‘The Kingless Kingdom’ is both an indictment and a morose statement of fact for all of Bordevar exists in the shadow of their long-dead monarch. Decades ago this was but a temporary morning, but in the ensuing dragging years it has become shame, hope, and frustration fused into one. While the great defeat at the blades of the Onyx Aristocracy has certainly occupied the minds of the Bordevarian people, humanity requires hope for the future as surely as it requires air for the lungs.
For some Bordevarians, their source of hope has never changed: the crown and the monarch. When the Platinum Crown once again rests upon a righteous brow then all will be well. For others there is truth in the Spheres, in the strength of the journey, in the hope of divine salvation. For others there is truth in death, in war, in the clash of steel on steel and the spilling of blood.
Regardless of what colours you fly in the Kingless Kingdom, hope is a precious commodity to be shepherded and spent carefully, with the greatest return for your risk.
All that You Have Gilded is Still Gold
The Wise Council has long been charged with the duty of finding Bordevar’s new monarch. Before the crushing bureaucracy of managing leagues upon leagues of crown land ground any elements of that pursuit to a halt, there were hopes that the Platinum Crown would be set atop a new brow within a scant few years. While this did not come to pass, rumours have begun to circulate that the Wise Council, freed up somewhat by the return of the Duchies and the loss of a vast amount of crown lands to the Onyx Aristocracy, is once again preparing to name a new Monarch.
The hearsay caught like a wildfire through the hills of Starscar. Those Bordevarians who believed in the crown and all it stood for were overjoyed! Tailors in Weiland township began to sew coronation pennants and flowers were planted where previously there was wheat. Among those that would see change in the realm there was great anger! Who is the Wise Council to stand distant and command them on who should be their leader? Angry voices rang out in taverns and a man was caught attempting to assassinate Count Jowel of Woodsend, a member of the council.
The rumours had clearly gotten out of control.
Councillor Igerne of Lakeshore made a public statement in the town square of Weiland itself, the aging woman's hard eyes and even voice keeping the rowdy crowd from breaking away at the seams:
“People of Weiland, hear me. I will speak plainly, for there is too much at stake for riddles.
The Wise Council has long carried the duty of naming Bordevar’s next Monarch, and I do not deny that duty has worn heavy upon our shoulders. The years have passed, and with them, patience has frayed. I hear your anger. I see your hope. And I tell you this—Bordevar stands closer to its future than it has in a generation.
We are no longer burdened by the endless ledger-keeping of distant holdings, nor are we shackled to lands lost to the Onyx Aristocracy. The Crown’s weight is no lighter, but its bearer is within sight. We do not stand idle. We do not grasp in the dark. The path ahead is clear, and we walk it with care. We walk it step in step with the heroes, knights and nobles of the Realm.
The Wise Council has a list of a possible Monarchs, how we have come to see them, and what they could offer the Realm. We must discuss this with the Realm at large to determine what route forward is most befitting. And while these discussions are of the utmost import, there are still acts which need be done. We cannot crown a new Monarch until the platinum crown is in our hands, and we will not crown a Monarch of Weiland, there must be more to our Realm than this.
So I say this: Be watchful. Be patient. The day is coming when Bordevar will have its Monarch. And when that day arrives, let it not be born from chaos and betrayal, but from resolve and unity. That is what the Realm deserves. That is what we all deserve."
At first it was the same grumbling, the same angry groans about a useless Wise Council and the pursuit of a never ending coronation. But as time passed, more and more of Igerne’s words found purchase. The path towards coronating Bordevar’s new monarch is known. The Wise Council has their options, and they are working with the nobles of the Realm to see it done. Bordevar is closer than ever before to naming a new Monarch.
Game Information
Following wild amounts of public speculation and pressure, the Wise Council has revealed some of their plans towards naming a new Monarch. Such an act has had a wild response from the Bordevarian people and has gone somewhat to ameliorating the damage done by the loss of the King's corpse last season.
All Bordevarian characters should consider their opinion on a new monarch being crowned as over the coming years these decisions will be made by all Bordevarians. Characters who support a return of Bordevarian monarchy are referred to as ‘Royalists’ while those who pursue a new Bordevarian system (perhaps lead by Dukes or something even more radical) tend to call themselves “Defiants”. Royalists tend to mark their allegiance with a small crown, either embroidered onto their clothes or worn as a badge, while defiants mark their allegiance with the image of a banner or flag.
The Wise Council has been clear that the first two steps are reclaiming the Platinum Crown (currently resting in Castle Artourious in Royal Bordevar) and fully reclaiming at least two regions for the Bordevarian Kingdom.
But the specifics as to who and how are still being held behind closed doors. There will be decisions for the Ambassador to Drummond, The Ducal Council of Weiland, and the Senator of Weiland regarding the future of Bordevarian Monarchy this summit.
A Blade Half Sunk Into Rotting Flesh, To Be Pulled Free or Driven To The Hilt
Draemoor is a wild place in the heart of the king's lands. Strange in comparison to the fields and villas of the duchies around it. Its hills and swamps are almost alien to the geography it eventually melds with. Its rivers run red with iron and clay, perhaps once with blood and disease. Bloody battles against The Endemani people once happened here, and Blasserstreit once made itself at home through its rivers that run from Vassertal. Now, it is home to the living dead, and stands a testament to loss and defeat. A nigh reachable landscape, foreign in far too many ways to those that once called it their home.
