381YE Summer Solstice winds of fortune

Overview

Over the past three months, several events have occurred which are of significance to the Empire and may require a response from her champions. You can also read about the progress of the Empire's military campaigns here.

In each case, we've tried to tag the Winds of Fortune entry with the nations, or political bodies, to which it is most relevant. We've done this to help people who are interested only in events that are especially relevant to them. In no way are these tags intended to be exhaustive; the Empire is a complex place and very little happens in isolation.

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 Fortune is to maintain the illusion of the Empire as a living, breathing place where things happen - and to make players aware of things their characters 'should' know based on what their roleplaying says they have been doing for the past three months.

Many winds of fortune open with a short section of in-character text. In all cases, these pieces are intended to help create an atmosphere and provide a little entertainment. Where they contain opinions, those are the opinions of the fictional people depicted - and where they contain information or rumours the assumption is that the reader will create their own context for that information or gossip. They're mostly just a bit of fun and they tend not to contain anything vital to the understanding of the wind of Fortune.

Winds of Fortune

All Along the Watchtower

• The Empire

The situation in the Mournwold is complicated, and getting more complicated by the day. A storm is brewing, and the kind that sends sensible people scurrying for shelter. And that's before we even get to the Jotun castles and armies! You can learn about the situation in the Mourn, and various things that might help improve it, here.

Changing of the Guards

• Dawn

The National Assembly of Dawn passed a simple statement of principle during the Spring Equinox "The Dawnish National Assembly recognises the Empress Lisabetta as Queen of Dawn. She is the ultimate authority in this life and her words should be followed above all others." The potential repercussions of that statement are ... profound. You can learn about them here.

Death Is Not The End

• Imperial Synod; Highguard; Dawn

The schism in the Imperial Faith over the claims of Yael of Highguard (on her past life as the First Empress and the Land without Tears) is coming to a climax. Wintermark, Varushka, Navarr, Urizen, the League, the Marches and the Brass Coast have sent priests with liao urging their people to reject Yael and denouncing her as false. The Imperial Orcs have made clear that they have no part in this conflict over Human destiny. Highguard and Dawn have embraced Yael, though Dawn appears to have internal doubt on the matter. You can learn about the implications of these actions and the cracks that continue to spread through the Imperial Face here.

Down Along the Cove

• Fleet captains; the Brass Coast, the League, Highguard, and Urizen; and the Imperial Synod

Recent powerful Spring magic (not to mention all those storms) is being credited with a major boom in the population of fish and other sea creatures. An slightly risky opportunity exists from the fisherfolk of the Bay of Catazar to fill their boats with valuable fish, whale meat, and other products of the deep water. The risk is that the Grendel see courageous fisherfolk in much the same way a hungry shark sees a drowning sailor .... You can learn about this potentially lucrative opportunity here.

In Virtue and Reason (Imperial Address)

• All Imperial citizens

The Throne, Imperatrix Lisabetta, has used her power to address the Empire to present a personal message to all Imperial citizens. You can read her message here.

Not Dark Yet

• Varushka; Navarr; the Marches; the Brass Coast; Wintermark; and the National Assemblies thereof

The new Varushkan army, the Iron Helms, has been active in the field for barely six months and it is no stranger to controversy. During the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, several statements of principle were made regarding the army and its role (or lack thereof) in Imperial military strategy. These statements have lead to a series of controversial mandates which you can learn about here.

Pay in Blood

• Spring magicians, Imperial Conclave

Since the Spring Equinox, practitioners of Spring magic across the Empire have encountered problems performing certain types of rituals. It soon becomes apparent that the problem lies not in the magic, nor in the magicians, but in the regio aligned to the Spring realm. It appears to be impossible for Imperial magicians to draw power from Spring regio ... You can learn about the full effect of this magical catastrophe here.

Rocks and Gravel

• Independent military captains; Navarr, Wintermark, the Marches, and Temeschwar; the Military Council

A "natural" disaster has struck the north-western Empire. Parts of Temeschwar, Miaren, Upwold, and Hahnmark have been swallowed up by a massive sinkhole. Thanks to a timely warning by a band of Navarr vates, major loss of life has been avoided - but a great big chasm now stretches from the site where Woodhall used to stand, to the orchards of Goldglades, and from a point dangerously close to Eastern Guard deep into the wild hunting grounds of the Vardstein Vale. You can learn about this natural disaster, and its implications here.

Series of Dreams (Winds of Magic)

• Basically everyone, but especially people associated with the Freeborn Storm and the Mournwold

The Empire is an Empire of powerful magic, but not all powerful magic is of the Empire. The Winds of Magic collects a grab-bag of interesting or important effects and opportunities, including matters regarding magical castles; a burning plume of fire and shadows in Redoubt; peculiar cauldron shenanigans in the Mournwold; and the Empress of All Goats Theatre. You can learn about them here.

Shelter From the Storm

• The Brass Coast, fleet captains, the Imperial Synod, the Quartermaster of the Imperial Armies

The Isle of Zemress is home to a "lost colony" descended from the crew of the Kraken's Bane. For the last few years they have been in sporadic contact with their Freeborn cousins, but now their idyllic life of hard work and independence has been shattered. The Grendel orcs have finally discovered their island hideaway, and the clock is ticking. Without outside help, they will all end their lives in the salt mines of Dubhtraig. Will the Empire intervene? You can learn all about this dire situation here.

Too Much of Nothing

• Wealthy folks; especially those with an interest in curious rarities

Since the demise of the Bourse Private Auction, entrepreneurs and the desperate alike have made their way to Anvil seeking to tap the rich markets that may be found there. This season, there is news of a Dawnish seneschal with rare seeds to sell to help feed their house's yeofolk-in-exile; old documents concerning the life of a historical Senator; a potentially dangerous Winterfolk knife; and an exotic Freeborn curio. You can learn about this handful of nothing here.

Under the Red Sky

• Imperial Conclave

The six archmages of the Empire have the power to send a formal message to a single eternal each Summit. During the Spring Equinox, five such plenipotentiary messages were sent - and over the last three months each of the eternals contacted has made a public response. You can learn about these responses here.

When the Ship Comes In (Trade Winds)

• Fleet captains; congregation leaders; ambassadors

International relations continue to develop - some improve, and some decline, like the ebb and flow of the tides. You can find a quick round up of things related to the current state of affairs, with an emphasis on trading - and a digression into the state of international relations between congregations of the Way - here.