News of the Realm: Lomasa-Nillu hostility cools

SILKFIELD- After a large gathering near Silkfield between Seamel and Lomasa nobility was abruptly cancelled by Duke Seamel, the Duke Lomasa - after his apology for the meeting's failure - took the opportunity to announce that the ban on economic dealings with Nillu nobility would be lifted.

It is said that the Duke felt the banishment has fulfilled its purpose, and that he's decided to lift the ban - not out of apology to House Nillu, but because he no longer wishes to impose any sort of trade sanctions upon the Lomasa nobility than he must. Though it is assumed that merchants disgruntled with the change will be relieved at the reversal, it is very much apparent that business between the two noble Houses will be somewhat more limited than it once was for some time to come.

News of the Realm: RUMOR: Slowren Nillu?

Retirement from public life does very little to quell old habits, it seems, though in this case more than a few eyebrows come up at the opinions raised. Yet more stories stream out of the Lode, where Orrendous is very quickly coming to be known as Slowren Nillu.

"A hole! A hole in the Shadow District!" Word of mouth has quickly passed on, in one way or another, this very statement which many swear the former Duke made during one of his latenight visits to the township that saw him born. Some speculate that somewhere in his addled mind, this is a rather insightful view on the current status of the place in question and its passage into Zahir hands. Others assert that the old man was simply referring to a hole in his black pants, a fashion style which he has been known to sport around lately.

Whether true or not, one thing seems to be very certain among the storytellers: the unusually longlived nobleman is finally coming to the end of his road.

Only time will tell, though.

News of the Realm: House Zahir granted Shadow District charter

FASTHELD KEEP - Revelations from the Royal Palace claim that House Zahir has been given an Imperial Charter to assume territorial control over the Shadow District in an attempt to first blunt and then entirely quell the numerous issues that plague that forsaken region of Fastheld.

While the presence of the Imperial Watch within the Shadow District have given the Imperial Law a foothold there over the last year, the social problems that corrupt the very core of the already tainted lands are still a severe cause for concern for the Imperial Government.

Reports of slavery, forced prostitution, murder, looting, civil dissent, attacks against Imperial property, and numerous calls for peasant uprising, top the list of the maelstrom of troubles that threaten to eat away at the rest of the Empire.

While the Shadow District has always been a dangerous region, the presence of the Church of True Light served as a vanguard against the worst of the worst, with the Scourges finding a sufficient outlet for their militant bloodlust and a focus for their crusade against the Shadow.

Since the collapse of Halo and the subsequent fragmenting of the Church of True Light, the criminal elements within Shadow District saw fit to take advantage of the situation, and the gaps in the Church's previous custody of the area became all-too apparent.

It is hoped that House Zahir's experience with criminal elements, added to the their somewhat ruthless and no-nonsense approach to administration and politics will do much to first blunt and then ultimately destroy many of the gangs and organizations that use the Shadow District as a base of operations.

If nothing else, it is assumed that House Zahir will tax such operations into oblivion if the combined elements of the Ravenguard and the Imperial Watch cannot bring some degree of order to the region.

That the Imperial Charter was granted to House Zahir has been decried by a number of Nobles are favoritism from the Crown Regent. However, supporters of the charter point out that House Zahir territory rests just to the south of the Shadow District itself, and that the Fetters - the sprawling city within the Shadow District itself - has been under unofficial Zahir control for many decades now, with relative successes.

News of the Realm: Imperial Cult adopts Freehaven temple

FREEHAVEN - As part of the Imperial Cult's ongoing project or reclamation and restoration of the various Chapels, Churches, Temples and Shrines that were abandoned by the former Church of True Light, Ordinators of the Imperial Cult were pleased to today announce that they had finally managed to repair and restore the old "High Temple" located in Freehaven.

It has been renamed to become the "Temple of the Lost Blade" in tribute to - and memory of - every Bladesman of the former Emperor's Blades who gave their life in service to the Citizens of the Empire and to the Light in defending them both against the various evils of the Shadow.

Though not yet open again to the public, the Imperial Cult hopes to have the Temple available for visitation and services soon.

News of the Realm: Kahar swaps town with Crown

FASTHELD KEEP - Heralds of the Imperial Crown have announced that the Imperial Government has agreed to a mutual exchange of territory with House Kahar. In exchange for the Imperial Crown claiming territorial ownership of the town of Marble Grove, House Kahar will take territorial ownership of the town of Road's End.

