Dramatis personae
- The Chancellor: Garra, Archbishop of the Mines and regent of the Commonwealth on behalf of Beo son of Bàn son of Fehér.
Rules the Commonwealth under the Oath of Supremacy.
- Koldar son of Zolta, Citizen, Duke of Avarga, (Yellow)
- Beltza, granddaughter of Iswed III. Exile, She fled the Ancient City to avoid an arranged marriage that was not to her liking. Her vast wealth makes her a threat to both the Chancellors and her family, who still claim the Chancellorship from exile. (Black)
- Suwa, called the Enchantress. Exile, Refugee from the Hinterland, where she was rumored to have lead a coven of witches who indulged in forbidden magic (Blue)
Archbishop Garra, newly appointed Regent for the five year old Beo son of Bàn son of Fehér and fearing for the future, moves to consolidate her position in the Commonwealth. She gathers men and women to the Regency Council who are personally loyal to her.
In the archives of Chancellery she makes a disturbing discovery, a copy of the Summoning of Isfar, the spell supposedly used by Isfar and Sina, but thought lost for more than a century.
Fellow clergy on the Council urge her to destroy it, but she demurs. She does however travel to the Buried Giant to seek the advice of the faculty of the Wizard School. Her conversations are private, and she does not reveal the advice she has received.
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| The Summoning of Isfar |
Duke Koldar of Avarga travels to the Buried Giant as well. There he dons the Bandit Crown and assumes the title of King of the March. He travels to the Fertile Valley where the warlords of the Valley and the Wastes swear allegiance to him. Nominally he holds those lands as a vassal of the Chancellor. His actual designs are unknown, but some murmur that the Commonwealth has too often of late been under the control of Bishop regents.
Beltza, granddaughter of the late Chancellor Iswed, flees the Ancient City. With her followers she journeys to the River, which she conquers. Both her family, who still call themselves Chancellor from their domain in the Ancient City, and Regent Garra pressure her to swear fealty to them. She refuses both, instead styling herself Countess of Elvedalen.
Suwa the Enchantress, having traveled with her coven from the Hinterland, takes refuge at the Wizards School. The Wizards are anxious to gain access to the fruits of her (forbidden) researches. They make her welcome; she soon gathers some supporters from amongst the faculty. In return for their favor she shares some knowledge with the Wizards, but her true designs she keeps to herself.
Regent Garra convenes her court at the Wizard School, where young Beo begins his formal education. She undoubtedly meets Suwa there, although their conversations, if any, remain secret. She bolsters the defenses of the region.
From among those magic users visiting the school she takes Augurs into her Service. Her fellow Bishops disapprove; some are alarmed by the apparent favor she shows to magic users. In particular, the Dark Priors fear a loss of influence.
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| Some say knowledge of the future belongs to God alone. Others disagree. |
In the reaches of the Fertile Valley, Duke Koldar's followers are astonished to find the Old Oak, the spirit who long inhabited the Buried Giant. Thought lost after vanishing during an attempt by Koldar's father to bind it to his service, the spirit had apparently fled to the valley, at that time outside the Commonwealth. Word spreads rapidly. Koldar, having learned something from his father's mis-steps, cautiously contacts the spirit.
Beltza builds up er support in the region of the River. There she is contacted by dissident Clergy, including representatives of the Dark Priory. Dismayed by Garra's refusal to destroy her copy of the Summoning of Isfar, and by her ties to the College of Magic, they urge the return of the Sable dynasty as champions of Orthodoxy and a new Church Militant.
Suwa and her followers continue their researches at the Wizard School; now working directly with the Hidden College of Necromancy It later became clear that during her stay at the School Suwa and her coven withheld knowledge from the Wizards and learned far more than they taught. In late 646 AR she leaves the school, along with her coven and some of the faculty from the School, and travels to the Mines. There, in a long abandoned adit, she discovers the Cursed Cauldron of Arwan. Known only from mentions in the Black Book of Rabat it was long thought that both the cauldron and the spells needed to work it had been lost, if they even existed. Both suppositions would now be proven false.
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| The deserted adit, in which was found the... |
Beo completes his education at the Wizards School and, as the time nears for him to begin his military training, the Court returns to the Plains. The Regent is reluctant to leave the Buried Giant, where the young Chancellor is relatively isolated, but custom demands it.
The Nobles, Guild leaders and the Councils of the Communes swear allegiance to Beo upon his fourteenth birthday.
Duke Koldar remains in the Hinterland., attempting to put his fiefs in order and gathering support from the locals.
Countess Beltza musters troops near the River, raising a large force from the villages there.
Suwa gathers treasure from the Mines. An internal struggle breaks out within the coven. Suwa and her principle lieutenants, supported by some who have joined her from the School, are determined to conquer the Commonwealth or at least to establish a new principality ruled by magic users. She is opposed by traditionalists who wish to devote themselves entirely to the study of their arts. Suwa's faction prevails in the debate, at least for the time being.
