381YE Autumn Equinox 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.

Wind of Fortune

An Apple That Falls

• The Mournwold

The situation in the Mournwold remains complicated. There are any number of things that could be done, but what things will be done? What should be done, for that matter? You can find out more about this double-length opportunity here.

The Art of Restraining Power (Trade Winds)

• Fleet captains; congregation leaders; ambassadors and diplomats

The Empire is not the only power in the world. Trade is a big part of it - but there is much more to trade than simply moving goods from one place to another. 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 - here.

Birds and Bats

• Imperial Conclave; writers of love letters; tea houses

Two eternals of the realm of Night have sent messengers to speak with the civil service. Lashonar has sent a sonnet that outlines an invitation to participate in a competition. Sadogua has sent a little girl to politely request a formal parley with the Conclave. You can learn about both events here.

Desperate Affairs, Desperate Measures

• The Brass Coast; fleet captains of all nations

Over the last several months, the orc pirates of the Broken Shore have shown more than usual organisation. They launched two vicious raids against the people of the Bay of Catazar - first to try and attack the fisherfolk, the second to try and enslave the people of the Isle of Zemress. The captains of the Imperial fleets have not stood idly by and instead launched counter-raids of their own against the dastardly southern orcs. You can learn about the outcomes, and a few new developments here.

Empty Handed

• Wealthy folks, especially those with an interest in peculiar 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. Markets such as the traditional Varushkan Winter Market, which takes place during the Autumn Equinox. This season, there is news of a fallen star in the Marches; an antique artifact belonging to a famous Dawnish enchanter; a rare tea recipe and a herald associated with the Night realm; and some peculiar potions belonging to the Great Forest Orcs. You can learn about these opportunities here.

Hunters and wolves

• Imperial citizens; Marchers; and magicians

Three Winter eternals are involved in activity within the Empire. The grim eternal Sorin seeks participants in a trial of hard choices and suffering, The Bound-King Tharim of the Thrice-cursed Court has sent his heralds to ... well nobody knows. And a crazed follower of Agramant has been attempting to spread chaos and discord through the Empire. You can learn more about these eternal-related opportunities here.

More Love, Less Paperwork

• The League assembly; the General Assembly; the Virtue Assemblies of Ambition, Loyalty, Pride, and Prosperity

Lorenzo “La Volpe” Macelliao von Temeschwar, Master of the Butchers Bank, Treasurer of the Bloody Butchers of Temeschwar, former custodian of the Fortress of Salt, former overseer of the Regario Dossier, former Civilian Commissioner for the League, and architect - or at least financier - for a significant number of interesting things made out of stone. An inspiration to many, his name associated with a number of great works. Philanthropist, merchant-prince, visionary. You can learn a little about why his name is on everyone's lips here.

The Mother of Morality

• Wintermark, Brass Coast, and League
• This wind of fortune is a counterpart to praise and blame

The infamously cruel Varushkan army continue to be divisive. The Wintermark and Freeborn assemblies have unambiguously rejected them. The priests of the League have spoken out against the use of fear as a weapon - although to be fair their assembly was far from united in that condemnation. Several significant opportunities have arisen as a result of the Synod's ongoing discussion of what is, or is not, too high a price to pay for victory. You can learn more about some of them here.

Out of Void, Out of Chaos (Conjunction)

• Primarily magicians versed in the lore of night magic

In the night sky, the Wanderer hangs in a peculiar conjunction with the Great Wyrm. The stars often reflect events happening in the world, but this time it seems that they may also be reflecting events in the realm of Night. Two powerful rituals are acting strangely, and two inhabitants of the night realm are acting significantly more oddly than usual. You can learn more about this strange conjunction, and these odd events here.

The Parents of Security

• Citizens of the League, especially Sarvosans

The League national assembly has made several statements of principle regarding the rebuilding and security of the city of Sarvos, as well as a statement condemning the army of the Iron Helms ... who have just spent three months in Sarvos. Some of the repercussions of these two related events, as well as a quick update on the fate of the orcs studying at the College of the Liberated can be found here.

The Place You Called Home

• The Navarr of Therunin; Imperial Senate; Imperial Conclave

The orcs of the Great Forest came to Therunin as exiles fleeing the Druj. Their presence presented several challenges to the Empire. During the Summer Solstice, the Imperial Senate ratified a treaty designed to define the relationship between the displaced orcs and the Empire. You can learn about the repercussions of this treaty here.

Praise and Blame

• Dawn, Highguard, Navarr, Varushka, Urizen
• This wind of fortune is a counterpart to the mother of morality

The Iron Helms army continues to promote debate.The assemblies of Urizen, Highborn, and Dawn have joined their voices with Navarr and Varushka in sanctioning the use of cruelty and fear on the battlefield. Several significant opportunities have arisen as a result of the Synod's ongoing discussion of what is, or is not, too high a price to pay for victory. You can learn more about these opportunities here.

Proud to Serve (Imperial Address)

• All Imperial citizens

The Imperatrix has used her power to address the Empire to allow Heilyn Bronwen's Rest, the Warmage, to dispatch a message to all Imperial citizens. You can read it here.

Queens and Kings

• Imperial Conclave; mine owners

The ongoing saga of the Icy Crag of the Eternal Sun takes another twist as the champions of the Summer eternals gather to compete for the right to offer patronage to the college of magic. At the same time, Eleonaris makes her displeasure with the people of Dawn clear, and the King Under The Mountain sends his koboldi to make an unexpected offer to the mine-owners of the Empire. You can learn all about these events here.

