The Vharr Latyema Undertaking

[Rasael]

This topic serves as an overarching roleplay location on the Vharr Latyema undertaking. It covers multiple assemblies on the subject and discussions outside of assembly as well. Basically anything relating to it can be put here!

Conclave seat holder Ilphryssin seeks to put a motion before the Conclave and wants to ensure it is adopted. He speaks of his plan at lenght before a public assembly of Citizens, hoping to rouse support for the initiative and gauge whether or not to see it through.

The Vharr Latyema Undertaking
This motion commits the City to constructing Ward spires (Vharr Latyema) in strategic places around S'shamath and its environs.

The aim of these spires is to serve as safe places for incoming Caravans who have bought a licence in S'shamath. This licence allows them to trigger the spire, which will proceed to magically obliterate any enemies nearby who are hostile to the caravan.
Likewise the spire can be activated by citizens of the City, though it will never attack a citizen itself unless the spire itself is defending itself. The spire thus remains inert unless activated by touch, attacked or activated from within the City.

The purhased licence would remain valid for one return journey from and to the City. Then it would need to be repurchased. In this manner gold flows into the City's coffers and traders are encouraged to keep returning. Citizens would have no need to purchase a licence.

The enchantments powering the Spires can be drawn from the City's Mythal. This would provide spires near the city with near unlimited power to draw on and make their construction comparatively cheap. These nearby spires would directly strenghten the defences of the City. In turn this frees up the militia and Charnag Maelthra for other purposes, requiring only small garrissons to maintain and activate the spires. The garrison would also be able to use the spire to send for reinforcements. In this manner, the spire allows the militia and Charnag Maelthra to quickly and cheaply teleport to them when activated. Since activation can be done by touch or by command from the City this would not only aid the speed of our forces in responding to threat but also their overall movement through the S'shamath's domains.

For spires further away from the City stronger power sources would need to be created. Likely the use of permanent enchantments or some magical artefact or potent object such as a Demon's Heart. These spires would be few in number and expensive to construct. Situated only at the most vital spots.

This project would require the expertise of all the schools of Magic.
In embarking on this project the City complements the safety of the trade routes and sends a potent message to its rivals. S'shamath is strong, our magic is more potent than ever, and our resolve is unequalled.

As a gesture of commitment, the Circle itself would donate funds for the construction of the spires. Our clerks futhermore expect that the sheer scope of the construction project will result in a thoroughly reinvigorated Arteficer and Enchantment sector among the Artisans.

After explaining his idea, he looks around at the gathered Citizens for their opinions.

[Empoweredfan]

Nawiel had stationed herself where her presence would be least noted, among the most common of rabble, eyes on whomever around her that uttered a sound, so to draw as little attention as possible.

The speaker presented a very well formulated idea, and if anyone was more for increasing the trade in the city than herself, she had yet to meet them. That being said, she could not help but let her thoughts wander into darker places where intent would warp dramatically into less noble reasons for spires able to kill with little more than a touch from an attendant.

What if they could be turned into a weapon against the city itself? Who is to say that the selfish ways of the Drow would not sabotage the project, with each and every faern placing their own 'brand' of control, letting them activate them as they wished, striking down rivals or those that displeased them at the blink of an eye.

Not for the first time, she cursed the masked faern and the scout team that had turned her into such a sceptic. She could see conspiracies everywhere.

With a little prodding, and idea planting around her general area of the crowd, someone finally spoke up and asked: “What would you deem areas of 'strategic importance' for traders in the city?”

[Rasael]

Ilphryssin responds to the voice in the crowd of attending citizens,

Areas which are designated of strategic import are two fold in this proposal:
-Firstly the Vharr Latyema would secure the immediate vicinity of the City against hostile intrustion, unburdening our patrols and resulting in a decrease of militia garrison expenditures.
-Secondly the Vharr Latyema would secure the trade roads at regular intervals. In this way they become shelter points which will protect trade Caravans bound for- or coming from the City. Additionally they will allow the summoning of reinforcements and provide the City with a cheap network of Portals through which to project our forces against nearby threats or rivals.

Ultimately the Conclave will designate these places after discussing them with the City's traders and clients. The Vharr Latyema themselves, their design and those intended for purely military use are naturally an affair soley of the Conclave.