In the mines, Suwa seeks the support of the Fire Talkers, who have dwelt there since before the time of Fehér. Frightened of the witch, they offer grudging and limited cooperation.
Mustering troops, Suwa campaigns in the Mines. Regent Garra is informed of the imminent attack, but takes no action to defend the province. The local forces are overwhelmed. The nobility are dismayed and there is a general loss of confidence in Regent Garra.
In ghastly rituals performed in the depths of the Mine, Suwa uses the Cursed Cauldron for its unholy purpose. The bodies of her fallen enemies rise again as undead warriors. Voiceless, utterly obedient her will, and requiring neither food nor drink they inspire fear among both friend and foe.
Beo begins his military training. Intelligent, grave beyond his years, and swiftly becoming a capable man-at-arms, he is well-like and already demonstrates incipient fitness to command.
The nobility, who yearn for a return to secular leadership are pleased, as are the townsfolk. Regent Garra is less pleased, but she keeps her thoughts to herself. She takes no action to re-conquer the Mines. Leaving Beo to complete his training, she returns to the Buried Giant where she visits the Wizard School. More concerned about internal than external threats she works to shore up her support among the Bishops and within the Dark Priory.
Duke Koldar remains in the Hinterland. He begins to portray himself as the Protector of the Commonwealth, simultaneously a more fit guardian for the Chancellor in time of war than a Cleric, and also a worthy successor should Beo fail to reach his majority.
Beltza gathers support from the folk of the River. She enrolls skilled frontiersmen and hunters in her ranks. She attacks the Fertile Valley, catching Koldar, who is actually visiting the River at the time, by surprise. The Valley falls and Duke Koldar is forced into hiding. His prestiege falls.
Suwa and the Witches continue their campaign. Her coffers filled with treasure from the Mines, and with her agents active in the Cradle, Suwa attacks the Plains.
Some would later claim that Regent Garra had deliberately moved her court to the Buried Giant in anticipation of the attack, leaving Beo behind in the hope that he would be killed or captured by Suwa. In any event, the Commonwealth forces are thrown into confusion by Suwa's undead warriors. They are defeated and scattered. With a handful of followers Beo comes hardly to the Wizard School. In the chaos he faces combat for the first time. He acquits himself well. If the Regent is disappointed to see him alive, she conceals her feelings.
653 AR
Regardless of Garra's feelings about Beo, the conquest of the Plains is a threat that cannot go unanswered. With the appearance of Suwa's cauldron warriors opposition to the use of military magic temporarily evaporates. Despite the peril, Regent Garra, aided by Wizards from the School, casts the Summoning of Isfar. Spectral warriors from beyond the Veil join the ranks of the Commonwealth. While normally they would be dismayed, the soldiers are cheered by the shadow warriors, hoping they will be able to cope with Suwa's undead followers on the battlefield.
While preparations are being made, Regent Garra's agents are active in the Church. With the Regent's ties to the College of Magic now seen as a strength instead of a weakness, her position is restored. She takes the Banner of the Darkest Secret.
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Necessity knows no law... |
The host marches on the Mines and the Plains. The Fire Talkers, abandoning their allegiance to Suwa, join with the Commonwealth.
As hoped, the spectral warriors summoned by the Regent, supported by the magic of the Fire Talkers, neutralize Suwa's undead. In a desperate series of battles both hosts are decimated. Human warriors fall by the thousands and both undead and shadow fighters are nearly wiped out. Cities burn and the roads are choked with refugees. The Mines are deserted. Only with the aid of hastily enrolled local militia and unreliable mercenaries - many raised with money supplied by Duke Koldar - are Commonwealth forces able eke out a narrow victory. Only a tiny remnant of the original host remains. Over the apparent objections of the Regent, Beo actively participates in the campaign, demonstrating both a cool head and great personal courage. Despite their admiration for the young Chancellor-to-be, the people are appalled by the carnage, and many wonder if victory is worth the price.
Duke Koldar travels to the Wastes, where in a hidden tomb he discovers the mask of the fabled Horned King. He recovers the Banner of the People's Favor, gathering support among those who are shocked by the ghastly toll paid for victory but cannot bring themselves to support Suwa.
Beltza still has supporters amongst the Clergy, who - despite the demands of circumstance - regard the Regent as a near-heretic for her use of magic. Beltza positions herself as a guardian of strict orthodoxy. Some fanatic Clergy abandon the Commonwealth and join her. She gathers their favor and attempts to increase her support amongst the Bishops. In the meantime she is consulting with Suwa, who has promised her land and titles in return for her support.
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| A champion of Orthodoxy |
Suwa rallies her forces. Some in the Plains - desperate for peace - now prefer her rule. She attacks the Plains, the Mines and the Lush Coast. The Witches have few remaining cauldron warriors and the defenders are still aided by the dreaded Fire Talkers, but it is enough.