Rabbits and Snares (Plenipotentiary)

• Imperial Conclave

Three eternals have requested formal parley with an archmage, apparently as a consequence of plenipotentiary messages received during the Summer Solstice. You can learn which eternals, and which matters they are keen to discuss, here.

Scholars and Mandarins

• Imperial Conclave

Four eternals of the Day realm have offers and requests to make of the Empire. The eternal library of Phaleron requests an audience with Imperial magicians and librarians. Meanwhile, a peculiar trio of heralds have traveled the Empire offering certain boons on behalf of their masters. You can learn about these opportunities here.

A Silver Chalice

• Magicians; Imperial Conclave

The Imperial Senate has chosen to establish a new Conclave order - the Silver Chalice. The Order will focus on working with and expanding healing magic and other projects which can be used to aid the bodies and minds of Imperial Citizens, the Nations, and the Empire. You can learn about the last few steps needed to establish the order here.

Seals and Stars (Winds of Magic)

• Everyone, but especially the people of Sermersuaq and the Imperial Conclave

A roundup of magical effects covering: the state of the night skies; the status of the regio of the Spring realm; the raising of castles with magic; the seal-folk of Sermersuaq and their blessing; and a grateful Holberg architect with an offer for the Imperial Conclave. You can learn about these disparate matters here.

Unable to See

• Highguard; Imperial Synod

At the Summer Solstice, the General Assembly of the Imperial Synod condemned Yael, who claimed to be the First Empress reborn, for heresy. Reusing to renounce her vision, she was duly executed. But one nation did not reject her. The Highborn stood by their own, just as the nation once stood by the First Empress when she set forth with on a journey to unite all humanity. Now everyone is faced with the fact that their founding nation of The Way has taken a doctrinal position at odds with the rest of the Empire. You can learn more about the repercussions here.

Workers in struggle

• Imperial Bourse; Dredgemaster of Feverwater

Three situations related to the Imperial Bourse have arisen that offer either opportunities or potential threats. You can learn more about the great sinkhole, a theft from Serra Briante, and a threat to the Dredgemaster of Feverwater here.

Roundup

This represents short reminders of things that are still ongoing, or resolutions of events from the Summer Solstice that are not a Wind of Fortune of their own.

Mandates

During the Summer Solstice, the Synod successfully enacted six mandates. In each case, the mandate was raised and passed by the appropriate assembly, and the named priest successfully used the appropriate amount of liao to enact the desired effect.

Assembly	Mandate	Priest	Outcome
Dawn	The National Assembly sends Odelina de Rondell with 25 doses of liao to repudiate the false teachings of Yael of Highguard. Those who have been deceived by her claim to be the First Empress Reborn and the hope of the Land Without Tears should renounce this false doctrine and return to their homes.	Odelina de Rondell	Dawn has rejected the teachings of Yael and the Congregation of the First Empress
Marcher	Land matters above all else. Marcher armies should always stand their ground to defend what is theirs. We send Mel of Mourn with 25 doses of liao to spread the word that no Marcher army should ever give ground.	Mel of Mourn	No Marcher general can issue the Give Ground order ever again as detailed here.
Wintermark	No true hero of the Mark should stand with the Iron Helms - those who use their dogs for war have become dogs themselves. The assembly sends Gunnbrand Ironwill with 50 liao to urge every hero of Wintermark to show the heroism that a true hero of the Empire should aspire to.	Gunnbrand Ironwill	Wintermark armies can take additional orders when fighting alongside the Iron Helms; the Iron Helms suffer penalties when fighting with Wintermark armies, as detailed here.
Navarr	Mandate. Mercy is a luxury that the Empire cannot afford when faced with enemies that seek to destroy it; we must not cast aside any weapon that may bring victory. The Navarr assembly sends Corey Wayfarer with 75 doses of liao to urge the Quiet Step to build on the opportunity presented by Arhallogen and find new and effective tactics for dealing with our enemies.	Corey Wayfarer	The general of the Quiet Step has the opportunity to permanently change the quality of their army to cunning, as detailed here
Varushka	Mandate. The Iron Helms only do what is necessary to defeat their enemies quickly. We do not have the luxury of mercy when facing what comes out of the darkness. The assembly sends Amris with 100 doses of liao to urge every inhabitant of Varushka to seize the opportunity to support the Iron Helms and show the enemies of the Empire what real cruelty looks like.	Amris Johan Merikovich	Until the start of Spring 382YE, the Iron Helms can take the Terror in the Night order as detailed here.
Brass Coast	Mandate. The cruelty of the Iron Helms is unvirtuous - it demeans our Empire to use such tactics and it betrays the ideals of our people to fight alongside those who do so. The assembly sends Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra with 25 liao doses to urge our soldiers to reject the Iron Helms and their cruelty.	Constanza i Kalamar i Guerra	The Iron Helms suffers penalties when fighting with Freeborn armies as detailed here.

Conquered Territories

Resources in Liathaven are receiving the Conquered Territories penalty to their production.

Imperial Lore

The Imperial Conclave has declared that two new rituals "Combing_the_Beach" and "Golden Voyage" be entered into Imperial lore. With regard to Unknown Unknown, however, at this time we have no confirmation that the ten thrones has been provided, nor that the ritual text has been handed over.

Bittersweet Legacy

Every Highborn character who owns a resource in Highguard will see a small boost to their production this event, a side effect of the recent focus on religious matters. The bonus will continue as long as they do not formally reject the belief in the Land Without Tears.