383YE Summer Solstice interlude

All of life can be broken down into moments of transition or moments of revelation. This had the feeling of both.

Interlude

Downtime will be open shortly, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Summer Solstice winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is 26th July to 28th July). However, there are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Spring Equinox that may affect some players' Downtime actions - primarily effects on personal resources or options for characters with military unit or fleet personal resources.

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 Summer 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.

Downtime is due to close at midnight on Friday 28th June.

Warfare

Any players 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 one of the unique opportunities available this downtime. Players who want to support one of the Imperial armies can also read the orders issued by each general before making their decision.

It's worth noting that we've recently tightened up our guidelines around discussing military matters online which you can find here.

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 a army, fortification, or special project will receive nothing for doing so.

The Guerdon stands at 175 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 Wolves of War, the Hounds of Glory, the Quiet Step, and the Granite Pillar.

Slow the Vallorn

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Slow the Vallorn action this downtime.
• Dawnish characters receive additional rewards for supporting this opportunity.

The vallorn continues its expansion inBrocéliande. Warriors can help the steadings there to slow the green tide, and prevent it taking any land for the next season at least. Any military captain who wishes to support this action should select "Slow the Vallorn" from the Take Independent Action dropdown menu. Payment is base on the rank of your military unit, but entire payment will be in herbs. Full details are available here.

Suppress Asavean Uprising

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Suppress Asavean Uprising action this downtime.
• Instead of the normal production for paid work, a standard military unit would receive a payment of 11 crowns for taking the action, but a more powerful unit would receive an additional 52 rings for each rank of upgrade or enchantment.

Two satrapies in the Asavean Archipelago are in revolt against their government. The Nemorians are calling for Imperial mercenaries to help suppress the rebellion. The Imperial Senate has chosen to permit Imperial citizens to support either side in the dispute. Anyone with a military unit will be able to find the action "Suppress Asavean Uprising" in the Take Indepenent Action dropdown.

With the passage of a recent mandate by the Synod, the names of all the captains who take their forces to Asavea will be collected and given to the Cardinal of Vigilance and the Throne. However, there is no way to distinguish between characters choosing this option, and those supporting the rebels.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Support Asavean Uprising

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Support Asavean Uprising action this downtime.
• Instead of the normal production for paid work, a standard military unit would receive a payment of 7 crowns for taking the action, but a more powerful unit would receive an additional 36 rings for each rank of upgrade or enchantment.

The leader of the rebellious satrapies, Tementia Comasigne, is also calling for Imperial mercenaries to help support the rebellion. As the Imperial Senate has chosen to permit Imperial citizens to support either side in the dispute, it is possible for the commanders of military units to aid the insurrectionist cause. Anyone with a military unit will be able to find the action "Support Asavean Uprising" in the paid work dropdown.

As with those choosing to side with the Nemorians, the passage of a recent mandate by the Synod, the names of all the captains who take their forces to Asavea will be collected and given to the Cardinal of Vigilance and the Throne. However, there is no way to distinguish between characters choosing this option, and those supporting the government.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Escort the Orcs

• Any character with a military unit personal resource can choose to support the Escort the Orcs action this downtime.
• Any military unit that supports the Escort the Orcs action will receive a reward, equivalent to half what they would have gained from doing paid work as explained here.

There are a number of lost orcs in the Empire, who wish to reach Skarsind. Any character with a military unit can offer aid to these orcs by selecting the Escort the Orcs option from the Carry Out Reconnaissance dropdown. Characters who lead military units can help to find these orcs and accompany them to safety. The Imperial Orcs assembly has urged their nation to recognise the hard work of their allies and offer rewards.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Mission of Mercy

• Imperial military captains can launch a secretive foray into the Barrens to rescue the children of Dawn
• The foray is focused on freeing people, not acquiring loot. No rewards are received by default.

An opportunity exists to free captured children, and other slaves from the Barrens as well as to potentially gain allies there and frustrate the Druj. Any character who leads a military unit can support the Mission of Mercy action in the Carry Out Reconnaissance dropdown.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Dominate the Bay

• Any character with a fleet personal resource can choose to support the Dominate the Bay action this downtime.
• Participating fleets will experience a 2 rank penalty to their effectiveness for the next six months as detailed here
• Participating fleets receive roughly half the production they would normally expect, but may secure additional rewards depending on the scale of the raid as detailed here.

The Grendel continue to harass Imperial shipping in the Bay of Catazar but they have left themselves vulnerable. A counterattack is planned, an attempt to challenge Grendel dominance of the Bay, which any Imperial fleet owner can participate in by selecting the Dominate the Bay action from the Take Independent Action dropdown.