The militia melt away. The Commonwealth forces re-group in the Buried Giant. Once again fallen enemies join the Witches host as mute undead. The Fire Talkers go into hiding in the Mines.
The Commonwealth is exhausted, desperate for peace, but the fighting continues.
As Beo approaches his majority, Regent Garra attempts to negotiate peace. She makes overtures to both Suwa and Beltza, offering each citizenship, land and titles in the Commonwealth. Perhaps she hopes that by doing so she can maintain some influence over the new Chancellor; perhaps she hopes that by reaching an accommodation with Suwa or Beltza she can maintain a power base after the end of the regency. Regardless, she is rebuffed by both leaders.
With the Plains in the hands of Suwa, Beo assumes the Chancellorship in a ceremony held at the Wizard School. Garra's regency comes to a formal end.
Immediately upon his accession, Beo expels Garra and her lieutenants from his court and replaces them with noblemen loyal to himself. If any of his enemies expected a period of indecision upon his accession, they are disappointed. Swiftly gathering troops, the Chancellor attacks the Plains, taking Suwa's forces by surprise. Aided by Wizards from the School, his men now bear weapons that will bite the undead. The cities open their gates to him. Thankfully there is only a minimal amount of pillage. The Chancellor's prestige among the Nobility grows further.
Duke Koldar travels to the Buried Giant. At the Wizard School he meets with the Chancellor's envoys to plan the defense of the Realm; in the face of the threat from the Suwa and Beltza, other ambitions are set aside. Koldar travels to the Wastes to prepare for the expected assault from Beltza.
Beltza visits the Old Oak; In secret she meets with dissident Clergy from the Commonwealth and rallies their support. Unsure of the best course, she continues to play a double game, cultivating the support of the Clergy while honoring her alliance with the Witches. In accordance with their plans, she gathers forces and attacks the Wastes. Koldar and his men, supported by the local militia are waiting for her. She is out-maneuvered and defeated. She re-groups at the Buried Giant.
Suwa sees an opportunity in the Chancellor's attack on the Plains. She swiftly re-groups her defeated garrisons and exiled supporters from the Plains. She gathers new troops from near the Wizard School and attacks the Buried Giant and the Great Slum. Chancellor Beo is unable to concentrate his forces, divided between the two provinces and the Plains, in time to effectively respond. His forces are defeated in detail. The Great Slum and the Buried Giant fall to the Witches. The Wizards of the School pledge allegiance to Suwa in return for representation on her council.
The new realm stretches from the Lush Coast to the Mines. Suwa's vision of herself as conqueror of the Commonwealth seems close to fruition.
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| Successor Victory |
Beo tries to rally his men, leading the rearguard as they withdraw from the Buried Giant. Suwa, coming hastily from the School, personally leads the pursuit. With the Chancellor's troops disorganized and routed, scattered bands fight and flee over the borderlands.
Beo, Suwa and their bodyguards meet by chance on a little used road. The skirmish is brief but deadly. Chancellor Beo is swept from his saddle by a blast of magic. Like his father and his grandfather before him, he falls in battle. The Chancellor's men flee, but Suwa is gravely wounded by one of Beo's knights seconds before he is hacked to pieces by the cauldron warriors of her guard. She lingers a day and then dies, despite magical attempts to save her life. Upon her death the undead warriors raised by her arts return to the grave, dropping where they stand. Her armies are thrown into confusion.
Beo has left no heir. He will be remembered in song, but his line - which men will call the Sword Dynasty - is ended. Duke Koldar, returning victorious from the Wastes, presents himself as successor to Chancellorship. With no viable alternative available, his supporters in the Senate have no difficulty in confirming him as Chancellor. In return he restores to the Senate some of the privileges revoked by Fehér.
He rallies the remaining Commonwealth forces in the Plains. With the death of Suwa, her coven divides into three factions: the Militarists who wish to continue the conquest of the Commonwealth, the Scholars, who wish to devote themselves to research, and the recently admitted representatives of the Wizard School, who wish to expand their own influence. A brief civil war follows - the Witches War.
Chancellor Koldar makes alliance with the Scholars, promising tribute and military support in return for recognition and guarantee of the lands still held by the Commonwealth. The cursed cauldron falls first into the hands of the Scholars and then the Wizards School. It remains hidden, its location a closely guarded secret.
The Scholars are victorious. Koldar is left to rule a gravely weakened Commonwealth, for the time being tributary to the newly established Magocracy of Sorĉado, and uneasily at peace with Beltza's new domain in the Hinterland.
Archbishop Garra, dwelling in exile in the Plains, suffers from the effects of the summoning spell. She becomes (like Isfar, as some recall) increasingly fascinated by dark magic and ultimately vanishes into the Hinterland. The few remaining shadow warriors dissipate.
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