Though this may leave a handful of former Vozhd-Kahars in Marble Grove feeling stranded, the agreement is said to have been generally agreeable by both the Crown and the Imperial House, allowing both to better consolidate territorial reach.

Road's End, with its high population of former Blades veterans, are believed to be quite content with the change. Having served Fastheld's Emperor before, the territorial change to House Kahar is seen as a welcome one, and a chance to serve House Kahar once more.

News of the Realm: Syladris to visit Light's Reach

LIGHT'S REACH - Word spreads through official channels that an allowance submitted by the Sovereign Prince and processed by the Imperial Tribunal has been approved today that will let the Syladris visit Light's Reach for indefinite periods of time without Imperial escort.

The allowance is said to be part of a greater initiative to allow the Imperials of Fastheld to adjust to newest - and perhaps strangest - additions to the Empire, and for the Syladris to try and adjust to the strange new world that exists beyond the Crown's Refuge side of the Aria Song Portal.

So far, both the Imperial Tribunal and the Imperial Watch have had "positive" encounters with the Syladris, as training in the Imperial Law has given such officers perspective enough to treat all individuals equally in the eyes of the Law and with initial respect until such respect is turned away.

Most Freelanders to have visited Crown's Refuge have also reported favorable relations with the Syladris (some perhaps TOO favorable) as part of the pragmatism of the Freelander class is to expect nothing and to go with the flow.

However, Nobles and Syladris have so far been reported to be having a more difficult time of things, as the Nobility in general has very little bearing upon which to figure out how to deal with the Syladris, and such encounters have been hit-and-miss - from cordial to conflicted - as such Nobles have little idea as to what to make of the curious half-snake people.

Some have found the child-like innocence of the Syladris to be endearing, while others have found their inquisitive nature to be somewhat vexing. Equally, while some find the "snake half" of the Syladris to be beautiful and exotic, others (who are more fearful of things that aren't normal) have had a hard time accepting them as anything but Shadow-cursed creatures.

The Imperial Tribunal is advising those wishing to visit Crown's Refuge (and, indeed, Light's Reach) to treat the Syladris with an open mind and with few expectations. A common comparison that is being used to educate Nobles and Freelanders alike is that the Syladris are somewhat like domesticated Rock Wolves: playful, intelligent, inquisitive, and quite prone to stealing cookies from the table and getting their heads stuck between wheel spokes.

However, the Tribunal also points out that - like domesticated Rock Wolves - the Syladris will bite if provoked, are vicious if forced into a fight, and are more than likely to give more than what they take in a tumble or brawl.

It is also noted that the Syladris are not, of course, Rock Wolves, and - if made a friend of - can be more loyal and entertaining than any living creature known to the Empire. Their willingness to learn and explore *everything* is also endearing them to Artisans, while their exotic take on tradesmanship has gathered interest from craftsmen and merchants alike.

Whatever the opinion, the citizens of Light's Refuge are bracing themselves for any potential mischief - no matter how innocent - and local bakeries are preparing extra treats and cookies to keep the peace (just in case!)

News of the Realm: Stanchion reveals "telescopic" device

THE STANCHION - As part of the Stanchions continued attempts of reconciliation with the Empire as it moves further and further away from any and all association with the Remnant Church of True Light, the Imperial Cult has received a prototype of a device that the Stanchion is calling the "Mono-Optical Telescopic Lens", or the "Telescope" for short.

Though in it's infancy, the "Telescope" is a child of the "Monocle" and "Bifocal" that uses a series of different sized lenses in a telescopic tube to allow a person to see far into the distance via a method known as magnification.

Such a device would, for example, permit captains of trade vessels that sail along the Fastheld River the ability to see navigational hazards and do something about them long before they became a problem, or allow members of the Imperial Watch stationed on the Aegis to look far below to the ground to see potential dangers before they managed to reach the wall itself.

Though quite a way off from being released into the public domain for glassmakers to take apart and learn how to build them themselves, the Stanchion is apparently in the process of making a fully functional model as a gift for the Crown Regent.

News of the Realm: Office of Penumbral Affairs established

LIONSGATE - It has been reported that the Imperial Office of Penumbral Affairs - formed as part of the "Syladris Amendment" of the "Shadow Amnesty Policy" has been established in the Kahar seat of power of Lionsgate.

