private Grimhall libraries are largely collections of literature (especially traditional poetic sagas which are widely believed simple verse fiction) any pieces desired for copying will be made available. After all, the Scholars certainly aren't likely to find any decent sagas on the mainland; it's a mission of mercy, really.

Phase 1: Knights of Solace agents, in the course of their usual duties, will help disseminate the new archival procedures across Arvum, and bring back reports if needed. They will also be instructed to share with Blessed Bianca or her chosen representatives any information they may have picked up in the course of their journeys regarding the possible locations of valuable documents that should be included in the archival effort. Phase 2: Knights of Solace will help protect sensitive archival works as they are transported to or from the various repositories in Arvum.

Mae has began to distribute the Commoners Bulletin, as well as a primer on a subject (Marin'alfar) that has otherwise been erased from history. She'll be writing more, including a book on reincarnation, and all will be spread far and wide. Take that, Fable!

Christine will help with phase 2, copying books that need to be reproduced, and translating those in Isles shav so they could be spread more easily.

Eirene, with the help of her own soldiers, goes through any of the Malvici libraries in Arx and sends word for the libraries of Southport to be duplicated and the copies added to the efforts, transported as quickly as the lot can be completed. As Malvici has a longstanding history of fighting demonic forces, she hopes to find useful information to be added to the master archives.

Lord Corban Telmar will invest both time, treasure, and resources into the Archscholar's appeal to duplicate and preserve knowledge. He will donate 200,000 in House Telmar silver to copying, transporting, and preserving Archives information in the Oathlands. He will also call in House Telmar's extensive network of military favors to ensure that the convoys transporting the materials are protected, and will personally lead some himself, lending his sword and considerable leadership abilities to the effort.

Armand, as a Templar disciple, will aid in the Scholar's efforts by ensuring their protection, notably during the more dangerous Phase 3 of the project, the dissemination and duplication. Able and willing to travel wherever the Scholars need to go, he will ensure that those he is tasked to protect are able to do their work unhindered. No criminal nor servant of the Abyss shall be allowed to stand in the way of Vellichor's holy work.

The main effort the Templars will offer, as well as general help should they be asked, is during phase 2. With the threat that bandits or indeed things more foul could try to stop the material reaching Arx, the Templars will make up to 1000 men at arms available to escort material from the various holds back to the capital. Alongside this, each Parish will be expected to have their templars provide additional support as material moves through their lands, more a procession of honour though that for military support. As the various archival holdings come together from the regions to head to Arx, the Templars will blob the escorting forces together and ensure that the material makes its way safely to Arx.

Cybele is good at organising and teaching and digging up info, so more than happy to dive into the deep stacks, and set to work looking at what comes in. Besides, the shaman has a knack for finding the right texts. Right? Right.

Delilah will be focusing her efforts on Phase 2, working closely with other scholars to replicate as many texts as she possibly can in her spare time. She will also be speaking with the Master of Questions in an attempt to more closely incorporate the Inquisition with the ongoings of this entire process.

Alaric will be having lots of nice things to say about the project, dropping little mentions to nobles and Crown functionaries and important merchants alike about how nice it would be to hear of people and groups lending some aid to the Vellichorian discipleship with their work, and generally generating some positive PR and motivation for people to get involved with helping.

Fatima will allow the Scholars access to the Thrax libraries available in Maelstrom to aid the Archscholar. More than that, though, she's using her social circle to help circulate the news of Phase 3: Dissemination to the Public. When Bianca signals it's time, Fatima will utilize her propaganda machine to get out the word the Archscholar desires.

Percephon will be participating heavily with the Phase 2 portion of this very important project. Working within his position as Senior Scholar, he will go to the library in Sanctum to assist in creating faithful duplicates of all materials that are that are uncovered and found. With a focus on organizing which overly important and sensitive materials will be sent to the Great Archives.

Estaban will be opening the Saik Library to the scholars of Vellichor, he will also be giving military esscort the schollars where they may need to go.

Victus will be allowing the Scholars of Vellichor within the libraries of the Maelstrom, as well as to comb the Isle the capital fortress is located on for nay other information they deem noteworthy. In addition, he'll be sending a detachment of some Thraxian scholars and stewards who are better versed in history than he is. Surely, the Isles will have LOADs of interesting stories to tell!