The amount of Vharr Latyema to be constructed to guard the trade routes will depend on their final design, cost and magical power. I am personally looking into manners with which to power the ward spires that are further from S'shamath. Given the prowess of the City's Arcanists... I am certain we will succeed.

Out of character: Ask not what your City can do for you; Ask what you can do for your City!

[Servin]

Once the crowd disperses and everyone heads out to mind their own businesses, a cloaked figure awaits a suitable time to talk to Ilphryssin. Once there is one, he hears the figure say with a slightly metallic female voice:

Walk with me for a while...

The figure does not appear to be stressed and her voice is calm.

[pattu]

Cal had situated himself closer to the front of the crowd. His dulled red eyes closely followed every gesture of the speaker as he listened to the proposal.

Another fool seeking glory and self achievements Cal sneered. Although he left these thoughts to himself as he recognized the speaker as an important member of the Circle. Cal weighed the positives and negatives of such a project in his head;

On the one hand, the ward spires would create a substantial increase in trade for Sshamath, the very lifeblood of the city. Furthermore the ward spires would demonstrate the arcane power and strength of the city. Sshamath would grow in influence and her rivals would cower. Also the freeing up and organization of the Charnag Maelthra would allow for more important tasks and missions rather than deploying them for useless guarding responsibilities. Cal has always been bothered by paying the idiots to stand around. Lastly, Cal felt the license system is a very good idea. It should be seen as a privilege to trade within the “safety” of Sshamath. And the license system working as a temporary permit is a necessity. Being privelage costs gold. Beauocracy at its finest, Cal thought grinning. Citizens (Drow) obtaining a permanent citizen’s license goes without saying. This will remind the lesser residents of Sshamath they are not equals and reinforce how accepting the city is for allowing them to reside within.

On the other hand, the ward spires as mentioned by the speaker will be a very expensive project. Due to the time, gold, and resources needed to complete the ward spires, the eventual profit will take some time to come to fruition. Also, even with the Circle pledging funds to the project, the project will require many more benefactors. Baendar would be required to help fund the project, but Baendar will not simply donate gold without having a voice in the project’s construction. Besides, Cal thought to himself, if the project is to be completed timely and correctly, Baendar must be involved. Finishing that thought Cal moved towards the most glaring and obvious negative of the project. The danger. As if hearing and being linked to the thoughts of many others within the meeting, Cal became slightly concerned about the potential threat the towers could cause the city herself. He spoke up.

Cal stepped forward and stared directly at the speaker, taking a moment before speaking;

“Dost idea and plan holds the potential for much benefit, but also.. great risk. These ward spires would provide a great defense to bolster the glory and idea that is Sshamath. However, these defensive towers also have the power to destroy, which I fear could be used against Sshamath herself. The only acceptable solution to this risk is to construct the ward spire to be unable to fire on any target within the city."

The faern continues

“Furthermore, dos asks quite a bit of faith from the citizens of Sshamath. Do dos think usstan would simply agree to a weapon designed to incinerate a target so… easily? The spires would seem to be a simple means as a way to eliminate an individual. Who decides the agenda of those who activate the spires. Can the conclave guarantee direct control of the ward spires at all times? And what assurances to the citizens of Sshamath have that these.. licenses will protect us at all?”

The faern continues and concludes

“The idea of the towers providing teleportation is another benefit that intrigues usstan. Will the teleportation also be accessible to residents or just citizens." He grins slightly at the statement. “But do naut let my paranoia deter dos.” Chuckles very slightly, “The project is one that holds much benefit. Usstan only asks that these concerns be addressed.”

Cal steps back into the crowd.

[Kenshin]

Rumor spreads through the Dark Weavings Bazaar that this latest scheme of the mage Ilphryssin Arkentlar is further proof of his grab for power. The project would represent a grave danger were the proposed spires to fall into the wrong hands. Such as a megalomaniacal member of the Conclave with delusions of grandeur. And even if they were not, they would represent a tyranny over the current order and state of affairs. Who is to say that corrupt entrepreneurs might not use bribes to use these 'spires' against their competitors? Trade flows well enough as it is. As things stand, when the value of the shipped goods is great enough it is easy enough to secure the services of armed guards to provide security instead of allowing even more concentration of power in the hands of those whose grand ambitions and self-serving agendas are only clear to themselves.

