Mukarrem has gained a reputation since the founding of The Concord as a place of wild occurrences. Between the invasion of the regions only settled township, the Corsair city off the coast, the vast swathes of rebels and the arcane laboratory, it is certainly a region that is proving a thorn in the Concord’s side.
As the Concord, particularly the people of Andash, attempted to appease the rebel nomads of the Al’Mai, disturbing rumours emerged from the Idrian Cabal site within the centre of the region. Strange magics are hardly abnormal for the arcanists of the Idrian Cabal who meddle with such things as a point of order, but tales of warped experiments and even heresy have begun to circulate in the taverns of Andash and beyond.
The Al’Mai, perhaps emboldened by The Concord’s support, are driven to protect the land they see as theirs and have done so at the end of a blade. Thousands of Al’Mai Shesti warriors have assaulted the Idrian Site. The Arcane art of war has clashed with the agility of the hawk and Mukarrem appears to be sliding deeper into chaos.
Battle of the Glass Field
While it is difficult to form a clear tale of what happened at ‘The Battle of the Glass Field’ from the rumours that abound, there are certainly broad strokes of carnage known to those who would care to ask.
The Al’Mai forces were composed of anywhere between a few hundred and nearly fifteen hundred Shesti Warriors and local mercenaries drawn from Andash and beyond. The cohort, under the command of Kharas Al’Mai El’Mitricasa Del’Eastwind, had been keeping a cordon on the eastern reaches of the Idrian site since winter last year. Staying beyond the bloodglass obelisks that irregularly mark the edge of the Idrian claim and the effects of their magical experimentation. Even a year ago the two groups were clashing, but even then only at a distance with the posturing of armed men.
Word has it that the Al’Mai are claiming no provocation led to the assault, at least no provocation beyond the Idrian Cabal’s presence and their perceived blight upon the lands of the Priado Expanse. Early in the morning in late February under a cool morning sun and amidst a fierce wind, the forces of the Al’Mai and their allies launched an assault across a wide crescent, seeking to cross the lands ruined by Idrian meddling and bring flame to the structures at the heart of the site. As they went they brought with them the embers that licked the ground and the dried summer grass. The Shesti would be flanked by the inferno as their ancestors did.
For their part, the Idrian Cabal responded with cacophonous violence but in a disorganised manner. Apprentices ran wildly about, securing devices of measurement and magnitude while those among them who knew of battle readied to bring an unmaking upon the nomads of Mukarrem.
The battle changed immensely when the Shesti crossed the threshold, entering into that strange place affected by the whims of the Cabal member many months prior. Under their boots and sandals grass shattered like glass, bleeding a crystalline clear fluid that mixed with the blood of the Shesti. As they struggled to cross the expanse of razorlike prairie, arcane power syphoned the flames that burned across the mundane field, striking out at the nomads. Amidst the flame and fury was the bite of Bordevarian arrows, a force of rangers, clad in the grey-green cloaks and led by a fierce young woman added to the Cabals response.
But the same flames that were now feeding their destructive magic were also bearing down on them. More and more of the Cabalists were forced to pull away from the defense against the Shesti to fuel wards against the inferno. As the barrage began to lift, the Shesti crossed more of the accursed ground, the words of Kharas sharp in their minds;
‘We are Shesti! We are Hawkborne! We will fall upon them like lightning and like lightning we cannot be turned aside!’
The forces of the Al’Mai flooded into the buildings of the Cabal and struck them a grievous blow. As the Shesti swirled through the compound like a sandstorm, they were aided by Concordian forces, Andashi citizens who had seen fit to support the cause of these nomadic brethren, or perhaps simply caught up in the fury of the day.
Magic clashed with blade as the warriors of the Al’Mai clashed with the scattered apprentices of the Cabal, sabres breaking through arcane shields and biting home. But scattered among the structures and halls of the Cabal site their momentum was broken. As the fast moving brushfire passed over the battle and moved on the Idrian Cabal were no longer divided. Their most powerful members, including the Second Apprentice Skaios the Winder, turned their attention to the Shesti.
When the dust and smoke cleared, the structures of the Idrian Site still stood. Hundreds of Shesti were slain, either impaled on the flesh-seeking glass of the field where the experiment was originally conducted or split asunder by Cabal magics. But the Cabal are grievously wounded. Many of the simple workers and minor apprentices are bloody corpses amidst charred buildings. The ability for the Cabal to complete their goals in Mukarrem are painfully in question, whatever those goals may be.
This conflict continues to burn on the West. It is unlikely that either party has had their fill of battle given how close both came to destroying the other. But unless The Concord makes its presence known it is unclear who will emerge the victor.
Game Information
There will be decisions related to the Battle of the Glass Field for the Senator of Mukarrem and the Champion of the Tribes.
