I wish you would
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All the windows were open. Under normal circumstances this would be a major breach of the rules given the danger even a stray breath of air posed to all the paperwork piled on the desks around the room. Today though there was not the slightest breeze, and they had decided to take the risk. Florence was multi-tasking - fanning herself while also writing and filing letters. Crucio had stripped his jacket off, in a shocking breach of office protocol.The drawback to having the windows open was that the sounds of the river barged into their work-space on a regular basis, a regular distraction from the work of sorting through all the Consul's correspondence. Right now it sounded like a trio of gondoliers were arguing over who had the right of way to the jetty outside the Consulate. Their passengers were joining in, and it sounded like it was going to escalate."I've got a letter from Skoura," said Florence without looking up. "Official, properly signed and sealed. It has a couple of paragraphs about Tsark and some notes about Axos, but the bulk is about aqueducts. What do you think? Can we get away with filing references or do we need a copy."How important are the Tsark bits?" Crucio felt he knew the answer, but had to hope."They're about weirwood trade." Florence sighed. She pulled a fresh piece of parchment from the pile and grabbed a new quill. "I'll do it.""Sorry," said Crucio. "But it might be relevant later. Or a pattern or...""I'm hot Crucio," said Florence slightly waspishly. "I haven't forgotten how to do my job."Outside there was the sound of someone falling into the water and the volume of shouting ratcheted up another notch. Both scriviners paused to listen, and Crucio considered going to the window to actually look... but there was less than half an hour before he had to deliver a briefing on the implications of recognising the Morasjasse Grendel as foreigners. Would they still come under the Ambassador to the Grendel, or would they technically be the responsibility of the consulate? He mopped his brow with his hat and then put it back on his head. Removing a jacket was one thing, removing his hat an entirely different matter and even in this heat one had to have standards.

Overview
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There are six great powers in the known world, but also innumerable lesser powers. They do not have the power or influence to shake the world with a Pax Sarcophan, nor threaten international shipping with bounties and privateers. Yet they are no less important to those with whom they share a border, and for some at least, their ambitions are no less relevant to the Empire. Sometimes diplomatic relations require in-depth analysis; sometimes there is an opportunity to catch one's breath and let the drama move slowly towards the next crisis point.

Here we learn about relations with five foreign nations: Otkodov, the Iron Confederacy, the Grendel, the city state of Beoraidh, and Skoura.

Otkodov
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### Shadow of War

Whilst the treaty worked on by Ambassador Kindra Surefoot stands with the Thule, we will not attempt in any way to convert, preach to or engage the Thule in unwanted discussion of theology.Tarquinius Ankarien, Spring Equinox 387YE, Vote: 1260-402

The treaty with the Thule has been passed by the Imperial Senate but faces a challenge of veto from the General Assembly The General Assembly can veto the treaty with a greater majority The judgement of veto will run until Saturday evening

As far as the Thule are concerned, the treaty is set. It seems the Imperial Senate agrees - and the two Senators who voted against it are not a surprise. A call for the General Assembly to veto the treaty is somewhat unexpected, especially given the priests of the Empire apparently were prepared to commit to not spreading the Way to the people of Otkodov. However, Rak accepts the reassurances of Ambassador Kindra Surefoot. He mildly points out that this is just the kind of thing he keeps talking about - the chaotic disorder of the Empire contrasts very heavily with the sure and stable order of Otkodov. This is not intended as a criticism - it seems - more a respectful aside between ambassadors.

If the treaty is upheld, the Dragons will dispatch diplomats to Anvil to formally sign at the Autumn Equinox. This will mostly be "political theatre" - the treaty will come into effect as soon as the Senate's word is enacted. If there are any further details to beat out, that can be done at the equinox.

In the event the treaty is not agreed, then with a heavy heart Rak-Who-Speaks-For-The-Dragons-Undivided reminds the Ambassador that the existing peace treaty ends after the Summer Solstice and the Thule will act accordingly. By which he means that it will once again be war between the two nations; there will no doubt be an opportunity to negotiate peace later, once the war has run its course, but the demands of the Dragons will be significantly more onerous for the Empire.