Just who started this word-of-mouth campaign is unclear. It appears though that several merchant guilds along with assorted mercenary companies have taken a negative view of the ambitious yet ambiguous proposal.

[Rasael]

Ilphryssin recognises and adresses the concerns of Cal Baendar:


Faern Baendar,
your questions cut to the heart of the matter,

I have previously given your concerns great thought and this is how I sought to adress them:

-The spires shall only be remotely activateable by command from the Conclave. A control rune would be created and bestowed on all of the represented Schools of Magic. When activated jointly, the spires obey.

-The control Runes shall be enchanted via- and linked to the City's Mythal. As such, the rune would not be able to pass beyond the Mythal's reach without losing their enchantment. This also allows the tracking of the runes at all times and prevents any tampering or copying. A compromised Rune would simply be disconnected from the Mythal, rendering it useless.

-A central administration shall be kept by the Conclave of active licences. A licence can only be revoked through a joint act of the Conclave, using their control runes.

-The enchantments placed on the spires shall prohibit them from attacking any Citizen, barring one who's licence has been revoked. Likewise, they shall not attack Caravans with licences unless that licence was revoked.

-The spires shall defend themselves and alert the City if attacked, allowing the militia to teleport in. They will defend themselves against any being unless instructed not to by the Conclave, through their joint control runes. In so doing the Spires may be dismantled and moved or repaired without triggering their wrath.

-As an additional pre-caution the spires near or within the City shall draw on the Mythal itself. Rather than be supplied with individual sources of magical energy this means they can be rendered inert should they be compromised somehow. Control of the Mythal rests with Conclave after all.

-Finally, no ward spire shall finish construction without inspection by each of the represented schools of Magic. A Faern of each school shall thus trace the enchantments and inscribe his sigil of approval.

As a consequence the ward spires will not be usable by any one faction within the City to gain an undue advantage. They represent a collective undertaking by the City and shall benefit all involved. I will furthermore suggest that contractual obligations be entered into by all contributors, ensuring their part in the undertaking is clear to all.


Concerning the Spires function as teleportation portals, it is my intent to see common citizens be able to use the spires. For caravans they would not suffice, given the weight would likely surpass the mass of a single person which the Spire would be able to teleport at a time. Whether Spires not fueled by the Mythal itself would be able to teleport I cannot say. It depends on the potency of the source of magical energy employed.

[Rasael]

Once the crowd disperses and everyone heads out to mind their own businesses, a cloaked figure awaits a suitable time to talk to Ilphryssin. Once there is one, he hears the figure say with a slightly metallic female voice:

Walk with me for a while...

The figure does not appear to be stressed and her voice is calm.

///Pretending the public talks are already over in this post (I'll continue replying to people in the public as if it were not - this is just an exception for Servin's roleplay branch)

Ilphryssin awknowledges the jalil, walks, and proceeds to ask for her opinion on the endevour.

[pattu]

The faern nods once to the speaker. His eyes remain in contact with the speaker, while his mouth forms a grin after hearing the speaker's resposne. He is pleased with the answer and yields the floor to another.

[Kenshin]

((Does anyone have a description of the mythal that Sshamath supposedly has? So far I have been unable to find anything in canon lore to support the existence of such a thing. In fact, it is the very absence of faerzress (magical radiation) that makes Sshamath special.

As per Void's Alhoon War, mention was made of a special node - presumably made of a special material - that lay beneath the city, which the undead illithid was going to unearth to fuel his rise to godhood.

It would be nice to clarify once and for all just what this server's version of Sshamath possesses. Clearly it is not a high elven mythal. Nor has Sshamath had the type of archmage (in its canon history) who may have created one.

Could a member of the staff authoritatively speak to the existence and nature of a mythal in Sshamath?))

[Rasael]

(PM sent on to you Kenshin)


Conclave seat holder Ilphryssin Arkentlar has called for another meeting of the Citizenry to discuss the Vharr Latyema Undertaking. All present there will be granted the opperunity to voice their opinion and influence the Conclave's decision.

