"In Aldis, three pillars support the Lillian Seat. They are the the Red, White, and Yellow Roses. The Order of the Red Roses are chosen sorceresses and scholars. The White practice protective magicks and double as judges. The Yellow Roses are the warriors and defend the Sapphire Sovereign with steel and sinew.

"Even as the Roses preserve the Sovereign, the Sovereign preserves Aldis by the Yuletide Rites. When the day draws the shortest breath, the Queen performs the three obeiyances before the Green Watcher, an ancient evergreen that is the last of its kind, the Silver Nightengale, which heralds each new Sovereign with sweet song, and under the watchful eye of the Merciful Mother out in the open sky. Each winter, the Rites renew Aldis and the year brings peace and prosperity.

"That was until the Sapphire Sovereign disappeared upon eve of the Yuletide. Rumor and panic blazed from the capital to the smallest hamlet. The following spring withheld its life-giving rains, and summer spewed forth calamity. Driven from the mountain by the weird clime, great white wolves began stalking the drowned land. Carrion birds feasted; as did the horses that did unnaturally reaved one another and tore at the flesh of their own dead. And like the beasts, the nobles feuded and fought, and discord spread to the streets as each man turned on his brother and each woman on her sister.

"The Iron Faith of Jarzon hammered from the South. They sowed hate-hardened words, but promised grain and protection from the Lich King of Kern. From the north-east, the Lich King's shadowborn servants led bold and bolder incursions with each passing season. Each Yuletide brought only more hunger and despair.

"The three Rose Orders emptied their halls to search for a new Queen. These heroines are Aldis's last and best hope."

- As recorded by Seito the White during the tenth turning of the Time of Troubles.