Aiden can help considerably in Phase 1 and Phase 2. Since he's had a lot of practice with the Court in reproducing works, that's where he will initially provide the most support, however, he's got a good eye for organization, so he'll certainly swap between the two roles, depending on what's more important at the time. Though since he's an excellent teacher, he puts a lot of his time into Phase 3 as well, answering as honestly as he can and has he has done to anyone in the past who has come to him for answers.

Not being much of a smarty himself, Edain will do his best to give the scholarly types the access and the trust they need to do something good, making sure they have access to the archives in Sanctum. He will also task 100 of his knights with the task of helping to escort the travelling scholars, with as much travel as this entails it is sure to tax even the Knights of Solace and so Edain will do his best to help them escort travelling scholars.

Alis has offered to help Bianca by assigning military escorts to and from Sanctum for the scholars that she sends, ensuring their safety and the safety of any materials they bring with.

Princess Isabeau Valardin will primarily be lending her assistance to this endeavor (in Phase 3) by using her considerable charm and skill in persuasion and propaganda to get the word out to the people that the great Archive's enriched texts are available and that the Scholars of Vellichor can guide everyone, high or low, rich or poor, to greater understanding of their world and the vast knowledge contained within.

Lark is opening the Grayson library to the Scholars, and spending her own time overseeing and directing efforts of scribes to copy their works.

While waiting to offer what aid he can for the protection of contents, Aleksei will also reach out to his the vague network he's beginning to form of those freed or aided in their freedom by the Liberators of Skald. Plenty of ex-thralls served in administrative capacities, and he'll kindly ask if they'd be willing to help the Scholars in their various local parishes. Hopefully it will provide some additional manpower for the copying of books and journals to be conducted under the local Godsworn at these various parishes.

Cicero is promising the scholars the use of the Silver Consortiums contacts and networking of infrastructure for moving about the Compact and keeping their scribes supplied as needed.

Deacon will focus his efforts on Phase 3. As a composer of some small renown, he will write a short series of ballads to promote the knowledge contained within the walls of the Archives. The goal will be to help popularize the pursuit of knowledge on the cultural level. Once he's written the music, he will make it available to every bard and performer whom he can convince to take it.

Samael will open up Pridehall libraries and provide military escorts for the Scholars coming to and leaving Pridehall. In addition to that in Phase 3 Samael will help to disseminate information using his oratory skills.

Sasha will in Phase 1 and Phase 2, she is able to reproduce and also translate many texts should the need be there. She is also a very good teacher as well so she will also assist with Phase 3 when the time comes.

Lucita, with her love of music, has been collecting old songs and legends through trading them with other musicians and travelers, bards and music lovers in the taverns, inns, bars and during social events in Arx. Many of these serve as oral history and some have not been documented. This she does and helps contribute to the overall effort toward Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Sebastian will be assisting in accompanying scholars to provide protection and whatever other assistance is needed as they travel throughout the Lyceum to various smaller locations. He will assist in acquiring passage through the lands and courts with which he is familiar, particularly around Setarco and the surrounding isles. He will also assist in locating the smaller repositories of knowledge, acquiring the information and documents required, and seeing their return to Arx during Phase 1. He will also work to help with transcription and the reproduction of drawings and other artistic work contained within the documents acquired during Phase 2. During Phase 3, he will help with the public relations campaign to help promote the use of the Archives and the future expansion of the knowledge contained therein through art and social engagements.

Juliana will be helping Sebastian and the accompanying scholars to provide protection and healing as well as any other assistance is needed as they travel throughout the Lyceum to various smaller locations. She will assisting him in acquiring passage through the lands and courts with which they are familiar, particularly around Setarco and the surrounding isles. She will also assist him in finding the smaller repositories of knowledge and in acquiring the information and documentation, to see that they are returned to Arx during Phase 1. She will also try to help with the work of transcription of the documents acquired during Phase 2. During Phase 3, She will help with the public relations campaign to help promote the use of the Archives and the future expansion of the knowledge contained therein through art and social engagements.

Orathy will be helping Sebastian and Juliana Pravus during the course of the events. He's particularly good at flanking the enemies if there are any, his fighting style coming from the shadows rather than direct assault, therefore, scouting might be his thing. He'll shield Sebastian and Juliana while on mission, body guarding for them.

Nierzen sets to work writing propaganda in support of Phase 3 to move the hearts of people to favour and support the work and effort. He aims propaganda at nobles, motivating them to generously give silver to the Scholarly work, and he aims propaganda at the residents of the Boroughs, moving them to cooperate and even go out of their way to help collect stories and information. In all things, his propaganda tugs at the ideals of duty, faith, and self interest.