The meeting will be held this Cyle. (Saturday 16th of Februari, 22.00 PM, GMT + 1) (subject to revision if many people have trouble attending)

A messenger bearing Conclave's seal was seen being ceremoniously dispatched from the 7th Circle Headquarters, by Ilphryssin. It is anyone's guess what message was being so formally sent. The messenger was seen heading for each of the Schools of Magic in turn but did not stop at the Temple of Lolth.


///Note to self, so far: Gruk cannot make current proposed time
///Second Note to self: I hope I can get it. It looks like the server is at 70 / 70

[Rasael]

Following events at the Spider's kiss and the subsequent Charnag Maelthra occupation thereof an official statement is released at the 7th Circle headquarters detailing how events of the attack led to the dispersal of the Citizen's Assembly at the Spider's Kiss.

Ilphryssin has made clear a new Assembly to continue discussing the Vharr Latyema undertaking will be called, even while the Inquiry into previous events is still ongoing.

In the statement he makes it clear the attack was perpetrated by Agents seeking to stimy the growth of S'shamaths wealth and power. Their fear of the Vharr Latyema undertaking spurring them into a desperate attack on the Conclave member himself.

The statement ends with the proclamation: The City will prevail.

///Kudos to all involved, I think it was a really fun meeting. I was happy to hear that you all thought likewise.
///Yes - the Underdark sure was crowded today!

[Rasael]

Construction has begun on a 'monument' on the grounds of the Conclave Hall in S'shamath (The Stonestave). Mages affiliated with the various schools of magic have been seen inspecting the site, deliberating and directing their work teams in preperation for the casting of ritual spells. The actual object has been hidden from view by magic, though a true seeing spell would reveal it is a large but otherwise unadorned pillar.

It is certain that the mages have been contracted for their work given the unusual level of collaboration between the schools. Preciscely who is employing them is not shared however. The total work force is small but well organised, overseen by a detachment of Charnag Maelthra usually present at the Conclave grounds.

Several reputable arteficers in the City have also been approached. The details of their negotiations have not yet leaked however.

[Rasael]

The joint schools of Necromancy, Evocation, Divination, Enchantment and Conjuration are rumoured to have presented a working Vharr Latyema to the Conclave. A participating team from the School of Mages was given observer privilege, not being an officially recognised School of Magic.

The Ward Spire was said to draw power from the Weave by linking it to the City's Mythal or to nearby Earth Nodes. It then focusses the collected magical energy through an enchanted Crystal which functions as a lens-loom. The lens is randomly adjusted after each casting, allowing the Ward Spire to cast any of the inscribed spells unpredictably. The participating schools are reportedly quite proud of their artifice's abilities, commenting that the lens-loom crystal method surpassed all initial expectations.

Strange crooked Pillar like structures are now under construction at the entrances to the City from Varalla's Passage, as well as the City's immediate borders. No new orders for Ward Spire artifice have yet been place however, feeding speculation that the participating schools may be disgruntled by the cost. An alternative explanation has also been offered by Political lobbyists, in that the participating schools are trying to offer the remaining schools a chance to join now that the project is succesfull - spreading the costs of construction and increasing the spell arsenal available to the Ward Spires.

So far sceptics have asked for a public demonstration of the Ward spires, calling the reputed private demonstration a staged display to mask failure and a waste of precious resources. Some sceptics were in turn accussed by Citizen entheusiasts and involved suppliers of being spies from Ched Nasad, jealous rivals, or simply worthless troublemongers. In the aftermath one "deadly" spell duel was fought between a mage from the school of Transmutation against a rival from the school of Evocation. Evoker Nel'sel'or Del'uran, also known as the Frigid, has been struck from the dueling competition roster after losing. The mage was polymorphed into a sewage elemental by an empowered spell. The Mythal did not reverse his transmutation at the end of duel for he was in no mortal danger. The sewage elemental was last seen flooding through the Arena's drain system towards the City's sewers. His opponent commented that he would expect to see a humbled Nel'sel'or again in ten years, though he was prepared to undo the spell if offered sufficient incentive.

It is also rumoured that as news spread of the succesfull demonstration a number of Faerns from the School of Necromancy began petitioning the Conclave to place several Ward Spires directly across the Temple of Lolth. It is unknown what other mages support the petition, if any.