[center][u]70th of Zieliah, Year 698[/u][/center]

The newly-appointed Arch Dawnbringer eased into the seat of his chair, unraveling the map of Elyden across the flat of the table before him. Roman was dressed in the garment of Arch Dawnbringer, a pearl-colored robe of silk, embroidered with golden trim which gave the impression of flames. Shamgar’s staff leaned on the wall, the badge of office having been passed on to his care. While Roman was not exactly surprised at his appointment by the Paragon Regent, concerning the stature the Benedikts held in capital, he was bewildered at James Conrad’s sudden abandonment of ambition. It had seemed that he was digging everything he could find out of his pockets to secure votes from a select number of houses, yet when it came time for voting, he denied himself his vote. It was counter-intuitive, and in Roman'a mind, he had begun to establish his character as that of a madman without a clear head. However, it had gotten Shamgar where Roman desired and landed himself in the exalted position of Keeper of the Sky Flame. He supposed he could thank the Conrad for that much; it was a first.

Roman traced a finger along the map, absently drawing it across the borders of the Southern Isles as his brain worked. The secessionist Akop-worshipers did not possess the strength to pose an immediate threat to Elyden, but they had been bothering him for some time now. Abandoning the kingdom and lacking in faith, they were everything which Roman despised. Yet they were not the only ones to tease his ire. 

The Conrads were an obvious foe, and like the Karacids, preferred their own sea god to Kammeth. But the rumors he had just received of necromancy on the Young Islands were intolerable. No faithful son of Kammeth would tolerate such evil, and the assumption Lord James permitted such practices only served to anger Roman further. However, without proof, even Roman would not be able to adequately rid the islands of House Conrad’s heathen behavior.

The Arch Dawnbreaker thought to himself for a few more moments, brow furrowed in concentration. He'd have to appeal to houses he knew he could count on. Luckily, he had one in mind. Roman retrieved a slip of parchment, dipped his quill into his ink well and began to write his letter…