The Great Archival Project of 1007 AR causes a complete uproar. In every corner of the Compact, people turn up to add books to the archives, to add knowledge to the archives. To make copies of precious books and send them on. To spread the word - if you need information, your best hope is to find it in the Archives. High Lords and Nobles have opened their libraries. The Templars and the Knights of Solace, as well as many guards hired by various families across Arvum are moving to preserve knowledge and see it safely from the far corners of the Compact into Arx itself. It's a huge project, and under Archscholar Bianca's watchful eye, an incredibly successful one.

Tomes once thought lost are found, copied, and brought to Arx under guard. People are encouraged to come to Arx to seek knowledge. Learn from the Archives of Vellichor, learn from our tutors, our Scholars. Knowledge is available, free for the asking.

Action by Sophie

(Public Action, OOC Date: Dec. 17, 2017, 7:38 p.m.)

Since the aftermath of the Siege of Arx, the Mother Mercy has been dedicating herself to the Harrowed Heart initiative, which is meant to treat the fear, anxiety, and other stress and troubles often plaguing those who've suffered immense trauma via violence, encounters with Abyssal horrors, dramatic displacement, or the terrible living conditions of abject poverty.

To this effect, Sophie has used the goodwill the Mercies garner to reach out to the community, raise awareness, and provide quality care. Outreach was further provided by the Physicians Guild. Additionally, the Mercies invested 100,000 of their silver to help implement the program and improve the quality of life of those in most need.

In collaboration with Mercy Cybele, Sophie has put together a therapy program to aid all denizens of Arx and welcomed refugees in need. Much time was spent seeing that the Mercies of Arx were properly trained to administer such care. She also personally provided some treatment.

The blessing of Radiant Selene, who volunteered the free services of Whisper House to help treat some of the most severe cases of Harrowed Heart, is a blessing to the cause. The fundraising efforts and favors called in by Softest Whisper Saedrus were highly beneficial and compounded by his personal generosity.

It is the collective intent to see those so afflicted return to a sense of normalcy and to let all the public know they are cared for. Not a one-shot deal, this is intended as proof of concept to become a standard practice of care throughout all the Compact.

Cybele has aided in raising the resources necessary to see Mother Sophie's mission through, and takes quite the personal interest in both helping train mercies in the vagaries of the soul and treating people themselves. The shaman tries to do their best in spreading their knowledge around, and steels themselves for the many many sad and traumatic tales they have to deal with.

The Whisper House has worked with the Mother Mercy from the inception of her program, offering various forms of backing throughout. Most significantly, they've taken her innovative work as a guide to expanding their own services. While forms of talk therapy have always been a part, albeit an unofficial one, of Courtesan's skillset (after all, empathizing with and talking with clients about their troubles constitutes a huge portion of their regular work), Sophie's efforts at medically documenting and treating the trauma suffered by soldiers during the siege have broadened the Whisper's understanding of such issues. To aid those suffering, they've opened the House's services to those referred by the Physicians free of charge, with Selene offering personal treatment to those most ill-affected. That policy will continue going forward, while the House will also incorporate the Mother Mercy's work as an aspect of their general training going forward so that such theraputic techniques will become standard and more professionally focused.

Since the aftermath of the Siege of Arx, the Mother Mercy has been dedicating herself to the Harrowed Heart initiative, which is meant to treat the fear, anxiety, and other stress and troubles often plaguing those who've suffered immense trauma via violence, encounters with Abyssal horrors, dramatic displacement, or the terrible living conditions of abject poverty.

The Mercies under Mother Mercy Sophie Valardin, along with Mercy Cybele have put together a program to aid all those in Arx who are in need, including those refugees who fled the Silence and made new homes here. Radiant Selene also joined their efforts, treating people as appropriate with some of the services Whisper House provides, and Softest Whisper Saedrus threw his heart into fundraising as well to help fund their efforts. Those most in need are grateful, though their work has picked up a bit considering the latest reports on cultists and murders. Now more than ever, their efforts are appreciated by those in need.

Action by Sophie for Thralldom in the Isles

(Public Action, OOC Date: Nov. 10, 2017, 7:28 p.m.)

Sophie will be doing what she can to help the Mercy chapter in Stormward (and anywhere else) with the recruitment of novitiate Mercies from the ex-Thralls. Victus offered passage, and those who wish to relocate and train in Arx, she'll see about making that happen.

