388YE Autumn Equinox winds of war

Banners flutter as the winds of war begin to blow.

Overview

Over the last three months, Imperial forces have engaged in military campaigns. Sometimes those engagements have been wide-ranging and dramatic, other times they have been more sedate. Where there has been dramatic action, or where there are opportunities, we've given a Wind of War its own page; other military actions are discussed here.

As always, how much or how little of this information you choose to know in character is up to you. Part of the purpose of Winds of War and the Winds of Fortune is to make players aware of things their characters should know, based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing, and to maintain the Empire as a living, breathing place where all kinds of events take place beyond the scope of Anvil.

It should go without saying that we ask everyone to abide by the rules about online roleplaying with regard to the military campaign. It's important that the key in-character activity of the Empire world takes place at events. The game is busier and better if everything that can happen in the field, does happen in the field. Military planning and political discussions should happen at events. For this reason, we generally discourage too much downtime roleplaying between events and put strict limits on what can be done online, particularly using our forums and Facebook groups.

All that said, we now present a summary of the key military activity in the Empire - both with links to the expanded Wind of War pages and notes about other important things that have happened that didn't need a full battle campaign write-up.

The Heavy Skies of Autumn

After the height of Summer, we take the slow road toward Winter. Green leaves shade to yellow and red; bright blossoms swell and undergo that magical transformation from flower to fruit. The sun stays abed a little longer each morning, retires a little earlier. The gulfs of night yawn, whispering the promise of snow and rain and the end of things. Summer is the season of war, blades bright in the noonday sun, shields raised against the sharp arrows of the foe, horns and voices alike raised in praise of battle. The crows circle lazily in the azure sky, though. They know that after every fight there will come a harvest, and they are eager to sup the bounty that spills out on the sodden soil.

This year is no different; the Empire's armies march proudly to war against their enemies. In the east, the west, and the south they fight, and even the north is not entirely spared the glorious rhythm of steel on steel as Imperial soldiers fight alongside the blue-swaddled warlocks of Otkodov who battle in pursuit of their own inscrutable goals.

Where to begin?

The Jotun have held Bregasland now for long enough that they might think it is part of their domain, might be considering placing their own stamp on it as they have Ashvale. The Strong Reeds have a different thought, and this season they rise, and with their allies, fight to change the status quo. It is a season of mud, blood, and manacles.

Or perhaps we should start almost as far away from the Marches as it is possible to get while still being in the Empire? In Mareave, the opposing strategies of Imperial and Grendel armies clash and flow around one another, while the neutral city-state of Beoraidh looks on. A clash of pride and retribution, of wisdom and cunning, of courage and audacity, of loyalty and fidelity, of sea and stone. The salt lions roar, and the long slow fight for the land that was once Mahal drags on another season.

Maybe look instead to Therunin, where the Golden Axe venture into the poisoned ruin that is the Tarn Valley. The reside of Sephals Cauldron has tainted the marshes, killing plants and animals and people with equal indifference. The Druj hold the valley, but they are isolated from the Mallum by the vallorn and the loss of the Sarangrave. Perhaps both sides will benefit from a reminder that it is the dose makes the poison?

And speaking of the Sarangrave... the victorious Imperial armies have not rested on their laurels. As Summer fades, the Empire sends its soldiers deeper into the Mallum. It falls to the Axou of Thornfen to protect the territory, the Urizen and rebels and former slaves alike, from the depredations of Winter spirits unleashed by the collapsing armies. Who better understands the skull beneath the skin than the necromantia of Axos?

Battle opportunities

Imperial prognosticators have identified four possible major conjunctions of the Sentinel Gate at the coming summit. The Military Council will muster on Friday night, and the generals will select two of them to be taken up by Imperial heroes. At the moment, the full details of these opportunities are not clear; more information will be provided nearer to the event.

All battle opportunities are Combat Highly Likely environments.