The escalation of the conflict between the Idrian Cabal and the Al’Mai looks to continue and The Concord (both the War Chamber, the Senate and the Andashi) will have difficult decisions to make in regards to it.
The strangeness of the battle allows word of it to travel far and it would be reasonable for any influential character to know the details as presented here. Likely heard over tavern talk or similar.
Might of the Headmaster
With the dust settled, the Cabal appears to have reacted with open hands. Representatives from the Idrian Site in Mukarrem have made their way to both Nazafeza and Obregon, seeking out Concordian Magistrates to report the crimes against them, to recruit additional mercenaries and purchase supplies to rebuild. To all onlookers the Cabal is presenting the image of a reasonable and aggrieved party, assaulted while conducting important works. Interestingly, the Idrian Cabal claim to have captured Kharas Al’Mai, The Al’Mai’s aggressive military commander, during the assault. They claim that he is in good health but is being held until the Cabal can be sure that he won’t continue to be a problem.
To those that have aided them, the Cabal continues to make overtures of thanks, often with magical artefacts or coins. More and more traders and janissaries in Obregon are becoming interested in the strange magi who are more than capable of making good on their deals.
But at the same time the rumours of the Idrian Site and its research are foreboding. The Concord lacks any real information about what is going on within the Field of Glass or the laboratories of the Magi and it appears that the Cabal isn’t budging on this. But their willingness to talk and engage in business bodes well for The Concord, if not for the Magistrates who have to unpick this particular circumstance.
Perhaps most interesting is the fact that Skaios the Winder, Second Apprentice to Themonar, Master of Idiomancy and Archmagus of the Word, intends to travel to Passage. A representative from the Cabal has not been to Passage since the original deal was made between the once-senator of Mukarrem and the foremost apprentice of Themonar. Given the circumstances it is unlikely that this will be a simple visit.
Game Information
There will be decisions in regards to the Idrian Cabal for the Archmage of the Shardcircle, the Headmaster of the Andashi School of Gifts, the Senator of Mukarrem and the Senator of The Tribelands.
Skaios the Winder will be attending the Winter Summit, more information on their journey can be found in the Winds of the World Entry “Journey On”.
The agreement between the Senator of Mukarrem and the Idrian Cabal was one entered into privately without a larger treaty due to The Concord’s lack of an embassy with The Cabal. There is an argument to be had that such agreement is invalid and the Senator went outside of the functions of the Foreign Service. However any attempts to undo the agreement would certainly anger the Idrian Cabal. The Concord will continue to have difficulty managing its relationship with the Idrian Cabal in the absence of an embassy.
The character who supported the Idrian Cabal will receive additional information in regards to the Battle of the Glass Field and generous rewards for their support.
Hawkborne
For their part, the Al’Mai are standing by their actions. Representatives of the separatist group in Obregon are making their case known to those who support them that the agreement with the Idrian Cabal puts all of Mukarrem at risk for no gain. They accuse the absent Senator Westwind of corruption in taking the agreement originally, saying that the man was lured in with offers of continued funds or arcane enchantment of his person.
The Al’Mai are quite emboldened by recent events and by Concordian support on the battlefield. Numerous Andashi mercenary forces aided the Al’Mai in their assault and in the recovery after the battle. To those who have aided them, the Al’Mai welcome them with open arms. Offers of being welcomed into their clan allegiance and if not, at least the reward of coin and resources controlled by the groups extensive network of cattle clans, wilderness wanderers and hillside camps.
The group continues to proclaim their separation from The Concord, claiming that their actions are their own and that The Concord has offered them no support in ‘attempting to reclaim Mukarrem for the Andashi people’. Whether this action has been taken to put distance between The Concord and the violence of the Al’Mai or to use the attack as an indicator of Al’Mai sovereignty is unclear. While the future remains unclear, the present is known, Concordian magistrates, prospectors and visitors remain blocked on the edges of Al’Mai territory.
But unlike previous Summits there is change on the wind. The illusive Magli Al’Mai, leader of the Al’Mai is making their way to the Summit with a small group of advisors. The group is public about their desire to discuss the future of The Concord and The Al’Mai, whatever form that may take.
Game Information
There will be decisions in regards to the Al’Mai for the Senator of Mukarrem, the Senator of The Tribelands and the Champion of the Tribes.
Magli Al’Mai and a cohort of advisors will be travelling to the Winter Summit. More information about their journey can be found in the Winds of the World entry ‘Journey On’.
The Al’Mai remain a divisive group in The Concord (both figuratively and literally). While their cause for nomad representation and recognition is widely supported (particularly by the Andashi Heroes), these recent actions may be a step too far. Characters are welcome to show support for the Al’Mai through the wearing of orange and blue braids on their person, an act that has become common across many Realms.
