383YE Autumn Equinox interlude

Between the motion, and the act.

Interlude

Downtime will be open shortly, allowing players to process their character's downtime choices. The Autumn Equinox winds of fortune will come out shortly before the next event (which is 11th September to 13th September). However, there are a number of significant events happening in the wake of the Summer Solstice 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 Autumn Equinox 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 9th of August.

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.

As always, the guidelines around discussing military matters online can be found 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 following armies or opportunities:

• The Raid on Ikka’s Tears
• Green Shield
• Red Wind Corsairs
• Tusks
• Granite Pillar
• Strong Reeds
• Northern Eagle

Fighting in Segura

• Any military unit that supports an army engaged in Segura will receive 5 crowns from the people of the Brass Coast.

The Brass Coast national assembly chose to support the mandate raised by Mazo i Zabala i Erigo encouraging the Freeborn people to put their hands in their pockets and reward those fighting to protect Segura. Every military unit that supports an army engaged in Segura this downtime - specifically the Bounders, the Tusks, and the Strong Reeds - will receive 5 crowns, in addition to any money provided by the Imperial Guerdon.

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.

Raid on Ikka's Tears

• Imperial military captains can launch a secretive foray into Sermersuaq to raid the Pride of Ikka's Tears
• The foray is focused on stealth and surprise. No rewards are received by default, but the Quartermaster General has assigned a share of the Guerdon to anyone who participates.
• Any Wintermark military unit that supports the raid will receive a boost in courage and morale equivalent to two additional ranks for the next two seasons.

An opportunity exists for a stealthy raid into Sermersuaq to raid the mithril mine Pride of Ikka's Tears, found under the scout an area dropdown. Whatever else happens, the raiders will be able to liberate 50 thralls for every thousand points of strength committed to the attack.

Anyone who supports this action will receive a share of the Imperial Guerdon. The Wintermark National assembly upheld a mandate urging Wintermark captains to participate in the raid. Every military unit assigned to the attack will a boost in courage and morale equivalent to two additional ranks for the next two seasons.

You can learn more about this opportunity here.

Spy Network : Ossium

• A spy network exists in Ossium

In addition to the spy network in Liathaven, the Empire now also has a spy network in Ossium. Any military unit can assign to help support the spy network, and will receive a copy of any spy report or map that is created by their action.

Liathaven Repercussions

• Any military unit that supported the armies in Liathaven activity last season suffers a 2 rank penalty until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE.

Military units who helped remove the vallorn from Liathaven experience a penalty to production and effective strength until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE, as detailed here.

Trade Opportunities

The owners of fleet resource have a number of options this downtime - including the chance to support the Asavean Evacuation. There are additional effects and opportunities in a number of places.

Freeborn Traders

• Every Freeborn fleet captain who engages in trade will suffer a -1 rank to their production for at least the next two seasons

The Brass Coast national assembly chose to support a mandate by Efenia i Maristela i Riqueza that urged Freeborn captains to engage in privateering.

Trading with Asavea

• Every Imperial Fleet trading with Nemoria receives an additional measure of iridescent gloaming
• Anyone trading with Asavea suffers a two-rank penalty to production due to trade sanctions.

Trading with Nemoria

• Imperial fleets trading with Nemoria receive a -2 rank penalty to their production.
• Imperial fleets trading with Nemoria receive an additional measure of iridescent gloaming
• Imperial fleets can help evacuate the defeated insurrectionists by trading with Aracossa or Telios

The sanctions imposed by both the Empire and the Asavean government mean that any fleet captain trading with Nemoria itself suffers a significant loss of profit. That loss could have been offset by the presence of the two temples - one in Feroz and one in Nemoria. Unfortunately the Temple in Nemoria has been heavily damaged by the mob. As such, confidence among Asavean merchants trading with the Empire has been badly shaken. If the Temple in Nemoria is repaired by the Senate then the benefits of having an obvious symbol of Asavean and Imperial cooperation would resume.

With the failure of the insurrection in Asavea, a wave of desperation sweeps through the people of Marracoss and Emphedor. There are two possibilities for Imperial fleet captains prepared to take refugees to a safe location, both found on the trade dropdown.

Imperial ships visiting Aracossa, find desperate insurrectionists eager to flee the reprisals of the Plenum forces. You can learn more about this opportunity here.

A ship that trades with Aracossa this downtime will receive 7 Crowns, with each rank of upgrade or enchantment adding a further 28 rings to this amount. This will represent the transportation of rebels and former slaves to safety either in the nearby Sumaah Republic, neutral territory outside of Asavea, or even in theory to begin new lives in the Empire.

A ship picking up refugees from Telios will receive more money, but will be transporting wealthy citizens of Emphedor to safety in neutral territory. These people will leave their slaves behind. The fleet captain will receive goods worth 10 Crowns, with each rank of upgrade or enchantment adding a further 40 rings to this amount.

Trading with Axos

• Imperial fleets visiting Kantor experience a -1 rank penalty to their production this season.
• The Synod has supported a mandate encouraging trade with Axos.

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.

The Synod has passed a mandate encouraging trade with Axos. This has no effect on fleet production but may lead to opportunities for the Empire.

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.

Fleet Repercussions

• Any fleet that supported the Dominate the Bay activity last season suffers a 2 rank penalty until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE.

Fleets who took part in the Dominate the Bay action experience a penalty to production and effective strength until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE, as detailed here.

Supporting the Sand Fishers

• Every congregation, farm, business, herb garden, forest, mine, mana site, and fleet owned by an Imperial Orc will suffer a one rank penalty to its production until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE.
• Every congregation, farm, business, herb garden, forest, mine, mana site, and fleet in Holberg will suffer a one rank penalty to its production until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE.

The Imperial Orc and League national assemblies decided to support mandates intended to support the Sand Fishers. Skywise Rykana will urge Imperial Orcs to offer their aid while Lieselotte van Holberg urges the people of her city to do likewise. As a result, every congregation, farm, business, herb garden, forest, mine, mana site, and fleet owned by an Imperial Orc, or by a League citizen of Holberg will suffer a one rank penalty to its production until the start of the Winter Solstice 383YE. The Sand Fishers will gain significantly from this mandate - the support of their immediate neighbours in Holberg will also cement good relations between the new inhabitants of Misericorde and the people of the city.

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.

The Grey Pilgrims

• The penalties imposed by the grey pilgrims on congregations in Highguard, the League, Navarr, the Brass Coast, the Marches, Urizen, Varushka, and Wintermark have been removed.
• The missionary work of the grey pilgrims means that the congregations of Dawn still receive a penalty of 2 votes and 1 liao.

The General Assembly has upheld mandates from eight of the nine nations experiencing a penalty to congregations from the grey pilgrims. These penalties have now been removed. The Dawn national assembly chose to go a different way.

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 Lasambrian Jotun engage in plunder after the Spring Equinox there will be no effect on personal resources.

Widespread pillaging by the Grendel in Feroz last season 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, however, they will discover that the same protective magic applied to Segura is now also in effect in Feroz preventing further losses to personal resources next season.

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 assembly and enacted by Raskylov has a number of effects, one of which is to increase the production of mine and forest resources. Thanks to the story provided, the benefit will last until the start of the Spring Equinox 384YE.

Mandates

• You can find details of the mandates, along with the rest of the Synod judgements, here.

Seventeen mandates were successfully upheld in the Imperial Synod, and enacted by named priests. 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

Three rituals, Skar's Gentle Push, Secrets of the Soul's Desire, and Eyes of the Soul's Past have been submitted by the Imperial Conclave to form part of Imperial Lore.