She also has plenty of logistical experience dealing with overflow, and she'll pass on what she knows to any Mercy chapters in need. She and the gaggle of Mercies accompanying her will also lend their healing skills in the places they visit.

Further healing efforts will come with the coordination of Eirene and the Physicians Guild.

Cybele will join Sophie and aid in educating those in need, as well as giving medical aid.

A surprising number of thralls were working as healers in House Kennex, already doing much the same work that the Physicians and Mercies would have done, and a great number of those leap at the chance to finally see the city of Arx and have their own training and knowledge vastly expanded. Sophie, Cybele and Eirene help with the current crisis in making certain injuries are seen to, and in return they see a extremely large uptick in individuals wishing to train in Arx. Both the physicians and mercies have new members, and will see a small increase in their incomes accordingly.

Action by Eirene

(Public Action, OOC Date: Oct. 24, 2017, 11:53 a.m.)

Halsim has provided what’s described as muscled up abyssal humanoid creature which has been part of the Horned God’s forces, another mutated shav. Her team is Sophie for the religious aspects, and Jack and Lianne for the more mundane ones. They’ll run the usual Abyssal force testing (holy water/fire per Sophie, check it in a mirror, alaricite) special testing with wolf’s blood/fur since this is Skald’s reflection they’re dealing with, acids, any weird herbs, and then cut it open to see if the insides are also mutated. The goal is to see if they were human at some point or, per Halsim’s request, if they were infected with the sentient black goopy paracite that ‘Hush’ had.

The corpse looks different in a mirror, more like a normal person the first time it's reflected. Then when the mirror shows again, it has no reflection at all. Then the third time and each time after that, it reflects as normal in the mirror, alarmingly. But seems ever so slightly closer to Eirene and the others each time in the reflection. Huh. It does smolder and burn from each of the other elements (holy water, alaricite, fire), and when they cut it open, it has two hearts, and redundancy in other organs, but it seems otherwise that they would have been human. As if multiple people were shoved together somehow. No sign of black goopy parasites, but Khanne has an uneasy feeling, when she looks at it, sometimes it is as if she is seeing a dozen figures, not just one, like her vision is distorted. It gives her an intense headache.

Thirteen hours after the cadaver is dissected, it blackens and turns to ash, disintegrating on the slab. Huh.

Action by Eirene

(Public Action, OOC Date: Sept. 21, 2017, 3:44 p.m.)

With the usual Suspects (Sophie, Eleyna, and Eirene starts to run the sample produced by Katrina and Dagon's journey with their typical evaluation, but then things get mixed up. Eirene oversees feeding a caged rat some of the water to see if it alters anything, with guards on standby if it gets out of control. They also expose it clear water to the substance to see if it overtakes it and at what rate, and how it reacts in contact with blessed water. Eirene also uses a sample of Elfsbane to see if there’s any reaction to the flowers and the darkwater out of pure curiosity.

Out of control? What? The guards eye each other sternly at the start of the experiments, and sigh with tragic and utterly heroic self-sacrifice. The water Eirene wants to try to fee the rat eats the bowl she pours it into, and the rat vanishes too. Presumably either eaten alive, or if other accounts are more accurate the rat is now swimming in an abyssal sea. Oops. Alas, poor Ratigan, we barely knew you.

Sophie and Ailith do their work thoroughly, praying over the bucket, praying over other containers too - these hold the Darkwater without getting eaten, so that's at least something. They poke it with a pencil and the pencil disappears. They pray over another pencil and poke it and that pencil disappears too. They go to note that down and realize all their pencils are gone the way of poor Ratigan, and send one of the guards for more.

Then Maeve comes in, and with her acides, poisons, and simple soaps, proceeds to test them against the darkwater. Which absorbs all of them easily, and shows no change whatsoever. Whatever the darkwater is made if is clearly made to let anything in, and let nothing out.

Action by Clover(RIP)

(Public Action, OOC Date: Aug. 17, 2017, 4:19 p.m.)

Clover will be mobilizing any of the house Wyrmguard medics (we're known for the city of mercies after all! The house has to have some medics), and going herself to the harbor to see if they can render aid. Anyone who made it to the shore, or made it to the harbor to help. If there is anyone who survived she'll be attempting to render aid to them. She'll be focusing on helping with the medical side, while she asks Alarissa to take care of arranging to help usher those who can be moved to either the house of solace to wherever any thraxian person asks them to go. Alarissa can also help liaise with Thrax is need be. But Clover's main concern is helping anyone who made it to the shore, and getting them where they need to go.