It is also believed that the conversion of the Imperial Office of Census and Excise's controversial "Marked Mage Registry" into the more widely accepted (and acceptable) "Penumbral Mage Registry" has also been completed, with many citizenship papers having now been altered to indicate that the citizen in question is a registered mage of Fastheld and aware of the recent changes to Imperial Law and Policy, as well as the consequences of breeching the Empire's Trust.

The Archmage Tshepsi of Clan Syladris (the Empire's official term for the Syladris as a whole) has also been added to the registry, it seems, with her official citizenship papers being hand-delivered by an Ordinator of the Imperial Cult earlier today.

It is expected that the much more trusting and lenient Office of Penumbral Affairs will see a boost in the number of 'hidden' mages who will now come forward to register, and in return will see both the Empire and her people - including the registered mages - subject to a greater level of protection as the flow of Shadow through the populace is more closely monitored as a result.

News of the Realm: Crown canvases realm for Warden

Fastheld Keep - To lubricate the transition of Crown's Refuge from a rogue protectorate to an established part of the Empire, the Imperial Crown is currently conducting a canvas of the Imperial Watch and the Imperial Tribunal to try and recruit a suitable candidate the fill a somewhat unique position that is being created - that of the Imperial Warden.

Intended to be a position of Royalty affiliated with both the Imperial Crown and the Imperial Tribunal, the Imperial Warden will be tasked with balancing the evolution* of Crown's Refuge with the implementation of Imperial Law, standards, and practices.

It will be the Imperial Warden's duty to endure that Crown's Refuge operates just like any other city within Fastheld while also doing their best to ensure that the delicate considerations of the Wildlanders are accounted for, that law and order within the outpost remain of the highest quality, that the Imperial Watch stationed there remain professional in their operations, that visiting Nobility are properly accounted for and protected, and that the Syladris are not subject to exploitation by either Noble, Freelander, or Wildlander.

The regulation of trade is also expected to be part of the Imperial Warden's role, and there are some rumors that if the Syladris are permitted to create an enclave within Fastheld's Aegis walls, the Imperial Warden will be expected to ensure that such a location is granted the full protection of the Imperial Crown and be permitted to be developed without political interference.

It is important to note that the Imperial Warden is not a governing role, and that said Warden will not considered to be either the Steward, Custodian, Governor, or "Archon" of Crown's Refuge, but will be expected to act as liaison to the Archmage Tshepsi of the Syladris and heed any concerns that she might have regarding the sanctity of the sanctuary outpost.

• Anachronistic use.

News of the Realm: RUMOR: Former Duke senile?

Forest District -- Rumors have begun to circulate around the realm regarding the state of mind of one Oren Nillu. It seems only a few days ago, he was seen chasing a Freelander down and street and screaming gibberish at him. Members of the Nillu House Guard eventually managed to calm the old man down, apparently, and he returned peacefully to the home of his newphew, Thain Nillu, in Glittering Bear. More stories have been spawning as a result of this incident, many of them attesting to the fact that insanity is in fact the punishment cast upon the Old Bear by the Light itself in retribution for his open acceptance of Touched mages.

Oren Nillu has not been seen in the Lode since.

News of the Realm: Prince grants Refuge week of contemplation

CROWN'S REFUGE - Serath Kahar, Sovereign Prince of the Empire of Fastheld, has ordered a temporary suspension on travel through the Song Portal, from both Fastheld and Crown's Refuge.

Adhering to the wishes of the Syladris, and understanding that the Syladris may not have understood what they were getting themselves into (given that the Syladris have little comprehension of political systems), the Prince is granting Crown's Refuge one week to come to a decision as to what fate it wishes for itself: either becoming part of the Empire, or severing all connections to the Empire to strike out as a true independent Freehold.

The Prince has voiced that both decisions have their various benefits and pitfalls, and that both would ultimately work towards fulfilling the vision that he believes his brother - Talus Kahar XIV - had for the sanctuary city upon Drakesreach Bluff.

However, the Prince was also vocal on another subject: that the animosity between elements of the Empire and elements within Crown's Refuge had to end. If segregation was the key to any and all hostile intention, then the Prince agreed that - for the benefit of the Syladris, if nothing more - that would be an acceptable path.

