The prettiest star
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Overview
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There are creatures beyond the mortal world, the inhabitants of the six realms of magic. These realms are closer than they seem, and further away than can be imagined. Their inhabitants are fundamentally different to humans and orcs, to the people of the mortal world. They are larger than life, simple and complex in equal measure. They have goals inscrutable and obvious, and they seek to change the world to match their perception of what it should be. Dabbling and dealing, bargaining and negotiating, offering boons and threatening curses, giving and taking. It can be difficult to predict exactly where their gifts will lead.

The Empire can reach out to the eternals through the powers of the Archmages and the Imperial Conclave, but the inhabitants of the realms can also touch the mortal world when they wish. The power of alignment allows the Conclave to make it easier or harder for them to touch the world, relationships shaped by the tension between true friends and dire enemies. Some desire that state of amity, some revel in the enmity they have earned, but none can deny the power of the Conclave to guard the borders of the Empire.

It is a rare season that passes without an eternal, or a handful, seeking to influence the Empire. There are other winds of fortune that speak of different situations. The responses to the plenipotentiary missives of the Archmages is covered in the Can you hear me? wind of fortune. The conclusion of the Rhianos race is covered in The last leg. Both Daybreak in Spiral and Nightfall in Apulian have sections talking about eternal-related events. Build it up deals with the challenges offered by Barien to those who wish to make use of his ritual, which Ice on the snow details an eternal-sponsored tourney for the Icy Crag of the Eternal SunAnd here, a roundup of magical matters related to the eternal realms.

Magical events originating closer to home are detailed in the companion wind of fortune, Sound and vision.

Summer
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### Don't Sit Down (Cathan Canae)

Last season the Archmage of Summer and allies met with Volstann, Eater of Boars They agreed to new terms on the Empire ceding regions The Empire has a year to conquer a new territory for each region ceded to prevent war Bregasland, Liathaven, Madruga, and Therunin do not count as new territories

Volstann, Eater of Boars, favoured lieutenant of the Lady of the Frost, met with several Imperial dignitaries last season in his hall. Several things were discussed in the Hall of Heroes, but first amongst them was the Empire's ongoing access to the Mistress of Blizzard's frozen citadels. Mirella of the Twisted Rose, the Archmage of Summer, and her allies were able to come to an agreement with Volstann on the necessity of ceding land to focus on conquest elsewhere. An agreement was made that the Crown of Black Ice will not limit the Empire's access to her citadels if it cedes a region, provided that the Empire proceeds to use the time gained to conquer a new territory before a year has passed.

To avoid any doubt Bregasland, Liathaven, Therunin, and the recently recovered Madruga do not count as new territories. Each of those four was once claimed by the Empire, and the Immovable One wishes to see the Empire expand.

### Golden Years (Meraud)

Meraud will support Urizen ritualists performing rituals that support battlemages A herald of Meraud has laid down a competition for Summer ritualists

Morgayne the Pentadurge is a seemingly "new" herald who has come into prominence since her master's renewal. Morgayne has a deep appreciation for the Pentad: Hammer of Thunder, Strength of the Bull, Swan's Cruel Wing, Swift Leaping Hare, and Tenacity of Jotra. She has issued a challenge to Summer covens for the summit, to see who can perform one of the Pentad with the highest number of targets. Whichever coven manages to perform the largest ritual will receive an Orb of Silverfire before the Autumn Equinox 387YE. The Orb is a covenstone, up to ten members of the coven gain one additional rank of Summer lore, subject to the normal rules for effective skill, when casting a ritual in the Pentad.

The Lord of the Summer Stars' attention has been drawn to the people of Urizen, partly as a result of the raising of Mount Polus. Meraud will lend some small amount of his power to the ritualists of Urizen at the coming summit to supporting battlemages. Any Urizen ritualist performing a personal enchantment with a targeting requirement of a battlemage, such as Crimson Ward of Summer Stars or Mantle of the Kriegszauberer, can benefit from the following:

Philtre of Heavenly Lore: The Philtre of Heavenly Lore is a potion created by apothecaries usually consumed to restore the personal mana of the imbiber. Any Urizeni contributor who has mastered the ritual can consume a dose of the Philtre of Heavenly Lore in place of two crystal mana, limited as normal by their ranks in ritual lore. The potion also has its normal effects on the imbiber. Only the specific potion of Philtre of Heavenly Lore can be used in this manner - other potions that restore personal mana do not work.

