380YE Winter Solstice winds of fortune

Revision as of 16:28, 26 October 2016

Interlude

The Winter Solstice winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is April 21st, 2017 and you can learn more about next year's dates on our website or on the forum). However, there are a number of significant things arising from the Autumn Equinox that may affect some players' Downtime actions - primarily effects on personal resources - and we know there are a number of sanctioned events planned over winter where players may be influenced by these occurrences.

As a temporary measure we'll be outlining, and offering some context for, these various effects on this page. In each case, there will be further information in the Winter Solstice Winds of Fortune - once they're ready, they'll replace this content.

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.

Warfare

As usual, players who control a military unit have several options to choose between. Anyone who chooses the option to support an army will be able to review the in-character orders given by each general, as well as learning where each Imperial army is deployed over the downtime period.

One significant change to the way military units work has come into effect this downtime. The Imperial Senate has given the Quartermaster General of the Imperial Armies the power to control where the Imperial guerdon applies and that power has been employed. Until and unless the Quartermaster amends the list only military units supporting the following armies will receive a share of the guerdon:

The Wolves of War
The Fist of the Mountain
The Winter Sun
The Gryphon's Pride

This means that a military unit that supports any other army, or that chooses to defend a fortification or assist a special project such as a spy network will receive nothing other than their standard 18 rings personal incomet, and will not be counted in the guerdon calculation.

Whether an action is eligible for a share of the Imperial guerdon or not should be obvious from the downtime system.

An Empire of Culture

A powerful enchantment woven with night magic has settled over the entire Empire. The enchantment is subtle, but far-reaching. It encourages and inspires artists and performers to seek new heights of artistic expression. As a side effect, philosophers and scholars are encouraged to expound on topics of national pride, the role of art, and what it means to be a citizen of a civilized society; and it encourages every citizen to take pride in, appreciate and celebrate the art and artists of their nation. Everyone in the Empire experiences a roleplaying effect: you feel an urge to create, and appreciate, works of art.

There will likely be more information about this effect during Winds of Fortune before next event, but for now feel free to participate by working on any art projects for next year that you might have been putting off ;)

Trade Winds - The Towers of Kantor

The Axos port of the Towers of Kantor is now available to Imperial fleets, and merchants from Axos are visiting ports in the Empire in significant numbers for the first time in decades. They favour the ports of the Brass Coast, the League, and Urizen over those of Highguard, but there are even a few reports of adventurous Axou captains braving the Semmerlak and visiting Varushka and Dawn. You can learn more about the port here.

The Red Star

Late on Saturday night during the Autumn Equinox, the red star variously called the miscreant and the stalker smashed into the Thule territory of Sküld. The northern orcs appear happy with this outcome. There have been no repercussions for the Empire, apart from a few rains of ash that fell on north-eastern Varushka. It is likely the inhabitants of Miekarova at least are breathing a sigh of relief.

Raids in Sermersuaq

As described in Song of the lakefolk, strangely dressed hunters have been raiding halls across Sermersuaq. The National Assembly has named Savik Summerstorm to spearhead an investigation into who these people are and what they want - but in the meantime the raids continue. Winterfolk farms and businesses are being disrupted by these sporadic raids - although so far there have been few deaths as the raiders are clearly more interested in looking for their prize than in fighting.

Songs of Peace

The heralds of Lashonar continue to bedevil the Dawnish armies, but their influence is being actively fought. Tamain of House Sephulcre has been named by the National Assembly of Dawn to confront the spread of their peaceful heresy, and the Imperial Conclave has removed the amity that Lashonar previously enjoyed. This season, all four Dawnish armies suffer a penalty to their ability to inflict casualties, or conquer territory, but the effect will be completely banished by the start of the Winter solstice.

Lake Placid

The Semmerlak has calmed down significantly. All that is known for certain is that action by Imperial heroes put an end to the strange curse causing trouble for the inhabitants along the shore of the great lake before it had really got going.