Though concerned about the safety of Crown's Refuge from future dangers, the Syladris believe that the White Dragon herself may have had a proverbial hand in the decision. Either way, if isolationism is the way forward, it is expected that a deal will be struck that will allow those who wish to return to the Empire - or wish to see it for the very first time with intention to live there - will be permitted to do so.

News of the Realm: House Zahir announces ball

FASTHELD - Notices have been posted in all major townships informing the citizens of a special event being held in the near future: Duchess Voreyn Zahir is hosting a Masqued Costumed Ball for all nobility of the realm. Special guests are being invited, although no word has been given as to who the guests are to be.

All guests are required a masque and a costume for entrance and for judging, as a contest will be held. Prizes will be awarded to the Best Costume for one lord and one lady as voted upon by the Ducal Council.

Noble guests are allowed to bring a small retinue of personal attendants of any class, although they are limited to two (2) each.

All guests will also be required to leave behind personal defense items at the door, as the House Zahir Guard will be present for security.

Any additional caveats to attendance will be listed upon personal invitations sent out to guests. For any Freelander interested in filling temporary paid positions for the ball - cook/caterer, musicians, etc. - please address a letter to Duchess Voreyn Zahir at the earliest convenience.

The ball is scheduled to be held on the 33rd of Whistlewind at Eventide Keep. Directions are to be provided on the invitations.

News of the Realm: Sanctuary policy established in Refuge

CROWN'S REFUGE - Though exempt from the Weapons and Armor Laws and Restrictions that Freelanders and Wildlanders are subject to, the Syladris have convinced the Imperial Tribunal to re-designate Crown's Refuge as a Sanctuary within the Empire.

This means that all weapons are to be held in check and secured in scabbards and baldrics while inside Crown's Refuge, and that all violence is to be avoided entirely (including drunken brawling).

Though prevention of violence and the use of weapons only for self defense is a cornerstone of the Imperial Law to begin with, the restating of this "Sanctuary Policy" tightens the rope around "loose weapons" and requires all who visit Crown's Refuge to rethink any action that may lead to hostility.

Some Wildlanders have also pointed out that it means that claymores and greataxes can no longer be used as leaning-poles in public (a fact that the Syladris seem to find amusing for no discernable reason at all).

Items such as staves and quarterstaves, which cannot be easily secured and that many use to aid with walking and are generally non-threatening, are said to be exceptions to the rule. In this case, the Imperial Tribunal advise those who use such items to be exceptionally cautious around other people.

News of the Realm: "Wildlander" accepted as social class

Due to overwhelming request, the Imperial Office of Census and Excise has agreed to permit Wildlanders to retain the class of "Wildlander" upon their citizenship papers, allowing their heritage to be officially accepted within the Empire of Fastheld.

This will make "Wildlander" a social class equal to the Merchant and Freelander classes of citizenship, though the denotation will set them as being culturally different to their counterparts, given their background, attitudes, and skills.

Though Wildlanders will still be expected to show suitable respect to their Noble peers, the Nobility will in turn be expected to understand that the Wildlander heritage has had little use for title or status, and perhaps be more forgiving than they might otherwise be towards Freelanders and Merchants - especially while in Crown's Refuge itself.

This designation will also make it easier for Nobles to hire Wildlanders should be they be seeking specialist agents, and it is hoped that the cultural distinction will ease the transition back into the unity of the Empire.

It is also believed that "Syladris" has been adopted as an official "social" class as well, much to the amusement of the Wildlanders and Freelanders who have encountered them.

News of the Realm: Fastheld ponders refuge

The Imperial Engineering Corps. of the Imperial Watch are currently surveying the Crown's Refuge palisade for structural fatigue caused by general wear and tear, and structural damaged caused by the recent assault from the "Acarit" forces.

Once the report is completed, it is believed that the Imperial Engineers will set to work repairing any damage that they find, and there are also rumors of the Imperial Crown wishing for three ballista towers to be constructed at the ends of each dividing Pathway to protect the citizens of Crown's Refuge from future threats.

The Crown's Bulwark is also being evaluated to see if any improvements can be made upon the gates to allow them to withstand greater force. Resources for these projects - such as quarried stone - will have to be delivered by river, giving the Empire incentive to allow sailing from Fastheld to Crown's Refuge.

The Imperial Tribunal is set to take command of the Ironcrest Hall in the near future, and will be expected to establish a small contingent of Tribunal agents inside the hall to better serve the people of Crown's Refuge.

