Every Summit the Heroes of The Concord descend upon Passage. In their wake and ahead of them come innumerable workers, bureaucrats, peddlers, and hangers on. These unseen hands weave the work that the Concordian cohort lays the pattern for. But among these hands are those unexpected. Those whose role may be to destroy, disarm or defray.
These notable visitors come in as many forms as there are Concordian Heroes, but for most their arrival is no surprise. At least, not an immediate one. For their path is as long as any Concordian - plenty of time to plan whatever sort of arrival The Concord may wish.
We Only Have One Lifetime - Mortal Visitors
Already known among the Concordian Heroes is the attendance of Belia De Bevolio, the Bursar for The Ratscrews. This political party currently holds sway within Lerona Mere through their promises of bread and games for all. De Bevolio has made no secret of their interest in Passage, stopping at every tavern between Lerona Mere and Passage, coin in their pocket and cards in their hand. They have spoken of an opportunity for The Concordian Senate to win the whole game, or perhaps lose it in equal measure. With a hand for drama and flair, they draw ever closer.
But there is one unexpected visitor as well, borne to The Concord by swift ship and grim determination. A man of firm scowl and few words, making his way to Passage: Axos Lokhagos Adimeas Javes has travelled from Kameiros and has business with The Concord. The most official diplomat that The Concord has received from the Dendarri, Adimeas occupies the position of Axos Lokhagos, the Dendarri equivalent of Admiral of one of the city’s two powerful navies. A figure of political and military stature, Adimeas has been tight-lipped about his business with The Concord but it is likely to be wide reaching and impactful if the port city of Kameiros is willing to send one of its two Admirals to treaty with the Heroes of Passage.
As with every Summit, it is likely that more than these two will make their name and presence felt within Passage, but as it stands these two are the only who have risen above the throng.
Game Information
Belia De Bevolio is expected to speak before The Senate on the final day of Summit, although she hopes to attend slightly before to take in the sights and sounds of Passage. Additional information for De Bevolio can be found in the Murky Waters Is Best Cleared by Leaving it Alone Winds.
Axos Lokhagos Adimeas Javes (‘Axoss Lock-Haag-oss Addy-May-Ass Have-ez’) is travelling swiftly and appears to be a man who values promptness. He is likely to arrive in Passage on the first night of the Summit and will be eager to meet with The Ambassador to Dendarr, The Minister of Foreign Affairs, and many other title holders.
The Lucky Ones Will Live First - Other Visitors
As a place in both time and space of great chance, it is not surprising that the twice-yearly Summits draw the attention of more than just mortals. While Boghoffens and their ilk swirl around the hills and orchards near Passage like an excrement-and-violence tornado, there are other forces at work.
The Precipice has been aligned and the great works of the past Season have not gone unnoticed. Once again The Concord has shown its ambition and its hunger for greatness. The great Sphere of ambition has noticed and once again sends one of its chosen to speak before us. The Promise, subordinate Herald of The Esteem shall be present at the Summit to provide guidance, solace and hope for achievement in these trying times. Given the vast prewarning of their arrival, it is likely that they will manifest within the Shardcircle first, before moving among the people of Passage.
But not all of Panoply’s hand is given equally and openly. Years prior, actions were undertaken in Passage that brought forth an entity most malevolent but still holy. The Dead Reckoner, a creature undeniably of Panoply but wrought wrong through corruption of the Sacred Square once again draws near to Passage. The Reckoner has the ability to curse, even to the point of death, those who fail to fulfil their debts, be they oaths of service or bills of sale. When the creature was last in Passage it left chaos in its wake as Concordians fell over each other in attempts to see it blocked, used or abused. In the time since, much has changed. The Reckoner has been deemed a being of Panoply, but not a Herald. People of The Concord have been forbidden to interact with the thing, but this has not stopped it from forming a growing cult known as ‘The Reckonites’. These Reckonites attend to the being, following in its wake and will undoubtedly be present in Passage. Perhaps to argue their point, or simply to worship in the shadow of a being of ambition.
Finally, while she has made no movements to present herself before such lowly mortals as Concordian Heroes, the Greenwealdian creature known as ‘The Fae Queen’ or ‘The Shadow in the Sableheart’ has left her mark: on the trees, in the wind, in the dreams of those nearby. She will speak with The Concord’s greatest Heroes at this Summit, while the fate of Wolstad and Passage rest within her mandibles, although who is to say what that means.
Game Information
More information on the Dead Reckoner can be found in the Winds for Winter 223, where the creature made its first appearance. The Church has forbidden interacting with the creature; characters who do so risk inquisition or worse for attempting to make use of the creature's powers.