The Aft Troika

**The Aft Troika** (sometimes called **The First Troika**) was the original and among the largest **Duchal Troikas** in operation during and prior to the **Seven Great Years.** It was founded in Year 64 of the Thirteenth Palisade by **Jonah Aft,** founder of **Aftism** and later named **First Patron of the Knights of Fire.** It proved the locus of the among the most important political manueverings of the Seven Great Years, particularly as they pertain to the rise of **Queen Alice I Candlebrook** and the establishment of the **Candlebrook Dynasty.**

The Troika underwent many changes of leadership and management during the Seven Great Years. The only major of figure of the time who remained in a leadership role consistently through the Seven Great Years was **Leed, Keeper of the Rolls**; somewhat ironic, given that Leed was seen as rather non-commited to the more philosophical goals of Aftism, and was personally unpopular within the Troika. Over the course of the Seven Great Years, the leadership of the Aft Troika comprised the following figures:

1. Jonah Aft
2. **Maryanne Baronese**
3. **Charles Rydell**
4. **The Lord of Foxes** (in a short-lived coup)
5. Leed of the Rolls
6. **Argos Wing**
7. Alice Candlebrook

Other notable figures in the Troika included **Kaine,** the troika's field commander; **Howard Adder**, friend of Jonas Aft and member of **The Choir**; **Quinn Helmready**, Alice's confidant; **Snow of Arcy**, Maryanne's protege, briefly; and **Zephyr Wing**, Argos Wing's younger brother.

The Aft Troika was not above dabbling in magic to get what they needed, despite occasional censures from the League of the Palisades. At the height of their magical acuity, the troika controlled two **spellforms: "Arch Magic"** and "**Birdsong.**" Following the loss of **Arch Magic** in the **Shadow War of Ordall** in the **Sixth Great Year**, the troika later availed itself of "**The Orthodoxy**," a new spellform that was rather less conventional than it sounded like, and had chosen as its avatar **Morgan Crowe** (aka Morgan Half-Spell).

The Aft Troika followed a rather flexible leadership structure, with the top level of leadership comprising anywhere from one to three **Philosopher-Commanders**, and the secondary leadership consisting of anywhere from approximately ten to approximately forty. During the Seven Great Years, Alice's position in the Aft Troika in particular was all over the place... she served as a lowly **Philsopher-Lieutenant** for five years, was promoted to secondary leadership, promptly struck out to begin the **Candlebrook-Wing** troika (causing much consternation)... and then, following the assassination of Charles Rydell, rejoined the Aft Troika, first as a member of the secondary leadership, and then alongside Maryanne Baronese at the top of the hierarchy. Alice's machinations and turns of fortune within and outside of this heirarchy are generally considered the narrative spine of the Seven Great Years, and inform a significant portion of the Candlebrooks' national myth.

Even at its most powerful, the Aft Troika was never the largest nor most powerful duchal troika operating out of Merion. However, it was consistently among the major players, and its direct connection to the animating philsophy of Aftism gave it a lot of cache, especially around **Wick** and in the larger political context of **The Old Throne** and the **Marks System.**

Following the Seven Great Years, the Aft Troika, like most other troikas, was disbanded during **The First Consolidation**. Some of its leadership accepted seats among the **First Council of Graces**, and much of the rest of the organization was folded into administrative posts within the **Crown's Army.**