The Blood Guard will also be converted into a sub-faction of the Imperial Tribunal before being placed on fully active sentry duty of Tempest Spire. However, given that the Blood Guard was modeled upon the Imperial Tribunal to begin it, it is believed that both groups will get along well, and there are early indications of the Tribunal being exceptionally impressed with the conservative skill and discipline on display by both the Wildlander and Syladris members of the Guard.

The Imperial Watch will also be using Ironcrest Hall as a base of operations within the city, and will soon replace the Blood Guard upon the palisade battlements. Plans to build an Imperial Watchtower at the base of Drakesreach Bluff to replace the old wooden watchtower (that was often manned by Wildlings of the Green Tribe!) that once stood when Crown's Refuge was in its infancy are also under consideration.

There are calls to establish Halls of Healing within the Refuge as well, given the number of dangers that Wildlanders are subject to every time they venture out into the Wildlands. Any Freelanders or Nobles that accompany Wildlanders in the future will also be subject to these dangers, and the Empire is said to be concerned about turning a blind eye to potential wounded that may result from exploration.

Equally, Duchess Rowena Mikin's journals upon the potential benefits of Wildlands medicine have created an incentive for further study that can then be used to improve the healthcare of all citizens of the Empire.

The Imperial Crown is said to be looking into recruiting Wildlander hunters and rangers to act as guides to those of the Imperial Ranger Commission to help them study the local lands and wildlife, while those same Wildlanders are believed to eagerly sought by Nobles looking to add highly skilled marksmen to their roster of potential contacts and agents.

The Imperial Cult is pondering the establishment of a chapel within the Refuge, though at present is said to be at a loss as to what or who it would be named for. Meanwhile - and perhaps most unexpected of all - the Stanchion is actively seeking involvement within Crown's Refuge in order to document the history and lore of the Wildlands and the Wildlanders who have lived there, including tracing ancestry back to Fastheldian roots.

The cartography of the Wildlands and the cataloguing of Wildlands flora and fauna is also believe to be of great interest to the former Scourges of the Stanchion, and the Stanchion itself will most likely petition the Imperial Crown for greater involvement in the coming weeks and months.

News of the Realm: Crown's Refuge joins Fastheld

Crown's Refuge - In the wake of the recent conflict with the Acarit that claimed numerous lives within the Freehold, given consideration that the people of Crown's Refuge are the people of Fastheld with interwoven ancestry, lineage, and history, and given that Crown's Refuge was founded, developed, and then recreated by Imperials, the Freehold of Crown's Refuge - having long been considered as a protectorate of the Empire - has finally rejoined with Fastheld.

The annexation of Crown's Refuge has been engineered by the Sovereign Prince Serath Kahar, and the illustrious Archmage Tshepsi of the Syladris, in order to grant better protection to the people that live there from the threats of the Wildland, and to entirely remove a number of political and mercantile issues that have arisen over the last year, including the freedom of travel by Wildlanders in the Empire, and Nobles in the Freehold.

The Wildlanders of Crown's Refuge will be granted citizenship as Freelanders and will be permitted to travel where they like within the Empire, without limitation, as their whims dictate, protected by the Crown and the Light. Imperial Law will be also be established within the Freehold itself, and the Imperial Watch will be enlisted to provide security and law enforcement, with the Imperial Tribunal setting up a division within Ironcrest Hall, and the Blood Guard reformed as a division of the Tribunal dedicated to the protection of the Syladris.

The Syladris themselves will also be granted full rights of citizenship within the Empire, though any ventures into the Empire shall require escort from a Knight-Errant of the Royal Order of the Imperial Crown to ensure their safety when faced with citizens who may be shocked by their unusual attributes.

Equally, the Syladris will be given the full protection of the Imperial Crown as sworn and promised by the Sovereign Prince, and shall be considered equal to Nobility, and will not suffer any insult or disrespect from any Noble of the Six Great Houses, lest they also insult the Empire and suffer the consequences of their actions.

Though considered as territory of the Imperial Crown, Crown's Refuge shall also be recognized as the home of the Syladris, and any local decision or policy that does not conflict with the Imperial Law shall be governed by the Syladris themselves. Tempest Spire, however, shall be considered sovereign territory for the benefit of the Syladris and those that dwell within the vast superstructure.