On the Advice of your Solicitor
Ever since the Al’Mai declared their separation from The Concord and laid claim to nearly a third of Mukarrem the Concordian Magistrates have been hamstrung in their appropriate response. For many Magistrates this is a clear act of treason and there are even rumours of kidnapping and murder on the behalf of the group’s Shesti warriors. But it is this same level of risk, particularly when the group sees support from Concordian Heroes, that makes it difficult to enter the Mitricasa Rise and begin arresting ringleaders. Concordian Magistrates have been unable to arrest anyone over the last eighteen months in regards to the circumstance, despite continued statements that the group is contravening Concordian law.
It is likely that the matter will come to a head at this Summit as a Writ of Investigation has already been penned, empowering the Captain of the Passage Watch to investigate Magli Al’Mai for the crime of Treason. As much as the case of the Al’Mai is being argued in the Senate, the War Chamber and the streets of the Andashi camp, it seems it must also be argued in court. It is known that Magli Al’Mai is travelling with at least one Shesti warrior and an altercation between the nomads of Mukarrem and the Passage Watch is certainly possible.
Further complicating matters are the Concordian heroes that lead forces alongside the Al’Mai. The reasons each of these individuals have for supporting the Al’Mai are likely their own, as is their involvement in the assault on the Idrian Site, but The Concord is not at war with the Idrian Cabal, making actions against them legally dangerous. Concordian citizens are bound by Concordian law, but foreigners are not necessarily protected by it. While the exact circumstances of the battle, these Heroes involvement in the battle, their reasons and the exact protections the Idrian Cabal are due or not due are a tangled web of legal philosophy, it does not change the fact that Writs of Investigation are also waiting, bearing ominous crimes such as ‘Treason’, ‘Murder’ and ‘Criminal Damage’.
Game Information
The legal status of the Al’Mai has been massively complicated by the Battle of the Glass Field and the presence of Concordian Heroes within it. It is likely that a series of very political trials will come forward this Summit as the Concordian Magistrates are granted some amount of a chance to bring Concordian Law to bear on the circumstance.
Writs of Investigation (that empower the Captain of the Watch to investigate a crime, asking questions and seeking evidence) have been penned for the following characters:
- Elemar The Bard - Treason, Murder, Assault and Criminal Damage
- Miraz Al’Ramil - Treason, Murder, Assault and Criminal Damage
- Eshaan of Mukarrem - Treason, Murder, Assault and Criminal Damage
The Captain of the Watch and their deputies should be prepared to conduct these investigations (and others) following their election. Deputies will also need to be re-endorsed by the new Captain of the Watch (should the position change) and are requested to attend the first Senate session of the Summit. To be re-endorsed or to return their sashes if no Captain is elected.
The other councils of The Concord have a number of options available to them to offer support or condemnation during this time. While the legal status of the Al’Mai as traitors or not will heavily depend on discussions between the Al’Mai and the Senators of Mukarrem and The Tribelands, the Senate could condemn the acts prior to that, clarifying the Concord’s position and empowering Magistrates to act against the Al’Mai. The Church could also condemn or endorse the Al’Mai through declarations, granting the individuals involved a greater or less support for claims of religious clemency.
The Senate could also clarify The Concord’s position through a declaration of war on the Idrian Cabal. Doing so would likely result in minimal punishments, if any, regarding actions taken during the Battle of the Glass Field. This would likely result in a response from the Idrian Cabal.
The Senate power of Grand Inquest cannot currently be targeted against the Al’Mai due to the civil service’s fears that such an inquest would place too many magistrates and their assistants in danger. If the might of the Al’Mai could be broken or reduced, such an action would be possible. A Grand Inquest into the Idrian Cabal site in Mukarrem would be possible (there are far less of them present in Mukarrem), but would have its own consequences.
With both the Al’Mai and the Idrian Cabal weakened, a single Concordian army of at least four thousand strength could sweep either group from Mukarrem. This would not be conducted without losses, as bot the Al’Mai and the Idrian Cabal are powerful combatants despite their wounds. Losses would be expected to be considerable, but not catastrophic, Civil Service within the War Chamber estimate between five and seven hundred casualties. An army within the region would need to take a hostile order and make a target against either the Al’Mai or the Idrian Cabal. If a general or admiral were to take this order against the Al’Mai, they would have support of Concordian magistrates, a final crackdown on the separatists of Mukarrem. If a general or admiral were to take this order against the Idrian Cabal WITHOUT a declaration of war, that would be Treason.
Any players with questions about the above events or the Concordian legal system are welcome to email the Concord team at [email protected] or speak to a member of the story team.