386YE Spring Equinox interlude

Things end, and things begin.

Interlude

Downtime is now open, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Spring Equinox winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event. However, there are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Winter Solstice that may affect some players' Downtime actions - primarily effects on personal resources or options for characters with military unit or fleet personal resources.

On this page we'll be outlining, and offering some context for, these various effects. In most cases, there will be further information in the Spring Equinox winds of fortune. As always, these are quick OOC summaries to explain effects such as large-scale enchantments and curses. We'll cover all these and more when we start to present the winds of fortune for next event.

The deadline for Downtime submissions was midnight on Friday the 10th May - we have now closed downtime.

Warfare

Any player whose character controls a military unit can choose from a number of downtime options. Left to their own devices, a military unit defaults to paid work guaranteeing an income of herbs, ingots or measures, money, or mana crystals. Otherwise, they may log into the downtime system and choose to support an army or fortification, or assign to a special project such as a spy network or an adventure. Players who want to support one of the Imperial armies can also read the orders issued by each general before making their decision.

As always, the guidelines around discussing military matters online can be found here.

Weathering the Storm

• Wintermark military units have penalties to effective strength or production unless they take certain actions this downtime

The Wintermark Assembly enacted two mandates, relating to the harsh winter and the threat of Agramant. The first mandate urges the people of Wintermark, and Sermersuaq in particular, to keep each other safe during the harsh winter that is to come. The other urges them to protect their people from the threat of Cold Sun. Until the start of the Spring Equinox 386YE every military unit controlled by a Wintermark character takes a penalty or gains a bonus to its effective rank depending on what it does.

A military unit based in Sermersuaq that takes the hunt the Suaq Wastes adventure gains a +2 bonus to effective strength. If it takes the defend the Beacons of Wintermark or supports a Wintermark army fighting in Wintermark it gains neither benefit nor penalty. Any other military unit that takes one of these our actions gains a +1 bonus to rank, but takes a -1 penalty to rank if they do anything else.

The Bone Pilgrimage

• Imperial Orcs and Highborn military units can take part in the Bone Pilgrimage adventure
• A starting military unit receives 90 rings, 7 random herbs, and a single dose of liao in place of their normal production

The Bone Pilgrimage is a new adventure available to Imperial Orcs and Highborn military units. It involves exploring the Empire, and lands beyond, looking for the remains of Imperial Orc ancestors to return to Skarsind and inter at the Bone Ossuary. Mandates in the General Assembly, and in the Varushkan assembly, encouraged priests of all nations to help with the pilgrimage. Only in Urizen is the Bone Pilgrimage not recognised.

Roadwardens

• Navarr military units can take part in the Roadwarden adventure
• A basic military unit would receive 120 rings and 3 random resources each season, with more for upgraded or enchanted units.

Following recent interest in Imperial roads, and concerns about the safety of long-distance travel, the Navarr national assembly has encouraged wayhouses and thorns alike to take responsibility for keeping them safe. Navarr military units can now become roadwardens, dealing with small-scale threats and enlisting the appropriate authorities in dealing with more difficult challenges.

Investigate Béantal Dol

• Military units can use a temporary spy network to scout the vallorn heart in Sarangrave
• There is no reward for taking this action

Any military unit can support a temporary spy network setup in Bendol, Sarangrave to try to uncover information on the state of the vallorn heart in the territory, what means the Druj have used to contained the vallorn there, and if there are any additional risks in tying it into the network.

Imperial Guerdon

The Imperial Guerdon is a bursary set up by the Imperial Senate primarily to reward military units that support Imperial armies, spy networks, and fortifications. The value of the Imperial Guerdon is divided between each military unit and fleet that supports an army in proportion to their effective strength. The Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies has the power to exclude any or all Imperial armies and navies, fortifications, or special projects (such as spy networks) from the Guerdon. If they do so, then a character who supports such an army, fortification, or special project will receive nothing for doing so.

The Guerdon stands at 350 thrones.

This season, the Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies has announced that shares of the Guerdon will be shared between military units supporting the following armies or opportunities:

• Burning Falcon
• Green Shield
• Summer Storm

Fleets

• Imperial fleets can trade with foreign ports and receive valuable goods
• Some ports give special bonuses or suffer special penalties
• They can also take special actions such as engaging in independent action, or embarking on an adventure

Certain trading destinations apply special effects if a fleet visits them, summarized on the Winter Solstice wind of fortune page.

Some fleets also have the opportunity to take part in special adventures that provide specific rewards. These options are found in the downtime menu as dropdowns. If you don't want to do something specific, your fleet will automatically participate in privateering - the default independent action available to every fleet captain.

Escort Imperial Shipping

• Any Freeborn can protect Imperial shipping in the Bay of Catazar from Grendel ships
• In place of normal production, a basic fleet receives 3 random materials, 4 random herbs, and 24 rings

The mandate enacted by Ahraz i Guerra has focused the Freeborn on protecting ships across the Bay of Catazar from the Grendel. The previous penalty from the Grendel on all fleets on the Bay of Catazar has been removed and any Brass Coast fleet can take part in an adventure focused on avoiding fighting the Grendel.

Other Effects

Every season sees large-scale effects impact individuals and nations. Where possible we've summarised these effects here.

Look to the Way

• Priests with congregations who preach the Way receive 2 additional Synod votes until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE

Following the change in doctrine that was upheld at the Autumn Equinox 385YE there has been a renewal of faith. Until the start of the Autumn Equinox 386YE the congregations of priests who preach the Way will gain 2 additional votes at the next summit - assuming nothing changes in the meantime.

Huddled Against the Winter

• Farms in Sermersuaq receive a +1 rank bonus to production this season

Thanks to a mandate enacted by the Wintermark assembly that urges both cooperation and for warriors to ensure the harsh winter is endured, farms in Sermersuaq receive additional production as detailed in the Hear your footsteps wind of fortune.