Golden Apples: Vis from the Summer Realm often takes the form of golden apples and can normally be used in place of three crystal mana when performing a Summer ritual. When used by an Urizeni magician to cast one of the Summer enchantments above, it also grants an additional effective rank to that Summer ritual, subject to the normal rules for effective skill. This benefit is in addition to the normal usage of providing three mana crystals to the ritual. Urizeni magicians can gain this benefit only once each time they cast a ritual, no matter how many apples they use, and subject to the normal rules for effective skill.

### Snow (Eleonaris) (Conjunction)

A legion of Eleonaris heralds are advancing across the Suaq Wastes The situation is confused by the presence of Typhawn This skirmish is a combat highly likely encounter The Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq is responsible for killing Typhawn and defeating the heralds This conjunction is against barbarians; magistrates advise that lethal force is fully justified

Last season, the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq managed to corral a hundred heads of cattle from the markets of the Marches to the wilds of Sermersuaq. They were penned out in carefully chosen areas in an attempt to draw Typhawn, guardian of Hayaak, into a trap. The lure has worked, and Typhawn is currently in the area. Unfortunately, just as it is time to deal with the monster, a legion of heralds of Eleonaris has appeared, marching towards the area containing Typhawn. They might be looking to free the guardian or possibly to kill the creature.

The heralds are Knights of Glory drawn from the Summer realm. They are a common sight for many Imperial soldiers - over the past year, they have been called forth many times to support Imperial armies on campaign against barbarians. They have also been present fighting against the Empire, but they have rarely been seen in numbers.

A small band of Suaq scouts were the first to spot the legion of heralds, accompanied by a dozen or so Jotun, moving across the Suaq Wastes and have raised the alarm for the possible consequences. It is down to whoever is elected as the Banner-bearer of Atkonaroq, to journey to Sermersuaq and defeat Typhawn, the knights of Eleonaris, and the Jotun.

### Boggartz (Boggarts)

A group of boggarts are incoming at the Anvil Regio on Friday evening They are expected to arrive around 20.30

Boggarts are generally seen as the weakest and most annoying inhabitants of the realms. They are drawn to magical places and people as often as not, and their nature is to be the cause of trouble regardless of which realm they hail from. Even if they do not consciously intend to be difficult disorder and destruction often follows in their wake. Two days before the start of the Summer Solstice summit, a poster appears at the regio written on golden-hued paper. As soon as a mortal hand touches it it starts to combust, but there is just enough time to read the message.

Apparently, a group called the "boggartz" are going to be coming to Anvil to claim what they are owed. They are going to be arriving around half past eight on Friday evening, and they intend to enter through the Imperial regio and none should risk their ire by getting in their way. It was sealed with a beautifully rendered Rune of Victory which also, sadly, burned up.

It's not clear what any of this actually means, there is no possibitliy that the sign could have been made by a boggart, they don't remotely have the intelligence for that. But clearly something is happening - magicians using the Imperial regio at that time are advised to be careful and do their best not to have their rituals disrupted.

Autumn
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### Curious Pitches (Callidus)

Callidus wishes to know what are the rarest and most sought-after items the Empire wants The heralds will pay people who pitch items to them for their time, but are not buying anything Two heralds of Callidus are coming to the Artisans Guild in the Brass Coast at 15:00 on Saturday

A week before the summit, a silver-faced, dark metallic-robed figure appeared at the regio. Striding past the rising tents, he made his way to the hub and ignored the line of people waiting to do business. Clicking his fingers to get the attention of the attendant civil servant, the herald handed over a letter sealed with a Fleur-de-Lys wax seal and left.

The Prince of the Argent Tontine invites citizens of Anvil to present to two of his heralds the items the Empire deems valuable and sought-after. The Sovereign-Lord of the City of Chains is not willing to share his motives at this time as to why he's taken an interest in the items of the Empire, but assures any concerned that theft is not his goal. Those who present items will receive a small compensation in respect for their time. The heralds of th