Territory	Opportunity	Location	Opposition	Day	Learn More	CS Briefing
Mareave	Collapse the Tunnels	Syagrian Haven, Icarion	Grendel	Saturday	Jaws of the Leomarid	PDF Link
Forest of Ulnak	Clear the Retreat	Reeth Plain, Grimfen Mire	Druj	Saturday	A Greater Darkness	PDF Link
Bregasland	Treat with Enemies	Whelkquay, North Fens	Jotun	Saturday	Big Talk	PDF Link
Salt Flats of Sanath	Break the Shackles	Rivenglade, Lower Saarnath	Druj	Sunday	What Dreams Must Come	PDF Link

Nation	Force Weight
Brass Coast	17
Dawn	66
Highguard	28
Imperial Orcs	6
League	23
Marches	25
Navarr	56
Urizen	13
Varushka	19
Wintermark	69

The sides for the battles will be chosen by the generals in the Muster of the Military Council on Friday night. The battle on Saturday must have at least 161 and at most 165 force weight sent on it. The battle on Sunday must have at least 157 and at most 161 force weight sent on it.

Battle participation

If you have your own orc mask please do bring it along as we're keen to ensure we can field forces predominantly comprised of barbarian orcs. If you are unable to wear a mask, then all battle opportunities have limited roles for human barbarian combatants and low-combat roles such as healers, support mages, artisans, messengers and attendants. Player elite monster units (EMUs) are expected to monster as their barbarian orc units regardless of the battle opportunity, and should not include human combatants.

• The Mareave opportunity involves forces composed primarily of Grendel orc soldiers

We ask the majority of player volunteers to take on the roles of Grendel orcs as normal. You can help by wearing leather or plate armour you have, as well as any iconic Grendel weaponry, particularly swords, spears, and bows of all types. You can find out more about the iconic Grendel look here, and the key elements for portraying the Grendel are a light coloured base layer, with mantles, shoulder capes, wraps, and other purple clothing and other bright colours as their iconic look.

• The Forest of Ulnak opportunity involves forces composed primarily of Druj orc fighters

We ask the majority of player volunteers to take on the roles of Druj orcs as normal. If you have your own orc mask, please do bring it along as we're keen to ensure we can field a force predominantly comprised of Druj orcs. You can help by wearing leather or plate armour you have, as well as any iconic Druj weaponry, particularly swords, spears and great weapons, as well as bows of all types. You can find out more about the iconic Druj look here, but the key element for portraying the Druj is a mantle and ragged material layers that echo natural greens, browns, greys, and black, with occasional bright accent colours as their iconic look.

• The Bregasland opportunity involves forces of composed primarily of Jotun or Lasambrian orc warriors

We ask the majority of player volunteers to take on the roles of Jotun orcs as normal. You can help by wearing any Jotun, Marcher, or Wintermark-style kit or armour you have, as well as any iconic Jotun weaponry, particularly axes, maces, and circular shields. You can find out more about the iconic Jotun look here, but the key element for portraying the northern Jotun is leather and fur over mail as their iconic look. For the Lasambrian Jotun orc forces elements of Brass Coast kit, armour, and weapons can be used emphasise their distinct visual nature.

• The Salt Flats of Sanath opportunity involves forces composed primarily of Druj orc fighters accompanied by some human fighters of Leen

We ask the majority of player volunteers to take on the roles of Druj orcs as normal. If you have your own orc mask, please do bring it along as we're keen to ensure we can field a force predominantly comprised of Druj orcs. You can help by wearing leather or plate armour you have, as well as any iconic Druj weaponry, particularly swords, spears and great weapons, as well as bows of all types. You can find out more about the iconic Druj look here, but the key element for portraying the Druj is a mantle and ragged material layers that echo natural greens, browns, greys, and black, with occasional bright accent colours as their iconic look. Any players looking to play a human fighter from the city of Leen is encouraged to wear any blue colours they have available.

