Following the advice of Bamathis at Memonaransa, Bloodloch's thoughts turned to the Court of Chaos, and how best to approach persuading the Empress Xa'azamit to lend her military strength to the defence of Sapience against the all-encroaching Shadow. Numerous theories were posited, the project spearheaded by Lord Rijetta Alhazrad and Warleader Bulrok. A Convocation of the Corrupt was held, a meeting in the Dark Lady's halls to discuss the possibilities, and yet more suggestions came forward. On counsel with the Dark Lady Herself, Chakrasul noted Xa'azamit's pride and the relative youth of her Court. Should She not be convinced, so said the Goddess, it may be possible to foment dissent in her ranks by convincing the lesser lords, pressuring the Empress in the process.

Some weeks later, a Herald of Corrupt Chaos appeared on the Prime, raising its voice to shout repeated praise and compliments for the Empress. It informed Bloodloch that the pleas of Primus Dourif - a Chaos Lord in his own right and Champion of the Empress - for an audience had been granted, and the Empire hastened to prepare for the meeting, the Herald remaining behind to continually regale Sapience with Xa'azamit's seemingly infinite list of virtues.

Soon came the meeting and the Primus, accompanied by Asaraii, Bulrok, Rijetta, Qelres, Mjoll, Aren, and others, ventured into the Empress' domain and made their request for aid. Urged on by Asaraii, Primus Dourif fell to one knee and shed a single tear despite his wife's emphatic urgings, nevertheless conveying praise and well wishes upon Xa'azamit. The Herald narrated events with its own flair and, apparently, its own grasp on the facts of reality. Despite the obsequious praise being heaped upon her by the gathered adventurers in order to persuade her to their side, the negotiations proved difficult. Asaraii continued to hound Dourif, insisting he shed more tears, make more praise and, eventually, volunteered herself as a tribute. Rijetta, at first attempting to manipulate the Empress with talk of dissent and treachery in her court, offered the serpentine Xa'azamit a mortal heart while the rest looked on at the spectacle, amused but intrigued.

When none of the overtures seemed to gain any traction, among them offerings to destroy Rhyot (loathed by the Empress for his association with the late, defeated Golgotha), to build statues, and to destroy her detractors, Xa'azamit instead offered to name her price. Angrily declaring that there is only one true realm of Chaos, denouncing the Astral as a false usurper, she demanded the eyes of the Empress of Astral, the Goddess Omei, in exchange for mobilising her armies to Sapience's defence. Stunned by this impossible request, the group nonetheless voiced acquiescence and promises to deliver before withdrawing from the throne room to seek their fortunes elsewhere.

As they deliberated beside the Gatekeeper's portal, Ni'toks'i stirred, its grating tones hurriedly whispering that it would support the adventurers. With a hushed murmur, it promised to open gateways for armies to enter Sapience if they were able to convince the other Lords to provide them. A plan quickly formed, and Rijetta took charge, briskly swaying Kerbos to their side with promises of flesh and food aplenty.

To Akna she went next while Bulrok visited Yozik and Qelres looked to Bampair. The withered crone, aged and repulsive, expressed an interest in the war, but only if her demands were met, insisting that Rijetta provide for her a husband both "handsome and virile". Lord Alhazrad immediately demanded that Warleader Bulrok join her, and, without hesitation or reluctance, promised his hand to the Withered One. Akna accepted with a shriek of delight and a creak of ancient bones, inciting no small measure of spite and chagrin in the Minotaur.

Returning to Yozik with nothing but curses for Rijetta's name, Bulrok lavished flattery on the Lustrous Chaos Lord, hoping to take advantage of its tremendous narcissism. Yozik's demand was far simpler: a written proclamation of its greatness to the public board. Likely relieved at the relative simplicity, Bulrok agreed and within some weeks the announcement appeared, scribed by his hand for all to witness.

Qelres and Mjoll were less fortunate in their negotiations with Bampair. The Insatiable One demanded a taste of blood from Abhorash himself and, despite Mjoll's valiant attempt to trick the lord by claiming she was, in fact, Abhorash, Bampair was not convinced. Screaming in outrage at being cheated, the adventurers quickly hurried from the chamber before anything worse could happen.

Rijetta next visited Tel-Muzaan, and the ever-shifting Skinwalker demanded a precious boon indeed: a mirror that could show its true reflection, something it seemed wan and melancholy about. Despite her efforts and her various attempts to harangue Sapience into finding one for her, including an ambitious request to be brought "every mirror in Sapience", no artifact presented itself, though Rijetta continues to search for one.

Following this, Ni'toks'i urged them to take their leave before the Empress caught wind of the plan, and they did so. Counselling them to return at a later date, the Gatekeeper's insight suggested that they not bother at all with Janorex or Zaigon, that Nurgleeki could be persuaded with a gift of magic, and that Siphelia would require a test of ego.

While Bulrok mulled over what gift of magic would satisfy the Warlock, Sheryni suggested they proffer knowledge in the newly-learned bardic art of weaving. Together they paid a visit to Haratos, hoping to learn some new spectacle or feat from the master bard. While he ruefully explained that many of the greatest feats were lost after Nalibhtavi's massacre of the bards, the proud dramaturge insisted that weaving itself was an art like any other, sure to impress.

Meanwhile, Xenia Seirath, the Voice of Iosyne, took up the challenge of an ego battle with Siphelia, the Specter, offering one of her hounds by the name of Porkskin as a prize for the Chaos Lord should she fail to pass. "Bend us to your will, if you can," said the disembodied voice. The two squared off and Xenia steeled her resolve as the formless Siphelia bored into her with her endless eyes, a palpable storm of pure, raw conceit rising to fill the chamber with oppressive force. The Specter battered Xenia's mind with the raw power of its ego, sheer will forced into tangible might. Straining against the Chaos Lord's power, Xenia held on, her thoughts consumed with a repetitive mantra, but found herself involuntarily inching forward, skittering closer to Siphelia. Though she held out far longer than expected, Siphelia's will, Siphelia's ego, prevailed, sundering Xenia's mind in a storm of kaleidoscopic light. The Spectre, having won the battle, claimed the hound for itself, refusing to lend any aid to the Night War.

A week later, Ni'toks'i eagerly informed Bulrok that Akna, clearly enlivened by her newfound engagement, had managed to persuade Titem and Taosc to the cause. Should they convince Nurgleeki, so said the Gatekeeper, that would likely be enough of the Court to sway the Empress herself. Rushing to greet the Warlock, Bulrok explained his request and in a surprising twist, Nurgleeki, so intrigued by the prospect of being taught a new form of magic, promised two boons. However, as is so often the case with Chaos, there was a condition: the Warlock required a regular tutor, and would not be satisfied with only a one off lesson.

Agreeing, the Warleader demonstrated his skill in weaving with a flourish of light and bardic magic. Intrigued by a form of spellwork it had never seen before, the Warlock declared the offering to be an acceptable one. Alela of the Thousand Eyes volunteered as Nurgleeki's tutor, and the first of the two boons soon appeared in the form of a caduceus of chaos, a staff capable of inflicting the Curse of Nurgleeki upon the shadowspawn. Promising to send armies of bubonises when the time came, Nurgleeki withdrew from the discussion and Bulrok returned to Prime, informing Ni'toks'i of his success along the way.

The armies of Corrupt Chaos mobilise under the very nose of their Empress, who has not yet made comment. Soon, they shall march to Prime...

Penned by my hand on Falsday, the 5th of Slyphian, in the year 504 MA.
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