Vox post up about all the massive aid response organized by you all. Sophie separately finds an obscure reference to the ichor- calling it the Bile of Leviathan, a vile substance that is left in the wake of dread encounters by one of the greatest demons in existence. Strongly recommended not to consume it, and further recommends burning bodies of anyone that did do so and then perished, then burying their ashes in 13 separate graves and at least 13 feet under ground each to avoid, "Dealing with the Beast that Hungers." Any dead that showed signs of dying from ichor poisoning are so treated. As far as they know. Dun dun dun.

Action by Eirene

(Public Action, OOC Date: Aug. 15, 2017, 12:04 a.m.)

So now Eirene has Raven abyssal things from the most recent Iron Guard expedition. With Ailith and Sophie, she plans to test and retest to make sure that she's not screwing up, and that they're just plain illogical when it comes to figuring out if they're demonic or abyssal or just plain twisted. Usual tests, including the new 'mirror' test to see reflections.

Eirene is getting good at this. They appear to be once normal things corrupted by Abyssal influence that started transformations into shards. Did show reflections, so still had souls.

Action by Sophie

(Public Action, OOC Date: June 7, 2017, 10:54 p.m.)

Hi. I was quoted that there were 20 non-Godsworn Mercies to cover with pensions, which would be 24,000 silver, standard. Sophie will be paying out 48,000 silver.

I was also quoted that the Physicians have 10 members to cover with stipends. Eirene gave 12,000 silver. (Please see that she is credited for this). Sophie will be paying out an additional 12,000.

Furthermore, Sophie will donate 20,000 silver to help the citizens of the Lower Boroughs and 20,000 to help the refugees.

Since silver and resources can't be codedly added to a story request like they can in a +crisis, I went ahead and used the +donate command to spend the coin so there would be a paper trail.

Vox post up

Action by Sophie for Silence

(Public Action)

Sophie will be marshaling the Mercies in Arx, as I've been informed is within her means. She also will be writing to other parishes, explaining the situation and asking for volunteers to lend aid/join any allied troops. Copies of her autopsy reports about the Bringers and the Beast of Sanctum will be sent to the Father/Mother Mercies of the respective parishes. There also will me more stockpiling and production of medicines and other supplies, coordinating between the Mercies and the Physicians Guild.
Hi. In light of the answer, Sophie will then be doing what she can to rally the necessary people to bless weapons and ground, in addition to all the other healing foo mentioned before. Thank you.

The Mercies being on hand and ready to assist at the Battle of Pridehall played a large factor in the reduction of fatalities, and seeing that the massive number of casualties mostly were kept to being non-lethal. It's less clear how effective the blessings and holy ground was. It certainly was blessed, though nothing seemed dramatic on the battle- none of the enemy exploded on contact or anything outwardly fantastical, like what happened to the Bringer head. A few may have melted from holy weapons, but it's hard to be certain with the fog of war.

Action by Sophie for Crime Wave

(Public Action)

Sophie will be seeing that provisions are being delivered to the less fortunate, whether good food, clean water, medicines, clothing, and sundries. House Valardin cares. If you need to withdraw funds to reflect that, please let me know. She'll also continue to be performing Mercy rounds and ensuring medical care remains available via the Mercies and the Physicians Guild.
Seems I can't support someone else's action, so I am appending this here:

Sophie will be assisting Sparte with his lantern blessing ceremony (action 263, I believe), whether it is saying some inspiring words or participating in the actual blessing. She'd also make a point of personally ensuring the Lower Boroughs had its fair share, even helping to hang them or pass them out.

Also, to reflect the earlier action, I think 10,000 silver should do a decent job aiding the needy. (Again, I have no sense of scale, but I've RPed Sophie doing philanthropy work in the Lowers, so I'd like that reflected. If 10K isn't sufficient, please let me know. Thank you!)

Not everything a Valardin Knight does is battle; one of the things people often appreciate about them is their genuine display of chivalric values, and in this case, Alis feels it more appropriate to be assisting with Sophie's philanthropic efforts then organizing patrols when tensions are already high due to the increased presence of the Iron Guard and Knights of Solace. She will donate funds (An additional 10k silver - to be withdrawn from her own account), distribute supplies, and make sure anyone who is in need has at least been heard and their immediate needs recorded and presented to the appropriate people. Her focus will specifically be in making sure the elderly have been checked in on, and are comfortable.