Heroic efforts and incursions into the wild Duchy seek to apply violent tincture as remedy to such malignant thoughts.
Last Summit would see heroes crush Aristocracy forces at the border of Draemoor and Starscar. Supplies for a watchtower and labour to see it turned from material to structure, returned to the earth from which they were raised. An undead Duke Aspirant, traitor to The Concord and betrayer of Avalon, would face his end at the hands of those he left behind. The heights of The Emberheart would be cut low, and The Concord would cheer for it. For the sake of Draemoor and its current infestation, his true death would prove the beginning of a cure.
As they so often do, it would not take long for eyes to turn yet further towards the centre of Draemoor. So far away lies the city of Bloodmarsh, the largest of the settlements in the red-river Duchy, too far from reach for those not at the heads of armies. Instead, those gazing must retire their greed and search for more suitable targets for their ire. A lonely garrison, manned by the dead, would prove perfect for such a task.
The garrison, a thing of wood and little else, stands in the way of further incursions. While perhaps innocuous on its own, its hidden potential betrays those who think to ignore it. It is a thing to be destroyed, less those within be given right to seek blood from those without. Its destruction will be the beginnings of a path towards Bloodmarsh, and such a thing must be handled by heroic blades. Those who first proclaimed this path shall be allowed the chance to hold such blades, and their success shall shake the hold of The Aristocracy on the Duchy.
Yet the path is to be walked by many, should its foundations be laid successfully.
A chance arises, should the garrison fall, to truly venture into Draemoor over the Winter Season. To take personal military forces into the swamplands and scout the territory that remains. A dangerous undertaking, as rewarding as it may be risky. An opportunity to assess the Duchy, to see that state of its rivers and determine whether they still carry within them a viral danger. To observe the outskirts of Bloodmarsh for the first time in years, and discover what has become of the place since. To search for the leaders of the living dead, and in doing so create further chance to lay them low.
This cannot occur with the garrison manned. Yet, even should the heroes be victors once more, it still could not be possible alone. There would be raiders needed, violent distractions that draw the attention of the dead from those that seek answers and opportunity. They would be needed in great number, and would face the returned wrath of those they defy, but they would be as if shields to those deeper within Draemoor. They would be given the chance to fight, army or no, against those that have taken root within the hills and swamps.
But should they fail to gather enough strength, they would be as executioners to the scouts beyond.
Such a risk, for so great a reward. Such is the requirement to walk the path that secures Draemoor. These rewards, opportunities as they may be, will further remove the fog from the path forward, laying its foundations as success begets success. Should the path continue, perhaps Duchy Draemoor may be stolen from the hands of the dead. Completely taken by the hands of heroes, not the marching boots of armies. Rewarded upon the violent path with the sweetest reward, ever closer with each success but truly hindered by the grief of failure.
The possibility of sacrifice and loss upon this path is high, but such things are no surprise upon the path of reclamation.
Three years remain.
Game Information
On the first day of the coming Summit at 6pm, there will be a Skirmish Conflux against The Onyx Aristocracy in Draemoor. The Conflux will be for 30 Bordevarian Characters, with The Champion of the King being responsible for it. More information will be given via letter to The Champion of the King at the beginning of Summit.
The Conflux is expected to have Low Accessibility, Moderate Danger, and Moderate Intensity.
If the above Conflux succeeds, a Special Downtime Action will be made available to all Concordian Characters with Military Investment. The Special Action has two parts, with each explained below:
The first Special Action, requiring the largest total attendance, is to aggressively raid Draemoor. This would see Military Investments and their Characters fighting against scattered OA forces, smaller military camps and even some minor regional settlements. These forces would be fighting loud and hard, engaging The Aristocracy as often as possible and facing a lot of danger in doing so. While controlled retreats are possible, it is expected that Investments taking this option WILL be damaged, with a small chance of Characters gaining a Traumatic Wound.
- This Special Action (“Raid Draemoor”), requires a total of 10 Unique Investments to succeed. More than this, through Tier or Attendance, will not have a tangible mechanical benefit, but is still possible.
The second Special Action involves scouting through Draemoor with specific objectives in mind. This would see the Military Investment and their Characters trying to stay undetected while investigating the presence of Blasserstreit in Draemoor, the state of its largest settlement Bloodmarsh, and trying to uncover the locations of OA leaders in the territory. As such objectives require the scouts to go deep into Draemoor, they carry the greatest risk should the Raids fail to occur. Characters taking this option should be aware that there is a great chance of their Investment being damaged, and should the Raids fail there is also a chance of receiving a Traumatic Wound OR the Terminal effect.
- This Special Action (“Scout Draemoor”), requires a total of 5 Unique Investments to succeed. More than this, through Tier or Attendance, will not have a tangible mechanical benefit, but is still possible. Please note, selecting Scout the Frontline - Royal Bordevar will not count towards this total.
In addition to the above expected Conflux and Special actions, continued successful incursions into Draemoor will increase the chance of additional opportunities being made available to The Concord. These opportunities will not be made available should Draemoor be successfully captured by The Concord as a result of a Military Campaign. However, should all opportunities meet success over the coming 3 years, it can be expected that the Territory of Draemoor will come under Concordian control without requiring a Campaign to occur.
Further reading at Winds of the World - Autumn 225