The annexation has been agreed by both Archmage Tshepsi and the Sovereign Prince, and endorsed by the Crown Regent of Fastheld. It is believed that the "Syladris Amendment" to the "Shadow Amnesty" law was one of the conditions that Tshepsi required of Fastheld before any such deal could be agreed upon.

It is believed that the unity of Crown's Refuge and Fastheld will now usher in a new era of relations, trade, security, exploration, and - perhaps most important of all - understanding and spiritual development.

News of the Realm: Imperial Office of Penumbral Affairs to be created

Fastheld Keep - Another tidbit of news that is filtering out of the Imperial Palace is that the Imperial Office of Penumbral Affairs is to be created to fully keep track of the Shadow Touched citizens of the Empire without putting the strain on the Imperial Office of Census and Excise.

When fully established, the Imperial Office of Penumbral Affairs will be responsible for amending a citizen's documents to include the information about them being Shadow Touched, as well keeping track and monitoring those who register with them.

Equally, it will be the Imperial Office of Penumbral Affairs' role to provide documentation to the Imperial Watch if a citizen of the Empire is found to have committed an offense via use of Shadow.

News of the Realm: The amendment explained

When asked what the contents of the "Syladris Amendment" means, officers of the Imperial Watch have explained that the Crown Regent has seen fit to end the confinement of Marked citizens to Northreach, known as the "Northreach Mandate".

Equally, it would seem that the "Syladris Amendment" has changed the "Shadow Amnesty" declaration of 626 ATA to no longer require citizens to be 'marked' as being touched by the Shadow.

However, this amendment has also banned any and all use of the Shadow within areas of population, which the Imperial Watch explain means townships and cities. Furthermore, it seems that "lessening" has been completely removed from any and all Imperial policy, and remains a brutal relic of the Church of True Light.

Finally, it is said that those who ARE arrested for using the Shadow in a way that may cause harm against either the Empire or her citizens (or will offend against the Light) will be subject to criminal punishment (depending on the severity of the offense), and that those who are arrested and are *not* found to have registered as being Shadow Touched will be executed for treason against the Empire.

The incentive for honest people seeking acceptance as being Shadow Touched but not inherently evil now seems to have taken a new and much more desirable twist, while providing dire consequences for those who would snub the Empire's generosity and compassion in the face of six centuries of established (and often well deserved) prejudice against such individuals.

That the majority of Shadow Touched citizens are currently gathered in Northreach (and required to re-register with the Imperial Office of Census and Excise) should also mean that many will be free of the dangers of treason and execution before they leave to return to Fastheld once more (which almost seems to have been planned).

Support for the Crown Regent is now expected to soar (as well as relations between House Kahar and Zahir), with the Shadow Touched citizens being granted more freedom than ever before (though under better supervision), and the normal citizens free of the dangers of the Shadow within the major areas of population.

As for the removal of existing marks, some suspect that the Light may be capable of healing such things, though the Shadow itself seems to have little desire to part with the brands and the upset and suffering they caused.

And what of the name of the amendment itself? Well, that appears to be one of those many mysteries that suggest that the Sovereign Prince had a hand in things.

News of the Realm: Syladris amendment announced

In every Township, at every hub of transportation, and along every thoroughfare and point of interest, officers of the Imperial Watch have posted the following official decree bearing the seals of both the Crown Regent and the Sovereign Prince:

BY ORDER OF HIS HIGHNESS, THE CROWN REGENT ZOLOR ZAHIR, WITH SUPPORT FROM HIS MAJESTY, THE SOVEREIGN PRINCE SERATH KAHAR, THE IMPERIAL CROWN DOES HEREBY ANNOUNCE THAT UPON THE 33RD DAY OF WHISTLEWIND IN THE YEAR OF THE LIGHT 628 AFTER THE AEGIS, THE "SYLADRIS AMENDMENT" HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO BE ACTED UPON IMMIDIATELY AS PER THE POSTING OF THIS DELCARATION.

IT IS THE DECISION OF HIS HIGHNESS THAT THE "NORTHREACH MANDATE" BE HEREBY ABANDONED AND THAT ALL MARKED CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE THE TOWNSHIP OF NORTHREACH AT THEIR EARLIEST DISCRETION AFTER REGISTERING WITH ANY AGENT IMPERIAL OFFICE OF CENSUS AND EXCISE.