IMPORTANT - we will not be reusing any orc masks to players for these battle opportunities. Our orc masks will only be used once this event and then washed ready for the next event. We are continuing the provision of battle opportunities with non-orc enemies until such a time as we have sufficient masks to run two fully orc-masked battles.

Conjunctions

The Sentinel Gate also allows smaller groups of Imperial citizens to reach locations all over the Empire where their intervention might change the course of events. Many of these conjunctions involve combat, but there are also a variety of other opportunities presented by the magic of the Gate.

For most conjunctions, the Civil Service has identified the Imperial titles that are the most appropriate to take overall responsibility for ensuring that a response is organised. Whilst the individual has been named by the Civil Service, there is no legal requirement for them to coordinate a response or travel on the conjunction. They may delegate oversight to another individual of their choosing. As always, Imperial war scouts will be on hand at the Sentinel Gate to provide further information to any citizens wanting to learn more. They can provide updates on the barbarians' goals, guidance on how to engage the enemy troops or advice on how to avoid casualties and return back to Anvil in safety.

Sometimes it is necessary for us to make small adjustments to the timing or size of encounters at the time of this publication and when an encounter runs at an event. Details for the conjunctions on Friday will be finalised on Friday afternoon of the event before time-in (18:00) whilst details for the conjunctions on Saturday will be finalised on Saturday before time-in (10:00). Please check the details of any conjunction you are interested in as soon as possible to ensure that you have the full and up-to-date information; it might also be sensible to check again shortly before the planned time of the encounter. You can check the details of a conjunction by casting Detect Magic (Discover Conjunction) on the Sentinel Gate in the presence of a referee.

It's very important to pay attention to the accessibility note for each conjunction, which covers the likelihood of combat. Further details about the accessibility of a conjunction are available both before and during the event. You can learn more about this on the accessibility page.

Friday

These times and numbers are subject to change until 18:00 on Friday

Time	People	Duration	Combat	Location	Responsibility	Overview/Link
18:15	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Bregasland, Gravenmarch, Graven Commons	General of the Burning Falcon	Prevent Janon heralds from cursing Bregasland
18:20	4	45 mins	Unlikely	Mitwold, Oddmire, Sod's Spelunk	William Guildenstern	Recover the artifact
18:30	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Sarangrave, Turan Flats, Tercia's Bluff	Senator for Sarangrave	Destroy the column
18:45	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	The Barrens, Saltmarsh, Glade of the Rising Sun	Maestro of the Cat's Graces	Prevent Janon heralds from cursing the Barrens
19:00	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Sarangrave, Nesustak Forest, Gizzard's Meadow	Imperial Spymaster	Identify and execute the Druj spy
19:15	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Kahraman, Braydon's Jasse, Uthman's Field	Azure Sutannir	Prevent Janon heralds from cursing Kahraman
19:45	4	45 mins	Contained	Therunin, East Ashes, Weeping Glade	Eskah Swift Hart	Meet with Dochas Weeping Glade
20:00	No bows or crossbows after this time
20:25	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Therunin, Lower Tarn Valley, Slatefair Cave	Strategos of Navarr	Rescue the hostages
20:30	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Salt Flats of Sanath, Lower Saarnath, Sallow Plains	General of the Black Thorns	Kill Huk'nar Skintwister
20:40	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Salt Flats of Sanath, Lower Saarnath, Toadwater Catacombs	General of the Citadel Guard	Stop the Druj
20:55	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Ossium, Echofell, Forsaken Shaft	Strategos of Varushka	Interrupt the ceremony
21:00	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Salt Flats of Sanath, Lower Saarnath, Hammerwright's Folly	General of the Lions of Adelmar	Recover the Chain of the Hammerwright
21:05	10	45 mins	Unlikely	Necropolis, Coursmouth, The Secluded Tomb	Danika Valentine	Investigate the mysterious tomb
21:10	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Sarangrave, Thornfen, Westfore Tunnels	Strategos of Urizen	Stop the Druj undermining the Tower of the Skink
21:25	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	The Barrens, Murderdale, Endsfell	Strategos of Dawn	Stop the Druj poisoning wells
21:40	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Reikos, Chalcis Mount, Nikal's Redoubt	Strategos of Highguard	Stop the Druj