Ennerlund and Cinon

Over the next three months, the Morass will complete its slow spread into Ennerlund. This is likely to be the fullest extent of the marsh, which has already swallowed Rebeshof - barring further magical intervention, of course. That said though,should work finally start on establishing the Park of Holberg the would could easily be complicated if the marsh encroaches into the eastern and southern Holmauer ruins.

At the same time, a magical effect from the Spring realm has fallen on the region of Cinon, in Spiral, This magic appears to be quickly rejuvenating the injured, and healing the remaining effects of the unnatural fire that scorched the region last Winter. Unfortunately, as with all Spring magic, the effects somewhat unpredictable. It remains to be seen how much of the ruins of Ossen's Spire, Damakhan's Forge, and other spires that have suffered significant damage from Grendel aggression and magical fire, will fare under the influence of this magic. Further information may be forthcoming as a Wind of Fortune next event.

The End of the Hearth Tithe

The Hearth Tithe has run its course, and the production of Wintermark and Marcher farms will have returned to normal.

And Finally ... Where Have All The Stars Gone?

Shortly after the end of the Autumn Equinox, the stars start going out all over the Empire. The Empty Skies phenomenon spreads to cover not only the remaining Imperial territories, but also the formerly Imperial territories of Liathaven and the Mourn. During the day all is well, but at night the skies are empty of stars; only the moon is visible. Only the skies within a mile of Anvil appear to be exempt - there the sky appears perfectly normal. Needless to say this is causing quite a bit of excitement among Imperial astronomancers.

There appear to be two game effects. The first, which is unlikely to be relevant until the start of the next event, is that every territory is under the effect of a very powerful shroud, most likely woven with Night magic, that interferes with the casting of scrying a divination rituals such as Eyes of the Sun and Moon, The Eye of the High Places, and Dreams in the Witch House.

More importantly, every naga in the Empire experiences the following roleplaying effect; their natural urge toward subtlety and secretiveness is greatly strengthened. Naga in general relish being mysterious and secretive, but while experiencing this potent roleplaying effect they may need to make a significant effort of will to answer direct questions or be honest about their intentions.

The effect applies to all the territories of the Empire, to Liathaven, and to the Mournwold. This is effectively the same effect as detailed here, but it now covers everywhere players are likely to be possibly while they are there.

Sanctioned Events

Several of these effects may be of interest to players attending one of the many sanctioned events planned for Winter. We've updated the list here to list as many as we are aware of, but you might find that the forum here contains more up to date information.

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 Shortly after the end of the Autumn Equinox, the stars start going out all over the Empire. The [[Empty_skies_(winds_of_magic)|Empty Skies]] phenomenon spreads to cover not only the remaining Imperial territories, but also the formerly Imperial territories of [[Liathaven]] and the [[Mournwold|Mourn]]. During the day all is well, but at night the skies are empty of stars; only the moon is visible. Only the skies within a mile of [[Casinea#Anvil|Anvil]] appear to be exempt - there the sky appears perfectly normal. Needless to say this is causing quite a bit of excitement among Imperial [[astronomancy|astronomancers]].
-There appear to be two game effects. The first, which is unlikely to be relevant until the start of the next event, is that every territory is under the effect of a very powerful shroud of Night magic that interferes with the casting of scrying a divination rituals such as [[Eyes of the Sun and Moon]], [[The Eye of the High Places]], and [[Dreams in the Witch House]].
+There appear to be two game effects. The first, which is unlikely to be relevant until the start of the next event, is that every territory is under the effect of a very powerful shroud, most likely woven with [[Night magic]], that interferes with the casting of scrying a divination rituals such as [[Eyes of the Sun and Moon]], [[The Eye of the High Places]], and [[Dreams in the Witch House]].
 More importantly, every naga in the Empire experiences the following roleplaying effect; their [[Naga#Naga#Roleplaying_naga|natural urge]] toward subtlety and secretiveness is greatly strengthened. Naga in general relish being mysterious and secretive, but while experiencing this potent roleplaying effect they may need to make a significant effort of will to answer direct questions or be honest about their intentions.