EQUALLY, THE "SYLADRIS AMENDMENT" WRITTEN INTO THE "SHADOW AMNESTY" OF 626 ATA DOES HEREBY STATE THAT CITIZENS OF THE EMPIRE WHO ARE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE BEEN AFFLICTED WITH THE SHADOW'S TOUCH WILL NO LONGER REQUIRE THE MARK OF THE SHADOW TO BE PLACED UPON THEIR PERSON.

IT IS THEREFORE REQUIRED THAT NOTICE OF THE INFLICTION SHALL INSTEAD BE OFFICIALLY WRITTEN UPON THEIR CITIZENSHIP PAPERS AND MADE NOTE OF BY THE IMPERIAL CROWN WITHIN A NEW REGISTER.

FURTHERMORE, THE USE OF ALL SHADOW MAGIC IS HEREBY BANNED FROM ALL AREAS OF POPULATION UNDER THREAT OF PUNISHMENT OF THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE IMPERIAL LAW. AS OF THIS DATE, ANY MAGE FOUND TO BE USING THE SHADOW IN A WAY THAT OFFENDS EITHER THE LIGHT OR THE LAW SHALL BE SUBJECT TO CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT AND MAY FACE EXECUTION FOR TREASON AGAINST THE EMPIRE AND THE LIGHT IF NOT PREVIOUSLY AND CURRENTLY REGISTERED AS HARBORING THE SHADOW'S TOUCH.

THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY BARE THE MARK OF THE SHADOW MAY SEEK THE MEANS TO REMOVE IT SHOULD SUCH MEANS BECOME AVAILABLE TO THEM.

AS IT IS WRITTEN, SO SHALL IT BE DONE.

News of the Realm: House Lomasa unrepentent

EAST LEG - Despite the severing of economic ties not hitting the House of the Bear as hard as perhaps intended and disadvantage granted to House Lomasa, uproar over the Duke's decision is considerable but not as harsh as one might think.

Lomasa merchants with considerable investment in Nillu holdings appear to be the most unsettled by the decision and the number, while large, remains less than devastating. The various political alliances set between the typically dour, business-minded Nillus and the jovial Lomasa has always been an oddity, and some advantages can be drawn from the sudden lack of shrewd, uncompromising business-partners that the House of Bulls found in House Nillu.

While a recent meeting of Lomasa nobility aired deep misgivings, the house remains loyal to the Duke's ban though it is by no means celebrated. The Duke Lomasa has made few apologies for the decision. He claims to be open to reconcilation with their former partners, but claims lack of any outcry from the House of Bears toward the supposedly hostile and uncompromising diplomatic actions by the Duchess Nillu leads him to few regrets. His focus now rests on strengthening ties with the other Houses, banking on the House's pleasant nature and loyalty causing other nobility to find them more agreeable partners than the Nillu.

News of the Realm: House relations grow colder

As no sign of reconciliation between House Nillu and House Lomasa seems forthcoming, and as the winter cold deepens, the most obvious impacts have started to make themselves known. Rumors of the price of ores, stones, and other raw materials climbing steadily in Lomasa territory are commonplace, as Lomasa merchants are forced to buy their materials from other houses - who have far more limited supply or who are reselling Nillu materials. Cartage costs throughout Lomasa territory have begun to creep up as well, as Nillu wagons and riverboats are no longer accessable to the House of the Bull.

In Nillu lands, Lomasa wines and finished goods have also begun to increase in price as their scarcity is made known, but the increase of the cost of raw goods in Lomasa territory has started to create opportunities for expansion into finished markets by other houses - a thing Kahar smiths and forges and the weak Seamel wine trade have begun to capitalize on.

Regardless, current rumor revolves around a simple thing: Coal. With the cost of working Lomasa forges rising, most are coming to believe that the House of the Bear is in far better position to endure the current state of the ongoing tensions.

News of the Realm: Tribunal ponder validity of freehold agreement

LIGHT'S REACH - Between pressure from disgruntled elements of the Great Noble Houses, and a general sense of vexation within the organization itself, the Imperial Tribunal is rumored to be considering ending the agreement made with Crown's Refuge between the former Justiciar Soravyn Zahir and the Sovereign Prince Serath Kahar after the "Song Portal" was activated, linking the Empire with the Freehold.