Rak does not mention the matter himself, of course, but shortly before the Summer Solstice, news comes of activity all across the border with Otkodov. There are five fortifications owned by the Thule within the Empire proper. It seems the orcs of Otkodov have timed work expanding and improving some of those fortifications to be completed shortly before the Summer Solstice. They have also placed powerful enchantments on all of the fortifications within the Empire - a clear show of force.

The Citadel of Bone and Silver in the Silver Peaks was originally conjured from the Summer realm and with the apparent approval of the Queen of Ice and Darkness anchored by ilium to become a permanent presence in the mountains. The Thule have just completed work improving the citadel, work which included significantly improving the defences of the Stonefield Ice Caves. Next door in Skarsind, Crow's Keep has likewise been expanded, making it a rank two fortification that is now a brooding presence visible across Crow's Ridge and from parts of the Skoei Glens. According to the Suaq and the Unshackled, both fortifications have also been enchanted. The walls are marked with runes of Battle and Triumph that glow as bright as the moon at night. It also seems that both castles are protected by large stone-scaled drake-like beasts around the size of a barn. It is guessed that they have been enchanted with Summer magic, perhaps something drawing on the power of King-under-the-Mountain or at least a ritual created with his aid.

Across the border in Miechernya stands Eldfell, a fortification which secures the eastern end of Ustyma's Gate the pass that Winterfolk call Wulfric's Fall. As Summer lengthens, ice spreads across the walls here, and unseasonable snow falls on the nearby hills. The orcs there are joined by white bear-like figures with great polearms - servants of Cathan Canae most likely.

Further west in Karsk, amid the hills of Krevsaty stands Krevsatyzmei, a small fortification that watches over the rebuilt town of Oloy. It too has been enchanted - there is talk of massive pale wolves larger than an ox stalking the wooded hillside and watching the border to the south with cold golden eyes. In the Bonewood Fljajokep has been seriously reinforced, and additional defences added to the Silent Pines - the weirwood grove the Thule control as part of their payment for aiding in the conquest of Ossium.

Improving its defences with mundane means is not the extent of their preparations, however. The newly strengthened walls of the fortification are bound with brass sigils - not runes but strange curling shapes that nonetheless communicate to those who see them that they are marks of power. They glow with the heat of the forge. There are sightings of tall bronze creatures - twice the height of a human or orc - many with two pairs of arms, supplementing the orc garrison. The Webwood does not contain a fortification - the forest is still largely untouched as it was under the reign of the Druj. But there are reports of magic seething in its depths, of the darkness beneath the trees coming alive and spawning featureless shapes - some like orcs, others like massive spiders or scorpions or bears, still others entirely unidentifiable. Another Thule enchantment, likely a ward of night magic.

There are ways to find out more about these defences, of course. the Eyes of the Sun and Moon or the Eye of the High Places. But it is worth noting that when it comes to Otkodov, the Empire only has maps of Verthandi; the other three territories are vaguely known, but there are no details. Not that the map of Verthandi is up to date - it has been almost six years since the Empire learned anything tangible about that territory.

### Cows

A Thule consortium has taken delivery of a large number of cows They have managed to get the cows to Crow's Ridge but would be vulnerable to an attack by Imperial armies should war erupt

Shortly after the Equinox, a sizable force of Thule orcs come down through Sermersuaq heading for the Marches. The force is composed as perhaps as many as sixty warriors and hunters, and a dozen warlocks. There is some consternation, but it becomes apparent this is simply a group of "cattle wranglers" here to collect their cows from the markets of Upwold for transport north. The economic consortium - the Company of the Icebound Wind - have apparently acquired a number of "cattle bonds" during the Spring Equinox with the intent of starting a herd of their own in Yura. Exact numbers are hard to estimate, but it appears that they have acquired over twenty "cow wains" giving them a small herd to take north. It's only a fraction of that which is going east to Mareave, but the merchant-warlocks seem happy enough; whether it will be enough to meet their ambitions of a sizable herd in the cold north remains to be seen.

Unfortunately, it appears that the Thule have heavily underestimated the difficulties inherent in transporting so many cattle through the Empi