Enjoy What We Have

• Congregations in Sarvos, Tassato, and Temeschwar receive an additional 36 rings
• The Azure Sutannir, Crimson Sutannir, and Queen's Rose receive an additional 108 rings

Following the mandate enacted by Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra there has been an influx of pilgrims looking to engage in art and culture in Sarvos, Tassato, and Temeschwar. Every congregation in the three territories will receive an additional 36 rings of production over the next season as the Blood Red Quays Art Gallery, the Blood Red River Museum, and the Bloody Great Theatre all see an increase in audiences and visitors.

The Azure Chorus at Braydon's Jasse, the Crimson Drummers of Madruga, and the Rose Towers in Dawn all use beautiful art to inspire visitors with reminders of the contributions the people of their nation have made to the Empire. Each of the sinecures will see more people attending their feasts and performances over the season and the titles receive an additional 108 rings at the Spring Equinox 386YE.

Hunger of the Icy Maw

• All mana sites in the Urizen territories of Morrow, Redoubt, and Zenith suffer half production
• Sinecures that produce mana crystals in Morrow and Redoubt suffer half production

The ritual Icy Maw Devours the Spark of Essence has been performed targeting Morrow, Redoubt, and Zenith. All mana sites in these three territories provide only half as many mana crystals as they would otherwise produce this season. The Churnspire Adjutor, Custodian of the Claw, and Custodian of the Bleak Tower will only receive half their expected income of mana crystals (and vis where relevant). More information can be found in the Blue flowers in the snow wind of fortune from the Winter Solstice 385YE. Further details on what this means for the ongoing situation - and what it might lead to - will be in the winds of fortune for the Spring Equinox 386YE.

Serpent's Curse

• Congregations in Urizen receive two fewer votes and one fewer liao
• The effect lasts until the start of the Winter Solstice 386YE

Following the repudiation of Sulemaine by the Urizen national assembly, in the light of their prior endorsement of the so-called "Paragon of Blades", their moral authority has been significantly undermined. For the next year, every congregation in Urizen receives two fewer votes and one fewer liao. As detailed in the Broken Sword wind of fortune.

Feast and Frost

• Every mana site in the Brass Coast provides one fewer mana crystal, and every herb garden loses three drams of true vervain from their production until the start of the Summer Solstice 386YE
• In return Tharim provides support to the Fire of the South

Following a declaration of concord by the Golden Pyramid during the 385YE Summer Solstice, the eternal Tharim, the Bound King of the Thrice-cursed Court is free to feast on mana sites and herb gardens across the Brass Coast. A terrible black frost will wither plants and drain the essence from crystals to satiate Tharim's endless hunger. All affected resources in the territory lose 1 mana crystal or 3 drams of true vervain as appropriate until the start of the Summer Solstice 386YE. In return, the Bound King will provide a cadre of steel-bound knights throughout this period to support the Fire of the South army.

Dho'uala's Tithe

• Fleets from Dawn, Varushka, and Holberg continue to suffer a 1 rank penalty to production
• The Custodian of the Ivarsgard Docks and the Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak have had some of the prices for their ministries increased

The rise of the sovereign Dho'uala in the Semmerlak once again impedes fleets based in Dawn, Varushka, and Holberg reducing their production by one rank. Any Dawnish, Varushkan, or Holberg character is free to create their own eerie tales of brushes with the terror of the Semmerlak. The examples given in the Underwater sunshine wind of fortune should provide enough inspiration for a ghostly tale; these are not glorious battles on the deck of a ship or hordes of horrors clawing up the side of the hull. Rather they are spooky encounters, weird lights, strange disappearances, feelings of being watched, and odd things seen in the depths.

Imperial titles related to ports on the Semmerlak continue to be affected. The price for cerulean mazzarine from the Sarcophan captains dealing with the Custodian of Ivarsgard Docks is still increased by a fifth. The Harbourmaster of the Semmerlak continues to be unable to purchase ilium but they are still able to purchase wains of weirwood, albeit at increased prices.

Memorial of Flowers

• Contributions can be made to the memorial for Imperatrix Lisabetta

Resources can be donated to the creation of the memorial for Imperatrix Lisabetta in Necropolis. The memorial will be completed by the Summer Solstice. Any significant contribution - wains of mithril, weirwood, or white granite, or thrones of money - will make the final memorial larger and more imposing. If at least ten wains total are contributed, the memorial will effectively be a folly. Contributions are made in the usual way for any other commission.

Arias and Forgotten Songs

• Lyrics for the rediscovered songs of Elayne Silverlark have been widely distributed by the civil service

Shortly before the Winter Solstice one of the Heirs of Lepidus - Endric of Lepidus - uncovered what they believed to be the lyrics for three songs penned by the exemplar Elayne Silverlark. Copies of these were sent to Anvil to be left in the hub for interested civilians to take a copy ready for Endric's visit at the Summer Solstice. Due to the popular demand copies have been made available to any interested citizen here. More information on the uncovered lyrics can be found in the I remember you wind of fortune.

Imperial Lore

Two new rituals have been added to Imperial Lore by Declaration before the Conclave. Silver Tongue of Virtue was proposed by Rafael Barossa D'Apulian on behalf of the Sevenfold Path, and Gralka's Gift to the Lost Seeker was proposed by Skywise Gralka on behalf of the Shuttered Lantern. Both rituals can now be mastered by Imperial magicians.

A third ritual Piranahs Devour the Kraken was proposed by Palaphon Ankarien, as Dean of the Lyceum, but so far the requisite funds have not been made available to complete the addition of the ritual to Imperial Lore.

Further Reading

• Downtime
• Personal resource