With the Freehold still lacking any formal recognition by the Empire, and with the Empire considering Crown's Refuge to be a protectorate of the Crown (with a legitimate claim to the location due to it having been established by the late Emperor Talus Kahar XIV and developed by various members of Royalty and Nobility), the current honoring of the agreement has apparently been out of good will alone, with Fastheld evidently voluntarily permitting Crown's Refuge some vision of independence while no actual plans of action have been forthcoming.

However, following the ban on Nobility from entering the Freehold, and the subsequent reports of certain Nobles being let into Crown's Refuge regardless of such regulations as exceptions to the rule, internal rumbles within the Imperial Tribunal suggest that the Imperial Law is tired of giving without seeing any return, and may soon no longer turn Nobles away from the Aria.

Such a decision points towards two possible outcomes:

The first is that the Tribunal will deny ALL access to the Song Portal from Fastheld - be it Noble or Freelander - while preventing Wildlanders from leaving Dawnstar Keep. However, the second possible scenario is that the Tribunal will merely permit Nobles access to the Aria irrespective of the wishes of Crown's Refuge, allowing them to do what they will without Imperial intervention.

It is likely that the Tribunal will seek authority from the Crown Regent before taking any actual action, however, but it is equally likely that the Imperial Tribunal WILL act soon to address what many are perceiving as double standards by the Freehold that are disrespecting the Empire while at the same time accepting its benevolence without any apparent recompense.

News of the Realm: Empire status questioned

One of the main topics of discussion between the older learned men (and women) of Noble society as they populate classy taphouses and manors across the realm is that of the validity of the term "Empire" to describe the great nation of Fastheld, given that there is currently no Emperor upon the Crown Throne.

Some of these learned Nobles argue that Fastheld is now a Regency, due to the fact that a Regent rules in the name of the Crown itself. Others states that Fastheld should instead be considered a Principality, as the Sovereign Prince is now the highest authority in the realm from the Imperial Bloodline. A few even believe that Fastheld should be known as an Oligarchy, as it is jointly ruled by the Regent and the Prince who seem to share similar interests and goals for the realm.

However, between the smoke of pipes and the scent of brandy, the traditional title of "Empire" is being defended by those who cite that Fastheld is an realm of Imperialism, has been an Empire for as long as anyone can remember, is populated by a people known as Imperials, and harbors various organizations forged of the Imperialist nature of that which thrives within the vast reaches of land between the Aegis walls.

Most Freelanders couldn't care less, however, and stand by the Empire being an Empire being an Empire. Still, those learned Nobles who spend countless evenings debating topics of this dismiss such loyalty. After all, they reason, what do Freelanders know about anything?

Minutes of the Buroks-in-Answering meeting, Snowdeeper 21

* Old noggin-bustified ex-Patchupper screaming 'rape' down the catwalks. No report from Wrongstoppers. Patchupper-in-Chief suggested a padded room. Transmogrifier Chief suggested shaving the ex-Patchupper to constructify padding, as we're low on goats. Several Buroks suggested if the current Wrongstoppers can't pacificate dustuppers, remedial measures needed.

* Transmogrifier Chief reports Outside got icier than usual, weather report confirmed by Chief Dirigibler now that the skies are clear enough for dirigibling. Safety warnings issued for pilots, transmogrifiers, and aftercrashery personnel.

*Icy weather has caused several popsickled goats. Transmogrifier Chief said they're not using goat natchers, just shovels and some rope, and trying not to bustify the frozen goats before they get to the butchery platforms. Several butchery platforms choked on popsickled goat, problem reported to steam managers.

* Plans for Iron Inventioneer proceeding on schedule. Samophlange operators reportify the pulp gets into everything, so they're bagging it very securely and wearing masks.

The Private Journal of Crown Regent Zolor Zahir, Entry 1

Received troubling news on two fronts:

* Efforts moving forward on independent Shadow organization/academy. Freedom from Crown oversight equates to a dangerous situation that amounts to treason. Opening investigation.
* More independent action, this time in pursuit of Dark Wildlings and the children of Northreach. If successful, would draw wrath of Dark Wildlings. Saving a dozen children would lead to the deaths of tens of thousands in Fastheld.

Sending word to Alamdrus Sprint. I have not required his assistance in some years. I had hoped never to call on him again. Dangerous times call for dangerous men, however. He should serve.