Fleets that participate in the action will suffer damage. They will receive roughly half the production they expect, in the form of goods taken from the Grendel, reflected by a grab-bag of materials, herbs, and money. There are opportunities to improve that reward depending how the opportunity progresses.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Trade Opportunities

The owners of fleet resource have a number of options this downtime - including the chance to support a dominate the bay. There are additional effects and opportunities in the Asavean Archipelago, and any trader operating out of the Bay of Catazar should be aware of the ongoing pirate raids that threaten ships from the Brass Coast, Highguard, Urizen and parts of the League. There have also been significant effects on Imperial trade with foreign nations following the sanctions imposed in the way of the Liberty Pact, and the chaos in Axos caused by their decision to abandon slavery.

Grendel Pirates

• During the coming season all fleets from Tassato, Sarvos, the Brass Coast, Highguard, or Urizen will suffer a 1 rank penalty to production if they engage in trade.

If you are a fleet captain trading out of the Bay of Catazar territories, the Grendel pirates continue to attempt to raid your ships.

Trading with Asavea

• Every Imperial Fleet trading with Nemoria receives an additional measure of iridescent gloaming and an additional ingot of orichalcum
• Anyone trading with Asavea suffers a two-rank penalty to production due to trade sanctions.
• Imperial captains can visit the insurrectionist port of Maragladia or Timor to trade supplies and weapons to the rebels.

Any Imperial captain that trades with the port of Nemoria continues to gain additional resources thanks to the existence of the Asavean temple in Feroz and the Imperial temple of the Way in Asavea.

Imperial fleet captains are also able to trade with two insurrection-aligned ports in Asavea. Each will be found in the trade dropdown alongside the usual ports. Imperial captains are assumed to be trading weapons and supplies in return for money - both in the form of actual cash and in the form of valuables and objets d'art. Each represents a different approach to that trade with different rewards. The actual impact of this trade is the same regardless - support for the rebels is the same whichever port an Imperial captain frequents.

The coastal fortification of Maragladia is hard pressed by the Nemorian legions and the people there are desperate. Imperial captains visiting this port will be able to engage in war profiteering. A basic fleet trading with Maragladia will receive 10 crowns, with each rank of upgrade or enchantment adding a further 40 rings to this amount.

Well behind the insurrectionist lines, the situation in the port of Timor is less fraught. Imperial captains visiting this port will be able to get a good price for herbs and other medicines, or even basic necessities like blankets and bandages, but for significantly less profit than they would get selling weapons in Maragladia. A basic fleet trading with Timor will receive 7 crowns, with each rank of upgrade or enchantment adding a further 28 rings to this amount.

If more than half a dozen fleets trade with the rebels, however, the Plenum will become aware that Imperial merchants are supporting the rebellion. It is impossible to predict how they will respond, but they are unlikely to be happy - and the more fleets trading with Maragladia and Timor the less happy they are likely to be.

Trading with Axos

• Imperial fleets visiting Kantor experience a -2 rank penalty to their production this season.

There has still been significant disruption in Axos. The sudden release of slaves, and the need for many wealthy concerns to reorganise themselves, means that the economy is in turmoil. This has had an immediate consequence on foreign trade, meaning there are significantly fewer goods available to purchase on the docks at Kantor.

Ilarch Maxatios has appealed to Imperial traders not to let this disruption discourage them from coming to the Towers of Kantor, and reassures captains that the chaos will certainly be short lived. Civil servants associated with the Imperial embassy in Axos are a little more cautious - they anticipate that the situation will be better following the Summer Solstice but trade with Axos will not resume normal levels until after the Autumn Equinox at the very earliest.

Trading with the Iron Confederacy

• The Iron Confederacy has closed its borders to Imperial merchants and goods.
• The port of Robec has been closed to Imperial traders

The port of Robec is closed to Imperial ships. As such the Empire cannot trade directly with the Iron Confederacy.

Trading with the Commonwealth

• Imperial captains visiting Leerdam receive an additional dose of Bladeroot; captains visiting Volkavaar receive an additional vial of Artisan's Oil.

Any Imperial fleet visiting Leerdam during the coming season will receive an additional dose of Bladeroot as a sign of Commonwealth enthusiasm for the Liberty Pact. Likewise, captains visiting Volkavaar will receive an additional vial of Artisan's Oil. It is not certain how long this enthusiasm will last, but it is anticipated to persist for at least a year.

Trading with Jarm

• Any Imperial fleet trading with Vezak or Kavor has a -2 rank penalty on their production.
• The eastern port of Rigia remains closed to Imperial shipping.