Saturday

These times and numbers are subject to change until 10:00 on Saturday

Time	People	Duration	Combat	Location	Responsibility	Overview/Link
14:45	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Bregasland, Ottermire, Potter's Beach	Keeper of the Dour Fens	Find out what happened to the missing scouts
15:00	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Bregasland, Grey Fens, Old Jill's Fallow	Blackroot Broker	Intercept the Jotun supplies
15:15	TBC	20 mins	Possible	Kallavesa, West Marsh, Westerhal Fens	Raven Seer	Investigate the strange coral husks
15:30	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Bregasland, Grey Fens, Short New South Road	General of the Red Wind Corsairs	Claim the wealth of the yegarra
15:45	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Kallavesa, Kallavesa Marsh, Freja's Rest	Remembrancer of Blood and Salt	Hunt down and destroy the lurking coral husks
16:00	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Bregasland, Ottermire, Bella's Bluff	Quartermaster of the Hanuri Garrison	Defeat the yegarra
17:15	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Ossium, Bittershore, Holstein's Vale	Merchant Boyar of the Bittershore	Defeat the bandits
17:30	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Sarangrave, Kroll, Snaring Marsh	Solas of the Spire of the First Light	Interact with the sac of Kroll
17:45	TBC	20 mins	Suitable for Cadets	Ossium, Bittershore, Whisper Copse	The Academy	Aid the injured patrol
18:00	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Sarangrave, Kroll, Shifting Gulch	Warmage	Interact with the sac of Kroll
18:15	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Ossium, Bittershore, Zhokhov's End	Custodian of the Sunless Depths	Aid the injured patrol
18:35	11	TBC mins	Unlikely	Zenith, Occursion, Garden of the Perfect World	Seeker of the Perfect World	Bring Prosperous inspiration to the people of Tsark
19:55	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Zenith, Occursion, Dismal Pit	Herminius of the House of the Wanderer	Kill the Disciples of Sulemaine
20:00	No bows or crossbows after this time
20:00	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Forest Of Ulnak, Ghul'thak Forest, The Butcher Glade	Master of the School of Exorcism	Kill the Mirk Lizards
20:10	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Zenith, Occursion, Fuliginous Burrow	Architect of Illumination	Defeat the bandits
20:15	50	60 mins	Unlikely	Sermersuaq, Tanikipari, Shaore of Atkonaroq	Mediator of Hyljehal	Attend the Festival of Autumn's Easing
20:25	6	10 mins	Unlikely	Zenith, Occursion, Mirksome Tunnel	Gardener of Pallas	Treat the injured sentinels
20:30	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Forest Of Ulnak, Ghul'thak Forest, The Razor Thicket	Rhydian de Rondell	Kill the Mirk Lizards
20:40	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Zenith, Occursion, Caliginous Pocket	Arbiter of the Four Winds	Defeat the creatures
20:55	6	10 mins	Highly Likely	Zenith, Occursion, Tenebrous Cave	General of the Argent Sword	Defeat the creatures
21:00	TBC	20 mins	Highly Likely	Karsk, Moresvah, Mirky Vale	Watcher of the Semmerlak	Kill the Mirk Lizards
21:10	6	10 mins	Unlikely	Zenith, Occursion, Twilight Cavern	Oblivion Sentinel	Perform Herthfire's Hospitality or Leonine Pavilion and help the malaised sentinels

Military Considerations

Several territory pages now contain details of strategic obstacles presented or advantages provided by movement through or fighting in those lands. There are also several fortifications that follow different rules. Several armies or nations have special rules or opportunities related to the orders they can issue, which should be borne in mind when discussing military strategies during the Winter Solstice.