Fiachra will be assisting Sophie with making sure that the deliveries get to those who need them, as well as any distribution efforts that might come along with that.

Ansel will also be assisting the Princess' efforts in ensuring that deliveries make it to their intended recipients. He will dedicate a small number of Telmar armsmen to assist with the actual deliveries, providing manpower and security as needed.

Percephon will be helping Sophie with her charity work in the Lower Boroughs to assist the Prodigals and Commoners there. His focus will center around two primary areas:

First, he will use his alchemical knowledge to help create medicines, salves, etc for use by the Mercies healer organization that Sophie oversees. The goal will be to help bolster their supplies for the winter to help with the illnesses and problems this typically brings.

Secondly, he'll be creating and executing a teaching cirriculum to assist those who want it. Everything from basic reading and writing to education in invetsigation techniques, so that those in the Lower Borough who want a leg up on joining the Iron Guard to improve the relationship, to simply making sure they know how a proper invetigation should be handled if they become involved in one. The goal here is education, not trying to sway them one way or another, but to just give them a leg up for those who want to improve their knowledge and training.

Isabeau, too, will lend support to her sister's deed and do what she can to assist in making sure the donated goods are dispensed fairly while also contributing 5,000 silver to help fund the purchase of such items.

Prince Edain will attempt to assist Princess Sophie's efforts of aid, by spending time with the youngest and most vulnerable members of the Lower Burroughs. Inspired by the Telmar's Gauntlet, and armed with as many extra pillows, blankets and scrap wood as he can muster and bring it to build, work with children from the borroughs to build a fort and obstacle course that can serve as a fun place to play, exercise and socialize. Edain will try to talk to parents about what he can do to make the location they choose a safe haven for kids to play.

Also Piggy-Back Pillow Jousting is likely to happen at some point.

10,000 Silver goes a long way. Of course it doesn't solve all the problems, but it's a non trivial amount that shows a great deal of commitment. Further, the lantern blessing along with the constant help in the different houses of healing reminds the populace how much the Mercies are on their side. Come what may, the Lower Boroughs won't forget that, and some even wonder why Sophie isn't the mother of mercy.

Along with the support of her helpers, Sophie's outreach sees much of the violence in the Lower Boroughs die down.
((Use the @donate command for any of the silver collected, I don't wanna subtract it if you already have done so))

Action by Sophie for Broken Faith

(Public Action)

Sophie has been participating in Valardin's vigil, doing her best to keep spirits hopeful and people calm, whether with her words (Propaganda) or food and non-alcoholic drinks. She has spoken with the likes of Sir Silas, Sir Rymarr, and Prince Laric about the vigil and done what she can to help keep things peaceful and various parties well-informed about safety concerns. She's been welcoming to the Iron Guard patrols down there, seeing that they also get food/water/coffee/tea
    As a Mercy, she continues to perform Lagoma's good works throughout Arx, doing her best to assure others that the Sentinel will ultimately see justice served. Through service, she serves as an example of the good that the Faith does for the populace. She also continues her philanthropic works for the less fortunate, being very hands-on and a seen presence, as she modestly has been for years. (Again, if you need this reflected with silver or resources of some kind, please let me know.)
    As an Oathlander and devout disciple, she will do what she can to soothe tensions with the Northlanders. She is on excellent terms with the Redrains and will happily educate people about the religious commonalities and the ways the Faith and Shamanism may co-exist in honorable worship. (Propaganda and Theology.)
    Finally, she will go up the ranks of those who serve Lagoma, beseeching for the peaceful removal of the Dominus. Something something healing a festering wound in the Compact, rift between Crown and Faith, and if the Dominus did push Esera, either willingly or via magical compulsion of some sort, he clearly is compromised and in need of care. Merciful Mercy and all that rot. And she'd so what she could with any among the Knights of Solace or Templars she may have pull (who doesn't love a healer, yeah?) to urge, again, for a resolution that won't tear apart the Compact or the Faith. (Propaganda and/or social resources, maybe? I really don't know how this system yet works.)

Most of the Compact greatly appreciates Sophie's efforts, and in particular the prodigals are moved by her attempts to defuse tensions which helps prevent violence. Leaders of the Faith tend to be less thrilled by it, since most instinctively want support for the Dominus, and some in the Oathlands are a bit uncomfortable with it- outside of greenmarch, they have longstanding issues with shamanism in general, and the Dominus was speaking to that, so they look in askance at Sophie's efforts. But most members of the Compact approve.