Imperial fleets visiting Jarm are struck by not one but two sets of tariffs; one imposed by the House of Princes on Imperial goods brought to Jarm, and then again when they attempt to bring Jarmish goods back to the Empire.

Major Effects

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

Blade of the Pilgrims

• Highborn congregations receive 2 fewer votes and 1 fewer liao due to the call to aid Brocéliande.

Thanks to the recent Highborn mandate every congregation in the nation produces one fewer liao and two fewer votes due to fighting in Brocéliande.

A Quest for Virtue

• Every human congregation in the Empire suffers a one-rank penalty to production.

Following a mandate in the Highborn assembly proposed by Yarona of the Chantry, Grey Pilgrims act as guides for all the human nations of the Empire, with the understanding that all of them had faults and were in danger of being lost to false beliefs.

The Feast of Tharim

• Every herb garden and forest in Miaren, Therunin, and Hercynia will suffer reduced production until the start of the Winter Equinox 383YE

The Imperial Conclave chose to accept the aid of Tharim in defending Brocéliande, giving permission for the eternal to feast on every herb garden and forest in Miaren, Therunin, and Hercynia. Each herb garden will suffer a loss of two random herbs and each forest will lose two resources for the next year (until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE).

Blood and Gold

• Every herb garden in Navarr receives 2 fewer random herbs until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE.

The mandate raised and enacted by Brat Umbral Path during the Autumn Equinox means every Navarr herb garden will suffer a loss of 2 random herbs per season for the next year. This comes as a consequence of the decision to support the creation of Good Leaf Gardens in Upwold in recognition of the sacrifice made by the people of the Marches in fighting the vallorn of Liathaven.

Raiding the Brass Coast

• All personal resources in Feroz suffer a 2-rank penalty to their production.

The same magic that protected Segura from Corazón raids persists this season. Even if the Lassambrian Jotun engage in plunder after the Spring Equinox there will be no effect on personal resources.

While there has been no immediate impact on personal resources for characters based in Feroz so far, the widespread pillaging by the Grendel will cause every character in Feroz to lose 2 ranks from the production of their personal resource next season representing the damage done in the lead up to the Spring Equinox. If the Grendel continue to raid, that loss will continue until they stop or steps are taken to protect the citizens of Feroz from their attack.

Reject False Gods

• Congregations in Redoubt, Temeschwar, Tassato, and Hahnmark gain two additional votes and one additional liao as long as the Synod clearly stands in opposition to idolatry
• Congregations in Karsk receive four extra votes and two liao for a year, after which they receive the same benefit as congregations in the other territories.

The mandate approved by the general assembly and enacted by Rafael Barossa di Tassato sends bands of architects, masons, and builders to force their way into the buildings designed by the Asavean architect and forcibly redesign them. The mandate has a number of effects, one of which is to swell with pride congregations in the territories where the buildings are found. This bonus lasts as long as the Synod maintains a clear anti-idolatry stance.

Varushkan Prosperity

• The production of Varushkan mine and forest resources is increased by one rank.

The mandate upheld in the Varushkan assemnly and enacted by Raskylov has a number of effects, one of which is to increase the production of mine and forest resources. If Raskylov provides a suitably Varushkan story that reminds everyone of the power of Prosperity, and the benefits of working mines and forests, then the bonus will last for an entire year rather than single season. (OOC Note: Raskylov should send the text of the story - for the wiki - to plot@profounddecisions.co.uk. The story should be no more than 1,000 words and we may edit it).

Wondrous Forests

• Every forest in the Empire produces two extra measures thanks to this powerful enchantment.

An Imperial coven worked the powerful enchantment Wondrous Forests of the Night during the Spring Equinox, which adds additional prosperity to every forest in the Empire. It is also likely to have other effects which will be covered in Winds of Fortune for the Summer Solstice.

The Rewards of (Orc) Virtue

• Every farm, business, herb garden, forest, mine, mana site, and fleet owned by an Imperial Orc will suffer a one rank penalty to its production following the Spring Equinox.

The mandate raised and upheld in the Imperial Orc assembly will provide rewards to those working to escort lost orcs to Skarsind

Mandates

Thirteen mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod, and enacted by named priests. You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here. As per our recent update, all mandates have automatically been enacted as long as the named priest has sufficient liao in their inventory before Downtime opens.

Imperial Lore

One ritual, Tithe of Bats, has been submitted by the Imperial Conclave to form part of Imperial Lore. 10 thrones were provided by Brat Umbral Path after the Spring Equinox; the ritual is now available to all Imperial magicians.