• Billeting: Any Imperial army can take the Billet order in Mitwold, Mournwold, or Upwold. Link
• Brass Coast
  • Freeborn armies can take the Burn Brightly order if they are in a Freeborn territory. Link
  • The Burning Falcon can take the Leonine Rampage order if they have been enchanted by Knights of Glory until the start of the Autumn Equinox 389YE.
  • The Fire of the South cannot take the Cautious Advance order or the Give Ground order until have spent an entire year without the Knights of Glory enchantment. They last hosted the heralds of Eleonaris after the Winter Solstice 387YE.
• Dawn:
  • Dawnish armies cannot take the Cautious Advance order or the Give Ground order. Link
  • Dawnish armies cannot take the Steady Conquest order against Druj until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE. Link
  • Dawnish armies can take the Triumphant Charge order against Druj until the start of the Summer Solstice 389YE. Link
  • The borders of the Barrens are patrolled by citizens of the territory as a result of the mandate enacted by Ser Tunic. The Druj require 25 victory points to claim a beachhead in the Barrens.
  • The Lions of Adelmar cannot take the Cautious Advance order or the Give Ground order until have spent an entire year without the Knights of Glory enchantment. They last hosted the heralds of Eleonaris after the Summer Solstice 388YE.
• Highguard
  • Highborn armies can take the Protect the Innocent order. Link
  • Highborn armies enchanted with rituals or targeted by a boon that calls an eternal to send heralds to fight alongside the army will lose a thousand effective strength until the end of the Spring Equinox 389YE as a result of a mandate enacted by Frater Pontius of Adoniram's Testament
  • Any Highborn army attacking into Zenith from Morrow gains a 20% bonus to any territory captured and suffers a 10% reduction in casualties inflicted. Link
• Imperial Orcs
  • An Imperial Orc army can take the Forge Hammers order whilst in Skarsind. Link
• The Marches:
  • Marcher armies cannot take the Give Ground order. Link
  • The Strong Reeds receive an additional 1000 strength when fighting in Bregasland. Link
  • The Tusks receive an additional 1000 strength when fighting in Mournwold. Link
  • The Drakes receive an additional 1000 strength when fighting in Mitwold. Link
  • The Bounders receive an additional 1000 strength when fighting in Upwold. Link
• Urizen:
  • The borders of Morrow and Zenith are patrolled by citizens of the territory as a result of the mandate enacted by Herminius of the House of the Wanderer. The Druj require 25 victory points to claim a beachhead in Morrow and Zenith.
  • Any Urizen army attacking into Zenith from Morrow gains a 20% bonus to any territory captured and suffers a 10% reduction in casualties inflicted. Link
• Varushka:
  • The borders of Ossium are patrolled by citizens of the territory as a result of the mandate enacted by Velko Perunovich Razorasza. The Druj require 25 victory points to claim a beachhead in Ossium.
  • Varushkan armies can take the Hospitality of the Boyars order whilst in Ossium. Link.
  • The Golden Axe cannot take the Cautious Advance order or the Give Ground order until have spent an entire year without the Knights of Glory enchantment. They last hosted the heralds of Eleonaris after the Autumn Equinox 387YE.
• Wintermark:
  • Wintermark armies can take the Fight with Honour order. Link.
  • Wintermark armies fighting against the Jotun will gain 10% more victory points but inflict 20% less casualties. Link
  • Wintermark armies fighting against the Jotun have their casualties taken reduced by 10%. This effect continues as long as the Winterfolk continue to fight honourably. Link
  • The Green Shield cannot take the Cautious Advance order or the Give Ground order until have spent an entire year without the Knights of Glory enchantment. They last hosted the heralds of Eleonaris after the Summer Solstice 388YE.

Click Expand to see military considerations that are less relevant at the current time but are still active.

• Morrow: Any Highborn or Urizen army that defends in Morrow against an army attacking from Zenith gains a 20% bonus to defend territory and suffers a 10% reduction in casualties inflicted. Link