Political Story Seeds

These story seeds are concerned with getting support for the project:

The Shame of Seneca's Folly

With word of the intended tower spreading across the Order, the covenant of Durenmar announces that it will finally make its position known. It is an influential voice and one that could end any talk of the Great Tower. Those behind the project must approach Durenmar and persuade the Primus to side with the project.

But it quickly becomes apparent that the shame of Seneca's folly in attempting just such a project still sits heavy with House Bonisagus. The Primus will never allow another tower to be attempted where Seneca, Durenmar, and House Bonisagus failed. But if Seneca's legacy could be reassessed, perhaps with proof brought before the Order to absolve Seneca and Durenmar of outright folly, then House Bonisagus would be indebted and would be prepared to support the Great Tower.

With the library of Durenmar at their disposal, the magi must find the evidence that House Bonisagus requires, whether it already exists or not.

The Vision

With a project of this scale, the magus must decide whom to involve in its creation. What if he tells someone who objects on strong religious grounds, seeing the tower as an affront to God's ineffable will? Or perhaps worse, what if he involves a magus with too much zeal for the project, a magus who seeks to control the project and claim the vision for his own? These reactions give rise to conflict that the magus must address while also building his tower.

Shaken Conviction

The magus discovers that someone close to him, who has advised him and encouraged him in this project, has been possessed by a demonic spirit of temptation or pride for several years. Called to speak on his behalf at Tribunal, to tell the council what he knows of his friend and his actions, the magus soon finds his intended project the focus of the Tribunal's inquiries. The magus must convince the Tribunal that the Great Tower is not a thing born of corruption, even if it means deserting his long-time friend and ally.

The area between these pillars could be turned into cellars, cisterns, sewers, and crypts, all of which offer atmospheric backdrops to scenes and stories.

As the tower grows in height it also spreads out at its base. Additional pillars, towers, and buttresses need to be built to support the unnaturally tall structure. Given the scale, each of these separate structures could gain its own purpose, perhaps being governed by a separate magus. One way to reduce the amount of building required is to leave a central shaft to run through the center of the tower. It would eventually be criss-crossed with bridges and galleries. For simplicity, these are not taken into account when considering how long the tower takes to construct; they should be used as background flavor as the construction progresses.

Given the immense size of the tower, staging areas may be built every thousand feet. These areas would allow the movement of materials up and down the structure; stone would be lifted from the staging area below before being sent up to the next one. These staging areas would be covered with cranes and windlasses, car-